Every Friday of the Church year, the Church recites in morning prayer Psalm 51, one of the seven Penitential Psalms of David.
Pope Innocent III, reigning at the beginning of the 13th century decreed for the Church of his time, that the Psalms be prayed with great devotion throughout the entire season of Lent.
In each of these Psalms there is an honest recognition of one’s sinfulness and a pleading to God for mercy. In Psalm 51, often called the “Miserere” from its latin translation, David humbles himself before God, acknowledging the gravity of his adultery with Bathsheba. David’s lust caused the death of Bathsheba’s husband, and for this David himself deserves death. Yet, instead of falling on his sword, he falls to his knees and begs God’s mercy.
“MISERERE MEI, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam, HAVE MERCY ON ME, O God, according to Thy great mercy” is a fitting prayer for all of us to pray daily. For in our sin, we are all in need of God’s mercy. And how fitting indeed is it for us, to recall these sentiments on the most solemn of days.
Horrible was the nature of my sins, but boundless is the mercy that stretches out its arms to any man who comes in search of it.
Today, fittingly begins the powerful novena of Divine Mercy. I encourage all Catholics to pray this Novena, praying for the Church, praying for sinners lost in sin, praying for those who do not believe in God, praying for ourselves, that we may encounter and experience the boundless mercy which saves our souls.
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