Daniel 3:52-56

The responsorial for today’s feast is actually from the Book of Daniel. While the Psalms are a central part of the liturgical tradition and offer a rich tapestry of praise and prayer, the Church occasionally incorporates readings from other books of the Bible to provide different perspectives or highlight a specific theological theme.

This passage from Daniel is commonly known as the “Song of the Three Young Men” or the “Benedicite.” It is part of the famous account of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their deliverance from the fiery furnace. Their song is a hymn of praise and thanksgiving that they offer to God while in the furnace.

The hymn acknowledges God’s power, sovereignty, and greatness, which aligns with the theme of the Holy Trinity as the three persons of God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — working together in perfect unity and majesty.

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;

The song begins with a declaration of blessing and praise to the Lord.

“The God of our fathers” likely refers to the promises God made to Abraham and his family (Genesis 12:1-3; 17:5-8), which are the source of all the rights and privileges claimed by Israel as God’s chosen people.

Including this in prayer to God is a way of acknowledging all the great things God has done on behalf of his people.

and blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

In Hebrew cultural tradition, one’s name carries the inherent qualities, characteristics, and aspirations of the individual and encompasses part of their identity.

As such, God’s name is to be praised and exalted above all other names, for all eternity.

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

God is next exalted in the Temple, the central hub of religious devotion for the entire nation. In Jewish cosmology, the Temple itself was the axis mundi, the center of the world and the meeting point between heaven and earth. It was the sacred dwelling place of God’s presence on Earth.

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

While the Temple was revered as a sacred place where God’s presence dwelt, it did not contain or confine his divine essence. God’s true throne resided high above the heavens.

Blessed are you who look into the depths from your throne upon the cherubim, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

The final verse highlights God’s omniscience. God sees and knows all things, even the depths of the universe.

In ancient Near Eastern cultures, thrones were often adorned with images of cherubim, representing the authority and sovereignty of the ruler. By using this imagery, the psalmist portrays God as the supreme King whose reign extends over all creation.