Volume 37 · pp. 408–411
Isaiah the Prophet, page 408
ISAIAS PROPHETA.
Visio Isaiae, filii Amos, quam vidit super Judam et Jerusalem 1.
1. Regina et Domina omnium Prophetarum, vocatur domus et civitas fidelitatis nostrae. Isa. I, 27: Vocaberis, o Maria scilicet, a Patriarchis, et Prophetis, civitas justi, id est Christi: urbs fidelis, fideliter recipiens, et conservans ad se fugientes. Hanc civitatem laudat Psalmista dicens, Psal. LXXXVI, 3: Gloriosa dicta sunt de te, civitas Dei. Fuit enim haec civitas fundata super humilitatem, murata per castitatem, turrita per charitatem, ditata per paupertatem, custodita per discretionem, libera peccatorum immunitate, pacificata tentationum victoria, ornata divino officio per elegantiam morum, aedificata in refugium peccatorum, populosa virtute, omnium donorum gratuitorum irrigua, miserationibus abundans, in altissimo sita per excellentiam privilegiorum.
2. Item, Ipsa est tabernaculum, quod Deus Pater peccatoribus extendit quatuor de causis. Isa. IV, 6: Tabernaculum, id est, Virgo Maria, erit in umbraculum. Glossa: sub protectione: dici ab aestu. Glossa: persecutionis, Deus adjutor noster 2: et absconsionem a turbine et a pluvia. Glossa: id est, a persecutione majori, et minori: unde, Psal. LX, 5: Protegar in velamento alarum tuarum.
3. Item, Ipsa est solium incarnationis Filii Dei. Isa. VI, 1: Vidi Dominum sedentem super solium excelsum et elevatum, id est, Virginem Mariam excelsam quantum ad animam, et elevatam quantum ad corpus. Et infra, v. 3: Plena est omnis terra, id est, domus, gloria ejus. Glossa: id est, omni gratia, a majestate ejus. Glossa: regnantis.
4. Item, Ipsa est, quae concepit, et peperit liberatorem omnium populorum. Isa. VII, 14: Propter hoc dabit Dominus ipse vobis signum, salutis, et liberationis, hoc scilicet: Ecce Virgo concipiet, et pariet filium. Glossa: peccatores revocantem. Et vocabitur nomen ejus Emmanuel. Glossa: id est, Nobiscum Deus. Nobiscum humanitate, divinitate et fidelitate. Unde Bernardus: "Noli fugere, o Adam, quia nobiscum est Deus 3, etc."
5. Item, Ipsa est virga floris. Isa. XI, 1: Egredietur virga, id est, Maria, de radice Jesse, et flos. Glossa: id est, Christus, qui tumidis est virga, sed bonis est flos virtutum, et corona Angelorum, et sertum electorum, de radice ejus ascendet, in salutem electorum, in consolationem afflictorum, et in liberationem captivorum.
6. Item, Ipsa est receptaculum et latibulum fugientium ab ira Dei. Isa. XVI, 4: Moab, esto latibulum eorum a facie vastatoris, id est, Christi qui impios vastabit.
ISAIAH THE PROPHET.
The vision of Isaiah, son of Amos, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem 1.
1. The Queen and Lady of all the Prophets is called the house and city of our faithfulness. Isaiah I, 27: You shall be called, namely O Mary, by the Patriarchs and Prophets, the city of the just one, that is, of Christ; a faithful city, faithfully receiving and preserving those who flee to her. The Psalmist praises this city, saying, Psalm LXXXVI, 3: Glorious things have been said of you, city of God. For this city was founded upon humility, walled by chastity, towered by charity, enriched by poverty, guarded by discretion, free by immunity from sins, pacified by victory over temptations, adorned with divine service through elegance of morals, built as a refuge of sinners, populous in virtue, watered with all gratuitous gifts, abounding in mercies, situated on high through excellence of privileges.
2. Likewise, she is the tabernacle that God the Father extends to sinners for four reasons. Isaiah IV, 6: The tabernacle, that is, the Virgin Mary, will be for shade. The Gloss: under protection; by day from heat. The Gloss: of persecution, God our helper 2; and for concealment from whirlwind and from rain. The Gloss: that is, from greater and lesser persecution; hence Psalm LX, 5: I shall be protected in the covering of your wings.
3. Likewise, she is the throne of the incarnation of the Son of God. Isaiah VI, 1: I saw the Lord sitting upon a high and lifted-up throne, that is, the Virgin Mary, high as to soul and lifted up as to body. And below, verse 3: The whole earth, that is, house, is full of his glory. The Gloss: that is, with every grace, from his majesty. The Gloss: of the one reigning.
4. Likewise, she is the one who conceived and bore the liberator of all peoples. Isaiah VII, 14: For this reason the Lord himself will give you a sign of salvation and liberation, namely this: Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son. The Gloss: calling sinners back. And his name will be called Emmanuel. The Gloss: that is, God with us. With us by humanity, divinity, and fidelity. Hence Bernard: "Do not flee, O Adam, because God is with us 3, etc."
5. Likewise, she is the rod of the flower. Isaiah XI, 1: A rod shall come forth, that is, Mary, from the root of Jesse, and a flower. The Gloss: that is, Christ, who is a rod to the swollen, but to the good is the flower of virtues, the crown of Angels, and the garland of the elect; from his root he shall ascend, for the salvation of the elect, for the consolation of the afflicted, and for the liberation of captives.
6. Likewise, she is the receptacle and hiding-place of those fleeing from the wrath of God. Isaiah XVI, 4: Moab, be their hiding-place from the face of the devastator, that is, of Christ, who will devastate the impious.
7. Item, Ipsa est solium misericordiae, in quo Filius Dei misericorditer judicat peccatorem. Isa. XVI, 5: Praeparabitur in misericordia solium ejus. Glossa: id est, Filii: quia omnes peccatores egent gratia Dei: et sedebit super illud judicans: aliter enim judicabit sedens in solio justitiae, quod est in futuro. In solio misericordiae sedens, et judicans, quando Deus vult parcere peccatori, considerat et attendit quinque. Primo, infirmitatem peccantis. Secundo, malitiam diaboli insultantis, dicentis illud Psalmi LXX, 11: Deus dereliquit eum, persequimini, etc. Tertio, dolorem ipsius poenitentis, quando clamat, Psal. VI, 3: Miserere mei, quoniam infirmus sum: sana me, Domine, quoniam conturbata sunt ossa mea. Quarto, intercessionem Ecclesiae triumphantis, et praecipue beatae Virginis, cujus oratio non potest contemni. Quinto, super omnia bonitatem suam, de qua ipsemet dicit, Matth. XX, 15: An non licet mihi quod volo facere, etc.?
Solium igitur gloriae praeparatum fuit in gloriosae Virginis nativitate. Super illud sedit in incarnatione. In solio vero justitiae sedens judicabit, quod justum est. Unde sequitur, ibidem, v. 5: Quaerens judicium, in secundo adventu, et velociter reddens. Glossa: Unicuique secundum opera sua 4: quod justum est. Glossa: dicens maledictis: Ite in ignem aeternum, etc., et bonis: Venite, benedicti 5, etc. Sed quomodo velociter reddit, cum exspectet peccatores non ulciscendo, usque ad decrepitam aetatem? Super hoc verbum, quod dicit, Deuter. VII, 10: Reddens odientibus se statim. Glossa: Omne tempus aeternitati comparatum, est quasi punctum: et ideo non reputat Deus, etiam quando multum exspectat.
8. Item, Ipsa est sine omni peccato nubes purissima. Isa. XIX, 1: Ecce Dominus ascendet super nubem levem. Glossa: corpus beatae Virginis Mariae. Et ingredietur Aegyptum. Glossa: id est, mundum. Et commovebuntur simulacra Aegypti a facie ejus, quia omnia peccata destruet.
9. Item, Ipsa est urbs fortitudinis, contra omne malum. Isa. XXVI, 1 et 2: Urbs fortitudinis nostrae Sion, id est, Maria. Glossa: Vox est justorum et nunc et in futuro. Salvator ponetur in ea murus, id est, Christus, et antemurale, secundum humanitatem. Aperite portas. Glossa: Dominus ad Angelos, et ingrediatur gens justa, custodiens veritatem, non mendaces, non injusti.
10. Item, Ipsa est domus, et civitas opulenta. Isa. XXXIII, 20 et 21: Respice Sion, id est, Mariam, civitatem solemnitatis nostrae: oculi tui videbunt civitatem Jerusalem, habitationem opulentam, scilicet gratia. Tabernaculum. Glossa: et ipsa domus, quia solummodo ibi magnificus est Dominus noster, quia in Maria magna fecit, et per eam magna facit, et propter eam, et in ea magnificatus apparuit.
11. Item, Ipsa est causa, propter quam peccatores laudant Deum. Isa. XLIII, 20: Glorificabit me bestia agri. Glossa: id est, homo bestialis, dracones, id est, magni, et venenosi, et struthiones. Glossa: id est, hypocritae: quia dedi, maxime in deserto, id est, in Maria, aquas, omnium gratiarum, et flumina, donorum sancti Spiritus, ut darem potum. Glossa: aquae vivae, populo meo, electo meo, clamanti ad me, cui dedi potum largiter. Ipsa est enim petra, de qua dicitur, Numer. XX, 8: Loquimini ad petram, id est, ad Mariam, et illa dabit aquas, scilicet gratiarum et gaudiorum.
12. Item, Ipsa est terra germinans Salvatorem. Isa. XLV, 8: Rorate, caeli, desuper, etc. Glossa: Veniat Gabriel, mittat nobis rorem, et nuntiet nobis salutem
7. Likewise, she is the throne of mercy, on which the Son of God mercifully judges the sinner. Isaiah XVI, 5: His throne will be prepared in mercy. The Gloss: that is, of the Son, because all sinners lack the grace of God; and he will sit upon it judging; for otherwise he will judge sitting on the throne of justice, which is in the future. Sitting and judging on the throne of mercy, when God wishes to spare the sinner, he considers and attends to five things. First, the weakness of the one sinning. Second, the malice of the insulting devil, saying that word of Psalm LXX, 11: God has abandoned him; pursue him, etc. Third, the sorrow of the penitent himself, when he cries out, Psalm VI, 3: Have mercy on me, because I am weak; heal me, Lord, because my bones are troubled. Fourth, the intercession of the Church triumphant, and especially of the Blessed Virgin, whose prayer cannot be despised. Fifth, above all things, his own goodness, concerning which he himself says, Matthew XX, 15: Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish, etc.?
Therefore the throne of glory was prepared in the nativity of the glorious Virgin. He sat upon it in the incarnation. But sitting on the throne of justice he will judge what is just. Hence it follows, in the same place, verse 5: Seeking judgment, in the second coming, and swiftly rendering. The Gloss: To each one according to his works 4, which is just. The Gloss: saying to the cursed: Go into eternal fire, etc., and to the good: Come, blessed ones 5, etc. But how does he render swiftly, since he waits for sinners, not taking vengeance, even to decrepit age? On this word, which he says, Deuteronomy VII, 10: Rendering at once to those who hate him. The Gloss: All time, compared to eternity, is as a point; and therefore God does not reckon it, even when he waits a long time.
8. Likewise, she is a most pure cloud without any sin. Isaiah XIX, 1: Behold, the Lord will ascend upon a light cloud. The Gloss: the body of the Blessed Virgin Mary. And he will enter Egypt. The Gloss: that is, the world. And the idols of Egypt will be moved together before his face, because he will destroy all sins.
9. Likewise, she is the city of strength against every evil. Isaiah XXVI, 1 and 2: Sion is the city of our strength, that is, Mary. The Gloss: It is the voice of the just both now and in the future. The Savior will be placed in her as a wall, that is, Christ, and as an outer wall, according to humanity. Open the gates. The Gloss: The Lord to the Angels; and let the just nation enter, keeping truth, not liars, not the unjust.
10. Likewise, she is a wealthy house and city. Isaiah XXXIII, 20 and 21: Look upon Sion, that is, Mary, the city of our solemnity; your eyes will see the city Jerusalem, a wealthy habitation, namely with grace. A tabernacle. The Gloss: and she is the house itself, because only there is our Lord magnificent, since in Mary he did great things, and through her he does great things, and because of her and in her he appeared magnified.
11. Likewise, she is the cause on account of which sinners praise God. Isaiah XLIII, 20: The beast of the field will glorify me. The Gloss: that is, the beastly man; dragons, that is, great and poisonous men; and ostriches. The Gloss: that is, hypocrites; because I gave, especially in the desert, that is, in Mary, waters, of all graces, and rivers, of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, that I might give drink. The Gloss: of living water, to my people, my elect people, crying to me, to whom I gave drink generously. For she is the rock concerning which it is said, Numbers XX, 8: Speak to the rock, that is, to Mary, and she will give waters, namely of graces and joys.
12. Likewise, she is the earth sprouting the Savior. Isaiah XLV, 8: Drop down dew, heavens, from above, etc. The Gloss: Let Gabriel come, let him send us dew, and announce to us salvation
et nubes. Glossa: id est, Prophetae, pluant. Glossa: annuntiando Christi nativitatem, passionem, et resurrectionem, Justum, id est, Christum Jesum.
13. Item, Ipsa est virtus misericordiae, in qua peccatores portantur ad conversionem. Isa. XLVI, 3 et 4: Audite me,... qui portamini a meo utero. Glossa: id est, in misericordia: qui gestamini a mea vulva, id est, clementia. Ego portabo, et salvabo. Glossa: si conversi fueritis.
14. Ipsa est terra faciens salutem. Isa. LIII, 2: Ascendet. Glossa: Filius Dei, sicut virgultum. Glossa: de utero Virginis, coram eo, et sicut radix de terra sitienti. Glossa: sicca et munda a concubitu.
15. Item, Ipsa non derelinquit nos. Isa. LIV, 10: Montes commovebuntur, et colles contremiscent: misericordia autem mea, id est, mater mea, non recedet a te, non dimittet, neque derelinquet te, dummodo volueris converti.
16. Item, Ipsa est fons, a quo profluit omne bonum. Isa. LVIII, 11: Eris, o Maria, quasi hortus irriguus. Glossa: virtutum floribus, et operum fructibus conspicuus, et sicut fons aquarum. Glossa: assimilaberis Christo capiti tuo, cujus non deficient aquae, spirituales, quae irrigant Ecclesiam.
17. Item, Ipsa est quae Deo fiducialius occurrit, ne feriat peccatores. Isa. LIX, 16: Vidit. Glossa: Deus, quia non est vir. Glossa: In Judaeis sanctus, et aporiatus est. Glossa: id est, contristatus, quia non est qui occurrat. Glossa: Deo, ut non percutiat. Sed ipsa pro omnibus occurrit, sicut Abigail, quando placuit David.
18. Item, Ipsa est civitas in Filii sui incarnatione illuminata. Isa. LX, 1 et seq.: Surge, illuminare, Jerusalem, id est, Maria, quia venit lumen tuum, id est, Filius Dei, ad illuminandum, sicut sol illuminat mundum. Quia ecce tenebrae. Glossa: infidelitas, et peccatum, operient terram, id est, terram amantem, et caligo populos: super te autem orietur Dominus, dignissime. Glossa: verus sol: et gloria ejus in te videbitur, sicut lumen in lucerna, sicut sol in nube, et sicut ignis in rubo. Et ambulabunt gentes, id est, miseri peccatores, in lumine tuo, id est, in Christo, qui est lux: et reges, id est, justi, vel etiam Angeli, in splendore ortus tui: omnes enim indigent tua gratia, tua illuminatione, tua propitiatione.
19. Item, Ipsa est, ad quam omnes confluunt per devotionem. Isa. LX, 4: Leva, o Maria, in circuitu tuo, oculos tuos, scilicet misericordiae et bonitatis, et vide hilariter: omnes isti congregati sunt. Glossa: ex omni natione, quae sub caelo est, peccatores pro venia, justi pro gratia, tristes pro gaudio: venerunt tibi, id est, ad honorem tuum et misericordiam clamantes: Subveni, Domina, clamantibus ad te jugiter, quia quamvis simus peccatores, tamen misericordiae tuae sumus filii et filiae. Unde sequitur: Filii tui, o Maria, de longe venient. Glossa: de longinqua regione peccati, et filiae tuae de latere surgent. Glossa: Vos qui aliquando eratis longe, facti estis prope 6. Et infra, v. 5: Tunc videbis, cum levaveris oculos tuos, et afflues, et mirabitur, et dilatabitur cor tuum. Glossa: prae gaudio, quando conversa fuerit ad te multitudo maris. Glossa: omnes nationes mundi, et fortitudo gentium venerit tibi.
20. Item, Ipsa est Domus majestatis totius Trinitatis, et altare placationis. Isa. LX, 7: Offerentur, scilicet omnes fideles, qui per manum Christi sacerdotis volunt recipi, et Patri praesentari, super placabili altari
and let the clouds. The Gloss: that is, the Prophets, rain. The Gloss: by announcing the nativity, passion, and resurrection of Christ, the Just One, that is, Christ Jesus.
13. Likewise, she is the virtue of mercy, in which sinners are carried to conversion. Isaiah XLVI, 3 and 4: Hear me,... you who are carried by my womb. The Gloss: that is, in mercy; who are borne by my womb, that is, clemency. I shall carry, and I shall save. The Gloss: if you have been converted.
14. She is the earth making salvation. Isaiah LIII, 2: He shall ascend. The Gloss: the Son of God, like a little shoot. The Gloss: from the womb of the Virgin, before him, and like a root from thirsty earth. The Gloss: dry and clean from intercourse.
15. Likewise, she does not abandon us. Isaiah LIV, 10: The mountains will be moved, and the hills will tremble; but my mercy, that is, my mother, will not withdraw from you, will not leave you, nor abandon you, provided only that you wish to be converted.
16. Likewise, she is the fountain from which every good flows forth. Isaiah LVIII, 11: You will be, O Mary, like a watered garden. The Gloss: conspicuous with the flowers of virtues and the fruits of works; and like a fountain of waters. The Gloss: you will be made like Christ your head, whose waters will not fail, spiritual waters that water the Church.
17. Likewise, she is the one who meets God more confidently, lest he strike sinners. Isaiah LIX, 16: He saw. The Gloss: God, that there is no man. The Gloss: a holy one among the Jews, and he was perplexed. The Gloss: that is, saddened, because there is no one to meet him. The Gloss: to meet God, that he may not strike. But she meets him on behalf of all, like Abigail, when David was pleased.
18. Likewise, she is the city illuminated in the incarnation of her Son. Isaiah LX, 1 and following: Arise, be illuminated, Jerusalem, that is, Mary, because your light has come, that is, the Son of God, to illuminate, as the sun illuminates the world. Because behold darkness. The Gloss: unbelief and sin, will cover the earth, that is, the earth-loving one, and gloom the peoples; but over you the Lord will arise, most worthily. The Gloss: the true sun; and his glory will be seen in you, like light in a lamp, like the sun in a cloud, and like fire in the bush. And the nations, that is, miserable sinners, will walk in your light, that is, in Christ, who is light; and kings, that is, just persons, or even Angels, in the splendor of your rising: for all need your grace, your illumination, your propitiation.
19. Likewise, she is the one to whom all flow together through devotion. Isaiah LX, 4: Lift up, O Mary, your eyes round about you, namely the eyes of mercy and goodness, and see cheerfully: all these have been gathered together. The Gloss: from every nation that is under heaven, sinners for pardon, the just for grace, the sorrowful for joy; they have come to you, that is, crying out for your honor and mercy: Help, Lady, those who cry continually to you, because although we are sinners, nevertheless we are sons and daughters of your mercy. Hence it follows: Your sons, O Mary, will come from afar. The Gloss: from the far region of sin; and your daughters will rise from the side. The Gloss: You who once were far off have been made near 6. And below, verse 5: Then you will see, when you lift up your eyes, and you will overflow, and your heart will marvel and be enlarged. The Gloss: before joy, when the multitude of the sea shall have been converted to you. The Gloss: all the nations of the world, and the strength of the nations, shall have come to you.
20. Likewise, she is the House of the majesty of the whole Trinity and the altar of appeasement. Isaiah LX, 7: They will be offered, namely all the faithful who through the hand of Christ the priest wish to be received and presented to the Father, upon my appeasable altar
meo, id est, Maria, matre mea, et domum majestatis meae, quam tota Trinitas potenter possedit, et implevit, glorificabo in caelis, coram Angelis, et Sanctis Dei. Unde sequitur, v. 12: Gens enim et regnum, quod non servierit tibi, o Mater mea, peribit. Glossa: in die judicii. Quasi dicat: Ergo, qui servierint ei non peribunt.
21. Item, Ipsa est, in qua nobis benedictio caelestis est reservata. Isa. LXV, 8: Haec dicit Dominus: Quomodo si inveniatur, post tempestatem, granum. Glossa: illaesum. Hoc granum est Virgo Maria, illaesa ab omni peccato, in botro, humani generis. Hoc inventum est in nativitate beatae Mariae Virginis: et dicatur. Glossa: volenti tangere: Ne dissipes illud. Glossa: Sine crescere, quoniam benedictio est. Glossa: id est, placuit Deo ut pro benedictione, de tanta tempestate reservaretur illud. Sic faciam propter servos meos, ut non disperdam totum. Glossa: genus humanum.
22. Ipsa est domus imperatoriae majestatis. Isa. LXVI, 1: Quae est ista domus quam aedificabitis mihi? tam immensam, ut in ea includar. Jerem. XXIII, 24: Caelum et terram ego impleo. Quae est ergo illa tam magna, tam lata, tam longa domus quam aedificabitis mihi? Haec domus aedificatur per consilium Patriarcharum et Prophetarum, et per consilium David in sanctitudine. Psal. XCI, 5: Domum tuam, Domine, decet sanctitudo. Et talis sanctitudo, quae sit libera ab omni inquinatione.
Item, Per consilium Jeremiae, XVIII, 3, dicentis: Descendi in domum figuli, etc. ad Mariam quae est domus totius reformationis, et renovationis. In hac formetur Filius Dei ad imaginem et similitudinem nostram, mortalis de immortali, ultimus de primo, pauper de divite. In hac reformetur luxuriosus ad castitatem, superbus ad humilitatem, invidus ad charitatem, caecus ad lumen, claudus ad gressus. Unde ipsa dicit, Job, XXIX, 15: Oculus fui caeco, et pes claudo. O quam avide mutilati ad talem currerent domum, ubi eis membra restituerentur!
Item, Per consilium Isaiae 7 dicentis: "Domus totius plenitudinis." In hac repletur peccator venia, justus gratia, Trinitas gloria, Filii persona humana substantia, ut non sit qui manu vacua recedat a domo ista.
Item, per consilium Osee 8 dicentis: Domus receptionis, et protectionis fugientium peccatorum, ut fugiens ad eam recipiatur, et protegatur a diabolo, a peccato, et maxime ab irato Deo. Haec sunt consilia, secundum quae aedificata est Virgo Maria, in domum sanctitatis, propter nostram mundationem: in domum plenitudinis, propter nostram salvationem: in domum reformationis, propter totius creaturae renovationem.
23. Item, Ejus partum et parturiendi modum omnis natura stupet, et admiratur, Isa. LXVI, 7: Antequam parturiret, peperit. Glossa: genuit sine tempore fortem Filium, per quem omnia facta sunt et subsistunt. Et infra, v. 8: Quis audivit umquam tale, ut antequam parturiret, pareret, ut naturaliter parturitio partum praecedat? Peperit Pater sine tempore, peperisti tu, Virgo, eumdem in
that is, Mary, my mother; and the house of my majesty, which the whole Trinity powerfully possessed and filled, I shall glorify in the heavens, before the Angels and Saints of God. Hence it follows, verse 12: For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you, O my Mother, will perish. The Gloss: on the day of judgment. As if he were saying: Therefore those who serve her will not perish.
21. Likewise, she is the one in whom the heavenly blessing is reserved for us. Isaiah LXV, 8: Thus says the Lord: As if, after a storm, a grain is found. The Gloss: unharmed. This grain is the Virgin Mary, unharmed by every sin, in the cluster of the human race. This was found in the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: and let it be said. The Gloss: to the one wishing to touch: Do not scatter it. The Gloss: Allow it to grow, because it is a blessing. The Gloss: that is, it pleased God that it be reserved from so great a storm as a blessing. Thus I shall do for the sake of my servants, that I may not destroy the whole. The Gloss: the human race.
22. She is the house of imperial majesty. Isaiah LXVI, 1: What is that house that you will build for me? so immense that I may be enclosed in it. Jeremiah XXIII, 24: I fill heaven and earth. What then is that so great, so broad, so long house that you will build for me? This house is built by the counsel of the Patriarchs and Prophets, and by the counsel of David in holiness. Psalm XCI, 5: Holiness befits your house, Lord. And such holiness as is free from every defilement.
Likewise, by the counsel of Jeremiah, XVIII, 3, saying: I went down into the house of the potter, etc., to Mary, who is the house of all reformation and renewal. In this house let the Son of God be formed according to our image and likeness, mortal from immortal, last from first, poor from rich. In this house let the luxurious person be reformed to chastity, the proud to humility, the envious to charity, the blind to light, the lame to steps. Hence she herself says, Job XXIX, 15: I was an eye to the blind and a foot to the lame. O how eagerly the mutilated would run to such a house, where their members would be restored to them!
Likewise, by the counsel of Isaiah 7 saying: "The house of all fullness." In this house the sinner is filled with pardon, the just man with grace, the Trinity with glory, the person of the Son with human substance, so that there is no one who withdraws from that house with empty hand.
Likewise, by the counsel of Hosea 8 saying: A house of reception and protection of fleeing sinners, so that the one fleeing to her may be received and protected from the devil, from sin, and especially from an angry God. These are the counsels according to which the Virgin Mary was built into a house of holiness, for our cleansing; into a house of fullness, for our salvation; into a house of reformation, for the renewal of the whole creature.
23. Likewise, every nature is stupefied and marvels at her childbirth and the mode of giving birth, Isaiah LXVI, 7: Before she labored, she gave birth. The Gloss: she begot without time the strong Son, through whom all things were made and subsist. And below, verse 8: Who ever heard such a thing, that before she should labor, she should give birth, so that naturally labor should precede birth? The Father begot without time; you, Virgin, bore the same one in
Notes
- Isaiah I, 1. (Isa. I, 1.) ↩
- Psalm XXX, 20. (Psal. XXX, 20.) ↩
- St. Bernard, Sermon II on the Advent of the Lord. (S. Bernardus, Serm. II de Adventu Domini.) ↩
- Psalm LXI, 13. (Psal. LXI, 13.) ↩
- Matthew XXV, 41 and 34. (Matth. XXV, 41 et 34.) ↩
- Ephesians II, 13. (Ad Ephes. II, 13.) ↩
- We judge that an error has crept in here in the citation of the prophet Isaiah and of Hosea, for it has nothing to do with the point. But to us, for Isaiah, the places of Nehemiah, II Esdras IX, 25, seem to be cited: They possessed houses full of all goods. And in the same place, X, 38: The Levites will offer the tenth part of their tithe in the house of our God, to the treasury, into the house of treasure, that is, Mary, who is the treasury and house of treasure of all graces and goods, and the house of all fullness, because in her one is filled, etc. But for Hosea we judge that Joshua XX, 1 and following should be read, where God commands cities to be designated for fugitives, which are a refuge, or house of refuge (Psalm XXX, 3), and a house of reception, etc. (note of the Lyon editor). (Mendum irrepsisse hic arbitramur in citatione prophetae Isaiae, et Osee: ad propositum enim nihil habet. Nobis autem pro Isaia citanda videntur loca Nehemiae, II Esdrae, IX, 25: Possederunt domos plenas cunctis bonis. Et, ibidem, X, 38: Levitae offerent decimam partem decimae suae in domo Dei nostri, ad gazophylacium in domum thesauri, id est, Mariam, quae est gazophylacium et domus thesauri omnium gratiarum et bonorum, et domus totius plenitudinis, quia in hac repletur, etc. - Pro Osee autem legendum censemus Josue, XX, 1 et seq., ubi urbes pro fugitivis designari Deus jubet, quae sint refugium, vel domus refugii (Psal. XXX, 3,) et domus receptionis, etc. (Nota edit. Lugd.).) ↩
- See the preceding note. (Vide notam superiorem.) ↩
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