The Commentary of Saint Robert Bellarmine on Psalm 118 in the Explanatio in Psalmos
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THE COMMENTARY OF SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE ON PSALM 118 IN THE EXPLANATIO IN PSALMOS DISSERTATION Presented in Partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Margarita Igriczi-Nagy, M.A., M.B.B.S., M.D. ***** The Ohio State University 2007 Dissertation Committee: Professor Frank T. Coulson, Adviser Approved by Professor David Hahm ______________ Professor Daniel Reff Adviser Classics Graduate Program ABSTRACT This thesis examines the commentary of Saint Robert Bellarmine on Psalm 118 in his work, the Explanatio in psalmos, a commentary on the 150 psalms of the Psalter written in Latin. Psalm 118 is the longest psalm consisting of 176 verses, organised into 22 strophes, with eight verses per strophe. The law of God is the subject of this acrostic psalm. The examination is focused on the manner in which Saint Robert Bellarmine delivers his message, in terms of structure, style, language, and the use of sources. In looking at the structural aspects, the relative length of the commentary for the strophes, and the nature of subtitles are scrutinised. In stylistic considerations the overall features and the uses of stylistic devices are examined. In the use of sources we look at how, where, and why Saint Robert Bellarmine uses scriptural quotations, cites other authors, and discusses the Greek and Hebrew equivalents of selected phrases. All instances of use of sources and stylistic devices are listed and commented upon. Comparisons also are made with the methodology of other authors commenting on Psalm 118, namely Saint Augustine, most frequently cited by Saint Robert Bellarmine and Saint Jerome, the author of Gallican Psalter. References are made to the commentary of Callan, a twentieth-century author. ii To promote better understanding of this work, related matters, such as biographical details about Saint Robert Bellarmine, Saint Augustine and Saint Jerome is also given as well a presentation in the Psalter, its theme, language and liturgical importance. The conclusion focuses on the identity of intended audience and the benefits of studying good Latin texts. Besides greatly benefiting priests and religious who use the Psalter in their daily payers, the intended audience includes Protestants as well, since Saint Robert Bellarmine demonstrates makes such frequent use of Saint Augustine, who is greatly respected by Protestants. Recommendations are made for promoting Latin literacy and methods of commenting on Latin texts are suggested, which would promote this aim. iii Dedicated to Patrona Hungariae and her children. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank my adviser, Professor Frank T. Coulson for his encouragement, for his tireless efforts to improve my style, for his openness in discussions, and his willingness to take the time to discuss matters fully. I am also very grateful for the support to Professor David Hahm and Professor Daniel Reff, members of the Dissertation Committee, who were always there when help was needed and whom I was always able to approach with confidence. I would like to thank Wendy Ann Watkins, Curator of the Center for Epigraphical and Palaeographical studies of The Ohio Sate University for her cheerful assistance and willingness to use her expertise in a manner helpful to my work, especially in the preparation of dissertation documents. I also appreciate the considerate attitude of. Philip Forsythe, Director of PHI project at The Ohio State University who made it possible for me to coordinate my working hours with the hours spent on the dissertation. My thanks also go to my associates in the Servitors Reginae Apostolorum Institute, namely Very Reverend Father A. Devillers, Reverend Father William Allen and Joanna D. Statt for their supportive attitude, willingness to listen and advise, and to free me for the work of writing the dissertation. v VITA June 6 1936... Born in Budapest, Hungary 1964………... M.B.B.S., University of London , England 1965………... E.C.F.M.G., USA 1972………... Certification in general surgery, Canada 1994………... M.A., Classics, University of Kansas, Lawrence KS WORK EXPERIENCE, RELATED TO CLASSICS 1990-1994…. Latin teacher, Saint Mary's Academy and College, KS 1995-1998…. Graduate Teaching Associate, The Ohio Stte University Graduate Teaching Associate, Catholic University of 1998-2001…. America 2003 - present Graduate Teaching Associate, The Ohio State University FIELDS OF STUDY Major:……… Classics Previous:…... Medicine General surgery vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract………………………………………………………….. ii Dedication ………………………………………………………. iv Acknowledgments……………………………………………….. v Vita ……………………………………………………………… vi List of tables……………………………………………………... ix CHAPTERS 1 Introduction……………………………………………………… 1 2 The life of Saint Robert Bellarmine, with notes on Augustine and Saint Jerome……………………… 12 3 The psalms……………………………………………………… 39 4 Explanatio in psalmos - structural considerations……………… 62 5 Explanatio in psalmos - use of sources………………………….. 92 6 Explanatio in psalmos - rhetorical style and figures of speech… 170 7 Conclusions……………………………………………………… 221 Bibliography…………………………………………………………… 236 APPENDICES A What have they done to our song through the ages?.................... 239 B The allocation of psalms for recitation in the Divine Office……. 276 C Psalm 118, Titles of strophes, summary………………………… 277 vii D Psalm 118, summary of language variations……………………. 279 E Explanatio in psalmos, subtitles in Latin and English………….. 289 F Psalm 118, texts of Saint Jerome in the Breviarium in psalmos, in psalmos, Gallican and Roman Psalters……………………….. 292 G Psalm 118, Types of differences from the Gallican Psalter in Breviarium in psalmos…………………………. 296 H Explanatio in psalmos, Scriptural quotations…………………… 300 I Explanatio in psalmos, use of sources, table……………………. 305 J Explanatio in psalmos, use of sources, graph…………………… 307 K Explanatio in psalmos, authors cited, table……………………... 309 L Explanatio in psalmos, authors cited, graph…………………….. 311 M Psalm 118 and Explanatio in psalmos, stylistic devices……….... 313 viii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 2.1 Spiritual writings of Saint Robert Bellarmine…………………………………………….. 28 3.1 The Hours of the Divine Office…………………………………………………………… 49 3.2 Psalm groups……………………………………………………………………………… 55 4.1 Explanatio in psalmos -length of text and number of paragraphs per strophe…………… 68 Breviarium in psalmos - number of paragraphs and arrangements of verse texts per 4.2 strophe…………………………………………………………………………………….. 74 4.3 Distribution of the verses of Psalm 118 in the Enarrationes in psalmos…………………… 76 4.4 Subtitles showing the content of the strophes in the Explanatio in psalmos……………….. 79 4.5 Subtitles to the strophes in The psalms…………………………………………………………. 86 5.1 Authors cited in the Explanatio in psalmos…………………………………………………….. 159 ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION This chapter has the following sections: • The subject of the thesis • The importance of the topic • The rationale for the choice of a psalm commentary • Comments on the life of Saint Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) • Comments on the lives of Saint Augustine (334-430) and Saint Jerome (342-420) • The organisation of the subject matter The subject of the thesis This thesis examines the Latin commentary of Saint Robert Bellarmine on Psalm 118. Saint Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) was a sixteenth - century Cardinal, imbued with the Jesuit tradition and a highly erudite and respected polemicist at the time of the Counter-reformation. The commentary on Psalm 118 is taken from his work, Explanatio in psalmos (Explanations on the psalms), in which he elucidates sequentially all 150 psalms of the Psalter. 1 In the course of analysing the Explanatio in psalmos, frequent mention for the purposes of comparison will also be made to two other commentaries on the psalms, namely the Enarrationes in psalmos by Saint Augustine (354-430) and the Breviarium in 1 psalmos of Saint Jerome (circa 345-420).0F Using Saint Augustine as a point of reference seemed an obvious choice; he is the most frequently quoted author in the Explanatio in psalmos. Although Saint Robert Bellarmine also quotes from the psalm commentaries of other contemporaries of Saint Augustine such as Saint Jerome, Saint Ambrose and Saint Hilary, he does not do it as often as in the case of Saint Augustine. As Appendix K and Appendix L show, out of a total number of 29 references to other authors, Saint Robert Bellarmine mentions Saint Augustine 24 times; in 12 instances, only the opinion of Saint Augustine is quoted. In searching for a contemporary of Saint Augustine, whose approach was different, Saint Jerome seemed to be the ideal choice. His significance lies in the production of the Vulgate Bible. He is also the author of the Gallican Psalter. This is the psalm text on which the Explanatio in psalmos, the Enarrationes in psalmos, and his own commentary, the Breviarium in psalmos are based. I have also made occasional references to a twentieth-century English 2 commentary on the psalms, The psalms, by Rev. Father Callan OP.1F It is useful from the point of view of seeing to what degree, if any, did perceptions changed in the intervening three and half centuries. Due to the fact that commentary of Callan was written in 1 There are different opinions about the birth-date of Saint Jerome. See Murphy, Francis X “Saint Jerome, the irascible hermit” in Murphy, Francis X. ed. (1952) A monument To Saint Jerome, 4-5. 2 Callan, C. (1944) The psalms. 2 English, references to his work are best handled in the concluding session, where