De Profundis (Psalm 129-130)
Psalm 129[1] (or Psalm 130 in the Hebrew Bible) is the Psalm of repentance and forgiveness. As such, it is recited in the Catholic liturgy for funerals.
In the work of Maria Valtorta, Jesus recites it at the Beautiful Water at the beginning of communal life with the Apostles[2]. He does so for the crowd that has come to listen to him and recites it, like a Levite leading the choir, as "Brother of men by flesh, Son of the Father by the Spirit". If the groaning of men is joined to his voice, God will not reject it.
He immediately links it to Psalm 50(51)[3], also called Miserere, which calls upon Love and Mercy of God. Thus, he perfectly places the De Profundis in the context of the seven Psalms of penance, of which it is the sixth:
- Psalm 6[4] - Lord, do not punish me in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.
- Psalm 31(32)[5] - Blessed is the one whose fault is taken away, whose sin is forgiven!
- Psalm 37(38)[6] - Lord, correct me without anger and rebuke me without Violence.
- Psalm 50(51)[7] - Have mercy on me, my God, according to your love; in your great mercy blot out my sin.
- Psalm 101(102)[8] - Lord, hear my prayer: let my cry come before you!
- Psalm 142(143)[9] - Lord, hear my prayer; in your justice listen to my calls; in your faithfulness answer me.
"From the deep abyss where I—Humanity—have fallen, I cry out to You, Lord. Hear the voice of the one who looks at himself and sighs, and do not close your ears to my words. It is horrible to see myself, O God. Horrible I am also in my own eyes! And what shall I be in Yours? Do not look at my faults, Lord, for otherwise I could not stand in your Presence, but show me your mercy. You said it: 'I am Mercy.' And I believe in your word. My Soul, wounded and downcast, trusts in You, relies on your promises, and from dawn to night, from youth to old age, I will hope in You." [2]