Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/276

 confessing his  faith; he  publicly  humbled  himself  before  God  and  danced in front  of  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant,  singing  and  playing  on  the  harp. In reward  for  David’s  care  and  zeal  for  His  glory  God  gave  him  the victory over  all  his  enemies,  increased  his  kingdom  and  promised  him that the  Redeemer  should  be  born  of  his  race,  and  should  found  and possess an  everlasting  kingdom.

The First  Commandment. David  was  a shining  example  to  high and low  by  his  zeal  for  God’s  glory. His heart  was  holy,  he  had  a living  faith,  firm  confidence  in  God,  an  interior  love  for  Him,  and  he expressed  all  these  holy  dispositions  in  his  wonderful  Psalms. By these Psalms (some  of  which  are  sung  at  Vespers)  he  not  only  edified  the Israelites of  his  own  time,  but  he  has  edified  all  the  faithful  for  3000 years, moving  them  to  worship  God.



Religious Processions  which  the  Church  has  instituted,  give  us  an opportunity  of  outwardly  confessing  our  faith  and  of  honouring  God. In the  procession  formed  by  David  the  Ark  of  the  Covenant,  held most sacred  by  the  Israelites,  was  carried. We have  far  more  holy processions, in  which  the  Lawgiver  of  the  New  Testament,  Jesus  Christ Himself, present  in  the  Blessed  Sacrament,  is  carried  about  for  our veneration and  adoration.

Religious Music.  Its  purpose  is  to  glorify  God  and  to  edify  the faithful. As to  its  necessary  qualities,  St.  Bernard  remarks  that  it  must be earnest  and  grave  and  dignified,  not  effeminate,  light  or  worldly. It should  please  the  ear,  but  also  move  the  heart; it  should  not  obscure the  words,  but  help  to  make  them  clear  and  bright  and  impressive. While the  soft  sweet  sounds  flow  into  the  ear,  says  St.  Augustine,  divine truth should  gently  steal  into  our  hearts. If the  Old  Testament,  which was material  and  earthly,  admitted  of  noisy  instruments,  it  does  not follow that  the  Church  of  Christ  with  its  spiritual  worship  should  do the  same,  or  to  the  same  extent. Church music  is  not  a mere  matter of musical  taste,  but  of  fitness  and  appropriateness  to  the  divine  worship