Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 119:164

Eastern Fathers

Desert Fathers

Bishop Epiphanius of Cyprus, of holy memory, was told this by the abbot of his monastery in Palestine. 'By your prayers we have kept our rule; we carefully observe the offices of terce, sext, none and vespers.' But Epiphanius rebuked him and said, 'Then you are failing to pray at other times. The true monk ought to pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). He should always be singing psalms in his heart.'

The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks ↗

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

Such was, assuredly, the conduct of the Psalmist, who says, "Seven times a day do I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments" [Psalm 119:164]. The words "seven times a day," signify "evermore." For this number is wont to be a symbol of universality; because after six days of the divine work of creation, a seventh of rest was added; [Genesis 2:2] and all times roll on through a revolving cycle of seven days. …

Exposition on Psalm 119 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

Frequent prayer also commends us to God. For if the prophet says, "Seven times a day have I praised you," though he was busy with the affairs of a kingdom, what ought we to do, who read, "Watch and pray that you enter not into temptation"? Certainly our customary prayers ought to be said with giving of thanks, when we rise from sleep, when we go forth, when we prepare to receive food, after receiving it and at the hour of incense, when at last we are going to rest.

Concerning Virginity 3.4.18 ↗

Bonaventure

On account of which it should be noted that sacred Scripture sets before us a sevenfold septenary for consideration, namely of the capital vices, of the Sacraments, of the virtues, of the gifts, of the beatitudes, of the petitions, and of the glorious endowments, three spiritual and four corporal: the septenary of vices as the first, from which we ought to withdraw; the septenary of the Sacraments as the second, through which we ought to advance; the septenary of the endowments as the last, which we ought to desire; the septenary of …

Breviloquium, Part 5 ↗