Isaiah — Chapter 12
Synopsis: A brief epinicion (victory song) of Christ the Savior — the Church's thanksgiving hymn for redemption. Just as Moses and Israel sang after crossing the Red Sea, so Isaiah invites all Christians to sing after Emmanuel's greater liberation from sin, death, and the devil. Six verses form a complete act of praise: confession, confidence, joy, proclamation, and exaltation of Sion.
Verse 1
And thou shalt say in that day: I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, for thou wast angry with me: thy wrath is turned away, and thou hast comforted me. The Church or the redeemed soul speaks: confessing God's just wrath at sin, then praising the consolation of reconciliation through Christ's death. Lapide: the entire Christian life should be a continuous jubilation and praise of God — beginning in this life what the Saints do forever in heaven. St. Francis, upon receiving the revelation of his predestination, could do nothing but cry 'Laudetur Deus!' for days.
Verse 2
Behold, God is my saviour, I will deal confidently, and will not fear: because the Lord is my strength, and my praise, and he is become my salvation. 'Quia Dominus fortitudo mea et laus mea' = citation of Exodus 15:2 (the canticle of Moses). The redeemed Christian should fear nothing — not sin (covered by Christ's blood), not death (conquered by the Resurrection), not the devil (bound by the Cross). Fiducialiter = boldly, confidently (as a child before a father), not presumptuously.
Verse 3
You shall draw waters with joy out of the saviour's fountains. The waters of salvation = grace, the Holy Spirit, the Sacraments — all drawn with joy from Christ the Fountain (John 7:38: 'out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water'). The plural 'fontibus' = the abundance of graces in the Church. Applied by the Fathers to Baptism and Eucharist in particular.
Verse 4
And you shall say in that day: Praise ye the Lord, and call upon his name: make his works known among the people: remember that his name is high. The missionary proclamation: 'notas facite in populis adinventiones ejus' = make His works known to all nations. This verse programs the Church's universal evangelization.
Verse 5
Sing ye to the Lord, for he hath done great things: shew this forth in all the earth. The great deeds = Incarnation, miracles, Passion, Resurrection, Ascension, founding of the Church, sending of the Holy Spirit. To be announced 'in univers terra' = the Church's universal reach.
Verse 6
Rejoice, and praise, O thou habitation of Sion: for great is he that is in the midst of thee, the Holy One of Israel. Sion = the Church; the great Holy One in her midst = Christ in the Eucharist. Lapide: this verse speaks of the Real Presence — the Sanctus Israel dwelling bodily and gloriously in the midst of His Church through the Most Blessed Sacrament.