Those Called Stars

Sed post praedictionem sanati cordis, etiam id ad praeconium divinae bonitatis adjectum est: Numerans multitudinem stellarum, et omnibus his nomina vocans. Si laus Deo ab aedificatam corporaliter Jerusalem defertur; quid hic numerus stellarum et omnibus his nomina tamquam ad praecipuam divini operis laudationem proferuntur? Aut numquid laudabilius Deo est numerasse et nuncupasse stellas, quam creasse; cum creatio et numerum fecerit, et nomina imposuerit, et vocabulis nomina numerumque discreverit? Sed numerantur hic stellae, quas Abraham contuitus in coelo est, quas Isaac accepti in semine, quas Paulus discrevit in gloria. Quod autem nominibus suis vocentur, audiamus eum qui vocaturus. Dicit enim in Evangeliis: Nolite mirari ista; quoniam venit hora, in qua omnes qui sunt in monumentis, audient vocem ejus et procedent. Vocantur ergo, et prodient. Adeo autem numerantur per Deum, ut capilli quoque, qui in singulis nobis innumerabiles esse existimantur, in numero sint, eodem Domino dicente: Nonne et capilli capitis vestri numerati sunt? Hoc Domino potius dignuim, hoc in misericordia ejus praeferendum, ut eos, quos contritos corde sanaverit, quorum alligaverit contritiones, nominibus vocet, proprietate numeret, coelesti luce clarificet. Sanctus Hilarius Pictaviensis, Tractatus super Psalmos, Tractatus in Psalmum CXLVI Source: Migne PL 9.871a-c

But after speaking of the healing of hearts, 1 he adds the proclamation of the Divine benevolence: the numbering of the multitude of the stars and the calling of each one by its name. 2 If praise is given to God because He corporeally builds up Jerusalem, 3 why is it announced here that the number of the stars and the names of every one of them is some especial praise of the Divine work? Or is it more praiseworthy for God to have numbered and named the stars which He created, when He created and numbered them and gave them names, and with words and number distinguished them? Rather here are numbered the stars which Abraham saw in heaven, which Issac received in his seed, which Paul distinguished in glory. 4 And how they shall be called by their own names, let us listen to Him who shall call. For He says in the Gospel: 'Do not wonder at these things, because the hour shall come when all who are in their tombs shall hear his voice and come forth.' 5 Thus they are called and they go forth. So they are numbered by God, as the hairs which on each of us are too innumerable to be estimated in their number, with the same Lord saying, 'Can you count the hairs on your head?' 6 This is more worthy of the Lord, this is more appropriate for His mercy, that those contrite ones He has healed in heart, those whose wounds He has bound up, 6 He shall call by their names, and number each one, as He shines forth with heavenly light. Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Homilies on the Psalms, from Psalm 146 1 Ps 147.3 2 Ps 146.4 3 Ps 147.2 4 Gen 15.5, Gen 26.41 Cor 15.14 5 n 5.28 6 Lk 12.7