Bellarmine on Psalm 109 : Verse 6

Verse 6

The Lord at thy right hand hath broken kings in the day of his wrath.

Dominus a dextris tuis; confregit in die irae suae reges.

St. John Chrysostom, whom the Greeks follow, understands the word Lord in this context as referring to the Father; St. Augustine refers it to the Son, St. Jerome says that in this text the Father is named the Lord; but he adds immediately that He who “hath broken kings... shall judge among nations … shall fill ruins …  shall drink of the torrent,” is the Son. It seems to us however that St. Augustine’s opinion is simpler and more fitting; for he does not have to find a reason explaining how the Father should be at the right hand of the Son when only a little earlier the Son was said to be seated at the right hand of the Father, nor how the Father shall drink of the torrent, and shall lift up the head. Finally, the context of the prophet’s words is developed better if we follow St. Augustine’s interpretation. Accordingly, after saying that the Son was called by the Father a priest forever, he turns his words to the Father, and he says Christ will really be a priest forever, since even though many kings of the earth will conspire against Him, in order to overturn His priesthood and His religion: He, however, seated at the right hand of the Father, will crush the kings opposed to Him, and He will perpetuate His priesthood and sacrifices in spite of them all. “The Lord at thy right hand,” that is, Christ seated at Thy right hand, as Thou didst say to Him: Sit Thou at my right hand, “hath broken kings in the day of his wrath,” that is, on the day in which He will be angry with his enemies, the kings of the earth, persecuting His Church, He will crush them and He has already crushed them in my foreknowledge; for I already foresee, through the spirit of prophecy, Herod struck by the Angel, a destitute Nero laying violent hands on himself, Domitian, Maximinus, Decius and others, put to death; Valerianus captured by the Barbarians; Diocletian and Maximian giving up their rule in desperation; Julian, Valens, Honoricus, and finally (I foresee) all the kings who were His enemies dying wretchedly, and, being cast into hell and given the punishments they deserved.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.