Psalm 102

Psalm 102 is the second psalm of Matins on Saturday in the Benedictine office, and its exhortation  to praise stands in stark contrast to the previous penitential psalm that opens the day.

It does however build on it, and the verses proclaiming God's mercy and forgiveness feature in a Tract  and Offertory used during Lent

The text of the psalm

Psalm 102

Bénedic, ánima mea, Dómino: * et ómnia, quæ intra me sunt, nómini sancto eius.	Bless the Lord, O my soul: and let all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bénedic, ánima mea, Dómino: * et noli oblivísci omnes retributiónes eius.	Bless the Lord, O my soul, and never forget all he has done for you.
Qui propitiátur ómnibus iniquitátibus tuis: * qui sanat omnes infirmitátes tuas.	Who forgives all your iniquities: who heals all your diseases.
Qui rédimit de intéritu vitam tuam: * qui corónat te in misericórdia et miseratiónibus.	Who redeems your life from destruction: who crowns you with mercy and compassion.
Qui replet in bonis desidérium tuum: * renovábitur ut áquilæ iuvéntus tua.	Who satisfies your desire with good things: your youth shall be renewed like the eagle's.
Fáciens misericórdias Dóminus: * et iudícium ómnibus iniúriam patiéntibus.	The Lord does mercies, and judgment for all that suffer wrong.
Notas fecit vias suas Móysi, * fíliis Israël voluntátes suas.	He has made his ways known to Moses: his wills to the children of Israel.
Miserátor, et miséricors Dóminus: * longánimis et multum miséricors.	The Lord is compassionate and merciful: longsuffering and plenteous in mercy.
Non in perpétuum irascétur: * neque in ætérnum comminábitur.	He will not always be angry: nor will he threaten forever.
Non secúndum peccáta nostra fecit nobis: * neque secúndum iniquitátes nostras retríbuit nobis.	He has not dealt with us according to our sins: nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
Quóniam secúndum altitúdinem cæli a terra: * corroborávit misericórdiam suam super timéntes se.	For according to the height of the heaven above the earth: he has strengthened his mercy towards them that fear him.
Quantum distat ortus ab occidénte: * longe fecit a nobis iniquitátes nostras.	As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us.
Quómodo miserétur pater filiórum, misértus est Dóminus timéntibus se: * quóniam ipse cognóvit figméntum nostrum.	As a father has compassion on his children, so has the Lord compassion on them that fear him: For he knows our frame.
Recordátus est quóniam pulvis sumus: * homo, sicut fœnum dies eius, tamquam flos agri sic efflorébit.	He remembers that we are dust: Man's days are as grass, as the flower of the field so shall he flourish.
Quóniam spíritus pertransíbit in illo, et non subsístet: * et non cognóscet ámplius locum suum.	For the spirit shall pass in him, and he shall not be: and he shall know his place no more.
Misericórdia autem Dómini ab ætérno, * et usque in ætérnum super timéntes eum.	But the mercy of the Lord is from eternity and unto eternity upon them that fear him:
Et iustítia illíus in fílios filiórum, * his qui servant testaméntum eius.	And his justice unto children's children, to such as keep his covenant,
Et mémores sunt mandatórum ipsíus, * ad faciéndum ea.	And are mindful of his commandments to do them.
Dóminus in cælo parávit sedem suam: * et regnum ipsíus ómnibus dominábitur.	The lord has prepared his throne in heaven: and his kingdom shall rule over all.
Benedícite Dómino, omnes Angeli eius: * poténtes virtúte, faciéntes verbum illíus, ad audiéndam vocem sermónum eius.	Bless the Lord, all you his angels: you that are mighty in strength, and execute his word, hearkening to the voice of his orders.
Benedícite Dómino, omnes virtútes eius: * minístri eius, qui fácitis voluntátem eius.	Bless the Lord, all you his hosts: you ministers of his that do his will.
Benedícite Dómino, ómnia ópera eius: * in omni loco dominatiónis eius, bénedic, ánima mea, Dómino.	Bless the Lord, all his works: in every place of his dominion, O my soul, bless the Lord.

Interpretation of the psalm

St Cassiodorus commented:

After the enfolding of those most humble pryers of the blessed pauper, and of the groans of such great repentance, the whole of this psalm is filled with the praise of the Lord, so that the joys of proclamation may through devoted arrangement follow upon the preceding tears...

Throughout the whole Psalm the Prophet is speaking. In the first part he enjoins his soul to bless the LORD and to remember His benefits. Bless the Lord, O my soul. In the second place, he tells what things He did for Moses and His other faithful ones, that He may be understood to have been ever bountiful from all ages. He showed His ways unto Moses. Thirdly, he directs his words to the Angels and heavenly powers, and summons the other rational creatures to busy themselves constantly in the praise of the LORD. Bless the Lord, all ye angels of His.

St Aloysius Liguori added:

The psalmist extols the divine mercy; but finding himself incapable of praising and thanking God as his benefits deserve, he invites the angels and all creatures to do so in his name.

Liturgical and Scriptural uses of the psalm

NT Refs: Eph 1-5(3-5); Lk 1:50 (11)

RB cursus	Sat Matins I.2
Monastic feasts etc	Matins of Ascension; Sacred Heart
Roman pre 1911	Sat matins
Ambrosian	Friday wk 2 Matins
Brigittine	Friday Terce
Maurist	Thursday None
Thesauris schemas	A: Sat matins; B:Wed Vespers ; C: Sat Vespers wk 1; D: Lauds Monday wk 2
Roman post 1911	1911-62: Sat Compline; . 1970:
Mass propers (EF)	Ash Wednesday, Friday after Ash Wednesday, Monday Lent 1, Ember Friday of Lent, Monday Lent 2, Friday Lent 2; Monday Lent 4; Friday Lent 4; Passion Monday, Holy Monday - TR (10); Ember Friday of Lent, Ember Saturday in September, OF (1, 5)