The Lord our God spread the faith in and by which we live in many and varied ways through the holy Books, the Scriptures. While varying the mysteries of the words [sacramenta verborum], he nonetheless commended the one faith. Because the same thing is told in many ways, the variety prevents boredom while the agreement preserves the unity. And so in the Psalm we have just heard sung, to which we have responded with our own singing, we are about to say things that you already know, and yet, with Gods help and grace, perhaps we shall bring you some pleasure when things youve heard over and over you now chew over when reminded of them. By calling animals clean that chew their cud God wished to suggest that everyone ought to place what he hears into his heart so that he will not be slow to think about it later. When he hears, hes like an eater; but when he recalls what he heard and reflects on it, hes like a ruminant. When the same things are said in a new way, they enable us pleasantly to think about things we already know and even gladly to listen to them again. The ancient becomes new because differently expressed. (EnPs 46[47], 1; PL 36, 524-25)