The Stag And The Hedgehog

Montes excelsi cervis, petra refugium erinaciis. Montes altissimi cervis. Cervi, magni, spirituales, transcendentes in cursu omnia spinosa veprium atque silvarum. Qui perficit, inquit, pedes meos sicut cervi, et super excelsa statuet me. Teneant montes altos, alta praecepta Dei; sublimia cogitent, teneant ea quae multum eminent in Scripturus, iustifictentur in summis: cervis enim sunt illi montes altissimi. Quid de humilibus bestiis? quid de lepore? quid de ericio? Lepus minutum animal et infirmum, ericius etiam spinosum: illud animal timidum, illud animal spinis coopertum. Spinae quid significant, nisi peccato. res? qui peccat quotidie, etiamsi non magna peccata, minutissimis spinis coopertus est. In eo quod timet, lepus est; in eo quod minutissimus peccatis operitur, ericius est: et non potest tenere excelsa illa et perfecta praecepta. Illi enim montes altissimi cervis. Quid ergo? isti percunt? Non. Sic enim montes altissimi cervis, ut et his videas quid sequatur: Petra refugium ericiis et leporibus. Quia factus est Dominus refugium pauperi.   Sanctus Augustinus Hipponensis, Enarratio in Psalmum CIII,

The high mountains are for the stags, the stone is a refuge for the hedgehog. 1 The highest peaks are for stags. Stags are mighty, spiritual, passing in their way over all the thorns of thickets and woods. He who, it is said, makes my feet like harts' feet and on the heights sets me. Let them hold to the high peaks, the high precepts of God; let them think on sublime things, let them hold those many things eminent in the Scriptures, let them be justified in the highest: for the stags are the high peaks. What of humble creatures? What of the hare? What of the hedgehog? The hare is a small and weak animal, the hedgehog is also prickly; the one is a timid animal, the other is covered with prickles. What do the prickles signify, except sin? Meaning? He who sins daily, although they are not great sins, is covered over with tiny prickles. Thus he is timid as a hare; thus being covered with tiny sins, he is a hedgehog; and so he cannot hold those lofty and perfect commandments. The highest peaks are for the stags. What then? Do the others perish? No. The highest peaks are for the stags and then you will see it follows: The rock is the refuge for the hedgehogs and the hares. Because the Lord is a refuge for the poor. Saint Augustine of Hippo, Commentary on Psalm 103 1 Ps 103.18