Volume 13 · pp. 511–513
Sermon XXIV. On the Feast of Blessed Margaret
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SERMO XXIV.
IN FESTO BEATÆ MARGARITÆ.
Simile est regnum cælorum homini negotiatori, quærenti bonas margaritas. Inventa autem una pretiosa margarita, abiit, et vendidit omnia quæ habuit, et emit eam. Matth. XIII, 45 et 46.
Quatuor hic sunt notanda:
I. Quis sit homo negotiator, qui bonas margaritas quæsivit? II. Quæ sit pretiosa margarita, quam invenit? III. Quomodo et nos boni negotiatores esse debeamus? IV. Quæ sit pretiosa margarita, quam necesse est ut emamus?
I.
De primo nota, quod homo negotiator, qui bonas margaritas quæsivit, et quærit, est ipse Dei Filius Jesus Christus, qui de cœlis venit ad terras, ut bonas quæreret margaritas, id est, prædestinatorum animas ad regna cœlestia revocaret: prædestinatorum quippe animæ dicuntur bonæ margaritæ, ex quibus nitent portæ illius gloriosæ civitatis Dei novæ Jerusalem. Istum vero negotiatorem B. Maria Virgo deduxit ad terras: ipsa quippe fuit navis illius nobilis institoris, de quo dicitur, Proverb. XXXI, 14: Facta est quasi navis institoris, de longe portans panem suum. De hoc institore sive negotiatore dicit Augustinus: « O bone mercator, gratias agimus tibi, quia redemisti nos! »
II.
De secundo nota, quod pretiosa margarita quam iste negotiator quæsivit, invenit, et emit, est Beata Margarita. Hanc enim tunc quæsivit, cum eam ab initio et ante sæcula ad gloriam prædestinavit. Tunc eam invenit, quando pro ipsa carnem assumpsit. Tunc eam emit, cum omnia quæ in terris habuit, pro ipsa possidenda vendidit, videlicet, cum suspendendus in cruce omnia vestimenta sua exuit, et cum dilectam animam in manu inimicorum dedit, sicut dicitur Jerem. XII, 7. Et cum pretiosum sanguinem suum fudit.
Et nota, quod sicut de Beata Margarita dictum est, ita etiam Christus quamlibet aliam sanctam virginem, imo quemlibet Christianum et electum quæsivit, invenit, et emit.
Nota, quod Beata Margarita bene dicitur margarita, tum propter vocabuli consonantiam, tum etiam propter multas proprietates margaritæ.
Quarum prima est, quod margarita in conchis marinis invenitur. Et quid erat Theodosius Gentilium Patriarcha pater hujus puellæ, nisi quædam concha marina? Ipse enim a fluctibus hujus mundi jactabatur, et in unda perfidiæ morabatur.
Secunda proprietas, quod illa margarita commendabilior est, quæ per naturam perforata est, quam quæ per violentiam perforatur. Sic et Beata Margarita commendabilis fuit per obedientiam voluntariam. Ipsa quidem non coacta, ad hoc se humiliavit ut pasceret oves nutricis suæ. Obedientiam enim voluntariam signat naturalis perforatio margaritæ. Hinc moneantur filii, ut parentibus suis obediant in his quæ sunt ad Deum. Unde Paulus ad Ephes. VI, 1: Filii, obedite parentibus vestris in Domino: hoc enim justum est. Item, ad Colos. III, 20: Filii obedite parentibus per omnia: hoc enim placitum est in Domino.
SERMON XXIV.
ON THE FEAST OF BLESSED MARGARET.
The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant man, seeking good pearls. And having found one precious pearl, he went away and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:45 and 46.
Four things are to be noted here:
I. Who is the merchant man who sought good pearls? II. What is the precious pearl that he found? III. How ought we also to be good merchants? IV. What is the precious pearl that it is necessary for us to buy?
I.
On the first, note that the merchant man who sought good pearls and seeks them is the Son of God himself, Jesus Christ, who came from heaven to earth, so that he might seek good pearls, that is, the souls of the predestined, to call them back to the heavenly kingdoms; indeed the souls of the predestined are called good pearls, from which the gates of that glorious city of God, the new Jerusalem, shine. But Blessed Virgin Mary led that merchant down to the earth; for she was the ship of that noble dealer of whom it is said in Proverbs 31:14: She was made like the ship of a dealer, bringing her bread from afar. Concerning this dealer or merchant Augustine says: "O good merchant, we give thanks to you, because you have redeemed us!"
II.
On the second, note that the precious pearl that this merchant sought, found, and bought is Blessed Margaret. For he then sought her when from the beginning and before the ages he predestined her to glory. He then found her when he assumed flesh for her. He then bought her when he sold all things that he had on earth in order to possess her, namely when, about to be suspended on the cross, he stripped off all his garments, and when he gave his beloved soul into the hand of enemies, as is said in Jeremiah 12:7, and when he poured out his precious blood.
And note that just as it has been said concerning Blessed Margaret, so also Christ sought, found, and bought every other holy virgin, indeed every Christian and elect person.
Note that Blessed Margaret is rightly called a pearl, both because of the consonance of the word and also because of the many properties of the pearl.
The first of these is that a pearl is found in sea shells. And what was Theodosius, Patriarch of the Gentiles, the father of this girl, if not a certain sea shell? For he was being tossed by the waves of this world, and was dwelling in the wave of unbelief.
The second property is that that pearl which is pierced through by nature is more commendable than one that is pierced through by violence. Thus Blessed Margaret also was commendable through voluntary obedience. Indeed, not compelled, she humbled herself to this, that she would feed the sheep of her nurse. For the natural perforation of a pearl signifies voluntary obedience. From this let children be admonished to obey their parents in those things that are toward God. Hence Paul says at Ephesians 6:1: Children, obey your parents in the Lord; for this is just. Likewise, at Colossians 3:20: Children, obey your parents in all things; for this is pleasing in the Lord.
Tertia proprietas est, quod illa margarita nobilior est quæ candet et clara est, quam illa quæ flavescit: illam enim juventus et ros matutinus candidam fecit et claram, hanc senectus et ros vespertinus perduxit ad obscuritatem. Sic et Beata Margarita commendabilis est propter virgineam claritatem. Plus enim commendatur in hac puella candor virgineus quem Deo obtulit, cum erat quindecim annorum, quando videlicet in ea viguit fervor juvenilis, quam commendetur castitas in vidua, quam tunc primo Deo offert, quando est circa annos quinquaginta vel sexaginta, quando scilicet in ea tepuit ignis juventutis. Igitur propter hanc virgineam puritatem immensus draco, qui Margaritam absorbere volebat, nihil contra eam poterat prævalere, sed disruptus fuit.
Item, propter virgineam claritatem Margaritæ tenebrosissimus carcer in quem missa fuit, divino lumine exstitit illustratus.
Præterea, propter munditiam hujus virginis nivea columba veniens de cœlo, et coronam auream apportans, sedit super humeros ejus, et consolabatur eam. Bonum est ergo, charissimi, ut fornicationis immunditiam fugientes casti simus et mundi, ne ab ore gehennalis draconis absorbeamur, et ne in tenebras exteriores projiciamur: sed ut corona gloriæ coronari mereamur.
Quarta proprietas margaritarum est, quod contra æstum febrium valere dicuntur. Sic et B. Margarita impetravit a Domino, quod quicumque eam veneratus fuerit, et imploraverit in omni necessitate sua, pium, et velox sentiet sublevamen.
Quinta proprietas margaritarum est, quod valent contra syncopin et cardiacam passionem. Unde de eis fit quoddam electuarium, quod diamargariton appellatur. Et vere B. Margarita per mirabilem constantiam, quam in gravissimis tormentis habuit, confortat omnes timidos, et confundit nos senes, et rusticos, qui tam pauca pro Domino sustinere valemus.
1. Ipsa enim cum nollet negare Christum Jesum, suspensa fuit in aere, et tam graviter virgis fuit cæsa, quod sanguis de corpore ejus in modum rivuli decurrebat.
The third property is that that pearl which is white and bright is nobler than one that grows yellow; for youth and morning dew made that one white and bright, while old age and evening dew led this one into darkness. Thus Blessed Margaret also is commendable on account of virginal brightness. For the virginal whiteness that she offered to God, when she was fifteen years old, when, namely, youthful fervor flourished in her, is praised more in this girl than chastity is praised in a widow who then first offers it to God when she is around fifty or sixty years old, when namely the fire of youth has grown tepid in her. Therefore because of this virginal purity the immense dragon that wished to swallow Margaret was able to prevail in nothing against her, but was burst apart.
Likewise, because of the virginal brightness of Margaret, the very dark prison into which she was sent was illuminated by divine light.
Moreover, because of the cleanness of this virgin, a snow-white dove coming from heaven and bringing a golden crown sat upon her shoulders and consoled her. Therefore it is good, dearest ones, that, fleeing the uncleanness of fornication, we be chaste and clean, lest we be swallowed by the mouth of the infernal dragon, and lest we be cast into the outer darkness, but so that we may merit to be crowned with a crown of glory.
The fourth property of pearls is that they are said to have power against the heat of fevers. Thus Blessed Margaret also obtained from the Lord that whoever has venerated her and implored her in every necessity of his, will feel pious and swift relief.
The fifth property of pearls is that they have power against syncope and a cardiac passion. Hence from them a certain electuary is made, which is called diamargariton. And truly Blessed Margaret, through the marvelous constancy that she had in very grave torments, strengthens all the timid, and confounds us old men and rustic people, who are able to endure so few things for the Lord.
1. For when she was unwilling to deny Christ Jesus, she was suspended in the air, and was so gravely beaten with rods that blood flowed down from her body in the manner of a little stream.
2. Item suspensa fuit in aere, et carnes ejus sævissimis ungulis laceratæ fuerunt.
3. Exspoliata fuit, et in aerem suspensa, et latera ejus cum lampadibus accensa fuerunt.
4. Ligatis manibus et pedibus in aquam missa fuit, ut submergeretur.
5. Et acuto gladio fuit decollata, et sic Angeli animam ejus suscipientes portaverunt in jucundos amplexus sponsi sui Jesu Christi.
Quis hæc considerans non accipit fortitudinem, ut leves ac momentaneos hujus vitæ labores pro Domino patiatur? Beata igitur Margarita est illud nobile diamargariton, quod sumere debemus ad restaurandam fortitudinem cordis nostri.
III.
De tertio nota, quod et nos negotiatores esse debemus, ut videlicet demus ea quæ habemus, propter illa quæ non habemus. Tria vero habemus, scilicet res, corpus, et animam.
Primo igitur res nostras debemus circa egentes fideliter erogare. Unde dicit Dominus, Luc. XII, 33: Vendite quæ possidetis, et date eleemosynam. Sed, heu! quidam non solum non dant sua egentibus, sed etiam id ipsum quod habent, accipiunt a pauperibus.
Secundo, debemus etiam corpus nostrum spiritualium exercitiis mancipare, ut videlicet ploremus, vigilemus, oremus, jejunemus, et alios labores corporis peragamus, in quantum tamen hoc corpus nostrum sustinere potest.
Tertio, debemus animam nostram fidelibus depositariis commendare, videlicet Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui sancto. Unde Apost. II ad Tim. I, 12: Scio cui credidi, et certus sum quia potens est depositum meum servare in illum diem.
IV.
De quarto nota, quod illa pretiosa margarita quam rebus, corpore, et anima comparare debemus, est ipse dulcis Jesus Christus. Hæc pretiosa margarita inventa fuit in illa nobili concha marina, videlicet in Virgine Maria. Et dicitur hæc margarita pretiosa, id est, præ omnibus gratiosa. De hac dicitur, Sap. VII, 8 et 9: Præposui illam regnis et sedibus, et divitias nihil esse duxi in comparatione illius: nec comparavi illi lapidem pretiosum: quoniam omne aurum in comparatione illius, arena est exigua, et tamquam lutum æstimabitur argentum in conspectu illius.
Rogemus ergo Dominum, ut pro ipsius pretioso Filio tam efficaciter laboremus, ut ipsum in nostrorum laborum præmium recipiamus. Quod, etc.
2. Likewise, she was suspended in the air, and her flesh was torn by very savage claws.
3. She was stripped and suspended in the air, and her sides were set on fire with burning lamps.
4. With hands and feet bound, she was sent into water, so that she might be submerged.
5. And she was beheaded with a sharp sword, and thus the Angels, receiving her soul, carried it into the joyful embraces of her spouse, Jesus Christ.
Who, considering these things, does not receive courage, so that he may suffer the light and momentary labors of this life for the Lord? Therefore Blessed Margaret is that noble diamargariton, which we ought to take for restoring the strength of our heart.
III.
On the third, note that we also ought to be merchants, namely so that we give the things that we have for the sake of the things that we do not have. But we have three things, namely goods, body, and soul.
First, therefore, we ought faithfully to distribute our goods among the needy. Hence the Lord says, Luke 12:33: Sell the things that you possess, and give alms. But alas, certain people not only do not give their own things to the needy, but even receive from the poor the very thing that they have.
Secondly, we ought also to bind our body to spiritual exercises, namely that we weep, keep watch, pray, fast, and carry out other labors of the body, in so far, however, as this body of ours is able to endure it.
Thirdly, we ought to commend our soul to faithful depositaries, namely to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Hence the Apostle, 2 Timothy 1:12: I know whom I have believed, and I am certain that he is able to keep my deposit unto that day.
IV.
On the fourth, note that that precious pearl which we ought to purchase with goods, body, and soul is sweet Jesus Christ himself. This precious pearl was found in that noble sea shell, namely in the Virgin Mary. And this pearl is called precious, that is, gracious before all things. Concerning this it is said, Wisdom 7:8 and 9: I set her before kingdoms and thrones, and I reckoned riches to be nothing in comparison with her; nor did I compare to her a precious stone, because all gold in comparison with her is a little sand, and silver will be reckoned as mud in her sight.
Therefore let us pray to the Lord, that we may labor so efficaciously for his precious Son, that we may receive him as the reward of our labors. May he grant this, etc.
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