Sing Out!

Here’s a nice little quote I came across while reading Anthony Esolen’s “Hearts Uplifted” in Touchstone.

He who sings prays twice. – St. Augustine

I tried to track down the original wording and according to the Church History Forum, this is apparently the original quote:

For he that singeth praise, not only praiseth, but only praiseth with gladness: he that singeth praise, not only singeth, but also loveth him of whom he singeth. In praise, there is the speaking forth of one confessing; in singing, the affection of one loving.”
(St. Augustine, Commentary on Psalm 73, 1)

Now while I like the theological accuracy of Augustine’s actual wording, I must admit it doesn’t pack the pithy punch of the traditional rendering.