A Commentaiy on the Psalms: - Father Jerome A. Kelly, O.F.M. - November 1961

Sep 28, 2026

AFranciscan spiritual review issue devoted to Franciscan spirituality includes a long devotional commentary on the Psalms, exploring how sacred poetry endures through time and how liturgical use deepens meaning. The commentary highlights Psalms 112 and 116, explaining their place within the Hallel or “Hymn of Praise,” and interprets themes such as giving praise, God’s kindness, and enduring fidelity. It connects scriptural imagery with historical continuity and the worshiping community across generations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages36

Reading Time1 h 31 min

AccessFree to download

Contents

A Commentary on the Psalms

Address at the Presentation of the Catholic Action Medal

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Patron of Tertiaries

In Christ Jesus Our Lord

Saint Bonaventure and the Council of Lions

Early Sources for the Life of St. Francis

Tenth Annual Meeting of Franciscan Teaching Sisterhoods

Poems

The Will of God

Perfect Joy

cheCORD A FRANCISCAN SPIRITUAL REVIEW VOL.XI,NO.11,NOVEMBER,1961 he A monthly magazine specifically devoted to Franciscan spirituahty and publishedunder the sponsorship of the Franciscan Educational Conference by the FranciscanInstitute,St.Bonaventure University,St.Bonaventure P.O..New York.Editor:Eligius Bytaert,O.F.M.Assistant Editor,Sister Mary F¹ances S.M.I.C.ManagingEditor:Sabbas J.Kilian,O.F.M.Editorial Bcard:Ignatius Brady,O.F.M..InnocentDaam,O.F.M.,Columban Duffy,O.F.M..Gaudens Mohan,O.F.M..Allan Wolter,O.F.M.Annual subscription $2.00. Entered as second class matter on November 25.1950,at St.Bonaventure P.O..New York,under the Act of March 3,1879.All communications,whether of a businessor a literary nature,should be addressed to THE CORD.St.Bonaventure UniversitySt.Bonaventure P.O.New York.Cum permissu superiorum. VOL.XI,NO.11,NOVEMBER,1961 CONTENTS A COMMENTARY ON THE PSALMS:321Father Jerome A.Kelly,O.F.M. ADDRESS AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE CATHOLICACTION MEDAL328The Most Rev.Eustace J.Smith,O.F.M. ST.ELIZABETH OF HUNGARY,PATRON OF TERTIARIES331Dorothy G.IVayman,TertiaryIN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD336F'alentine M.Breton,O.F.M. SAINT BONAVENTURE AND THE COUNCH,OF L】ONS339Titus Cranny,S.A. EARLY SOURCES FOR THELIFE OFST.FRANCIS315Father Byron Witzeman,O.F.M. TENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF FRANCISCAN TE1CHINGSISTEROODS352POEMS: A FRANCISCAN SECRET330Elizabeth Metzger.TertiaryTHE WILL OFGOD311Sister Teresa Clare,O.S.F.PERFECT JOY351Sister Therese Martin # A Commentary on the Psalms: Father Jerome A.Kelly,O.F.M. it faith and love and joy,theyou every time you hear it. Psalns 112 and 116 You must have secn,soniewhere,inysterious overtones that thrillin a park or city square,perhaps,one of those massive bronze statuesAll of this holds good,too,forwhichage and exposure havethe Psalms,which are God's poems.stained a rich,mellow green.ThisWhat increased power to move usvelvet-like patina—a kind of tri-they can draw from our realizationbute bythe elements to theof all that history has woven intopermanence of the statue—actuallytheir words of the hopes and fears,cnhances thc beauty of thc nativejoys and sorrows,defeats and tri-imaterial.You notice somethingumphs of the gencrations that havesinrilar about silver service handedsnng them!What an inspirationdown for generations in a family.when we chant these Psalms toSuch heirlooms have a lustre noknow that we echo the words ofnew piece has,the subtle trace ofsaintly men and women of five,careful years of handling.Andseven,ten,and twenty centuriesbecause they who used them andago.To know that when we praypasscd then down are ancestors,the Psalns our voices blend inthese treasures become all thcharmony,you may say,with themorc precious.voice of the Son of God himself,whose prayers they also wcre. Now,what is true of materialartifacts can be true,too,of a pieceof poetry.A great poem,one thathas weathered timc to preserve itspopularity,is thereby richer be-cause of the many assoeiations thatcling to it.This is as true of sacredas it is of profane poctry.Yourenjoymcnt of,say,Adeste Fidelesis somehow deepcned by recollcc-tion of the circunstances in whichyou havc sung it or heard it sung.as far back as you can rcmember.And even before it becamc your1hymn,think of all the holy peoplc through the agcs who poured into How true it is that the meaningof a Psalm is enhanced becauscJesus used it on a partieular oc-casion can be illustrated by Psalm112,which is found in the LittleOffice as the second Psalm ofVespers.Actually in this confer-enee I should be considering thelast Psalm of Prime,Psalm l16,but this Psalm has so much incommon with Psalm 112 that Iain going to trcat of them bothtogethcr.And I have chosen tobegin with Psalm 112 becausc ofthe title it bears,a distinctivc titlc which sums up its theine in oneword,Allelnia.Two Hebrew wordsconrbine to make the one fromwhich Allelnia eomes:the first,lallelu,is an imperative form ofthe verb and neans"Give praise

FAQs

What is the central focus of the Psalms commentary in this issue?

The commentary explains how the meaning of the Psalms is enhanced through time, prayer, and liturgical use, with special attention to Psalms 112 and 116.

Why are Psalms 112 and 116 discussed together?

They share a close connection and are both part of the Hallel, a group of praise Psalms used within worship, so the commentary treats them together.

What do the titles and themes of Psalm 112 emphasize according to the text?

Psalm 112 is presented as a “Give praise” theme, rooted in Hebrew terms, and its message centers on steadfast kindness and the Lord’s enduring fidelity.

Sep 28, 2026

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