Augustine's Deer Visits the Ophthalmologist: Exercising the Eyes of Faith in "Enarrationes in Psalmos" 41

Abstract

ABSTRACT Augustine's exposition of Ps 41[42] is an exploration of the deer's "holy longing" to see God. I suggest that in Enarrat. Ps. 41 Augustine proposes a series of spiritual exercises—a program of rehabilitation—in order to train the soul to see God. Thus, Augustine's theological interpretation of the psalm develops an anagogical spirituality, acclimatizing the inductee to the vision of God. The bishop guides his congregants through this training regimen to sharpen their inner vision so that their longing to see God may be fulfilled. But Enarrat. Ps. 41 remains a psalm of groaning—at the conclusion of the exercises the soul still cannot see God. Although God remains unseen, Augustine suggests the psalm holds out hope: an ecclesially mediated, sacramental vision of God obtains in this life; it is a vision that anticipates, and, indeed, participates in the eschatological vision of God.