Volume 13 · p. 632
Sermon LIX. On the Purification of Blessed Mary
SERMO LIX.
IN PURIFICATIONE BEATÆ MARIÆ.
Obtulerunt pro eo Domino par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum. Luc. II, 24.
Obtulit igitur in paupertate filium suum cum hostia pauperum, scilicet, par turturum, aut duos pullos columbarum. Hæc oblatio pauperum erat, qui offerre agnum non poterant. Unde pro paupere Christo hic oblata fuerunt, ut per omnia ejus paupertas pateat: qui enim vere pauperes sunt, hanc oblationem offerunt.
Nota, quod hodie fidelis portat ignem effulgentem in candela, quæ constat ex stuppa et cera. In igne divinitas, in cera humanitas, in stuppa Dominicæ passionis asperitas designatur. Beata Virgo detulit, et obtulit hodie suum Dei filium in templum: in cujus rei figura fideles hodie deferunt et offerunt ignem in candela, in quibus tria designantur. In igne ardor contritionis, omnia eradicans germina vitiorum. In cera, confessio criminis. Sicut enim fluit cera a facie ignis 1, sic ab ardore contritionis fluit confessio ab ore confitentis, et hoc lacrymis refluentibus. In stuppa asperitas satisfactionis. In his tribus est Jesus, id est, omnis salvatio vel salus. Angeli in cælo de humani generis redemptione lætantur, homines mortui in terra resuscitantur, captivi in inferno liberantur.
Rogamus ergo te, Domina mater Dei electa, ut a sanguine peccatorum nos purifices, ignem effulgentem contritionis, in cera confessionis et stuppa satisfactionis nos deferre facias, quo ad lumen gloriæ cœlestis pervenire mereamur, ipso præstante quem hodie in templo obtulisti, cui est honor in cælis. Quod, etc.
Footnotes:
1 Ps. LXVII, 3.
SERMON LIX.
ON THE PURIFICATION OF BLESSED MARY.
They offered for him to the Lord a pair of turtledoves or two young doves. Luke 2:24.
Therefore in poverty she offered her son with the victim of the poor, namely a pair of turtledoves or two young doves. This was the offering of the poor, who could not offer a lamb. Hence these things were offered here for poor Christ, so that his poverty may appear through all things; for those who are truly poor offer this offering.
Note that today the faithful person carries a shining fire in a candle, which consists of tow and wax. In the fire divinity, in the wax humanity, in the tow the roughness of the Lord's Passion is designated. The Blessed Virgin carried and offered today her Son of God in the temple; in figure of this thing the faithful today carry and offer fire in a candle, in which three things are designated. In the fire, the ardor of contrition, uprooting all the shoots of vices. In the wax, confession of crime. For just as wax flows before the face of fire 1, so from the ardor of contrition confession flows from the mouth of the one confessing, and this with tears flowing back. In the tow, the roughness of satisfaction. In these three is Jesus, that is, every salvation or health. Angels in heaven rejoice concerning the redemption of the human race, dead human beings are raised on earth, captives are freed in hell.
Therefore we ask you, Lady, chosen mother of God, that you purify us from the blood of sins, that you make us carry the shining fire of contrition in the wax of confession and tow of satisfaction, by which we may deserve to come to the light of heavenly glory, he himself granting it whom today you offered in the temple, to whom there is honor in heaven. Which, etc.
Footnotes:
1 Psalm 67:3.
Notes
- Psalm 67:3. (Ps. LXVII, 3.) ↩
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