Loading…
VRSZ
This sets the art on your cards and whose commentary you read on each verse. You can change it later in settings.
Translation
Loading…
What the Fathers say
Western Saints
Augustine of Hippo
"Awake; why sleepest Thou, O Lord?" (ver. 23). Who is addressed, and who is the speaker? Would not he be more correctly said to sleep and slumber, who speaks such words as these? He replies to you, I know what I am saying: I know that "He that keepeth Israel doth not sleep:" but yet the Martyrs cry, "Awake; why sleepest Thou, O Lord?" O Lord Jesus, Thou wast slain; Thou didst "sleep" in Thy Passion; to us Thou hast now "awaked" from sleep. For "we" know that Thou hast now "awaked" again. …
Thomas Aquinas
"Arise, why do you sleep, O Lord?" Here he invokes the help of God. And first a question of wonder is set forth. Second, a petition for divine help. We therefore wonder because he permits his saints to be so afflicted. And this can be either from a defect of will or of knowledge. That he does not will it happens in two ways: either from sluggishness or from contempt. As to the first he says, "Why do you sleep, O Lord?" As if to say: is it because of sluggishness that you permit us to be afflicted? …
Translation