Bellarmine on Psalm XCII: Title & theme

Title and subject matter

Titulum et argumentum

Praise in the way of a canticle, for David himself, on the day before the sabbath, when the earth was founded.

Laus cantici ipsi David, in die ante sabbatum, quando fundata est terra.

The title of this Psalm is not found in the Hebrew codices but only in the Latin and Greek, and not in all of those. It seems that whoever added the title wanted the Psalm to be chanted on the sixth day, which is the day before the Sabbath, when in this Psalm it is said that the earth was established (founded), or, as other codices have it, was inhabited; which is properly said to have happened on the sixth day. On this day man was made lord of the earth and for this reason the earth was first founded, which was created on account of man. On this day not only man but also all the other creatures who dwell on the earth were created; and so on this day the earth began first to be inhabited. On this same day, through Christ’s passion and death, the earth was renewed, restored and stabilised in Christ’s kingdom, with His defeat of and triumph over the prince of this world, as is written: “ Now is the judgment of the world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to myself.”[1] Moreover, the Christian Church is wont to sing this Psalm at dawn on the Lord’s day at Lauds, since even if Christ acquired the kingdom through His passion and laid the foundations of the new earth on the sixth day, yet He took possession of the kingdom when He rose (from the dead), and then “He put on beauty and strength,” as we believe happened at dawn on the Lord’s day.

[1] Justice and judgment are the preparation of thy throne. Mercy and truth shall go before thy face: Justitia et judicium præparatio sedis tuae; misericordia et veritas præcedent faciem tuam. [Ps. lxxxviii. 15]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.