Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 38:10

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"My heart is troubled." Wherefore is it troubled? "And my courage hath failed me." Generally something comes upon us on a sudden; the "heart is troubled;" the earth quakes; thunder is sent from Heaven; a formidable attack is made upon us, or a horrible sound heard. Perhaps a lion is seen on the road; the "heart is troubled." Perhaps robbers lie in wait for us; the "heart is troubled:" we are filled with a panic fear; from every quarter something excites anxiety. Wherefore? …

Exposition on Psalm 38 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"My heart is troubled." Here he shows the necessity that his consolation be from God, because there is nothing in him from which he can take comfort. There are three things in a person: namely, the intellect, the will, and the executive power. The intellect directs, the will commands, the power executes; and these three fail in me. Because "my heart," that is, my affection, "is troubled," that is, stirred by sorrow and agitation. Ps. 59: "You have moved the earth and troubled it," etc. Or it is troubled with solicitude for the world. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗

Bonaventure

The danger of transgression ought to move us to keep God's commandments, because transgressors lose many goods. Transgression blinds the intellect of the true and takes away the affection for the good: and on account of this, in the person of the transgressor the Psalmist says: "My strength has forsaken me, and the light of my eyes, and it itself is not with me."

Collationes de Decem Praeceptis, Collation 1 ↗