Fathers

Loading…

What the Fathers say

Psalms 18:2

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"O Lord, My stay, and My refuge, and My deliverer" [Psalm 18:2]. O Lord, who hast stayed Me, because I sought refuge with You: and I sought refuge, because You have delivered Me. "My God is My helper; and I will hope in Him." My God, who hast first afforded me the help of Your call, that I might be able to hope in You. …

Exposition on Psalm 18 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"My God." Here he sets forth the affection of hope. And there is a difference between hope and love, because love is a unitive power -- for we love something insofar as we consider it our own; and therefore he says that God is his strength: Is. 12: "The Lord is my strength and my praise, and he has become my salvation." Hope implies defense from without; and God does both. Or thus: the object of hope is a good that is arduous, future, and possible to attain. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗

Bonaventure

"I will love you, O Lord, my fortitude; the Lord is my firmament and my refuge and my deliverer." Catherine and Lucy were strong through the love of God. If we are not bound to the Lord through charity, we easily lose our fortitude.

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5 ↗