J.M.J.
The Divine Praises is a succession of acclamations that offers praises to the Almighty God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and all the Angels and Saints. Every line begins with “Blessed be,” which is why they are commonly altogether referred to as the “Blessed be God” prayer. Traditionally, the priest leads the congregation of faithful in reciting the Divine Praises following the Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, right before he carries and returns the Host, the Body of Jesus Christ, into the tabernacle.
A Brief History of the Divine Praises
1797
Fr. Luigi Felici, a Jesuit priest, composed the prayer in Italian as a way to make reparation to the irreverent words said and other blasphemies committed against God and His Divine name, His Most Holy Mother, His angels and saints. The original was comprised of only eight lines.
It is really interesting to know that over the years, a number of Popes expanded it to its present-day form of fourteen lines, by each adding a particular praise:
1897 – Most Sacred Heart
Pope Leo XIII added this praise a century after the Divine Praises was originated. It was two years before he issued the 1899 Encyclical Letter Annum Sacrum (Holy Year) on the consecration of the entire world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
1960 – Most Precious Blood
Pope Saint John XXIII delivered in Rome the message, On Promoting Devotion to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the eve of its Feast.
1964 – Holy Spirit, the Paraclete
Blessed Pope Paul VI made this addition in honor of the Holy Ghost.
1851 – The Immaculate Conception
Blessed Pope Pius IX added this praise for the Mother of God, as early as three years before the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed thru his 1854 papal bull Ineffabilis Deus (The Ineffable God); and seven years before the 1858 Apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes to Saint Bernadette Soubirous wherein she herself revealed, “I am the Immaculate Conception.”
1921 – Saint Joseph, Most Chaste Spouse
Pope Benedict XV further nudged the Catholic Church towards St. Joseph by adding this praise. It was a follow up to his 1920 moto propio Bonum Sane, issued during World War I, in which he entrusted the faithful to the care of the Holy Patriarch Saint Joseph and requested that devotions to him be practiced diligently all over the world.
1952 – The Assumption
Pope Pius XII included this praise two years after he declared the dogma of the Assumption of Mary through his 1950 Apostolic Constitution Munificentissimus Deus (The Most Bountiful God).
The Divine Praises is a prayer that can also be said privately. Some time ago, I was trying to find deeply meaningful words to thank God for the graces He bestows upon my family- such as saving me from danger a few times and helping us with seemingly impossible problems that He resolved for us. While praying the Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran Church, its well-known National Shrine, wherein this prayer was included, I realized how it beautifully expressed my praise and thanksgiving to God, to the Blessed Mother, to Saint Joseph, who is my Patron Saint, and even to the Angels and the Saints, who are important intercessors too for our salvation. Since then, I personally chose to include it among my constant prayers. And whenever I join the Evening Prayer, I lovingly recite it.
Here is a simple artwork I made with the Divine Praises. I suggest that you keep this with you:
My Reflection:
Why pray the Divine Praises? There are valuable reasons why we should include it in our daily recitation of prayers, especially when we realize not only what it means for Our Lord God but also, more importantly, what it does to our souls.
1. It is a form of higher thanksgiving.
It is said that the right format of praying is “ACTS” – Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. When I was a child, it was often taught in our “Christian Living” classes. Perhaps many of us remember to say the contrition for our sins, especially, we often hear the Confiteor or the “I confess” during Mass. I’m quite sure that nobody forgets to say his or her prayer requests or supplications. Many even probably jump to that part. Although it can be understandable at times, it is sad whenever we forget to say our thanks to the Lord for the blessings we receive. But I think what’s most common among us is to forget to tell God of our adoration of Him; to say our praises to Him.
Having gratitude, when we receive some favor, kindness, or help from another person, we say, “Thank you!” to him or her. There are times when we want to emphasize how thankful or overjoyed we are, such that we say more- “Thank you! How kind of you/ It is very helpful of you/ You are so generous.” We say more because we want to let the other person feel how much we appreciate both the act and the wonderful person that he or she is, by adding those ‘extra’ words.
That is why I personally think that praying the Divine Praises is a ‘higher’ form of thanksgiving. Declaring the divinity of God and giving praises to Him, the Holy Family- Jesus, Mary and Joseph, the Angels and the Saints is more than a simple “Thanksgiving” in ACTS. As humans on earth, we are unable to praise the Almighty God enough. At least, by proclaiming our “Adoration” of Him whenever we pray the Divine Praises, He sees our higher desire to recognize His greatness beyond our words can ever say.
We do not need big or grand blessings to offer praise to God. Remember that the graces He grants us depend on what keeps us in the path to holiness, on what suits us the most in order to get to Heaven. His will for us is what we must follow; not go against it by getting what we want through means that are opposite the teachings of the Church. Like many Catholics already do, we should glorify God even for the simplest of graces, which we hardly even notice sometimes, such as providing us aid that come just right in time, sending us the right people, or removing the wrong ‘toxic’ people who silently cause miseries in our lives.
2. It shows humility.
As creatures of God, we must be humble to acknowledge that we are the created beings, and that He is our Creator. We are able to do that by praying the Divine Praises. Through this formula prayer, we do not forget to recite the entirety of the divinity of God and the blessedness of Mary, Saint Joseph, the Angels, and the Saints. The essential lines to praise them are complete.
On the contrary, non-Catholics of different sorts of denominations and sects have contempt over formula prayers. While some resist to pray them ‘just so’ they can go against Catholic practice, most think that formula prayers are meaningless and useless repetitions for people like them who believe that “Jesus is my friend.” However, at times, such people develop a ‘too friendly’ attitude towards God that how they treat and talk with Him sounds as if Jesus is basically like any human friend. But true ‘friendship’ with God does not mean doing away with formalities or pious salutations. So for those who are tempted with the sin of pride to feel that way, a formula prayer of praise is actually a good starting point to keeping a humble and more reverent attitude before God.
When we thank the Lord, but forget to adore Him, we might mistakenly think that we ‘earned’ the blessings that He is giving us. We risk being too self-focused, than just being grateful. God’s goodness is always worthy of our praises because while we must be deserving of His blessings, keep in mind that it is still according to God’s will that we receive all graces. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
“Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.46”
– CCC 1996
3. It is an expression of love.
If we are truly in love with someone, we tend to give him or her lots of praises. For example, we naturally compliment their cute smile, funny laugh, sweet voice, or beautiful face. On the other hand, if somebody claims that they love you, but they do not praise you, or rarely do so, then he or she is either selfish and loves only oneself, or he or she actually does not love you at all. That’s because we know that when we genuinely love someone, despite their imperfections, we see more those good qualities that make them stand out from the rest, and it just simply comes out of hearts to compliment them for those. Expressing our praise of them then becomes our other way of saying “I love you.”
For me, reciting the Divine Praises is an expression of our love for God, Mary, Saint Joseph, the Angels and the Saints. The same principle is ever so true for the admiration that we must have for Them who are in Heaven, especially God who is perfect. If you praise the one you love, should you not give the highest praise to God who loves you unconditionally, and incomparably, than any creature can ever do? Thus, it is a good test for ourselves whether we love God or not- if we praise Him, and if we are able to still do so amidst our sufferings, and maintain our faith even when it does not seem that we get what we ask for from Him in prayer.
4. It is in reparation for the blasphemies and many other forms of impiety committed against God.
Our society frequently uses God and His Name as part of daily language, whether in bad words, curses, or blasphemous expressions. We hear “Oh my God!” almost everyday, in different contexts and emotions, in serious matters or joking times. Curses or cusses are used along with the Names of God, Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Mother, more commonly in movies and television programs, and often, during inappropriate, disturbing, or immoral scenes, without us getting horrified. Sadly, many even often chime in with those jokes.
The Divine Praises was purposely written in the 18th century in reparation for the rampant use of irreverent words and blasphemies against God. Such prayer was relevant then, as it is much needed now in the modern times. Praying it helps repair the damage we cause on God, Mary, Saint Joseph, the Angels and the Saints, through our intentional or unintentional and conscious or unconscious participation and amusement with those various forms of impious expressions made by ourselves, other people and the media. So the next time we hear of such, quietly and earnestly say, “Blessed be God!” and the other lines of praise.
5. It is for our own salvation.
The fourth weekday Preface in the Missal says, before the Sanctus (Holy) is recited:
“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God.
For, although you have no need of our praise, yet our thanksgiving is itself your gift, since our praises add nothing to your greatness but profit us for salvation through Christ our Lord.”
We, as humans, need the affirmation and approval of others; to confirm in ourselves that we are good. There are times when we compare ourselves to others, and think that we are better. But usually, we are in need of the praises of other people to know if what we believe about ourselves is true.
God, however, does not need our praises. He does not need to compare Himself, no need to confirm His greatness. Because He is who He is:
“I Am who I Am”
– Exodus 3:14
The infinite existence of the Lord does not require our presence. But as His creatures that came to being, we need Him in order to exist.
It is for our own good to praise God, because “our thanksgiving itself is [His] gift.” Our praises “profit our salvation.” It is not easy to understand how praising Him merits our souls and benefits our salvation. But I think it is because we live to glorify God. Just as all the other living creatures glorify God, like the flowers, which bloom to display the glory of God, we are called to glorify Him with our words and actions. In fact, it is the reason for our creation:
“God, infinitely perfect and blessed in himself, in a plan of sheer goodness freely created man to make him share in his own blessed life. For this reason, at every time and in every place, God draws close to man. He calls man to seek him, to know him, to love him with all his strength.”
– CCC 1Question: Why did God make you?
Answer: “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him forever in the next.”
– Question 6 of the Baltimore Catechism, Lesson First of the First Communion Edition and Lesson First of the Confirmation Edition
Hence, by offering the Divine Praises to God, Mary, Saint Joseph, the Angels and the Saints, we are reminded of our life’s purpose and given a way to carry it out. It is so important that we don’t just merely exist and wander through day-to-day, but to serve God in ways that’s most fitting of His gloriousness.
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Thank you so much to all our Readers, Facebook Likers and Sharers who sent me heartwarming Messages and made touching Comments regarding my recent Articles. It’s truly kind of you. Know that I always remember you and pray for you.
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I’m sharing with you my humble appreciation of the Divine Praises and hope that more and more of us constantly remember the Holy Trinity, and our Heavenly Intercessors, and pray it to them with much fervor.
Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
Email: [email protected]
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The Divine Praises are Completely Justified And Biblically Correct Praise Our Creator,
His immaculate Gracefulness Amen
True Evangelical Salvation is in Our King Jesus Christ Our Almighty Husband of Us The Holy Vatican Catholic Church Of GOD In Christ His Only Authentic Pious Wife Amen
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