HOMILIES ON PSALMS 36–38
Translated by
MICHAEL HEINTZ
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS
Washington, D.C.
THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS
All rights reserved
Cataloging-in-Publication data is available from the Library of Congress.
isbn 978-0-8132-3649-0
THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH
A NEW TRANSLATION
VOLUME 146
EDITORIAL BOARD
David G. Hunter
Boston College
Editorial Director
Paul M. Blowers
Emmanuel Christian Seminary
Aaron Butts
The Catholic University of America
Andrew Cain
University of Colorado
Mark DelCogliano
University of St. Thomas
William E. Klingshirn
The Catholic University of America
Joseph T. Lienhard, S.J.
Fordham University
Rebecca Lyman
Church Divinity School of the Pacific
Wendy Mayer
Australian Lutheran College
Robert A. Kitchen
Regina, Saskatchewan
Trevor Lipscombe
Director, The Catholic University of America Press
FORMER EDITORIAL DIRECTORS
Ludwig Schopp, Roy J. Deferrari, Bernard M. Peebles, Hermigild Dressler, O.F.M., Thomas P. Halton
Carole Monica C. Burnett, Staff Editor
The Nine Homilies on Psalms 36–38
Dating the Homilies on the Psalms
Psalmody in Early Christian Life
Origen on Scripture and Anthropology
Origen’s Teaching in the Homilies on the Psalms
The Medicinal/Therapeutic Model
The Educational/Pedagogical Model
Second Homily on Psalm 36 [37]
Fourth Homily on Psalm 36 [37]
Second Homily on Psalm 37 [38]
Second Homily on Psalm 38 [39]
In the design of divine Providence I was privileged to complete work on the final proofs of this volume while on retreat at Tabgha on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the land where Origen spent the second half of his life and ministry, and where, a century later, Rufinus for a time lived the monastic life.
This translation began years ago in a doctoral seminar at the University of Notre Dame taught by the late Rowan Greer in his capacity as visiting professor. It was at his prompting and encouragement that I began work on Origen’s Homilies on the Psalms in Rufinus’s translation. I am no less grateful to those seminary professors who first introduced me to the study of the Fathers, in particular Fathers John Farrell, William Palardy, and Laurence McGrath.
I wish to thank my former student and now learned friend, Andrew Chronister, who at an early stage in the production of this volume was of enormous technical assistance, as well as my current students Sean O’Connor and Tomás Villacis, for their generous work ...
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About Origen: Homilies on Psalms 36–38This volume provides the first English translation of the nine extant homilies on Psalms 36[37]–38[39] preached by Origen (d. 253/4) to his congregation at Caesarea as arranged and translated for Latin readers by his admirer, Rufinus of Aquileia (d. 411). These homilies are among the earliest extant examples of patristic preaching on the Psalter. The interpretation offered throughout these homilies, which is almost wholly moral, reflects Origen’s understanding of the “soul” of the scriptural text. These homilies provide a glimpse of Origen’s account of scriptural meaning, outlined in De principiis 4, in pastoral practice. In his preaching, Origen offers a vision of the Christian life as centered on the soul’s continuing conversion, growth, and progress, with particular reference to and within the context of the Church. The life of the believer is one of combat and struggle with powers opposed to Christ. It is Christ, as the divine Physician, who offers healing to the one who is wounded and ailing from sin, and it is Christ, as Wisdom and Word of God, who instructs and educates the believer in the life of the Spirit. These homilies reveal the substantial coherence of Origen’s thought, as expressed in the more speculative De principiis and as revealed in the more elaborate, nuptial theology found in his Commentary on the Canticle. This volume includes a robust introduction and complements the work of Joseph Trigg, whose translation from the original Greek of the cache of homilies discovered in Codex Monacensis 314 has recently appeared in this series. |
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