Volume 13 · pp. 626–627
Sermon LVI. To the Divine Head of Christ
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SERMO LVI.
AD DIVINUM CAPUT CHRISTI.
I. Multiplici densitate spinarum vallatum caput Christi usque ad cerebri teneritudinem transfixum est. Psal. XXXI, 4: Dum configitur spina. Unde per Prophetam, spinis peccatorum circumdedit me populus iste. Ad quid hoc, nisi ne tuum doleret caput, ne tua intentio vulneraretur?
II. Caligaverunt in morte Oculi, et illa luminaria quæ totum illuminant orbem, ad horam exstincta sunt, quibus obtenebrantibus, tenebræ factæ sunt super universam terram 1, et cum illo duo luminaria magna firmamenti submota sunt, ut avertantur oculi tui, ne videant vanitatem (Psal. CXVIII, 37); et si videant, propter eum contemnant.
III. Aures illæ quæ in cælis incessanter audiunt, « Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, » in terris audire voluerunt, « Dæmonium habes, » et « Crucifige, crucifige, » ne aures tuæ ad clamorem pauperum surdescerent, ne ad inanes fabulas patulæ auditum detractionis vel adulationis virus pronæ susciperent.
IV. Speciosa illa Facies speciosi forma præ filiis hominum, imo præ millibus Angelorum, sputis illecta, colaphis afflicta, illusionibus addicta est: ut facies tua illuminaretur, illuminata corroboraretur, ut dici posset de te: Vultus ejus non sunt amplius in diversa mutati.
V. Os illud quod docet Angelos, homines instruit: quod « dixit, et facta sunt, » felle et aceto potatum est: ut os tuum veritatem loquatur, et aperiatur ad confitendum Dominum: obmutuit, ne linguam tuam leviter iram loquens accomodes.
VI. Manus illæ quæ fundaverunt cœlos, extentæ sunt in cruce, clavis transverberatæ durissimis: de quibus Isa. LXV, 2: Expandi manus meas tota die ad populum incredulum. Et David, Psal. XXI, 17 et 18: Foderunt manus meas et pedes meos: dinumeraverunt omnia ossa mea. Hieronymus: « Possumus in expansione manuum largitatem donantis accipere, qui nihil pie petentibus denegat, qui leproso petenti sanitatem restituit, cæcum a nativitate illuminavit, esurientem populum in deserto pavit. » Item, « Expansæ manus clementiam parentis signant, filios in sinum recipere gestientis. » Sicque manus tuæ expandantur ad inopes, ut dicere possis: Anima mea in manibus meis semper 2. Quod manibus tenetur, non facile oblivioni traditur. Sic anima ad memoriam revocat, qui eam bona opinione quasi manibus portat. Confixæ sunt, ut te instruant ab illicito sive pravo opere manus timoris clavis configere.
SERMON LVI.
TO THE DIVINE HEAD OF CHRIST.
I. The head of Christ, surrounded by manifold density of thorns, was pierced through to the tenderness of the brain. Psalm 31:4: While the thorn is fixed. Hence through the Prophet: This people has surrounded me with the thorns of sins. For what purpose is this, except that your head should not grieve, that your intention should not be wounded?
II. The Eyes grew dim in death, and those lights that illuminate the whole world were extinguished for an hour; as they were darkened, darkness was made over the whole earth 1, and with him the two great lights of the firmament were removed, so that your eyes may be turned away, lest they see vanity (Psalm 118:37); and if they see, on account of him they may contemn.
III. Those ears that in heaven hear unceasingly, "Holy, Holy, Holy," wished on earth to hear, "You have a demon," and "Crucify, crucify," so that your ears might not become deaf to the cry of the poor, nor, lying open to empty fables, might they receive the poison of detraction or flattery while inclined to hear.
IV. That beautiful Face of one beautiful in form before the sons of men, indeed before thousands of Angels, was allured with spittle, afflicted with blows, handed over to mockeries, so that your face might be illuminated, and once illuminated might be strengthened, so that it could be said of you: His faces are no longer changed in diverse directions.
V. That Mouth, which teaches Angels and instructs human beings, which "spoke, and they were made," was given gall and vinegar to drink, so that your mouth may speak truth and be opened to confess the Lord; it became mute, lest you apply your tongue lightly, speaking anger.
VI. Those hands that founded the heavens were stretched out on the cross, pierced through with the hardest nails; concerning them Isaiah 65:2 says: I have stretched out my hands all day to an unbelieving people. And David, Psalm 21:17 and 18: They have dug my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones. Jerome: "In the stretching out of the hands we can receive the generosity of one giving, who denies nothing to those piously asking, who restored health to the leper asking, illuminated the man blind from birth, fed the hungry people in the desert." Likewise, "The outstretched hands signify the clemency of a parent eager to receive his children into his bosom." And so let your hands be stretched out to the needy, so that you can say: My soul is always in my hands 2. What is held in the hands is not easily handed over to oblivion. Thus the soul recalls to memory one who carries it, as if in hands, by good opinion. They were fixed, so that they may instruct you to fix the hands away from illicit or depraved work with the nails of fear.
VII. Pectus illud gloriosum, in quo sunt omnes thesauri sapientiæ et scientiæ absconditi, lancea militari confossum est, ut pectus tuum a pravis cogitationibus mundetur, mundatum sanctificetur, sanctificatum conservetur.
VIII. Pedes quorum scabellum et vestigia Propheta pronuntiavit adorari, dira confixione confixi sunt, ne pedes tui aliquid malum sustinerent, vel ad effundendum sanguinem: sed viam mandatorum Dei currentes, in via stabiles et semita fixi, et ad dextram vel ad sinistram non declinent. Quid ultra debui tibi facere 3?
IX. Quare Christus declinat caput in cruce? Christus declinat caput in cruce ostendens per humilitatem eundum in cælum.
Item, ut ostenderet quiescendum a labore proprio.
Item, et satisfaceret clamanti: Osculetur me osculo oris suis 4.
Item, ut acciperet licentiam a sponsa recedendi.
Magnæ virtutis Dominicæ passionis memoria, quæ si firmiter mente teneatur, omnis erroris et peccati nebula effugatur. Unde Beatus Bernardus: « Semper habentes Christum in corde, et hunc crucifixum. »
Footnotes:
1 Matth. XXVII, 45.
2 Ps. CXVIII, 109.
3 Isa. V, 4.
4 Cant. I, 1.
VII. That glorious breast, in which all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden, was pierced through by a soldier's lance, so that your breast may be cleansed from depraved thoughts, cleansed may be sanctified, sanctified may be preserved.
VIII. The feet, whose footstool and footsteps the Prophet proclaimed should be adored, were fixed with dreadful fastening, lest your feet sustain any evil, or go to pour out blood; but running the way of the commandments of God, stable in the way and fixed in the path, may they not decline to the right or to the left. What more ought I to have done for you 3?
IX. Why does Christ bow his head on the cross? Christ bows his head on the cross, showing that through humility one must go into heaven.
Likewise, so that he might show that one must rest from one's own labor.
Likewise, and so that he might satisfy the one crying: Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth 4.
Likewise, so that he might receive permission from the bride to depart.
The memory of the Lord's Passion is of great virtue; if it is held firmly in the mind, every cloud of error and sin is driven away. Hence Blessed Bernard says: "Always having Christ in the heart, and him crucified."
Footnotes:
1 Matthew 27:45.
2 Psalm 118:109.
3 Isaiah 5:4.
4 Song of Songs 1:1.
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