This is a very moving melody -- but the words are impossible to understand. Psalm 51 is prescribed as the invitatory psalm following the exhortation to a holy Lent and preceding the Litany of Penitence in the Proper Liturgy for Ash Wednesday. It is purposely somber, but the sense of the psalm is very hopeful, which might be easier to grasp if the words were clearer.
@Aiglon10 I'm surprised you find the words impossible to understand. Do you mean language or content? The image of the purging with hyssop is not one we are familiar with today, but it is often referred to in scripture as being used to clean unclean people (lepers) with sprinkling and some similar variations, so it means forgive me essentially. Christ's righteousness makes us whiter than the snow of course. The rest is pretty self-explanatory I think.Pleas for forgiveness and joy to be restored.
@Aiglon10 Are you familiar with the context in which it was written? This was written as David came out of a period of 9 months of severe backsliding in which he committed adultery with a married woman and then arranged the death of her husband and had a child with this woman. A prophet was sent to rebuke him and he was severely convicted of his immense sin in God's sight. So the Psalm is all about deep pleas for forgiveness and for the joy of salvation to be restored to him.
@Aiglon10 As for the Roman ordinances you mention, whilst true repentance from sin and towards Christ is always to be commended, I would argue the Bible does not prescribe a period where this is to be given more focus than another part of the year and so that Lent is not a Biblical ordinance. My knowledge of the word 'penitence' is that is carries with it a self invoked suffering. I know this has been the case in the past, perhaps today not so much, in any case the Bible urges repentance only.
@Moireach91 Compared to the version sung by the choir of Westminster Abbey I found the text impossible to hear. Is it sung in Latin, English or Gaelic? The Bible does not prescribe any liturgy -- the Church gradually developed the season before Easter (Lent means Spring) based on the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness after his baptism. The focus of Lent is on repentance - the message of John the Baptist and Jesus, who criticized public penance. No disagreement on that!.
@Aiglon10 Ah I see. This was just recorded in an actual congregation whereas the one you speak of is properly recorded and sung to be recorded. Check out freechurchofscotland on Youtube to find a clearer version of the same Psalm and tune.
This is so plaintive sounding; I love it. I have a CD where it's sung to the same tune, but not quite so slow, and I'm not sure which is my favorite now!
@maggijude 'Lent' a papish festival. Repentance all the time. Better to go into a house of mourning ... the house of repentance than into the house of feasting ... where the world is over-appreciated !
This is a very moving melody -- but the words are impossible to understand. Psalm 51 is prescribed as the invitatory psalm following the exhortation to a holy Lent and preceding the Litany of Penitence in the Proper Liturgy for Ash Wednesday. It is purposely somber, but the sense of the psalm is very hopeful, which might be easier to grasp if the words were clearer.
Aiglon10 4 days ago
@Aiglon10 I'm surprised you find the words impossible to understand. Do you mean language or content? The image of the purging with hyssop is not one we are familiar with today, but it is often referred to in scripture as being used to clean unclean people (lepers) with sprinkling and some similar variations, so it means forgive me essentially. Christ's righteousness makes us whiter than the snow of course. The rest is pretty self-explanatory I think.Pleas for forgiveness and joy to be restored.
Moireach91 4 days ago
@Aiglon10 Are you familiar with the context in which it was written? This was written as David came out of a period of 9 months of severe backsliding in which he committed adultery with a married woman and then arranged the death of her husband and had a child with this woman. A prophet was sent to rebuke him and he was severely convicted of his immense sin in God's sight. So the Psalm is all about deep pleas for forgiveness and for the joy of salvation to be restored to him.
Moireach91 4 days ago
@Aiglon10 As for the Roman ordinances you mention, whilst true repentance from sin and towards Christ is always to be commended, I would argue the Bible does not prescribe a period where this is to be given more focus than another part of the year and so that Lent is not a Biblical ordinance. My knowledge of the word 'penitence' is that is carries with it a self invoked suffering. I know this has been the case in the past, perhaps today not so much, in any case the Bible urges repentance only.
Moireach91 4 days ago
@Moireach91 Compared to the version sung by the choir of Westminster Abbey I found the text impossible to hear. Is it sung in Latin, English or Gaelic? The Bible does not prescribe any liturgy -- the Church gradually developed the season before Easter (Lent means Spring) based on the 40 days that Jesus spent in the wilderness after his baptism. The focus of Lent is on repentance - the message of John the Baptist and Jesus, who criticized public penance. No disagreement on that!.
Aiglon10 4 days ago
@Aiglon10 Ah I see. This was just recorded in an actual congregation whereas the one you speak of is properly recorded and sung to be recorded. Check out freechurchofscotland on Youtube to find a clearer version of the same Psalm and tune.
Moireach91 4 days ago
@Aiglon10 : But Roman Catholicism is but a mere shadow of Biblical Christianity is it not !
3NUNS 1 day ago
This is so plaintive sounding; I love it. I have a CD where it's sung to the same tune, but not quite so slow, and I'm not sure which is my favorite now!
LauraBethEliza 7 months ago
heavenly
moodycelt 9 months ago
Really nice change from the Allegri Miserere mei Deus now we are more into Lent.
The Metrical Psalms are so accessible and singable - which was the whole idea of course.
maggijude 11 months ago
@maggijude 'Lent' a papish festival. Repentance all the time. Better to go into a house of mourning ... the house of repentance than into the house of feasting ... where the world is over-appreciated !
3NUNS 1 month ago