Laudator Temporis Acti

Augustine, Sermons 362.29 (Patrologia Latina, vol. 39, col. 1632; tr. Edmund Hill):

Our whole activity will consist of Amen and Alleluia. What do you say, brothers and sisters? I can see that you hear and are delighted. But don't let yourselves again be depressed by the flesh-bound thought that if any of you were to stand and say Amen and Alleluia all day long, you would droop with fatigue and boredom; and you will drop off to sleep in the middle of your words, and long to keep quiet; and for that reason you might suppose it is a life you can well do without, not at all desirable, and might say to yourselves, "Amen and Alleluia, we're going to say that forever and ever? Who will be able to endure it?"

Tota actio nostra, Amen et Alleluia erit. Quid dicitis, fratres? Video quod auditis et gavisi estis. Sed nolite iterum carnali cogitatione contristari, quia si forte aliquis vestrum steterit et dixerit quotidie: Amen et Alleluia, taedio marcescet, et in ipsis vocibus dormitabit, et tacere iam volet: et propterea putet sibi esse aspernabilem vitam, et non desiderabilem, dicentes vobismetipsis: Amen et Alleluia semper dicturi sumus, quis durabit?

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