Works › The Mariale: Questions on “Missus est”
Volume 37 · pp. 175–177
Question 123. In what way the Blessed Virgin was prefigured in many ways?
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QUAESTIO CXXIII. Qualiter B. Virgo fuerit multifarie praefigurata?
Dicto qualiter beatissima Virgo habuit omnes gratias communes, sequitur videre qualiter habuerit speciales, quas in aliis sanctis est reperire. Talium autem quaedam sunt quae pertinent ad generationem sive vitae ingressum, quaedam ad conversationem, quaedam autem ad mortem.
Circa generationem inveniuntur quinque quae sunt praefiguratio, prophetizatio, annuntiatio, miraculosa conceptio, in utero sanctificatio.
Primo igitur, quod qualiter beatissima Virgo multifarie praefigurata fuerit, sic erit manifestum:
1. Numer. XVII, 8: Invenit, scilicet Moyses, germinasse virgam Aaron. Glossa: « Mariam quae sine virili semine genuit Verbum. » Ecce qualiter in textu cum Glossa sequitur, quod illa virga fuerit figura Virginis gloriosae.
2. Item, Exod. III, 2: Et videbat, scilicet Moyses, quod rubus arderet, et non combureretur. Quod hoc fuerit figura beatissimae Virginis, probat Ecclesia non disputando, sed cantando et determinando: « Rubum quem viderat Moyses incombustum, » etc.
3. Item, Luc. I, 5: Et nomen ejus Elisabeth. Glossa: « Elisabeth, Dei mei saturitas, et Mariam significat, quae Deo plena fuit. »
4. Item, Si annuntiatio et conceptio Isaac signat conceptionem Christi: ergo et Sara signat Mariam.
Ex his patet, quod beatissima Virgo fuit praefigurata.
Qualiter autem et quibus figuris, multifariam multisque modis patet, videlicet in creatis, in factis, in visis, et conjugatis.
In creatis, Genes. I, 1 et seq.: In principio creavit Deus caelum et terram, id est, beatam Virginem, quae caelum et terra fuit, id est, caelestem et terrestrem simul duxit vitam, id est, angelicam et humanam habuit conversationem. Item, Caelum et terra fuit: quia simul et altissima dignitate et infima humilitate. Item, Caelum et terra fuit: quia purissima virginitate et foecundissima maternitate Virgo et mater simul fuit: ergo, etc. Item, Hac prima die facta est nubecula, de qua postea factus est sol. Quid autem est nubecula materia corporis solaris, nisi beata Virgo mater et materia corporis Salvatoris?
QUESTION 123. In what way the Blessed Virgin was prefigured in many ways?
Having said in what way the most blessed Virgin had all common graces, it follows to see in what way she had special graces, which are found in other saints. Of such graces, some pertain to generation or the entrance of life, some to manner of life, and some to death.
Concerning generation five things are found, which are prefiguration, prophecy, announcement, miraculous conception, and sanctification in the womb.
First therefore, in what way the most blessed Virgin was prefigured in many ways will be manifest thus:
1. Numbers 17:8: He found, namely Moses found, that the rod of Aaron had budded. The Gloss says: “Mary, who without male seed generated the Word.” Behold in what way from the text with the Gloss it follows that that rod was a figure of the glorious Virgin.
2. Likewise, Exodus 3:2: And he saw, namely Moses saw, that the bush was burning and was not consumed. That this was a figure of the most blessed Virgin, the Church proves not by disputing, but by singing and determining: “The bush which Moses had seen unburned,” etc.
3. Likewise, Luke 1:5: And her name was Elizabeth. The Gloss says: “Elizabeth, the fullness of my God, also signifies Mary, who was full of God.”
4. Likewise, if the announcement and conception of Isaac signify the conception of Christ, then Sarah also signifies Mary.
From these things it is clear that the most blessed Virgin was prefigured.
But in what way and by what figures is clear in many ways and by many modes, namely in created things, in things done, in things seen, and in married women.
In created things, Genesis 1:1 and following: In the beginning God created heaven and earth, that is, the blessed Virgin, who was heaven and earth, that is, she led at once a heavenly and earthly life, that is, she had angelic and human manner of life. Likewise, she was heaven and earth, because she was at once of the highest dignity and of the lowest humility. Likewise, she was heaven and earth, because with most pure virginity and most fruitful maternity she was Virgin and mother at once; therefore, etc. Likewise, on this first day the little cloud was made, from which afterward the sun was made. But what is the little cloud, the matter of the solar body, except the blessed Virgin, mother and matter of the body of the Savior?
In secundo die positum est firmamentum in medio aquarum, quod habet fixas stellas in sui ornamentum, et dividit aquas ab aquis. Et quid est nisi beatissima Virgo quae habet stellas duodecim, id est, coronam duodecim stellarum, id est, omnium sanctorum in capite suo positam in medio aquarum, id est, sanctorum viae et sanctorum patriae, divisa prius ab utrisque existens supra communem statum viae et infra statum patriae, communicans cum utrisque, habens cum superioribus virtutum perfectionem, cum inferioribus merendi conditionem. Item, Cum superioribus securitatem contra casum, in inferioribus possibilitatem ad meritum. Item, Cum superioribus exsultationem, cum inferioribus cordis compassionem.
Tertiae diei opus est congregatio aquarum in locum unum, id est, in virginalem uterum congregativum omnium gratiarum, sed in hoc est differentia, quod congregatio gratiarum vocatur Maria, media correpta, congregatio gratiarum appellatur Maria, media producta. Illa congregatio aquarum brevis est et transitoria, juxta illud Apocalypsis, XXI, 1: Et mare jam non est. Haec autem est perpetua, juxta illud Lucae, X, 42: Maria optimam partem elegit, quae non auferetur ab ea.
Quarto die fecit Deus duo luminaria magna, majus ut praeesset diei, minus ut praeesset nocti, solem scilicet et lunam. Quid autem per lunam nisi Virgo beatissima luci conformissima et divina claritate plena figuratur? Luna, ut legitur in libro Sententiarum, facta est propter diei et noctis vicissitudinem, propter noctis declarationem, propter operantium in nocte consolationem, et quia quaedam animalia sunt quae lucem diei ferre non possunt. Haec autem omnia operatur Virgo lucidissima. Est enim quies laborantium, quies et decus mortalium, solatium operantium, umbraculum infirmorum, refrigerans misericordiae umbra quos reverberat sol radiis justitiae.
On the second day the firmament was placed in the midst of the waters, which has fixed stars for its ornament and divides waters from waters. And what is this except the most blessed Virgin, who has twelve stars, that is, a crown of twelve stars, that is, of all the saints, placed upon her head in the midst of waters, that is, of the saints of the way and the saints of the homeland, divided at first from both, existing above the common state of the way and below the state of the homeland, communicating with both, having with the higher ones the perfection of virtues and with the lower ones the condition of meriting. Likewise, with the higher ones she has security against fall, with the lower ones possibility for merit. Likewise, with the higher ones exultation, with the lower ones compassion of heart.
The work of the third day is the gathering of the waters into one place, that is, into the virginal womb gathering all graces; but in this there is a difference, because the gathering of graces is called Maria with the middle syllable shortened, and the gathering of waters is called maria with the middle syllable lengthened. That gathering of waters is brief and transitory, according to Revelation 21:1: And the sea now is not. But this one is perpetual, according to Luke 10:42: Mary has chosen the best part, which shall not be taken away from her.
On the fourth day God made two great lights, the greater that it might rule the day, and the lesser that it might rule the night, namely the sun and the moon. But what is figured by the moon except the most blessed Virgin, most conformed to light and full of divine brightness? The moon, as is read in the book of the Sentences, was made because of the alternation of day and night, because of the clarification of night, because of the consolation of those working at night, and because there are certain animals which cannot bear the light of day. But the most bright Virgin works all these things. For she is rest of those laboring, rest and beauty of mortals, solace of those working, shade of the weak, cooling with the shade of mercy those whom the sun strikes back with rays of justice.
Quintae diei opus est formatio avium et piscium. Et quid sunt aves et pisces, nisi beata Virgo, quae ut piscis natabat in mari tribulationum, et ut avis volavit super pennas ventorum in caelo contemplationis?
Sextae diei opus est formatio hominis, et positio in paradiso voluptatis. Quid autem est paradisus voluptatis, nisi beatissima Virgo, in qua Deus Pater posuit hominem, id est, Christum in die conceptionis?
Sic igitur beatissima Virgo in omnibus operibus sex dierum est expressissime figurata.
Non tantum in creatis, sed etiam in factis est praefigurata, ut patet in arca Noe, in iride, in tabernaculo Moysi, in arca testamenti, in candelabro, in propitiatorio, in templo, in throno Salomonis, in ostio, in domo Salomonis, et in multis aliis.
Similiter in visis et imaginatis invenitur figurata, ut est rubus Moysis 1. Sedes sapphirina super firmamentum 2. Mons de quo pretiosus lapis est abscissus sine manibus 3. Figurata est etiam in arbore tangente caelum 4: in porta clausa 5: in vellere Gedeonis 6: in fonte parvo qui crevit in fluvium maximum 7: in porta templi speciosa 8: in muliere amicta sole 9.
Similiter et in conjugatis Rebecca et Rachele, in Judith vidua, et in Esther conjugata, in Sara sterili, et in Elisabeth matre Joannis Baptistae.
Ex his omnibus sufficienter manifestum est, quod beatissima Virgo in creatis, et factis, visis, et conjugatis est multipliciter figurata.
The work of the fifth day is the formation of birds and fishes. And what are the birds and fishes except the blessed Virgin, who as a fish swam in the sea of tribulations and as a bird flew upon the wings of the winds in the heaven of contemplation?
The work of the sixth day is the formation of man and his placing in the paradise of delight. But what is the paradise of delight except the most blessed Virgin, in whom God the Father placed man, that is, Christ, on the day of conception?
Thus therefore the most blessed Virgin is most expressly figured in all the works of the six days.
She is prefigured not only in created things, but also in things done, as is clear in the ark of Noah, in the rainbow, in the tabernacle of Moses, in the ark of the covenant, in the candlestick, in the propitiatory, in the temple, in the throne of Solomon, in the doorway, in the house of Solomon, and in many other things.
Similarly she is found figured in things seen and imagined, as is the bush of Moses 1, the sapphire seat above the firmament 2, the mountain from which the precious stone was cut away without hands 3. She is also figured in the tree touching heaven 4, in the closed gate 5, in the fleece of Gideon 6, in the small spring which grew into a very great river 7, in the beautiful gate of the temple 8, in the woman clothed with the sun 9.
Similarly also in married women: Rebecca and Rachel, in Judith the widow, and in Esther the married woman, in barren Sarah, and in Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist.
From all these things it is sufficiently manifest that the most blessed Virgin is figured in many ways in created things, things done, things seen, and married women.
Notes
- Exodus 3:2. (Exod. III, 2.) ↩
- Ezekiel 1:26. (Ezechiel. I, 26.) ↩
- Daniel 2:34. (Daniel. II, 34.) ↩
- In the same place, 4:17. (Ibid., IV, 17.) ↩
- Ezekiel 44:2. (Ezechiel. XLIV, 2.) ↩
- Judges 6:36 and following. (Judicum, VI, 36 et seq.) ↩
- Esther 10:6. (Esther, X, 6.) ↩
- Acts 3:10. (Act. III, 10.) ↩
- Revelation 12:1. (Apocal. XII, 1.) ↩
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