The
secret of praise
Praise is prayer through which we marvel
at the wonders of God and in which we sing out our joy. It is one of the most
wonderful expressions of love from creatures to their Creator.
A
personal need
Some people tend to exaggerate when they
admire something. Even more so when it comes to God ! To know Him is to love
Him. To love Him is to praise Him. We could even claim that it is one of our
commandments. So says Paul the Apostle : “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ
Jesus.” (1 Thes. 5 :16-18) This requirement to praise is derived from the first
commandment : “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all
your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor
as yourself.” (Luke 10 :27)
But we also praise because it is our
vocation. Praise echoes without interruption between the Father, the Son and
the Holy Spirit in an ever-sounding concert in which we will participate for
eternity in Heaven. So, why not learn how to praise while we are in this world
? “Our happiness in eternity will consist in praising God. Nobody can pretend
to this future glory without any practice in the present. So, let's start
praising God today” (St Augustine, Commentary on Psalm 148)
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of praise.
He inspired the Psalms, these marvelous songs of praise. He inspires Mary in
her Magnificat, fuels the exaltation of Jesus (Luke 10, 21) and inspires the
thanksgiving of the Apostles on Pentecost. No wonder praise became such a
powerful component of the Charismatic Renewal ; praise is the work of the
Spirit who wants to build a “people of praise” to glorify the Father.
How
to give thanks ?
By way of song, we can better free up
our hearts, and, simultaneously, under the action of the Spirit, we can deepen
our praise. In this way, the Spirit also plays a crucial role in a prayer group
; He is the special means chosen by God to lead us in praise. Why not involve
our whole body in our praise ; “raise your hands to Him and bless your God...”
?
Spontaneous
prayer
It is a whisper that spreads throughout
the prayer assembly, each individual blessing God quietly, in complete freedom.
At first surprised by the sight of “everyone speaking at the same time”, we are
soon touched by the extent, the power and the unity which is realized in this
collective praise.
Fruits
The first fruit is an increase in
fraternal charity. Praise, while expressing our love of God, also strengthens
our fraternal bonds. Praise forms a communion of the same admiration.
Praise also brings out numerous charisms
by invoking the Holy Spirit. As a testimony of our open hearts, of our love and
our availability, praise asks God to come among us. As such, praise is the best
preparation to exercise charisms.
Praise also evangelizes. On the morning
of Pentecost, praise caught the attention of the crowd gathered around the
Cenacle. “We heard them all praise the wonders of God in our own language”
(Acts 2). Many prayer groups have experienced this ; praise attracts and
touches hearts.
Moreover, praise frees us up and heals us
: “... but I will heal them and lead them ; I will give full comfort to them
and to those who mourn for them” (Is 57 :18). There is a mysterious bond
between praise and healing. Witness Paul and Silas giving thanks in prison at
midnight (Ac 16 :25-28) : all the prisoners’ chains were broken. Their praise
not only freed all. As a group prayer, praise invites God's healing power...
even among those who only listen !
A
grace of choice
Praise can thus be seen as special grace
God bestows upon us. By welcoming this grace into our prayer groups, we also
welcome it in our daily and personal life. Thus, while on earth, we prepare
ourselves in faith for the eternal heart to heart, perfect fruit of our
promised salvation, to the praise of His glory.
By
Father Dominique de Chanterac
He Is Alive ! #191 February 2003.
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