Friday, November 15, 2013
598. What is the meaning of the final Amen? (part 2 continuation)
(Comp 598 repetition) “At the end of the
prayer, you say ‘Amen’ and thus you ratify by this word that means ‘so be it’
all that is contained in this prayer that God has taught us.” (Saint Cyril of
Jerusalem).
“In brief”
(CCC 1062) In Hebrew, amen comes from the same root as the
word "believe." This root expresses solidity, trustworthiness,
faithfulness. And so we can understand why "Amen" may express both
God's faithfulness towards us and our trust in him.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1061) The Creed, like the last book of the Bible (Cf.
Rev 22:21), ends with the Hebrew word amen. This word frequently concludes
prayers in the New Testament. The Church likewise ends her prayers with
"Amen." (CCC 1063) In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we find the
expression "God of truth" (literally "God of the Amen"),
that is, the God who is faithful to his promises: "He who blesses himself
in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth [amen]" (Isa 65:16).
Our Lord often used the word "Amen," sometimes repeated (Cf. Mt 6:2,
5, 16; Jn 5:19), to emphasize the trustworthiness of his teaching, his
authority founded on God's truth.
Reflection
(CCC 1064) Thus the Creed's final "Amen" repeats
and confirms its first words: "I believe." To believe is to say
"Amen" to God's words, promises and commandments; to entrust oneself
completely to him who is the "Amen" of infinite love and perfect
faithfulness. The Christian's everyday life will then be the "Amen"
to the "I believe" of our baptismal profession of faith: May your
Creed be for you as a mirror. Look at yourself in it, to see if you believe
everything you say you believe. And rejoice in your faith each day (St.
Augustine, Sermo 58, 11, 13: PL 38,
399). (CCC 1065) Jesus Christ himself is the "Amen" (Rev 3:14). He is the definitive
"Amen" of the Father's love for us. He takes up and completes our
"Amen" to the Father: "For all the promises of God find their
Yes in him. That is why we utter the Amen through him, to the glory of
God" (2 Cor 1:20): Through him,
with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is
yours, almighty Father, God, for ever and ever. AMEN. [END]
End of the
“Comment”
to the
“Compendium”
of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
by
the
"Catechism
of the Catholic Church”
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