Bellarmine on Psalm 148 : Verse 14 (conclusion)

Verse 14

A hymn to all his saints: to the children of Israel, a people approaching to him. Alleluia.

Hymnus omnibus sanctis ejus; filiis Israel, populo appropinquanti sibi. Alleluja.

This is the conclusion of the Psalm, as though he were to say : Therefore the hymn to be sung to God is chiefly for all his saints, that is, all those dedicated and consecrated to God, namely, the children of Israel, who are the people coming closer than all others to God through true knowledge, faith, , and true worship and adoration, through true filial trust and love. But, as St. Augustine teaches, these words are spoken not of the children of Israel according of the flesh but to the children of Israel according to the spirit, for in fact the children of Israel according to the flesh were stiff-necked and did not come close to God. For thus speaks St. Stephen the Protomartyr in Acts vii: “You always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers;”[1] the Apostle in Romans ix shows who are the true children of Israel approaching the Lord when he says ; “For all are not Isrælites that are of Israel: Neither are all they that are the seed of Abraham, children; but in Isaac shall thy seed be called,”[2] that is, not those who are children of the flesh are the children of God, but those who are children of the promise are reckoned to be of the seed (of Abraham); and in Romans iv, he writes that they belong to the children of Abraham who seek after and follow in the steps of the faith of Abraham our father, be they circumcised or uncircumcised. For we should not exclude all those who Isrælites according to the flesh ; otherwise we should exclude the Prophets and the Apostles; but we exclude those who are only children of Israel according to the flesh , and not according to the spirit; such were those to whom St. Stephen was speaking in the text cited above, and to whom the Lord’s Precursor said ; “Ye offspring of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come?”[3] and “Do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father;”[4] and to whom the Lord Himself said : “If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham;”[5] and : “You are of your father the devil.”[6] Finally, such are they who, having denied the Lord, were scattered amongst the nations and live in this world with no king, with no priesthood and with no God.

[1] You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them who foretold of the coming of the Just One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers: Dura cervice, et incircumcisis cordibus, et auribus, vos semper Spiritui Sancto resistitis; sicut patres vestri, ita et vos.  Quem prophetarum non sunt persecuti patres vestri? Et occiderunt eos qui praenuntiabant de adventu Justi, cujus vos nunc proditores et homicidæ fuistis :  [Acts vii 51-2]

[2] Not as though the word of God hath miscarried. For all are not Israelites that are of Israel: Neither are all they that are the seed of Abraham, children; but in Isaac shall thy seed be called:  Non autem quod exciderit verbum Dei. Non enim omnes qui ex Israel sunt, ii sunt Israelitæ : neque qui semen sunt Abrahae, omnes filii : sed in Isaac vocabitur tibi semen : 

[3] He said therefore to the multitudes that went forth to be baptized by him: Ye offspring of vipers, who hath shewed you to flee from the wrath to come? Dicebat ergo ad turbas quæ exibant ut baptizarentur ab ipso : Genimina viperarum, quis ostendit vobis fugere a ventura ira? [Luke iii 7]

[4] Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance; and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father. For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Facite ergo fructus dignos poenitentiae, et ne coeperitis dicere : Patrem habemus Abraham. Dico enim vobis quia potens est Deus de lapidibus istis suscitare filios Abrahæ. [Luke iii 8]

[5] They answered, and said to him: Abraham is our father. Jesus saith to them: If you be the children of Abraham, do the works of Abraham. Responderunt, et dixerunt ei : Pater noster Abraham est. Dicit eis Jesus : Si filii Abrahæ estis, opera Abrahæ facite. [John xxxix 39]

[6] You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he stood not in the truth; because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. Vos ex patre diabolo estis : et desideria patris vestri vultis facere. Ille homicida erat ab initio, et in veritate non stetit : quia non est veritas in eo : cum loquitur mendacium, ex propriis loquitur, quia mendax est, et pater ejus. [John xxxix 44]

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.