Bellarmine on Psalm 96 : Verse 13 (conclusion)

Verse 13

Rejoice, ye just, in the Lord: and give praise to the remembrance of his holiness.

Lætamini, justi, in Domino, et confitemini memoriae sanctificationis ejus.

This follows on from what has been said in the previous verse. For if joy is risen to the right of heart, then certainly it follows that the “right of heart”, that is, the just, will rejoice, not in the vanities of the world which give joy to the unjust; but “in the Lord,” who gives justice and gladness to them, who rather is for them a solid and true joy, since He is a most beautiful light for their (soul’s) interior eyes, and a most perfect sweetness for their interior senses. Not only “must the just rejoice in the Lord,” but they must also “give praise to the remembrance of his holiness,” that is, celebrate the memory of the sanctification they received from God: for it is not right for us ever to forget such a great gift by means of which God transformed us from wicked and iniquitous men so as to make us holy and just. Sanctification may also be understood as God’s holiness, for He is holy, who is the supreme and most perfect holiness. Hence it says in Isaiah vi : “Holy, holy, holy.”[1] The remembrance of His holiness is praised, when with praises our God is remembered as being all holy, and for this reason we ought to study fully His holiness, “this is the will of God, your sanctification;”[2] and : “Be holy (saith the Lord), because I am holy.”[3] [4]

[1] And they cried one to another, and said: Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God of hosts, all the earth is full of his glory. Et clamabant alter ad alterum, et dicebant : Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus, Deus exercituum; plena est omnis terra gloria ejus. [Isaiah vi. 3]

[2] For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that you should abstain from fornication; Haec est enim voluntas Dei, sanctificatio vestra : ut abstineatis vos a fornicatione, [I Thessalon. iv. 3]

[3] For I am the Lord your God: be holy because I am holy. Defile not your souls by any creeping thing, that moveth upon the earth. Ego enim sum Dominus Deus vester : sancti estote, quia ego sanctus sum. Ne polluatis animas vestras in omni reptili quod movetur super terram. [Leviticus xi. 44]

[4]  Because it is written: You shall be holy, for I am holy. quoniam scriptum est : Sancti eritis, quoniam ego sanctus sum. [I Pet. I. 16]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.