Chapter 9: The number of psalms at the night office
During this winter season the office of Vigils begins with this verse recited three times; Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.
(From para. 1 of Ch. 8 of Saint Benedict's Rule, trans. by Patrick Barry OSB, 1997.)
The images of night and winter are metaphors, for me, of the experience of silence and stillness in meditation. In faith, God "opens my lips" to a silent, interior saying of the mantra, and in this way, the praise of selfless attention is born.
In Latin instead of "declare", the word is "announce", "annuntiabit". It reminds me of the Annunciation when Mary accepted the Word into her very being and then birthed Him, announced Him into the world. Meditation is kind of like that when you think about it. Each one is like Mary,announcing the Word in our very lives in grateful praise.
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