tia aliquid ad devotionem pertinens, excitant mentes. 2. 2. q. 83. art, 12. ad 2. And on this account he says our Lord has taught us to pray with the voice, that thereby in reciting our prayers we may apply the mind to suing for what we ask. And this is what we read in the celebrated Canon of the Fifth Council of Lateran, beginning with Dolentes, namely, that the Office be recited Studiose et devote, quantum Deus dederit: Studiose, by pronouncing all the words: Devote, by exercising the heart in the sentiments which are uttered. We should be thoroughly persuaded of what St. Agustine says, that the graces which we desire and beseech for ourselves and for others, are obtained more by the effusions of the heart than by the sounds of the voice. Hoc negotium plus gemitibus, quam sermonibus agitur. S. Aug, ad Probam, Ep. 122. c. 10.

Cassian relates that the monks of Egypt held that it was better to sing ten verses deliberately and devoutly, than an entire psalm with distraction of mind: Utilius habent decem versus cum rationabili assignatione cantari, quam totum Psalmum cum confusione mentis effundi. Cass. Instit. lib. 2. cap. 11. Oh how many lights and graces are received through the psalms when recited with deliberation and reflection! St. Epiphanius says:

Psalmus mentes illuminat, in cœlum reducit, homines familiores Deo reddit, animam lætificat. S. Epiph. tom. 1. pag. 54. The Psalms enlighten the mind, rejoice the soul, direct it to heaven, and render it familiar with God.

It is true that many passages of the psalms are obscure and difficult to be understood without explanation; but there are many -others easy and clear, which serve to reanimate our faith, our confidence in God, our love for him, and our good desires. They reanimate our faith, by placing before our eyes the eternal truths of the existence of God, of the creation of the world, of the last things, and of the immortality of the soul. How especially do they invigorate our faith by the many prophecies which they contain of the great work of our Redemption, delivered so many ages before the event took place! Holy David predicted in many places the coming of our Redeemer: Redemisti me, Domine Deus veritatis. Ps. xxx. Redemptionem misit populo suo. Ps. cx. Copiosa apud eum redemptio. Ps. cxxix. He predicted in particular many things regarding the passion. He predicted the council of the chief Priest and elders, when they would assemble to bring about the death of Jesus Christ. Principes convenerunt in unum adversus Dominum et adversus Chris

tum ejus. Ps. 11. He predicted the crucifixion: Foderunt munus meas et pedes meos: dirumeraverunt omnia ossa mea. Ps. xxi. He foretold how the executioners would divide his garments, and for his inner garment cast lots: Diviserunt sibi vestimenta mea, et super vestem meam miserunt sortem. Eod. Ps. xxi. He predicted the thirst of Jesus Christ, and the gall mixed with vinegar which they would give him to drink upon the cross. Et dederunt in escam meam fel: et in siti mea potaverunt me aceto. Ps. lxviii. He predicted also the conversion of the Gentiles: Convertentur ad Dominum universi fines terræ, et adorabunt in conspectu ejus unviersæ familiæ gentium. Ps xxi.

How many beautiful sentiments of confidence in God do the Psalms contain! In te Domine, speravi, non confundar in æternum. Ps. xxx. In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum. Ibid. Quoniam in me speravit, liberabo eum. Ps. xc. Laudans invocabo Dominum, eti ab inimicis meis salvus ero. Ps. xvii. Protector est omnium sperantium in se. Ib. Dominus firmamentum meum et refugium meum et liberator meus. Ib. Vivet anima mea et laudabit te. Ps. cxviii. Misericordias Domini in aeternum cantabo. Ps. lxxxviii. Spiritus tuus bonus deducet me in terram rectam. Ps. cxlii. Dominus illuminatio mea et salus mea; quem timebo? Ps. xxvi. Sperantem autem in Domino mis

ericordia circumdabit. Ps. xxxi. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos quemadmodum speravemus in te. Ps. xxxii.

How many acts of love! Diligam te, Domine, fortitudo mea. Ps. xvii. Quid mihi est in cœlo ? Et a te quid volui super terram ? Deus cordis mei et pars mea in æternum. Ps. lxxii. Sitivit in te anima mea, quam multipliciter tibi caro mea? Ps. lxii. Satiabor, cum apparuerit gloria tua. Ps. xv. Confiteantur tibi populi, Deus, confiteantur tibi populi omnes. Ps. lxvi. Magnificate Dominum mecum, et exaltemus nomen ejus in idipsum. Ps. xxxiii. Memor fui Dei, et delectatus sum. Ps. lxxvi. Paratum cor meum, Deus, paratum cor meum. Ps. lvi. Quemadmodum desiderat cervus ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te Deus. Ps. xli. Quando veniam, et apparebo ante faciem Dei? Ibid.

How many acts of thanksgiving! Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus, quæ retribuit mihi? Ps. cxv. Venite, audite, et narrabo, omnes qui timetis Deum, quanta fecit animæ meœe. Ps. lxv. How many acts of humility! Nisi quia Dominus adjuvit me, paulominus habitasset in inferno anima mea. Ps. lxxxiii. Eruisti animam meam ex inferno inferiori. Ibid. Et non intres in judicium cum servo tuo, quia non justificabitur in conspectu tuo, omnis vivens. Ps. cxlii. Ego autem sum vermis, et

non homo, opprobrium hominum, et abjectio plebis. Ps. xxi. Erravi sicut ovis quæ periit, quære servum tuum. Ps. cxviii. How

of contrition! Iniquitatem odio abominatus sum. Ps. cxviii.

many acts habui, et

Exitus aquarum

non custodierunt

deduxerunt oculi mei, quia legem tuam. Ib. Fuerunt mihi lacrymæ meæ panes die ac nocte, dum dicitur mihi quotidie ubi est Deus tuus? Ps. xli. How many good purposes! Et custodiam legem tuam semper. Ps. cxviii. In æternum non obliviscar justificationes tuas. Ibid. Juravi et statui custodire judicia justitiæ tuæ. Ibid. Ab omni via mala prohibui pedes meos, ut custodiam verba tua. Ibid. Legem tuam in medio cordis mei. Ps. xxxix. Docebo iniquos vias tuas. Ps. I.

Again how do the Psalms abound in holy thoughts! In the fiftieth Psalm alone how many beautiful prayers! Miserere mei Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis. Cor mundum crea in me Deus. Ne projicias me a facie tua. Spiritu principali confirma me. How many other in the 118th Psalm, prayers, which is recited every morning in the little Hours! Doce me justificationes tuas. Revela oculos meos. Viam iniquitatis amove a me. Averte oculos meos, ne videant vanitatem. mihi intellectum, ut discam mandata tua. misericordia tua, ut consoletur me.

Da

Fiat

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