Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 38:9

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

And who observed and noticed the cause of his groaning? "All my desire is before You" [Psalm 38:9]. For it is not before men who cannot see the heart, but it is before You that all my desire is open! Let your desire be before Him; and "the Father, who sees in secret, shall reward you." [Matthew 6:6] For it is your heart's desire that is your prayer; and if your desire continues uninterrupted, your prayer continues also. …

Exposition on Psalm 38 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"O Lord, before you is all my desire." Here is set forth the remedy of consolation. And first he shows that in God alone is the remedy of his consolation. Second, he shows that this is necessary for him, because he has nothing in himself from which to take comfort, at "My heart." Hos. 13: "Your destruction is from you, O Israel; only from me is your help." Now there is a twofold sorrow. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗

Bonaventure

When the soul does what it can, grace lifts it up easily and God works in it, so that there be a worthy admission of divine matters, corresponding to the Thrones. "O Lord, all my desire is before You; from You my groaning is not hid." Later, when the soul is lifted up, it must not be idle, but should look around. Then, indeed, the soul must be fixed, and standing, and expecting.

Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 22 ↗