Volume 13 · p. 466
Sermon XI. Likewise, On the Purification of Blessed Mary, Opening
SERMO XI.
ITEM, IN PURIFICATIONE BEATÆ MARIÆ.
Ecce homo erat in Jerusalem, cui nomen Simeon, et homo iste justus, et timoratus, exspectans consolationem Israel, et Spiritus sanctus erat in eo... Et venit in spiritu in templum. Et ipse accepit Jesum in ulnas suas. Luc. II, 25, 27 et 28.
Nota, quod sicut sanctus Simeon, quem demonstrativum adverbium, Ecce, a multis commendabilem esse demonstrat, hodie Christum accepit in ulnas suas: ita et nos hunc laudabilem Simeon imitari debemus, ut digni simus Christum recipere in ulnas animæ nostræ, modo per gratiam, et in futuro per gloriam.
Ad hoc autem octo requiruntur, quæ in verbis supra positis notari possunt.
I. Primo ergo debemus esse homines per mortalitatis nostræ recognitionem. Unde dicit, Ecce homo. Homo enim secundum diffinitionem, est animal rationale mortale. Et vere, quod homo mortalis sit, et brevis sit vita ejus, per hoc probatur, quod comparatur tribus valde cito transeuntibus, videlicet aquæ in terram dilabenti, et fumo fugienti, et vapori modicum apparenti.
De primo dicit mulier Thecuitis ad David, II Reg. XIV, 14: Omnes morimur, et quasi aquæ dilabimur in terram, quæ non revertuntur.
De secundo dicit Job, XIV, 1 et 2: Homo natus de muliere, brevi vivens tempore, repletur multis miseriis. Qui quasi flos egreditur et conteritur, et fugit velut umbra, et numquam in eodem statu permanet.
De tertio dicit Jac. IV, 15: Quæ est vita vestra? Vapor est ad modicum parens, et deinceps exterminabitur. Cum igitur mortalis sit homo, mirabile est, et
SERMON XI.
LIKEWISE, ON THE PURIFICATION OF BLESSED MARY.
Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and fearful, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was in him... And he came in spirit into the temple. And he himself received Jesus in his arms. Luke 2:25, 27 and 28.
Note that just as holy Simeon, whom the demonstrative adverb, Behold, demonstrates to be commendable by many things, today received Christ into his arms, so also we ought to imitate this praiseworthy Simeon, so that we may be worthy to receive Christ into the arms of our soul, now through grace and in the future through glory.
For this, however, eight things are required, which can be noted in the words placed above.
I. First therefore we ought to be men through recognition of our mortality. Hence he says, Behold a man. For man, according to definition, is a rational mortal animal. And truly, that man is mortal and his life is short is proved through this, that he is compared to three things passing away very quickly, namely to water slipping down into the earth, and to fleeing smoke, and to vapor appearing for a little while.
Concerning the first the Tekoan woman says to David, 2 Kings 14:14: We all die, and like waters we slip down into the earth, which do not return.
Concerning the second Job 14:1 and 2 says: Man born of woman, living a short time, is filled with many miseries. He comes forth like a flower and is crushed, and flees like a shadow, and never remains in the same state.
Concerning the third James 4:15 says: What is your life? It is a vapor appearing for a little while, and afterward it will be destroyed. Since therefore man is mortal, it is wonderful, and
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