VATICAN CITY, MAY 26, 2004 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address John Paul II gave at today’s general audience, which he dedicated to comment on the canticle found in chapters 11 and 12 of the Book of Revelation. The address was in Italian.
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1. The canticle we just raised to the “Lord God Almighty,” which is proposed in the Liturgy of Vespers, is the result of the selection of some verses of chapters 11 and 12 of Revelation. The last of the seven trumpets has been heard, which resound in this book of struggle and hope. Then, the 24 elders of the heavenly court, who represent all the righteous of the Old and New Covenants (see Revelation 4:4; 11:16), intone a hymn that perhaps was already in use in the liturgical assemblies of the early Church. They adore the sovereign God of the world and of history, ready to establish his Kingdom of justice, love and truth.
In this prayer the heart of the righteous is heard pulsating, who await in hope the coming of the Lord who will make the events of humanity more luminous, often immersed in the darkness of sin, injustice, deceit and violence.
2. The song intoned by the 24 elders is designed in reference to two Psalms: Psalm 2, which is a messianic song (see 2:1-5) and Psalm 98, which celebrates the divine royalty (see 98:1). In this way, the just and decisive judgment of the Lord is exalted, which he will pronounce on the whole of human history.
This beneficial intervention has two aspects, as two are the characteristics that describe the face of God. He is, indeed, judge but he is also Savior; he condemns evil but recompenses faithfulness; he is justice but above all love.
The identity of the righteous, already saved in the Kingdom of God, is significant. They are distributed in three categories of “servants” of the Lord, namely, prophets, saints and those who fear his name (see Revelation 11:18). It is a sort of spiritual portrait of the people of God, according to the gifts received in baptism and made to flower in the life of faith and love. A profile that is embodied in both small and great (see 19:5).
3. Our hymn, as already mentioned, is also elaborated by using other verses of Chapter 12, which make reference to a grandiose and glorious scene of the Apocalypse. In it are confronted the woman who has given birth to the Messiah and the dragon of wickedness and violence. In this duel between good and evil, between the Church and Satan, suddenly a heavenly voice resounds, which announces the defeat of the “Accuser” (see 12:10). This name is the translation of the Hebrew name of “Satan,” given to a personage who, according to the Book of Job, is a member of God’s heavenly court, where he takes the part of the Public Prosecutor (see Job 1:9-11; 2:4-5; Zechariah 3:1).
He “accuses them day and night before our God,” that is, he casts doubt upon the sincerity of the faith of the righteous. Now the satanic dragon is silenced and at the root of his defeat is “the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11), the passion and death of Christ the Redeemer.
To his victory is associated the testimony of the martyrdom of Christians. There is a profound participation in the redeeming work of the Lamb on the part of the faithful who have not hesitated — “love for life did not deter them from death” (ibid.). It reminds us of the words of Christ: “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life” (John 12:25).
4. The heavenly soloist who intones the canticle concludes it by inviting the whole angelic choir to join in the hymn of joy for the salvation attained (see Revelation 12:12). We join that voice in rendering festive thanksgiving full of hope, despite the trials that mark our journey toward glory.
We do so hearing the words that the martyr St. Polycarp addressed to the “Lord God Almighty” when he was already bound to the stake: “Lord God Almighty, Father of your Beloved and Blessed Son Jesus Christ …, be blessed for having judged me worthy of this day and in this hour to take my place in the list of your martyrs, to participate in the chalice of your Christ before resurrecting in soul and body forever in the immortality of the Holy Spirit. Grant that I may be received today among your martyrs, and that the sacrifice that you, faithful and true God, have prepared for me may be fruitful and pleasing. I praise you, I bless you, I glorify you for it all, through the eternal and heavenly Supreme Priest, your Beloved Son Jesus Christ, with whom be glory to you and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ages to come. Amen” (“Atti e Passioni dei Martiri” [Acts and Passion of the Martyrs], Milan, 1987, p. 23).
[Translation by ZENIT]
[At the end of the audience, one of the Pope’s aides read the following summary in English:]
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The canticle that we have just heard is a hymn of praise to God, the Lord of history and the world, who is ready to establish his kingdom of justice, love and truth. God is both Judge and Savior. He condemns evil and rewards faithfulness; he is just, but is not lacking in compassion.
Satan, the Accuser, is cast out, and he has no more power over the righteous. The heavenly hosts are invited to sing out in joy for the salvation that has been wrought. We too add our voices to this great hymn of thanksgiving, and we are filled with hope as we continue our journey toward glory.
[The Holy Father then greeted pilgrims in several languages. In English, he said:]
I am pleased to greet the English-speaking visitors present at this audience today, in particular the pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Chicago led by their archbishop, Cardinal Francis George. Upon all of you, especially those from England, Ireland, Sweden, Indonesia and the United States of America, I cordially invoke an abundance of grace and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
