Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Psalms 148:1

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

But what God really is, not only have not the prophets seen, but not even angels nor archangels. If you ask them, you shall not hear them answering anything concerning His Essence, but sending up, "Glory to God in the Highest, on earth peace, good will towards men." If you desire to learn something from Cherubim or Seraphim, you shall hear the mystic song of His Holiness, and that "heaven and earth are full of His glory." If you enquire of the higher powers, you shall but find that their one work is the praise of God. …

Homilies On The Gospel Of John 15 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"Praise ye the Lord from heaven" [Psalm 148:1]. As though he had found things in heaven holding their peace in the praise of the Lord, he exhorts them to arise and praise. Never have things in heaven held their peace in the praises of their Creator, never have things on earth ceased to praise God. But it is manifest that there are certain things which have breath to praise God in that disposition wherein God pleases them. For no one praises anything, save what pleases him. …

Exposition on Psalm 148 ↗

Jerome

This psalm has two alleluias in its title; and many think this is because they belong to the title of the psalm itself. But we ought to know that one alleluia belongs to the end of the preceding psalm, while the other alleluia is the beginning of the following psalm. And we ought to take up this rule and understand that all the psalms which have alleluia at their beginning have it also at their end. Many, however, suppose that it is the beginning of another psalm. …

Homily 58, on Psalm 148 ↗

Bonaventure

In the fourth place, that is, from afar, there is born in us the praise of God in all things. For all creatures declare God. What shall I do? I shall sing with them all. The thick cord in the zither does not give forth a pleasant sound if struck alone, but there is harmony in consonance with others. Symbolic figures are received by all creatures in the Scriptures for the sake of praising God, as is evident in the Psalms: "Praise the Lord from the heavens," and "Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord," from above and below. …

Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 18 ↗