Msg Base:  AREA 3  - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
  Msg No: 208.  Sat 12-19-92 16:23  (NO KILL)  (RECV'D)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Chuck Conaty
 Subject: praising God

SYSOP NOTE:
      This message was orignally posted 12-16-92.
      It contained errors and they are now corrected.
      Please excuse the original errors.
 
 
CC|Fr Mateo,
  |Why do we praise God?
  |Chuck Conaty
 
 
Dear Chuck,
          Praise
I confess (and it is a fault) that I have often been irritated by the
words, "Praise the Lord!"  They seemed an empty headed, perfervid
refrain. I wanted to ask, "What are you praising him FOR, and why
don't you just say so, instead of yelling, "Praise the Lord!"?
 
This, of course, was an adolescent reaction, prolonged far into
middle age.  Upon reflection and study, I found that "Praise the Lord"
is not a Baptist buzzword.  It is a staple of Catholic liturgy.  To
mention nothing else, our worship is full of alleluias, and is simply
Hebrew for "Praise the Lord".                               alleluias
 
Still, WHY do we praise the Lord?  When we see an Olympic athlete in
action or a beautiful girl or a winsome child, a gorgeous sunset or
an awesome waterfall, we PRAISE what we see in our thoughts and in
our words.  Countless songs are devoted to praising you "yew baby".
When we hear beautiful music, we want to hear it again and tell
others about it.  We let it run through our minds again and again.
We hum it.  This is praise, appreciation.
 
Praise is any form of recognition that someone or something is
beautiful or excellent in its kind.  Praise is spontaneous and natural
and good.  People who are slow to praise are curmudgeonly and
unpleasant to be with.  They must find it hard to get along with
themselves.
 
Praise is a Christian virtue and necessary for a Christian.  St. Paul
writes: "Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there
is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise, think
about these things" (Phil. 4:8).
 
Praise is the mark of a humble, thankful soul.  It is the cure for
cynicism and gloom.
 
Now, why praise the Lord?  Because the Lord is supremely good and
beautiful.  He is the source of everything good and beautiful and
strong in this world.  Every good gift, every good desire, all our
hope and all our happiness come from him (James 1:17).  Praise of the
Lord is simple, saving truth.  Who can keep silent in the presence of
his magnificence and beauty?  One thing I ask of the Lord.  This I
seek, that I may gaze on the loveliness of the Lord" (Ps. 27).  And
gazing, I will praise the Lord.
 
                                        Sincerely in Christ,
                                                Father Mateo
 
 
.ORIGIN: 043/001 - THE ANGELUS,      -the Word became flesh                     
                                and made his dwelling among us -                
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