Deum quando pugnatur astare, et justae parti victoriam praeparare
God Fights for the Just
God stands with the heavens open during battle, awarding the palm of victory to the just side through prayer and divine authorship.
When a battle is being fought, God stands by with the heavens open, offering victory to the just side, and you should presume nothing about your own strength — Augustine demonstrates this in his letter to Boniface, saying (epist. 205): 'I will give you counsel that is useful to you and yours. Take up arms with your hands; let prayer strike the ears of the Author, because when a battle is fought, God watches with the heavens open, and the side He sees to be just — there He gives the palm of victory.1
Glory in the Author of Virtues
One must presume nothing of personal strength but glory in God alone, thereby freeing the heart from all fear of the enemy.
Presume nothing about your own strength; glory in the Author of virtues, and you will care nothing at all for the enemy.2 '
Read the original Latin
Quando pugnatur, Deum apertis coelis astare, et justae parti victoriam praestare, nihilque de propriis viribus praesumendum, Augustinus in epistola ad Bonifacium demonstrat, dicens (epist. 205): « Utile tibi tuisque dabo consilium. Arripe manibus arma, oratio aures pulset auctoris, quia, quando pugnatur, Deus apertis coelis spectat, et partem quam inspicit justam, ibi dat palmam. Nihil de viribus propriis praesumas, de auctore gloriare virtutum, et nullum curabis penitus inimicum. »
Notes
- 1 ↩'auctoris' (author/God) — rendered as 'the Author' with capital to signal the divine referent; the term carries the sense of God as the source and originator of all things.
- 2 ↩'de auctore gloriare virtutum' — 'glory in the Author of virtues.' The phrase means to boast not in oneself but in God as the source of all virtuous power. 'virtutum' is genitive plural modifying the Author, not the object of glory.
On the Person and Ministry of the King (De regis persona et regio ministerio) companion
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