Worship Weblog

Augustine on Psalm 42 at Baptism

Posted by cicw

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

This article mentions that Augustine refers to Psalm 42 as a baptismal declaration. Here is the quote from Augustine’s commentary on Psalm 42:

And indeed it is not ill understood as the cry of those, who being as yet Catechumens, are hastening to the grace of the holy Font. On which account too this Psalm is ordinarily chanted on those occasions, that they may long for the Fountain of remission of sins, even “as the deer for the water-brooks.” Let this be allowed; and this meaning retain its place in the Church; a place both truthful and sanctioned by usage.

continued…

Tags: augustine, baptism, commentary, earlychurch, history, psalms