Sermon XXXII. On the Same Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Opening

SERMON XXXII.

ON THE SAME FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.

Who is this who goes forth like the rising dawn, beautiful as the moon, chosen as the sun, terrible as an ordered battle-line of camps? Song of Songs 6:9.

Note that these words are spoken through admiration concerning the admirable mother of our admirable God. Hence five things are principally to be noted here:

I. Why is the Blessed Virgin said to go forth? II. What is the cause that she is called dawn? III. What is the reason that she is named beautiful as the moon? IV. On account of what is she asserted to be chosen as the sun? V. Why is she also declared to be terrible as an ordered battle-line of camps?

Therefore it must be known that these five things are suggested as if from the very name of the glorious Virgin. For she is called Maria. This name consists of five letters, namely M. A. R. I. A. Therefore let us put for M Mediatrix, for A Alleviatrix, for R Reparatrix, for I Illuminatrix, for A Auxiliatrix. And we find why it is said of the Blessed Virgin that she goes forth, and as the dawn rises, and that she is beautiful as the moon, and chosen as the sun, and terrible as an ordered battle-line of camps.

And note that the whole human race, on account of the sins of the first parents, namely Adam and Eve, and also on account of its own excesses, five evils

had fallen, namely into offense of God the Father, vexation of internal weakness, defect of spiritual powers, darkening of mind and heart, and infestation of cruel enemies; but for the sake of removing these five evils the Mother of God was made Mediatrix, Alleviatrix, Reparatrix, Illuminatrix, and Auxiliatrix.

I.

On the first, note: The Gloss says, "As the God-bearer was ascending to heaven among the sweet embraces of her most serene Son, all the angelic spirits and all the souls of the elect, breaking forth into praise of Blessed Mary, say: Who is this? that is, how good, how dutiful, how praiseworthy, and how admirable, she goes forth dutifully, that is, she steps forth on behalf of the guilty, as Mediatrix." For they recognized that she had begotten Jesus, who had reconciled the world to God the Father through his own blood; hence Paul says, 2 Corinthians 5:19: God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. Hence also daily we sing in the Mass: "Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, etc." All the angelic citizens also recognized that therefore the Blessed Virgin was being elevated above all the choirs of Angels, so that as a dutiful Mediatrix she might continually intercede for sinners. Hence also the Secret Prayer says: "May the prayer of the God-bearer commend our gifts before your clemency, O God; you transferred her from the present age for this reason, that she might confidently intercede before you for our sins." Hence also the true Solomon, that is, the Son of God, says to his mother, 3 Kings 2:20: Ask, my mother; for it is not right that I should turn away your face.

But so that the Son before the Father, and the Mother before the Son, may intercede for us more efficaciously, it is good that none of us offend either the Son or the Mother. That man offends the Son and the Mother who on Sundays, consecrated to the Resurrection of the Son, and on the solemnities of the Blessed Virgin, frequents dances and taverns, and who then gives himself to games, in which many oaths are uttered, and to luxuries. Certainly the Blessed Virgin never played. Hence she herself also says, Tobit 3:17: I never mingled myself with those who play; nor with those who walk in levity did I make myself a participant.

II.

There follows concerning the second, Like the dawn rising. Here Angels and holy souls recognize that the Blessed Virgin is the Alleviatrix of the sick. For at the rising of dawn the sick are accustomed to feel more gently. One also reads in Genesis 32:25 and 26 that the Angel blessed Jacob at the rising of dawn. And note that dawn, aurora, is so called as if golden hour, aurea hora. For the time of dawn, before other hours, is dearest to the sick. And truly the Blessed Virgin, before all other Saints, is dearest and most pleasing to infirm sinners. For she brought forth to the whole world the Son of God, who is the medicine of all infirmities. Hence Ecclesiasticus 38:4: The Most High created medicines from the earth, and a prudent man will not abhor them. And so the Blessed Virgin is that blessed earth from which the Most High, that is, God the Father, created the medicine of the faithful, that is, Jesus Christ, according to the body and soul; for according to divinity he always existed uncreated. And truly whoever will have been prudent will not abhor this medicine. But this medicine is daily shown to us in the venerable Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence also in a certain compline-prayer we pray: "May what we receive from the blessing of your holy altar be for us, we ask, O Lord, medicine of mind and body, etc." Many set a fornicating woman, or money, or another badly acquired thing before this medicine. For they prefer to lack the body of Christ rather than dismiss a mistress, or restore money or another thing unjustly acquired.

III.

There follows concerning the third, Beautiful as the moon. Here the whole household of the eternal King testifies that the Blessed Virgin is the Reparatrix of the weak. For just as the moon in its increase recovers humors for bodies, so also Blessed Mary conceived and bore the God of Israel, who gives virtue and fortitude to his people, as is said in Psalm 67:36. Concerning this moon Ecclesiasticus 43:8 says: The moon increasing wonderfully in consummation. For Blessed Mary grew as the moon, but did not decrease. For she went from virtue into virtue ¹, until she became a perfect moon forever. So too we, dearest ones, ought to grow from day to day in virtues and good works. Hence it is that the Lord said in Genesis 9:1 to Noah and his sons: Increase and multiply and fill the earth. By Noah are understood the rich and Prelates; by his sons are marked poor persons and subjects. To all these the Lord says: Increase in virtue and multiply in good works; for thus you will fill the land of the living. But certain persons conversely daily fail, and are made worse.

IV.

There follows concerning the fourth, Chosen as the sun. Here the heavenly army proclaims that the Blessed Virgin is the Illuminatrix of heaven and earth. For as the sun illuminates the darkness of this world, so she prepared her tabernacle for the eternal Sun, who arose from her and illumined those who are in darkness and in the shadow of death. Malachi 4:2 had foretold the rising of this sun: For you fearing my name the sun of justice will rise, and health in his wings. Therefore Christ is the sun of justice, who illuminated this world by a most illustrious life and most right doctrine. He also will disclose the excesses of the impious in judgment. And truly there is health in his wings. For to whomever that sun will then have flown, that is, whose body and soul he will then have glorified, he will grant eternal health. It is also said, Ecclesiasticus 42:16, concerning the Son of God and his Mother: The sun illuminating has looked through all things, and the work of the Lord is full of his glory. Understand these words thus, that there is a twofold sun of heaven, namely the Son of God and his Mother. These suns, therefore, look through all things, that is, to each person for every service that will have been spent on them they will send special little dishes of eternal repayment, as princes are accustomed to do.

V.

There follows concerning the fifth, Terrible as an ordered battle-line of camps. Here it is suggested that the Blessed Virgin is the strong Auxiliatrix of the faithful fighting against demons and the sevenfold troop of vices. Hence concerning her it is said in Song of Songs 4:4: Your neck is like the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks; a thousand shields hang from it, all the armor of strong men. Note that by the neck is understood the Blessed Virgin; for through her, as through the most excellent one, the whole body of the Church is united to Christ the head. She is like the tower of David, that is, strong by hand, because the faithful find in her a strong refuge. And she is built with bulwarks, that is, she has assistance from the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. A thousand shields also, that is, the protections of all Angels, hang from her for the defense of those who have fled to her. All the armor of strong men also hangs from her, because all the elect will aid the one whom she has wished to aid.

Therefore it is good, dearest ones, that through true penance we now flee thus to that strong Auxiliatrix, so that through her we may have protection on the day of judgment against all our adversaries. May he grant this, etc.