Alleluia - Hallelu-Yah
I was just wondering where in the Catechism of the Catholic Church the term Alleluia is, and what the Catechism might reveal, that an online dictionary might not?
The reason why I was (and still am, and will always be: ”Hosea 6:3“) looking for the meaning, is that I have been concentrating on the Holy Mass more and more, trying to see how I might share the intimate parts of Holy Mass with others. Either in my day to day conversations with the people in my physical-realm, or in my blogging/social media digital-realm.
Just before the Gospel reading, we stand and praise the Lord,the Gospel Acclamation. This is done in every season, except Lent.
From parish to parish, I see a wide range of styles (Celtic, Chant, Contemporary) but mostly I notice the congregations are lukewarm in their response. The feeling and joy of being able to Praise the Lord….. is it there? Are you truly trying to show the Lord you admire Him, you desire Him, you love Him, you are thankful for all the things He has done, is doing, and will do?
Alleluia!… Do you mean it? Do you really mean it?
Here is a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and within the quote the Catechism has a quote from St. Ambrose. As you read the quote notice the words I have highlighted.
Certain constant characteristics appear throughout the Psalms: simplicity and spontaneity of prayer; the desire for God himself through and with all that is good in his creation; the distraught situation of the believer who, in his preferential love for the Lord, is exposed to a host of enemies and temptations, but who waits upon what the faithful God will do, in the certitude of his love and in submission to his will. the prayer of the psalms is always sustained by praise; that is why the title of this collection as handed down to us is so fitting: “The Praises.” Collected for the assembly’s worship, the Psalter both sounds the call to prayer and sings the response to that call: Hallelu-Yah! (“Alleluia”), “Praise the Lord!” (CCC 2589 )
What is more pleasing than a psalm? David expresses it well: “Praise the Lord, for a psalm is good: let there be praise of our God with gladness and grace!” Yes, a psalm is a blessing on the lips of the people, praise of God, the assembly’s homage, a general acclamation, a word that speaks for all, the voice of the Church, a confession of faith in song. (St. Ambrose)
The expression of Alleluia is simple to say, but complex in how someone truly holds it within their heart. I encourage everyone to look close to the meaning of Alleluia (Hallelu-Yah) and become more fruitful in the way you express yourself in using this phrase…. this song of the heart, where as we sing, the Lord listens.
St Ambrose said it right, “a blessing on the lips of the people”, we are adoring and surrendering to our Lord, and thankfully He adores and surrenders to us. The Lord’s blessing is forever,…
Something to ponder, something to pray.
Stay Holy,
MidsouthCatholic
(SEOtechbench)
About Michael Myers
[...] really draw in a greater essence of what prayer really means, or IS. You can read my post on it by: Clicking Here … or you can just find CCC [...]