dom and stature, suffering
persecution, proclaiming the Gospel, dying, and rising "from the deep
of the earth again" (ver. 18). Consequently it is a Psalm of the
saintly life in its conformity to Christ,

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PSALM lxxii. _Deus, indicium_

Matt. ii. 1-11

The Church's joy in Christ, as the Son of David and the King of
humanity. The peace and justice of His Kingdom are described, its
universality and eternity.

PSALM lxxiii. _Quam bonus Israel!_

A Psalm of the inward struggle and victory of _faith_. Christ Himself
may be heard speaking in it, as He is "the author and finisher of our
faith," and in His human soul fought for us the battle of faith. So
the Psalm becomes the Church's testimony to the individual believer of
that ultimate answer to the trials of faith which is found in union
with God through Christ.

PSALM lxxiv. _Ut quid, Deus?_

A Psalm of the Church, persecuted and despoiled, appealing to the
eternal sovereignty of Christ over nature and man, as it has been
revealed in all the history of the Church, both under the old covenant
and the new.

PSALM lxxv. _Confitebimur tibi_

A dialogue, as it were, between Christ and His Church. He asserts His
sovereignty over the world, His justice, and its ultimate vindication.

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PSALM lxxvi. _Notus in Judaea_

A Psalm of the victory of Christ; of "the wrath of the Lamb," and the
final judgment of the world.

PSALM lxxvii. _Voce mea ad Dominum_

Like Ps. lxxiii., a Psalm of the struggles of faith. The thought of
God's past work in His Church as revealed in history, and of His
eternal years, is the Church's consolation when He seems to hide His
face.

PSALM lxxviii. _Attendite, popule_

Matt. xiii. 35; _cf._ xxiii. 37

The voice of Christ recounting the history of His Church, His patience
and mercy with backslidings, His many deliverances; ending with His own
Incarnation and personal rule of His Church, under the figure of
David's call to the throne.

PSALM lxxix. _Deus, venerunt_

A prayer of the Church, especially of the martyrs and confessors, in
time of persecution and bloodshed.

PSALM lxxx. _Qui regis Israel_

A prayer of the Church when the light of God's presence waxes dim, when
Christ's vineyard is broken into by secular oppression. The Church
{125} prays that Christ's power may again be made known (ver. 17) and
that she herself may be converted.

PSALM lxxxi. _Exultate Deo_

The Chur