Works › Sermons for the Seasons of the Year
Volume 13 · pp. 190–192
Sermon XLVII. Likewise on the Same Ascension, Opening
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SERMO XLVII.
ITEM DE EADEM ASCENSIONE.
Dominus quidem Jesus postquam locutus est eis, assumptus est, in caelum, et sedet a dextris Dei. Marc. XVI, 19.
Nota, quod Dominus assumptus est in caelum, ut septem sigilla libri reserata et reseranda monstraret. Unde scribit Joan. in Apoc. V, 1, 6 et 7: Vidi in dextera sedentis super thronum, Librum scriptum intus et foris, signatum sigillis septem. Et infra: Et vidi: et ecce in medio throni et quatuor animalium, et in medio seniorum, Agnum stantem tamquam occisum, habentem cornua septem, et oculos septem: qui sunt septem spiritus Dei, missi in omnem terram. Et venit: et accepit de dextera sedentis in throno Librum.
Nota 1. Quod liber, quem Joannes in dextera sedentis super thronum vidit, erat propositum Dei Patris, quod de salvatione ac redemptione praedestinatum conceperat ab aeterno. 2. Quod autem liber iste scriptus erat intus, hoc significat quod quaedam arcana divinitatis numquam vel ad Angelorum, vel etiam Archangelorum notitiam pervenerunt. 3. Quod autem foris videtur scriptus, hoc significat quod multa de redemptione et statu Ecclesiae Dominus quibusdam supremis Angelis revelaverat ab antiquo. 4. Hic autem liber signatus erat septem sigillis, quae nec ab Angelo, nec ab homine aliquo, nisi a solo Agno in ara crucis immolato, hoc est, a Dei Filio poterant reserari. Primum sigillum apertum fuit in nostrae carnis assumptione. Secundum in Dei Filii passione. Tertium in sancti Spiritus transmissione. Quartum aperitur in corporum nostrorum maceratione. Quintum aperitur in spirituum nostrorum requietione. Sextum aperietur in divini judicii districtione. Septimum aperietur in beata electorum glorificatione.
1. De primi igitur sigilli apertione dicitur Apoc. VI, 1 et 2: Et vidi quod aperuisset Agnus unum de septem sigillis... Et ecce equus albus, et qui sedebat super illum habebat arcum, et data est ei corona, et exivit vincens et vinceret. Per album equum intelligitur immaculata caro, quam Dominus assumpsit de Virgine Maria, in qua carne Dei Filius congressus est cum humani generis inimico, eumque vicit ac superavit. Dominus autem qui equum nostrae carnis ascendit, arcum portavit et coronam. Corda si quidem luxuriosorum, qui carnem suam per luxuriam coinquinant, sagittis infernalibus trajiciet et perforabit. Unde dicitur in Psal. CXIX, 4, quod sagittae potentis acutae: et hae sagittae magno effectu vindictam Dei deferent in ardentes miseros et damnatos. Unde Psal. VII, 14: Sagittas suas ardentibus effecit. Quod autem coronam defert, hoc significat quod Dominus electos suos, qui carnem suam mundam et immaculatam custodiunt, coronis aeternae gloriae coronabit.
2. De secundi sigilli apertione dicitur Apocal. VI, 3 et 4: Et cum aperuisset sigillum secundum..., exivit alius equus rufus: et qui sedebat super illum, datum est ei ut sumeret pacem de terra, et ut invicem se interficiant, et datus est ei gladius magnus. Per rufum equum intelligitur corpus Christi proprio sanguine rubricatum. In hoc autem equo Dominus sedens monet nos exemplo passionis suae, ut pax carnalis affectus rumpatur, et propter Deum temporale commodum contemnatur. Tunc pax sumitur de terra, quando filii patres et matres relinquentes se transferunt ad servitutem Dei. Tunc etiam se invicem interficiunt, quando quilibet electus alterum hortatur, ut carnem suam crucifigat cum vitiis et concupiscentiis. Haec autem omnia efficit magnus gladius charitatis. De peccatis dicit Dominus, Matth. X, 34 et 35: Nolite arbitrari quia pacem venerim mittere in terram: non veni pacem mittere, sed gladium. Veni enim separare hominem adversus patrem suum, et filium adversus matrem suam.
SERMON XLVII.
LIKEWISE ON THE SAME ASCENSION.
The Lord Jesus indeed, after he had spoken to them, was taken up, into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God. Mark XVI, 19.
Note that the Lord was taken up into heaven so that he might show the seven seals of the book, both unsealed and to be unsealed. Hence John writes in the Apocalypse V, 1, 6 and 7: I saw in the right hand of the one sitting upon the throne a Book written within and without, sealed with seven seals. And below: And I saw, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing as though slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. And he came and received from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne the Book.
Note 1. That the book which John saw in the right hand of the one sitting upon the throne was the purpose of God the Father, which he had conceived from eternity as predestined concerning salvation and redemption. 2. But that this book was written within signifies that certain secrets of divinity never came to the knowledge either of the Angels or even of the Archangels. 3. But that it seems written without signifies that the Lord had revealed from ancient time many things concerning the redemption and state of the Church to certain highest Angels. 4. But this book was sealed with seven seals, which could be unsealed neither by an Angel nor by any man, except by the Lamb alone sacrificed on the altar of the cross, that is, by the Son of God. The first seal was opened in the taking on of our flesh. The second in the Passion of the Son of God. The third in the sending of the Holy Spirit. The fourth is opened in the maceration of our bodies. The fifth is opened in the rest of our spirits. The sixth will be opened in the strictness of divine judgment. The seventh will be opened in the blessed glorification of the elect.
1. Therefore concerning the opening of the first seal it is said in Apocalypse VI, 1 and 2: And I saw that the Lamb had opened one of the seven seals... And behold a white horse, and he who was sitting upon it had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and that he might conquer. By the white horse is understood the immaculate flesh which the Lord took from the Virgin Mary, in which flesh the Son of God engaged with the enemy of the human race and conquered and overcame him. But the Lord, who mounted the horse of our flesh, carried a bow and a crown. For indeed the hearts of the lustful, who defile their flesh through lust, he will pierce and perforate with infernal arrows. Hence it is said in Psalm CXIX, 4, that the arrows of the powerful one are sharp; and these arrows with great effect will bring the vengeance of God against the burning wretched and damned. Hence Psalm VII, 14: He made his arrows for the burning. But that he bears a crown signifies that the Lord will crown his elect, who keep their flesh clean and immaculate, with crowns of eternal glory.
2. Concerning the opening of the second seal it is said in Apocalypse VI, 3 and 4: And when he had opened the second seal..., another red horse went out; and to him who was sitting upon it, it was given that he should take peace from the earth and that they should kill one another, and a great sword was given to him. By the red horse is understood the body of Christ reddened with its own blood. But the Lord sitting on this horse admonishes us by the example of his Passion that the peace of carnal affection should be broken and temporal advantage should be contemned for God's sake. Then peace is taken from the earth when sons, leaving fathers and mothers, transfer themselves to the service of God. Then they also kill one another, when any elect person urges another to crucify his flesh with vices and concupiscences. But the great sword of charity brings all these things about. Concerning sins the Lord says, Matthew X, 34 and 35: Do not think that I came to send peace upon the earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword. For I came to separate a man against his father and a son against his mother.
3. De tertii sigilli apertione dicitur Apocal. VI, 5 et 6: Et cum aperuisset sigillum tertium..., ecce equus niger: et qui sedebat super illum, habebat stateram in manu sua. Per nigrum equum intelliguntur sancti Apostoli et Martyres, qui aestum diversarum tribulationum ac persecutionum pro Domino fortiter sustinuerunt. Dominus autem in Apostolis sedens et Martyribus stateram gestat in manu, ut ostendat quod quantum quisque laboris ac tribulationis pro Domino sustinerit, tantum et ipsi praemii refundetur. Dominus etiam appendet corpora, quae pueri et puellae propter Dominum tradiderunt ad supplicium, ut nos senes et barbati hoc videntes confundamur et revereamur, cum propter Dominum nihil pati velimus. Sequitur: Et audivi tamquam vocem in medio quatuor animalium dicentium: Bilibris tritici denario et tres bilibres hordei denario, et vinum, et oleum ne laeseris. Haec verba sic intellige, quod videlicet bilibres tritici, hoc est, castitas mentis et corporis oblata Domino, remunerabuntur denario retributionis aeternae. Qui etiam bilibres tres hordei Domino obtulerit, id est, qui per geminam charitatem in exsilium missus amicos reliquerit, et rerum damna pertulerit, et cruciatus corporis sustinuerit, recipiet a Domino denarium mercedis aeternae. Qui etiam exhibuerit Domino vinum paenitentiae, et oleum misericordiae, evadet laesionem aeternam.
4. De apertione quarti sigilli dicitur Apocal. VI, 7 et 8: Et cum aperuisset sigillum quartum..., ecce equus pallidus: et qui sedebat super eum, nomen illi mors, et infernus sequebatur eum. Per pallidum equum intelliguntur sancti Confessores, et viri claustrales, nec non et omnes illi, qui jejuniis, vigiliis, et orationibus, et aliis spiritualibus exercitiis se pallidos efficiunt, et pro desiderio supernae patriae dissolvi cupiunt, et esse cum Christo. Unde et Christus, qui sedet in eis, mors vocatur. Ipse enim dicit in Osee, XIII, 14: Ero mors tua o mors, morsus tuus inferne, etc. Christus igitur est vita perpetuae vitae, et mors mortis aeternae. Ipse quippe mortis destruxit imperium: et quia momordit infernum in ereptione animarum fidelium, propterea adhuc infernus sequitur eum, id est, desiderat recuperare damnum suum, devorare cupiens poenitentes, in quibus ipse sedet.
5. De apertione quinti sigilli, Apocal. VI, 9 et 11: Et cum aperuisset sigillum quintum: vidi subtus altare animas interfectorum propter verbum Dei, et propter testimonium, quod habebant... Et datae sunt illis singulae stolae albae: et dictum est illis ut requiescerent adhuc tempus modicum donec compleantur conservi eorum. Altare est desiderabilis visio Jesu Christi, sub cujus protectione electorum animae feliciter requiescunt, quae jam stolam primam, hoc est, dotes animae receperunt, secundum quod recipient in suorum corporum glorificatione.
3. Concerning the opening of the third seal it is said in Apocalypse VI, 5 and 6: And when he had opened the third seal..., behold a black horse, and he who was sitting upon it had a scale in his hand. By the black horse are understood the holy Apostles and Martyrs, who strongly sustained for the Lord the heat of various tribulations and persecutions. But the Lord, sitting in the Apostles and Martyrs, carries a scale in his hand, so that he may show that as much labor and tribulation as each one shall have sustained for the Lord, so much reward will also be poured back to him. The Lord will also weigh the bodies which boys and girls handed over to punishment because of the Lord, so that we old and bearded men, seeing this, may be confounded and ashamed, since we wish to suffer nothing for the Lord. It follows: And I heard as it were a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying: Two pounds of wheat for a denarius and three two-pound measures of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the wine and the oil. Understand these words thus, that namely the two pounds of wheat, that is, chastity of mind and body offered to the Lord, will be rewarded with the denarius of eternal repayment. He also who will have offered to the Lord three two-pound measures of barley, that is, he who through twin charity, sent into exile, will have left friends, and will have endured losses of goods, and will have sustained tortures of the body, will receive from the Lord the denarius of eternal wage. He also who will have exhibited to the Lord the wine of penance and the oil of mercy will escape eternal injury.
4. Concerning the opening of the fourth seal it is said in Apocalypse VI, 7 and 8: And when he had opened the fourth seal..., behold a pale horse, and he who was sitting upon it, his name was death, and hell was following him. By the pale horse are understood the holy Confessors and cloistered men, and also all those who make themselves pale by fasts, vigils, and prayers, and by other spiritual exercises, and because of desire for the heavenly homeland desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Hence also Christ, who sits in them, is called death. For he himself says in Hosea XIII, 14: I will be your death, O death; your bite, O hell, etc. Therefore Christ is the life of perpetual life and the death of eternal death. Indeed he destroyed the dominion of death; and because he bit hell in the snatching away of faithful souls, therefore hell still follows him, that is, it desires to recover its loss, wishing to devour penitents, in whom he himself sits.
5. Concerning the opening of the fifth seal, Apocalypse VI, 9 and 11: And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those killed because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had... And single white robes were given to them, and it was said to them that they should rest still a little time until their fellow servants are completed. The altar is the desirable vision of Jesus Christ, under whose protection the souls of the elect happily rest, which have already received the first robe, that is, the endowments of the soul, according as they will receive it in the glorification of their bodies.
6. De apertione sexti sigilli dicitur Apoc. VI, 12 et seq.: Et vidi cum aperuisset sigillum sextum: et ecce terraemotus magnus factus est, id est, omnes terreni et terram amantes in die judicii mirabiliter trepidabunt. Et sol factus est niger tamquam saccus cilicinus, id est, qui modo splendent in gloria mundi, ut salvari possent, libenter saccis cilicinis induerentur. Et luna tota facta est sicut sanguis, id est, hypocritae, qui modo in apparentia hominum sancti videntur et justi, tunc confundentur et erubescent. Et stellae de caelo ceciderunt super terram, id est, clerici, qui propter litterarum scientiam modo tamquam sint caeli sidera, sunt elati; tunc simplices et stulti reputabuntur ut rustici. Et caelum recessit sicut liber involutus, id est, omnia, quae modo celata sunt et occulta, universi caelestis exercitus notitiae publicabuntur: et quilibet rationem reddet de peccatis omnibus, quae commisit. Et omnis mons, et insulae de locis suis motae sunt, id est, omnes, qui modo super alios eminent per potestatem, et qui forti amicorum adjutorio nunc undique sunt vallati: tunc omni praeterita potestate, cunctoque cognatorum adjutorio inveniunt se privatos. Et reges terrae, et principes, et tribuni, et divites, et fortes, et omnis servus, et liber absconderunt se in speluncis, et petris montium: et dicunt montibus et petris: Cadite super nos, et abscondite nos a facie sedentis super thronum, et ab ira Agni: quoniam venit dies magnus irae ipsorum: et quis poterit stare? Haec verba sic intellige, quod omnes peccatores, cujuscumque sint officii, vel dignitatis, vel etiam conditionis, in die judicii coram praesentia Christi in tantam pervenient anxietatem, si possibile esset, quod etiam ad litteram in speluncis montium tunc libentissime latitarent; vel etiam tunc de criminibus suis seram paenitentiam agentes, frustra tunc Sanctorum auxilium invocabunt, quos cum poterant, imitari nolebant.
7. De reseratione septimi sigilli dicitur Apoc. VIII, 1: Et cum aperuisset sigillum septimum, factum est silentium in caelo, quasi media hora. Peracto quippe judicio, Dominus electos suos perducet in regnum quietis aeternae, ubi ab omni perturbatione inimicorum, et ab omni infirmitatum ac molestiarum incommodo silentium celebratur sempiternum. Quod dicitur: Silentium factum in caelo, quasi media hora, hoc signat, quod tam insatiabile erit gaudium illius supernae patriae, quod electi cum mille millibus annorum cum Deo suo regnaverint, vix se ibi per dimidiam horum fuisse reputabunt. Numquam enim taedium illius gaudii patiuntur. Illi vero, qui erunt in inferno, prae nimiis cruciatibus jugiter clamabunt, et taedio afficientur aeterno. Unde
6. Concerning the opening of the sixth seal it is said in Apocalypse VI, 12 and following: And I saw when he had opened the sixth seal, and behold a great earthquake was made, that is, all earthly persons and lovers of the earth will tremble wonderfully on the day of judgment. And the sun was made black like a haircloth sack, that is, those who now shine in the glory of the world, so that they could be saved, would gladly be clothed in haircloth sacks. And the whole moon was made like blood, that is, hypocrites who now seem holy and just in the appearance of men will then be confounded and blush. And the stars fell from heaven upon the earth, that is, clerics, who now are lifted up because of knowledge of letters as though they are stars of heaven, will then be reckoned simple and foolish as rustic people. And heaven withdrew like a rolled-up book, that is, all things which now are concealed and hidden will be published to the knowledge of the whole heavenly army, and each one will render an account concerning all the sins which he committed. And every mountain and the islands were moved from their places, that is, all who now stand out over others by power, and who now are fortified everywhere by strong help of friends, then find themselves deprived of all past power and of every help of relatives. And the kings of the earth, and princes, and tribunes, and rich, and strong, and every slave and free person hid themselves in caves and rocks of mountains, and they say to mountains and rocks: Fall upon us, and hide us from the face of the one sitting upon the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb, because the great day of their wrath has come, and who will be able to stand? Understand these words thus, that all sinners, of whatever office or dignity or also condition they may be, on the day of judgment before the presence of Christ will come into such great anxiety, if it were possible, that they would then most gladly hide literally in caves of mountains; or also then, doing late penance for their crimes, in vain will then invoke the help of the Saints, whom, when they were able, they were unwilling to imitate.
7. Concerning the unsealing of the seventh seal it is said in Apocalypse VIII, 1: And when he had opened the seventh seal, silence was made in heaven, as if for half an hour. For when the judgment has been completed, the Lord will lead his elect into the kingdom of eternal quiet, where everlasting silence is celebrated from every disturbance of enemies and from every trouble of infirmities and annoyances. As to what is said, Silence was made in heaven, as if for half an hour, this signifies that the joy of that heavenly homeland will be so insatiable that when the elect will have reigned with their God for thousands of thousands of years, they will reckon that they have scarcely been there for half of hours. For they never suffer weariness of that joy. But those who will be in hell, because of too-great torments, will continually cry out, and they will be affected with eternal weariness. Hence
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