Thomas Aquinas Commentary Lamentations 2:19

"Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; Pour out thy heart like water before the face of the Lord: Lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger at the head of every street." — Lamentations 2:19 (ASV)

Here he teaches how to pray, addressing two aspects.

1. First, he teaches how to pray regarding the manner and timing. Concerning the time, he says to arise from sleep and praise God in prayer in the night, when the time is less occupied and more tranquil, and specifically in the beginning of the watches.

   The night watches varied according to the shifts of those who guarded the city, as it says in Song of Songs 3:3: the watchmen who keep the city found me. There were four watches:

   • The first is called conticinium, when the fire is covered over.Conticinium signifies the first part of the night, when all becomes still; the noun is derived from conticescere, to become still.
   • The second is called intempestum. This is around midnight, a time unsuitable for activity, because among the ancients, tempestum meant “suitable.”
   • The third watch is called galli cantus, “the crowing of the cock.”
   • The fourth is called antelucanum, “before dawn.”

   Therefore, he says to arise in the beginning of the watches, meaning either in the first watch or at the beginning of any of the watches. My soul has desired thee in the night: yea, and with my spirit within me in the morning early I will watch to thee (Isaiah 26:9).

   Regarding the devotion of the heart, he says: pour out your heart like water, as if it were melted by love and devotion, like water that had been frozen. These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me (Psalms 41:5).

   Regarding the outward sign of devotion, he says: lift up your hands to him. I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up pure hands, without anger and contention (1 Timothy 2:8).

2. Second, he presents the subject of prayer: for the souls—that is, for the separation of souls from bodies—or because soul stands for life itself. This is to be done at the top of the streets, meaning at the crossroads where four roads meet. When the children and the sucklings fainted away in the streets of the city (Lamentations 2:11).