Works › The Mariale: Questions on “Missus est”
Volume 37 · p. 181
Question 129. Whether she foreknew death?
QUAESTIO CXXIX. Utrum mortem praesciverit?
Post haec quaeritur de gratiis specialibus circa mortem, quae videntur etiam esse quinque, scilicet mortem praescire, morituram invitare, mori sine dolore, statim evolare, in anima et corpore statim resurgere.
Ad primum, scilicet quod mortem suam praesciverit, videtur a minori:
1. De sancto Martino legitur et cantatur: « Beatus Martinus longe ante obitum suum praescivit. » Item, Beatus Petrus scivit, quod velox esset dispositio tabernaculi sui 1. Item, Joannes scivit supervenisse diem mortis suae. Cum igitur omnes isti praesciverunt diem mortis suae, ergo et beata Virgo omnium aliorum Domina praescivit.
2. Item, Proverb. XIII, 12: Spes quae differtur, affligit animam. Si igitur tempus praescitum et determinatum, et praescientia poenae auferendae laetificat, et incertitudo anxietatem generat, ergo ad beatitudinem viae pertinet praescire mortem determinate. Sic igitur patet, quod beatissima Virgo habuit primam gratiam quae circumstat mortem.
3. Item, Ad hoc idem: Omnis homo mortem suam vellet praescire libenter: ergo et ipsa: sed quidquid voluit scire, fuit ei revelatum nisi aliqua ratio hoc impediret: sed illud nulla ratio impedivit: ergo ei revelavit.
4. Item, Quae est ratio quare aliquibus revelatur, aliquibus non? Si dignitas, et ipsa dignissima. Si charitas, et ipsa charissima. Si desiderium, juxta illud Danielis, IX, 23, qui fuit vir desideriorum, et ipsa cupiebat summe dissolvi et esse cum Christo. Quaecumque igitur causa assignari potest, in beatissima Virgine excellentior fuit quam in aliis: ergo sibi potius debuit revelari quam aliis.
5. Item, Inter praescire transitum et operari, et inter nec praescire nec operari, medium est praescire et non operari: primum convenit Christo, secundum aliis viatoribus: ergo medium convenit beatissimae Virgini quae habet statum medium 2.
QUESTION 129. Whether she foreknew death?
After this inquiry is made concerning the special graces around death, which also seem to be five, namely to foreknow death, to invite the one who is to die, to die without pain, immediately to fly forth, and immediately to rise again in soul and body.
Concerning the first, namely that she foreknew her own death, it seems from a lesser case:
1. Concerning Saint Martin it is read and sung: “Blessed Martin knew long beforehand his own passing.” Likewise, blessed Peter knew that the laying aside of his tabernacle would be swift 1. Likewise, John knew that the day of his death had come upon him. Since therefore all these foreknew the day of their own death, therefore also the blessed Virgin, Lady of all the others, foreknew it.
2. Likewise, Proverbs 13:12: Hope which is deferred afflicts the soul. Therefore if a foreknown and determinate time, and foreknowledge of the punishment to be removed, gladdens, and uncertainty generates anxiety, then it pertains to the beatitude of the way to foreknow death determinately. Thus therefore it is clear that the most blessed Virgin had the first grace which surrounds death.
3. Likewise, to the same point: every human being would gladly wish to foreknow his own death. Therefore so also she. But whatever she wished to know was revealed to her unless some reason impeded this. But no reason impeded that. Therefore he revealed it to her.
4. Likewise, what is the reason why it is revealed to some and not to others? If dignity, she too was most worthy. If charity, she too was most dear. If desire, according to Daniel 9:23, who was a man of desires, she too supremely desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Therefore whatever cause can be assigned was more excellent in the most blessed Virgin than in others. Therefore it ought rather to have been revealed to her than to others.
5. Likewise, between foreknowing the passing and bringing it about, and neither foreknowing nor bringing it about, the middle is to foreknow and not to bring about. The first belongs to Christ, the second to other wayfarers. Therefore the middle belongs to the most blessed Virgin, who has the middle state 2.
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