Volume 37 · pp. 393–394
Proverbs of Solomon, page 393
in Maria fuit improportionabilis humilitas. Ergo improportionabilis sapientia. Sapientia enim est quidam gustus spiritualis, et primae veritatis, per modum summae bonitatis, quam ipsa prae omnibus habuit. Hanc sapientiam debemus ad consilium Salomonis vocare sororem nostram. Sed quia sequitur, ibidem, v. 5: Ut custodiat te, quasi sapientissima, et fidelissima, a muliere extranea, id est, ab omni immunda, et prava voluntate, et ab aliena quae verba sua dulcia facit, cum sint amarissima.
2. Item, Ipsa est saccus redemptionis. Proverb. VII, 20: Sacculum, id est, Mariam, pecuniae, liberationis, hunc secum tulit: in die plenae lunae reversurus est in domum suam.
3. Item, Ipsa in persona veritatis increatae, et sapientiae aeternae, clamat ad nos per Salomonem, Proverb. VIII, 6 et 22: Audite me, tamquam matrem filii, quia de magnis rebus locutura sum: Dominus possedit me. Quasi diceret: Magna sunt, quae dico, quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est 1. De hoc gratias ago, quia Dominus Pater, Dominus Filius, Dominus Spiritus sanctus, scilicet possedit me. Pater per omnia possedit me, ab omni peccato potentialiter eripiendo. Filius possedit per sapientiam, me assumendo in cooperationem, ad generis humani redemptionem. Genes. II, 18: Non est bonum hominem esse solum, etc. Spiritus sanctus possedit me, tamquam templum gloriae, dignanter inhabitando, et omni gratia totaliter implendo. Luc. I, 28: Ave, gratia plena. Et iterum, v. 35: Spiritus sanctus superveniet, etc.
4. Item, Gratias ago tibi, quia per eum in aeternum, sive ab aeterno ordinata sum 2. Nullus enim Angelorum, Seraphim, vel Cherubim, sed ipse aeternus ab aeterno ordinavit me. Item, summus Pater ordinavit me in Exorcistam, quantum ad daemonum expulsionem. Unde, Genes. III, 15: Ipsa conteret caput tuum. In Ostiariam, quantum ad immundorum exclusionem, et mundorum introductionem. Ezechiel. XLIV, 2 et 3: Porta haec clausa erit. Et iterum, v. 3: Erit clausa principi. Princeps ipse sedebit in ea. Quasi diceret: Porta haec Principem, et imitatores suos introduxit, et indignioribus clausa erit. In Lectorem, quantum ad omnium Prophetarum expositionem ad litteram in seipsa. Unde, Isa. VII, 14: Ecce Virgo concipiet, etc. Et Angelus ad ipsam, Luc. I, 31: Ecce concipies. In Acolytum, quantum ad illuminationem. Cantic. VI, 9: Quae est ista quae progreditur quasi aurora consurgens, etc.? Et illud Numerorum, XXIV, 17: Orietur stella. In Subdiaconum, quantum ad verbi divini observationem, quo aliis scribendum narravit. Unde, Luc. II, 19: Maria conservabat omnia verba haec, conferens, etc. In Diaconum et Sacerdotem, quantum ad corporis Domini de ipsa formationem et dispensationem. Communicavit enim nobis corpus Filii sui in cibum, et sanguinem suum in potum. In Episcopum, quantum ad sollicitudinem omnium Ecclesiarum. In Papam, qui est pater patrum, habens in caelo, et in terra potestatem: sic et ipsa mater est omnium Christianorum, et habet potestatem in caelo, et in terra, et in purgatorio, et in inferno. Sic ergo mater Dei, Regina caeli est totaliter ordinata. Vel aliter: Ordinata sum, ut dicit Bernardus: "Angelo in laetitiam, justo in gratiam, peccatori in veniam, tristi in consolationem, captivo in redemptionem, diabolo in conculcationem" 3.
in Mary there was immeasurable humility. Therefore there was immeasurable wisdom. For wisdom is a certain spiritual taste and a taste of the first truth, after the manner of the highest goodness, which she had before all. According to Solomon's counsel we ought to call this wisdom our sister. But because it follows there, verse 5: That she may guard you, as most wise and most faithful, from the foreign woman, that is, from every unclean and depraved will, and from the alien woman who makes her words sweet although they are most bitter.
2. Likewise, she is the pouch of redemption. Proverbs VII, 20: The little pouch, that is, Mary, of money, of liberation, he took with himself; on the day of the full moon he will return to his house.
3. Likewise, in the person of uncreated truth and eternal wisdom, she cries to us through Solomon, Proverbs VIII, 6 and 22: Hear me, as the mother of a son, because I am about to speak of great things: The Lord possessed me. As if she were saying: Great are the things I say, because he who is mighty has done great things for me 1. Concerning this I give thanks, because the Lord Father, the Lord Son, the Lord Holy Spirit, namely, possessed me. The Father possessed me through all things, by potentially snatching me from every sin. The Son possessed me through wisdom, by assuming me into cooperation for the redemption of the human race. Genesis II, 18: It is not good for man to be alone, etc. The Holy Spirit possessed me, as the temple of glory, by worthily dwelling in me and totally filling me with every grace. Luke I, 28: Hail, full of grace. And again, verse 35: The Holy Spirit will come upon you, etc.
4. Likewise, I give thanks to you, because through him I was ordained forever, or from eternity 2. For none of the Angels, Seraphim, or Cherubim, but the eternal one himself ordained me from eternity. Likewise, the highest Father ordained me as Exorcist, with respect to expelling demons. Hence Genesis III, 15: She will crush your head. As Doorkeeper, with respect to the exclusion of the unclean and the introduction of the clean. Ezekiel XLIV, 2 and 3: This gate will be closed. And again, verse 3: It will be closed for the prince. The prince himself will sit in it. As if he were saying: This gate introduced the Prince and his imitators, and will be closed to the unworthy. As Reader, with respect to the exposition of all the Prophets according to the letter in herself. Hence Isaiah VII, 14: Behold, the Virgin will conceive, etc. And the Angel to her, Luke I, 31: Behold, you will conceive. As Acolyte, with respect to illumination. Song of Songs VI, 9: Who is she who goes forth like the rising dawn, etc.? And that word of Numbers XXIV, 17: A star will arise. As Subdeacon, with respect to the observation of the divine word, by which she recounted what was to be written for others. Hence Luke II, 19: Mary was preserving all these words, pondering them, etc. As Deacon and Priest, with respect to the formation and dispensation of the Lord's body from herself. For she communicated to us the body of her Son as food, and his blood as drink. As Bishop, with respect to solicitude for all the Churches. As Pope, who is father of fathers, having power in heaven and on earth; so also she is the mother of all Christians, and has power in heaven and on earth and in purgatory and in hell. Thus therefore the Mother of God, Queen of heaven, is totally ordained. Or otherwise: I was ordained, as Bernard says: "For the Angel unto gladness, for the just person unto grace, for the sinner unto pardon, for the sorrowful unto consolation, for the captive unto redemption, for the devil unto trampling" 3.
5. Tertio, Gratias ago de hoc, quod concepit me propter destinationem, contra mortis et peccati destructionem. Hoc notatur, ibi, Proverb. VIII, 24: Nondum erant abyssi, id est, daemones: vel abyssi miseriae, et peccati: et ego jam concepta eram, scilicet in praesentia, et praedestinatione Dei, ut exhiberem lucem contra tenebras, gratiam contra culpam, vitam contra mortem.
6. Quarto, Gratias ago de hoc, quod assumpsit me ad componendum: quod notatur, ibi, Proverb. VIII, 30: Cum eo eram, cuncta componens, in utero meo per incarnationem: componens eram primum cum ultimo, parvum cum magno, deitatem cum humanitate. Unde, Proverb. XXXI, 10: Procul, et de ultimis finibus terrae. Item, Eram in mundo componens per Filii mei passionem, et totius humani generis redemptionem. Item, Eram componens cum Filio meo caelestia ad inhabitandum, terrestria ad peregrinandum, infernalia ad cremandum.
7. Commendatur etiam beatissima Virgo Maria, a sua fideli charitate, quia matrem se nostram nominat, et nos, suos filios appellat. Proverb. VIII, 32: Nunc ergo, filii, audite me, vocantem, consolantem, pro vobis intercedentem, et vos instruentem. Beati sunt corpore et anima, qui custodiunt vias meas: vias humilitatis contra superbiam, castitatis contra luxuriam, largitatis contra avaritiam. Et infra, v. 35: Qui me invenerit, humiliter, et devote, et fideliter serviendo, inveniet vitam gratiae, et gloriae, et hauriet salutem a Domino, animae, corporis: a Domino, qui est salus aeterna.
8. Commendat etiam eam Salomon a fortitudine. Proverb. XXXI, 10: Mulierem fortem quis inveniet, sicut Mariam? Tria sunt quibus fortitudo maxima appropriatur, scilicet Deus, mors, et diabolus. Deum per humilitatem quodammodo separavit. Unde, Gregorius: "Quanta ergo humilitatis virtus est, propter quam solam veraciter edocendam, is qui sine aestimatione magnus est, factus est parvus usque ad passionem 4?" Item, mortem, cui nemo mortalium resistere potest, superavit: quia per eam vita rediit. Item, diabolum in nihilum cum omni ejus potestate redegit. Unde, Genes. III, 15: Ipsa conteret caput tuum.
9. Item, Commendatur a confidentia, quam quis habet in ipsam. Proverb. XXXI, 11: Confidit in ea cor viri sui. Glossa: "Ut rex in castro inexpugnabili." Omnes enim Sancti expugnabiles fuerunt, saltem quantum ad venialia. Haec autem omnino inexpugnabilis. Vel, Confidit in ea, ut negotiator in uxore negotiosissima. Quia nullus Angelorum, vel hominum, tot et tantas animas Deo lucratur, sicut ipsa. Vel, Confidit in ea, ut pater in filia prudentissima. Ipsa enim scit sola prae omnibus prudenter allegare coram omni caelesti principe, de peccatorum salute.
10. Item, Commendatur ab ejus officiosissima operatione. Proverb. XXXI, 13: Quaesivit enim lanam et linum, et operata est consilio manuum suarum. Glossa: "Quia operuit Filium Dei humanitate, peccatorum miseratione, Ecclesiam sancti Spiritus illuminatione."
11. Comparatur etiam navi applicanti ad portum, propter utilitatem. Proverb. XXXI, 14: Facta est Virgo Maria, quasi navis refertissima institoris, scilicet
5. Third, I give thanks for this, that he conceived me for the purpose, against the destruction of death and sin. This is noted there, Proverbs VIII, 24: The abysses did not yet exist, that is, the demons, or the abysses of misery and sin; and I was already conceived, namely in the presence and predestination of God, so that I might display light against darknesses, grace against fault, life against death.
6. Fourth, I give thanks for this, that he assumed me for composing; this is noted there, Proverbs VIII, 30: I was with him, composing all things, in my womb through the incarnation. I was composing the first with the last, the small with the great, deity with humanity. Hence, Proverbs XXXI, 10: From far away and from the furthest ends of the earth. Likewise, I was in the world composing through the passion of my Son and the redemption of the whole human race. Likewise, I was composing with my Son heavenly things for dwelling, earthly things for pilgrimage, infernal things for burning.
7. The most blessed Virgin Mary is also commended from her faithful charity, because she names herself our mother and calls us her sons. Proverbs VIII, 32: Now therefore, sons, hear me, calling, consoling, interceding for you, and instructing you. Blessed in body and soul are those who keep my ways: the ways of humility against pride, of chastity against luxury, of generosity against avarice. And below, verse 35: He who finds me, by serving humbly, devoutly, and faithfully, will find the life of grace and glory, and will draw salvation from the Lord, of soul and body, from the Lord who is eternal salvation.
8. Solomon also commends her from fortitude. Proverbs XXXI, 10: Who will find a strong woman, like Mary? There are three to which the greatest fortitude is appropriated, namely God, death, and the devil. In a certain way she separated God by humility. Hence Gregory: "How great, therefore, is the virtue of humility, for the sake of teaching which alone truly, he who is great beyond reckoning became small even unto the passion 4?" Likewise, she overcame death, which no mortal can resist, because through her life returned. Likewise, she reduced the devil with all his power to nothing. Hence Genesis III, 15: She will crush your head.
9. Likewise, she is commended from the confidence that one has in her. Proverbs XXXI, 11: The heart of her husband trusts in her. The Gloss: "As a king in an unconquerable fortress." For all the Saints were conquerable, at least as to venial sins. But she is wholly unconquerable. Or, He trusts in her as a merchant in a most industrious wife, because no Angel or man wins for God so many and so great souls as she does. Or, He trusts in her as a father in a most prudent daughter. For she alone before all knows how to plead prudently before every heavenly prince concerning the salvation of sinners.
10. Likewise, she is commended from her most dutiful operation. Proverbs XXXI, 13: For she sought wool and flax, and worked by the counsel of her hands. The Gloss: "Because she covered the Son of God with humanity, sinners with compassion, the Church with the illumination of the Holy Spirit."
11. She is also compared to a ship putting in to port, because of usefulness. Proverbs XXXI, 14: The Virgin Mary became like the most laden ship of the merchant, namely
Notes
- Luke I, 49. (Luc. I, 49.) ↩
- Proverbs VIII, 23. (Proverb. VIII, 23.) ↩
- St. Bernard, Sermon II on Pentecost, and in the sermon on the Blessed Virgin on those words of Apocalypse XII, 1: A woman clothed with the sun,... and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (S. Bernardus, Serm. II in Pentecoste, et in sermone de B. Virgine super illa verba Apocalypsis, XII, 1: Mulier amicta sole,... et in capite ejus corona stellarum duodecim.) ↩
- St. Gregory the Great, Book XXXIV of the Moralia, chapter 18. (S. Gregorius M., Lib. XXXIV Moralium, cap. 18.) ↩
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