Psalm 113: Verses 20-23

Lectio

Today's verses of Psalm 113 are:

Dóminus memor fuit nostri: * et benedíxit nobis:
Benedíxit dómui Israël: * benedíxit dómui Aaron.
Benedíxit ómnibus, qui timent Dóminum, * pusíllis cum majóribus.
Adjíciat Dóminus super vos: * super vos, et super fílios vestros.

or

The Lord has been mindful of us, and has blessed us. 
He has blessed the house of Israel: he has blessed the house of Aaron. 
He has blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great. 
May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your children. 

Lectio

Dominus (the Lord) memor (mindful) fuit (he has been) nostri (of us) = The Lord has been mindful of us

memor, oris  mindful of, thoughtful of; to remember, call to mind, think of, take thought for, recall, recount, etc.

et (and) benedixit (he has blessed) nobis (us) = and he has blessed us

Note that the Neo-Vulgate turns this into the future tense (benedicet), possibly to make the references to the verse in Revelation to fit (as they deal with the final judgment).

benedico, dixi, dictum, ere 3  to bless, to praise, bless, give thanks to (God);  to be well pleased with, to take pleasure in

Benedixit (he has blessed) domui (the house) Israël (of Israel)

benedixit (he has blessed) domui (the house) Aaron (of Aaron)

Benedixit (he has blessed) omnibus (all) qui (who) timent (they fear) Dominum (the Lord)

Note that domui is dative, governed by benedicere

pusillis (the small/little/lowly) cum (with) majoribus (the great)

pusillus, a, um small, little.

magnus, a, um, great, mighty; the comparative is used for the positive. 

Adjiciat (May he increase/add/grant) [blessings] Dominus (the Lord) super (over) vos (you)

adjicio, jeci, jectum, ere 3  to add, increase

super (over/upon) vos (you) et (and) super (over) filios (the sons/children) vestros (your)

Studio/meditatio

What does it mean when the psalmist says that God is mindful of us?  How has he blessed us?

If we consider the progression of the baptismal promises, we can arrive at a suitable answer, for after confirming our belief in God as the creator or heaven and earth, we are asked:

V. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? 
R. I do.

Cassiodorus explains these verses as follows:

"To what possible merits was the Lord Christ's coming owed, that He should both teach erring people and by His blessing save those who turned to Him?  He blessed the house of Israel by being born of the virginity of saint Mary.  He also blessed the house of Aaron when he invested himself with the distinctions of the priesthood...."

He blesses us by offering salvation through his Incarnation, death and Resurrection in other words.

How then should we understand the blessing on us and our children, and the call for an increase thereof?

St John Chrysostom explains that it is not a question of numbers alone that counts here, but rather the virtue we should be seeking to increase.

Oratio

For the gift of membership of the Church, we give thanks O Lord, for the grace that flows to us through its font.

Contemplatio

St Robert Bellarmine sees in the heart of the psalmist a heart 'burning desire for the glory of God and the salvation of his neighbour'.  We too should cultivate such a heart, and devote ourselves to these ends.

Final section of Psalm 113

17  Domus Israël sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,	17 The house of Israel has hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
18  Domus Aaron sperávit in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est,	18 The house of Aaron has hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
19  Qui timent Dóminum, speravérunt in Dómino: * adjútor eórum et protéctor eórum est.	19 They that fear the Lord have hoped in the Lord: he is their helper and their protector.
20  Dóminus memor fuit nostri: * et benedíxit nobis:	20 The Lord has been mindful of us, and has blessed us.
21  Benedíxit dómui Israël: * benedíxit dómui Aaron.	He has blessed the house of Israel: he has blessed the house of Aaron.
22  Benedíxit ómnibus, qui timent Dóminum, * pusíllis cum majóribus.	21 He has blessed all that fear the Lord, both little and great.
23  Adjíciat Dóminus super vos: * super vos, et super fílios vestros.	22 May the Lord add blessings upon you: upon you, and upon your children.
24  Benedícti vos a Dómino, * qui fecit cælum, et terram.	23 Blessed be you of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
25  Cælum cæli Dómino: * terram autem dedit fíliis hóminum.	24 The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he has given to the children of men
26  Non mórtui laudábunt te, Dómine: * neque omnes, qui descéndunt in inférnum.	25 The dead shall not praise you, O Lord: nor any of them that go down to hell.
27  Sed nos qui vívimus, benedícimus Dómino, * ex hoc nunc et usque in sæculum.	26 But we that live bless the Lord: from this time   now and for ever.

The next set of notes on the psalm can be found here.