Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Psalms 31:19

Eastern Fathers

Cyril of Jerusalem

The sum of your sins does not surpass the magnitude of God's mercies. Your wounds are not beyond the healing skill of the great Physician. Only surrender to him with faith, tell the Physician of your malady. Repeat the words of David: "I said, I will confess against myself my iniquity to the Lord," and in like manner will be verified the second part of the verse: "And you forgave the wickedness of my heart."

Catechetical Lecture 2:6 ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"How abundant," says the Psalmist, "is the multitude of Thy goodness, O Lord, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee, and hast perfected for them that hope in Thee!" By the law we fear God; by faith we hope in God: but from those who fear punishment grace is hidden. …

On The Spirit And The Letter 51 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"How great." Above, the Psalmist set forth tribulation and prayer; here he proceeds to thanksgiving, as one who has been heard. In this he does two things. First, he commemorates universally the benefits that God confers on the human race and on the saints. Second, he breaks forth into thanksgiving, at "Blessed be the Lord, because," and so on. And concerning the first he does two things. First, he shows the mercy of God as to gifts conferred on the saints. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗

Bonaventure

He who does not fear God must fear everywhere; and he who truly fears God has what no one can take from him. But he who fears something other than God has what ought to be taken from him. He who fears God cannot lose God. It is not so with money. If a man has money, he fears lest he lose it, and yet he is certain that he will lose it. But he who fears God is secure everywhere. …

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2 ↗