PSALM xlii. _Quemadmodum_ [Introit for Burial of the Dead, Prayer Book of 1549] A Psalm of Christ's human soul in His earthly pilgrimage, and in the prospect of death; His desire to return to the Father. Hence also suitable for the Christian soul in sickness and dying. PSALM xliii. _Judica me, Deus_ A continuation of the previous Psalm. Christ speaks in it to the Father as He approaches His Passion, and contemplates with joy the sacrifice He is about to offer for man. Hence this Psalm has long been used in the Church as the immediate preparation of the Priest for offering the Holy Eucharist. PSALM xliv. _Deus, auribus_ Rom. viii. 36 The appeal of the suffering and persecuted {117} Church to Christ; her confession of faithfulness to that which He has entrusted to her keeping. PSALM xlv. _Enructavit cor meum_ Heb. i. Christmas Day, morning (Prayer Book) The Church celebrates the Incarnation under the figure of a royal marriage. The bridegroom is Christ Himself, described in vv. 3-9; the bride, the King's daughter, is the Church destined to spread into all lands. The "daughter of Tyre" is symbolical of the heathen world coming to Christ. The "queen" (or queen-mother) of ver. 10 has often been interpreted of the Blessed Virgin. PSALM xlvi. _Deus nosier refugium_ A Psalm of the Church's confidence: she is conscious of the presence of Christ and the Holy Spirit (ver. 4, R.V.) within her; and confesses that this is her eternal strength amidst the warfare and tumult of the world. PSALM xlvii. _Omnes gentes, plaudite_ Ascension Day, morning (Prayer Book) The joy of the Church in the glorious Ascension of Christ; and in His universal sovereignty, which all the world will ultimately acknowledge. PSALM xlviii. _Magnus Dominus_ Whitsun Day, morning (Prayer Book) The joy of the Church in her ideal beauty and {118} her steadfastness; and her sure hope of ultimate victory over all the powers of this world. [The Psalm should be compared both with the promise of Christ in Matt. xvi. 18 and the picture of the perfected Church in Rev. xxi., xxii.] PSALM xlix. _Audite hæc, omnes_ The Church's meditation upon the vanity of human riches and greatness in view of death; the need of man's redemption through Christ alone (vv. 7, 8); the certainty of the resurrection of the faithful through the Resurrection of Christ. PSALM 1. _Deus deorum_ The second advent of Christ as the final Judge of the world, and especially of His Church. PSALM li. _Miserere mei, Deus_ Ash Wednesday (Commination Service) The Church's confession of sin, and of failure to fulfil her great vocation in the world; her prayer to Christ for forgiveness and restoration. (See on Ps. vi.) PSALM lii. _Quid gloriaris?_ The Church's challenge to "the prince of this world" and to Antichrist; and the confession of her own eternal hope in Christ. {119} PSALM liii. _Dixit insipiens_ See on Ps. xiv. PSALM liv. _Deus, in nomine_