Works › The Mariale: Questions on “Missus est”
Volume 37 · p. 165
Question 109. Whether she knew Theology perfectly?
QUAESTIO CIX. Utrum sciverit perfecte Theologiam?
Post haec quaeritur de metaphysica et primo de theologia.
Quod autem perfecte scivit beata Virgo theologiam, videtur:
1. Psal. CXVIII, 104: A mandatis tuis intellexi: ergo impletio mandati intellectum auget operanti: sed beatissima Virgo mandatum in summo implevit: ergo theologiam in summo intellexit.
2. Item, Psal. CXVIII, 105: Lucerna pedibus meis verbum tuum: sed beata Virgo sola numquam pede affectus offendit: ergo lucerna verbi perfectissime eam illuminavit.
3. Item, In Ezechiele, I, 19: Cum ambularent animalia, ambulabant pariter et rotae juxta ea. Quae exponens beatus Gregorius dicit, quod cum elevantur doctores in vita, honoratur et exaltatur in eis scientia: sed beatissima Virgo habuit elevatissimam vitam: ergo talem habuit scientiam theologiae.
4. Item, Apostoli sciverunt theologiam, cum non didicissent: ergo multo fortius beata Virgo.
5. Item, Ipsa habet aureolam praedicatorum: ergo scivit scientiam theologiae.
6. Item, De Caecilia legitur: « Virgo gloriosa semper Evangelium Christi in pectore portabat: » ergo multo fortius beatissima Virgo.
7. Item, I Joan. II, 27: Unctio ejus docet vos de omnibus. Glossa: « Ad salutem pertinentibus: » sed beata Virgo improportionabiliter fuit uncta: ergo omnia improportionabiliter scivit ad salutem pertinentia: haec autem est theologia: ergo scivit theologiam.
8. Item, Deuteronomius est in arca: arca figurabat beatam Virginem, Deuteronomius legem: ergo beatissima Virgo scivit totam legem. Item, Exod. XII, 10, legitur: Residuum igne comburetis: ergo non omnia Scripturae mysteria agnoscere possumus. Sed, ibidem: Non remanebit ex eo quidquam usque mane. Glossa, id est, indiscussum usque mane resurrectionis. Ex his duabus auctoritatibus videtur, quod scivit super communem statum sanctorum omnes Scripturas intelligere. Et cum inconveniens sit ponere, quod aliquid a Spiritu sancto sit dictum, quod a nullo sit intellectum, juxta illud Isaiae, LV, 10 et 11: Quomodo imber et nix descendit de caelo, et illuc ultra non revertitur, sed inebriat terram... sic erit verbum meum quod egredietur de ore meo: non reverteretur ad me vacuum. Ex hoc autem concluditur, quod perfecta cognitio omnium Scripturarum secundum intellectum ipsius Spiritus sancti loquentis per Scripturas, pertinet ad statum qui est super communem statum viatoris: hic autem est status beatissimae Virginis: et sic theologiam scivit improportionabiliter universis 1.
QUESTION 109. Whether she knew Theology perfectly?
After this inquiry is made about metaphysics, and first about theology.
But that the blessed Virgin knew theology perfectly seems so:
1. Psalm 118:104: From your commandments I understood. Therefore the fulfillment of a commandment increases understanding in the one acting. But the most blessed Virgin fulfilled the commandment in the highest degree. Therefore she understood theology in the highest degree.
2. Likewise, Psalm 118:105: Your word is a lamp to my feet. But the blessed Virgin alone never stumbled by a foot of affection. Therefore the lamp of the word illumined her most perfectly.
3. Likewise, in Ezekiel 1:19: When the living creatures walked, the wheels beside them walked together. Explaining this, blessed Gregory says that when doctors are elevated in life, knowledge is honored and exalted in them. But the most blessed Virgin had a most elevated life. Therefore she had such knowledge of theology.
4. Likewise, the Apostles knew theology, although they had not learned it. Therefore much more the blessed Virgin.
5. Likewise, she herself has the aureole of preachers. Therefore she knew the science of theology.
6. Likewise, concerning Cecilia it is read: “The glorious virgin always carried the Gospel of Christ in her breast.” Therefore much more the most blessed Virgin.
7. Likewise, 1 John 2:27: His anointing teaches you about all things. The Gloss says: “About things pertaining to salvation.” But the blessed Virgin was disproportionately anointed. Therefore she disproportionately knew all things pertaining to salvation. But this is theology. Therefore she knew theology.
8. Likewise, Deuteronomy is in the ark; the ark figured the blessed Virgin, Deuteronomy the law. Therefore the most blessed Virgin knew the whole law. Likewise, Exodus 12:10 reads: You shall burn the remainder with fire. Therefore we cannot recognize all the mysteries of Scripture. But in the same place: Nothing of it shall remain until morning. The Gloss says, that is, undiscussed until the morning of the resurrection. From these two authorities it seems that, above the common state of the saints, she knew how to understand all the Scriptures. And since it is unfitting to posit that anything was spoken by the Holy Spirit which was understood by no one, according to that saying of Isaiah 55:10 and 11: As rain and snow descend from heaven, and do not return there again, but water the earth ... so shall my word be which goes forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me empty. But from this it is concluded that perfect knowledge of all the Scriptures according to the understanding of the Holy Spirit himself speaking through the Scriptures pertains to the state which is above the common state of a wayfarer. But this is the state of the most blessed Virgin. And thus she knew theology disproportionately beyond all 1.
Notes
- For the solution of the objections, see below after Question CXI. (Pro solutione objectorum, vide infra post Quaest. CXI.) ↩
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