Psalm 23(24), using the Catholic liturgical numbering followed in the Grail Psalter and other official texts of the Roman Rite, is a majestic hymn of praise and procession. This responsorial setting by Andrew Moore, published by McCrimmon, draws on verses 1–6 with the refrain taken from verse 7: “Grow higher, ancient doors: let the King of glory enter.”

The psalm opens by proclaiming the Lord’s absolute sovereignty over creation: “The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples.” It then asks who is worthy to climb the mountain of the Lord and stand in his holy place, answering with the qualities of moral integrity – clean hands, a pure heart, and honest dealings with one’s neighbour. It promises blessings and reward to those who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Scholars trace its origins to the worship of ancient Israel. Traditionally attributed to David, it is widely understood as an entrance liturgy or processional hymn composed for the Jerusalem Temple. It most likely accompanied the ceremonial bringing of the Ark of the Covenant into the sanctuary, as described in 2 Samuel 6. The text moves from a celebration of God the Creator, through the question of who may approach the divine presence, to a dramatic dialogue at the gates that identifies the incoming King as “the Lord of hosts, strong and mighty”.

In the Roman Rite, this psalm holds particular significance at the Office of Readings on Holy Saturday. Sung during the solemn pause between Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, its antiphon receives a profoundly Christological interpretation. The “King of glory” is Christ, who on this day descends into the realm of the dead. The ancient doors symbolise the gates of Hades, which he bursts open in the Harrowing of Hell, freeing the righteous souls who awaited redemption. The psalm thus proclaims Christ’s victory over death, his triumphant entry into the underworld, and the opening of heaven’s gates in his risen humanity. It perfectly complements the patristic reading for the day, uniting themes of creation, moral purity and paschal redemption at the very heart of the Paschal Triduum.