Hymn of Praise to the Most Holy Trinity

Each and every day is a new day that contains many graces and opportunities to prepare for the Eternal Day. Holy Mother Church guides us to begin the Liturgy of the Hours with one of four Psalms (95, 24, 67 or 100) where praise of the Most Holy Trinity and thanksgiving is the perfect note to commence the new song of the day. In fact, our whole life is to be a hymn of praise to the Most Holy Trinity.

Think about the trajectory of your day as you pray the Psalms. For example, Psalm 95 lifts our souls and our spirits as we pray: “Come, let us sing to the Lord and shout with joy to the Rock who saves us. Let us approach him with praise and thanksgiving and sing joyful songs to the Lord.” Wow, what a blessing it would be if only we could remain in this spirit all the day long!

One of the Band of Brothers who lived in this spirit and whose life is a hymn of praise to the Most Holy Trinity is SOLT Co-founder, Fr. John McHugh, God reward him. Everyone who had the honor of knowing Fr. John would absolutely agree that joy and song was something that permeated his being. This spirit of the new song is part of the reason why Fr. Flanagan would say that Father John is the Priest that best embodies Our Lady’s spirituality.

Our Lady is the new song! Think of her Magnificat! Think of her as the dove in the Song of Songs! Think of her as she prayed the Gloria Patri! Think of how she would pray the Te Deum or sing the Gloria in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! Think of how she prayed the Psalms, pondered the Word, gave her FIAT, and served Jesus and all others!

I remember Fr. John shared a story with me about the time he took a friend to see the movie named the Song of Bernadette. Fr. John shared that after the movie he asked his friend: “How did you like the movie?” His friend replied: “The movie was good, but I don’t know why they called it the Song of Bernadette because she never sang.”

Fr. John had such a beautiful way of guiding us to what really matters. He was making the point to me that we are always singing. The question is what song are we singing? Is our life a hymn of praise to the Most Holy Trinity? Do the Band of Brothers make beautiful music in harmony that would please Our Blessed Mother?

The Psalms and Canticles of Praise and Thanksgiving in the Liturgy of the Hours and Sacred Scripture can help us live this beautiful way of life. One can even think of the Heavenly Songs found in the Book of Revelation (for example the songs commencing in Chapters 5:9 and 14:3). 

Band of Brothers let us become the Canticum Novum, the New Song, in Psalms 98 and 149. In fact, let us reflect on Our Lady as the new song. This will help us as sons of our Blessed Mother to become a hymn of praise to the Most Holy Trinity. 

Blessed 2021 and beyond in joyful song, Fr. Zachary of the Mother of God, SOLT