RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 864, 9 July 1910, Page 11

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

THE PSALMS AND CRITICISM. ROMAN CATHOLIC POINT OF VIEW. Tlio following questions have been answered by tho Roman Catholic Biblical Commission: I.—Whether the appellations Psalms of David, Hymns ot David, Book of Psalms of David, Davidical Psalter, employed in tho" old collections and in tlio Councils themselves to designate tlie Book of the Ono-hundred-and-fifty Psalms of tho. Old Testament, as well as the opinion •of many Fathers and Doctors who held that absolutely all tho Psalms of the Psalter aro to ho ascribed to Dftvid alonq have so much force that David must be regarded as tho sole author of tho entire Psalter? Answer: In the negative. ■ ll—Whether it may rightly bo argued from the concordance of the Hebrew, text with tho Alexandrine. Greek text and other ancicnt versions, that tho titles prefixed to tho Hebrew text are older than tlio version known as the Septuagint, and that therefore they have been derived if not from tho authors themselves of tho Psalms_ at least from the. ancient Judaic tradition? Answer: In tho affirmative. lll.—Whether tho said titles of tho. Psalms, as witnesses of Judaic tradition, may bo prudently called into question when there is no grave argument against their genuineness? Answer: In the negative. IV. —Whether, considering tho not unfroquent testimonies of tho Sacred Scripture concerning the natural skill of David, illumined by tho gift of tho Holy 'Ghost, in tho. composition of religious canticles, the institutions laid down by him for the liturgical chant of the Psalms, the attribution to him of Psalms made both in tho Old . and New Testament and in the very inscriptions which 'have been prefixed, to tlio Psalms from antiquity, and ill addition to all.this the agreement of tho Jews and tho Fathers and Doctors _ of the Church, it can be prudently denied that David is .the principal author ot tho, canticles of tho Psalter, or that it can' bo affirmed that only a few of tho canticles are to be attributel to the Royal Psalmist. . . Answer: In tho negative to hoth parts. V. —Whether, specifically, the Davidical origin can bo denied of thoso Psalms which-both in'the Old and New Testament aro cited expressly -under tho nanio of David, among which aro especially to be reckoned Psalm .11, Psalm XV, Psalm XVII, Psalm XXXI, Psalm LXVIIJ, Psalm CIX. ' Answer: Iu the negative. VI. —Whether it is possible to admit the opinion of those who hold that among the Psalms of the Psalter there aro some, cither of David or of other authors,' which on account of liturgical; or musical reasons, the carelessness of amanuenses or other unknown causes, havo been divided ol 1 united; and also that there aro other Psalms such as tie Miserere mei, Deus, which in order that 'they might" bo hotter adapted.to.the historical circumstances or solemnities of the Judaic people have been slightly revised or modified, by tho omission or addition of : a versiclo or two, saving, however, the' inspiration of tlio .wholo sacred text.

Answer:. In'.tho affirmative to both

Til.—'Whether- the opinion can with probability be maintained of thoso among .more recent /writers who have endeavoured to show, from' merely in"tornal. indications or an. inaccurate interpretation of tho sacred- text that' not a few of the pSalms were composed after tho timo of Esdm.au;} .Nehemias, or even after tho time' of the Machabces? Answer: In the negative. VIII. —'Whether from the manifold testimonies, of- the Sacred Books of tlio New Testament and tho unanimous agreement of the Fathers,. as well , as from the admission of the writers'of the Jewish people,several prophetic and Messianic psalms aro 'to bo recognised, as prophesying concerning' tho coming/ kingdom, priesthood, passion, death and resurrection of tlio future Redeemer: and-that .therefore the opinion is to. be-absolutely rejected of these who,'perverting .■thp-'prbphotic.'and Messianic character of the Psalms, twist these same prophecies regarding Christ into merely a prediction regarding, thefuture lot of the Chosen People? Answer: ,In the affirmative to both parts.

'On May 1, 1910,- in an audience graciously granted to both Jlost' Reverend Consultors Secretaries His Holiness approved the foregoing answers and ordered that tlioy be published. ' Rome, May 1, 1910. FULCIUNTJS VIGOROUS, P.S.S. LAURENTIUS JANSSENS, 0.5.8. Consultors Secretaries. '