Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 71:9

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

My hope from my youth, "cast me not away in time of old age" [Psalm 71:9]. What is this time of old age? "When my strength shall fail, forsake not me." Here God makes this answer to you, yea indeed let your strength fail, in order that in you mine may abide: in order that you may say with the Apostle, "When I am made weak, then I am mighty." [2 Corinthians 12:10] Fear not, that you be cast away in that weakness, in that old age. But why? Was not your Lord made weak on the Cross? …

Exposition on Psalm 71 ↗

Bonaventure

The fourth judgment of God is the judgment of abandonment, namely when God abandons man and exposes him to every temptation and sin. "When my strength shall fail, do not forsake me, O Lord. Depart not from me." It is a great peril when a father exposes his son in the midst of wolves.

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2 ↗