Bellarmine on Psalm 1 : Verse 2

Verse 2

But his will is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

sed in lege Domini voluntas ejus, et in lege ejus meditabitur die ac nocte.

In this second verse, the just man is described in a positive manner and there are two parts, one of which is almost a repetition of the other. He is truly said to be just, or blessed, whose will is to obey the law of the Lord,  since a just life does not require that we offend in nothing, as is written in James iii; “For in many things we all offend;”[1] but it is enough if we are so drawn towards the law of the Lord that we desire to observe it in all things; and if we perchance should fall into sin, as we certainly and frequently do, then may it be against our good will, that is, against the love we have for God and His law, and not against charity; hence it is a venial sin and not a mortal sin. The same is found in another Psalm in different words: “The law of his God is in his heart.”[2] For the will, or the heart, of the just man is in the law of God and the law of God is in the will, or heart of the just man. The law is in the heart, as on a throne, and the 

heart is in the law, as in a thing beloved, which is always pondered[3]  and longed for. And this is what follows: “And on his law he shall meditate day and night.” For the law to be in his will, or for his will to be in the law, means his mind is continually thinking about it and loving it, so that whatever is to be done will be done according to it. Therefore the words day and night do not mean that the just man cannot be free for a single moment of time from the contemplation of the divine law, but rather that he should recall to mind most frequently the precepts of the law and always remember them when it comes to thinking, saying or doing anything in which there is a danger that justice may be violated. Indeed, not only the Latin word meditabitur / he shall meditate, but also the Greek μελετήσει, and the Hebrew ieghe, can be referred to the exercise of thought, speech and action, Psalm XXXIV : “And my tongue shall meditate thy justice, thy praise all the day long.”[4] And Psalm XXXVI : “The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom.”[5] The profane poet also says: “Now will I woo the rustic Muse on slender reed.”[6] Training exercises for soldiers are called military reflections.

[1] For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body. In multis enim offendimus omnes. Si quis in verbo non offendit, hic perfectus est vir : potest etiam freno circumducere totum corpus. [James iii 2]

[2]  The law of his God is in his heart, and his steps shall not be supplanted. Lex Dei ejus in corde ipsius, et non supplantabuntur gressus ejus. [Psalm XXXVI 31]

[3] Cf. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. Maria autem conservabat omnia verba haec, conferens in corde suo. [Luke ii 19]

[4] And my tongue shall meditate thy justice, thy praise all the day long. Et lingua mea meditabitur justitiam tuam, tota die laudem tuam. [Psalm xxxiv 28]

[5] The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom: and his tongue shall speak judgment. Os justi meditabitur sapientiam, et lingua ejus loquetur judicium. [Psalm XXXVI 30]

[6] Virgil, Eclogue VI.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.