30 St. Romanus The Melodist

St. Romanus The Melodist

A little-known figure, Romanus the Melodist, was born in about 490 in Emesa (today Homs), in Syria. Theologian, poet, and composer, he belonged to the great ranks of theologians who transformed theology into poetry. Let us think of his compatriot, St. Ephrem the Syrian, who lived two hundred years before him. However, we can also think of Western theologians, such as St. Ambrose, whose hymns are still part of our liturgy and still move hearts; or of a theologian, a very vigorous thinker such as St. Thomas, who gave us hymns for the Feast of Corpus Christi; we think of St. John of the Cross and of so many others. Faith is love and therefore creates poetry and music. Faith is joy, therefore it creates beauty…

Taken from Great Christian Thinkers by Pope Benedict XVI