Question 98. Whether the Blessed Virgin knew the liberal arts in the highest degree?

Latin (Borgnet)English

p. 159

QUAESTIO XCVIII. Utrum B. Virgo artes liberales sciverit in summo?

Post haec quaeritur de artibus liberalibus, utrum et illas scivit in summo beatissima Virgo?

Et videtur, quod sic:

1. Proverb. IX, 1: Sapientia aedificavit sibi domum, excidit columnas septem: illa domus est beata Virgo, septem columnae sunt septem liberales scientiae: ergo beata Virgo habuit septem liberalium artium scientiam.

2. Item, Exod. XI, 2: Mulier petat a vicina sua vasa argentea et aurea. Hoc exponunt Glossae et sancti de scientiis saecularibus: ergo debent secum scientias saeculares de mundo portare sancti: ergo et beatissima Virgo.

3. Item, Cantic. IV, 4: Mille clypei pendent ex ea, omnis armatura fortium. Turris David est sacra Scriptura, clypei scientiae physicae: ergo scientiae liberales pertinent ad munitionem Scripturae sacrae: ergo sanctorum est illas scire: ergo et beatissimae Virginis.

4. Item, Quidam sancti laudantur a talibus scientiis, sicut beatus Dominicus documentis artium eruditus satis, transivit ad studium summae veritatis. Item, de beato Gregorio, studiis liberalibus nulli secundus. Ergo, etc. Item, de beato Vincentio et de sancta Catharina et multis aliis: ergo beatae Virgini non debet deesse ista materia laudis ¹.

QUESTION 98. Whether the Blessed Virgin knew the liberal arts in the highest degree?

After this inquiry is made about the liberal arts, whether the most blessed Virgin also knew them in the highest degree.

And it seems that she did:

1. Proverbs 9:1: Wisdom built herself a house, she cut out seven columns. That house is the blessed Virgin; the seven columns are the seven liberal sciences. Therefore the blessed Virgin had knowledge of the seven liberal arts.

2. Likewise, Exodus 11:2: Let a woman ask from her neighbor vessels of silver and gold. The Glosses and the saints explain this concerning secular sciences. Therefore the saints ought to carry secular sciences with them from the world. Therefore so also the most blessed Virgin.

3. Likewise, Song of Songs 4:4: A thousand shields hang from it, all the armor of the strong. The tower of David is sacred Scripture, the shields are physical sciences. Therefore the liberal sciences pertain to the fortification of sacred Scripture. Therefore it belongs to saints to know them. Therefore it also belongs to the most blessed Virgin.

4. Likewise, certain saints are praised from such sciences, as blessed Dominic, sufficiently instructed by the teachings of the arts, passed over to the study of the highest truth. Likewise, concerning blessed Gregory, second to none in liberal studies. Therefore, etc. Likewise concerning blessed Vincent and Saint Catherine and many others. Therefore that matter of praise ought not to be lacking to the blessed Virgin ¹.

Notes

For the solution of the objections, see below after Question CXI. (Pro solutione objectorum, vide infra post Quaest. CXI.) ↩