Question 157. Whether she had the properties of Virtues?

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Latin (Borgnet)English

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QUAESTIO CLVII. Utrum habuerit proprietates Virtutum?

Secundus ordo secundae hierarchiae est ordo Virtutum, quarum tres sunt proprietates.

Prima est incommunicabilis virilitas. Secunda est nullius imbecillitatis tarditas. Tertia est ad inferiores largitas.

Virilitas consistit in tribus, in resistentia contrarii, in aggressione ardui, in tolerantia mali. Haec omnia fuerunt in beatissima Virgine in summo. Resistentia contrarii: ita enim omnem contrarium nocivum, id est, peccatum vicit, quod aliquid ab ipso numquam passa fuit: Angeli enim numquam vicerunt: quia numquam pugnaverunt. In aggressione ardui, id est, in altissima paupertate rerum, maxima carnis asperitate, summa cordis humilitate. In tolerantia mali in asperrima Filii passione, quando ipsius animam pertransivit gladius. In his omnibus beatissima Virgo invincibilem virilitatem in summo possedit.

QUESTION 157. Whether she had the properties of Virtues?

The second order of the second hierarchy is the order of Virtues, whose properties are three.

The first is incommunicable manliness. The second is slowness from no weakness. The third is generosity toward inferiors.

Manliness consists in three things: in resistance to the contrary, in undertaking the arduous, and in toleration of evil. All these were in the most blessed Virgin in the highest degree. Resistance to the contrary: for she so conquered every harmful contrary, that is, sin, that she never suffered anything from it. For Angels never conquered, because they never fought. In undertaking the arduous, that is, in the highest poverty of things, the greatest harshness of the flesh, and the highest humility of heart. In toleration of evil, in the most bitter passion of the Son, when a sword passed through her soul. In all these the most blessed Virgin possessed invincible manliness in the highest degree.

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Secunda proprietas virtutum fuit nullius imbecilitatis tarditas. Hanc ipsa cum excellentia habuit: quia eamdem vitam angelicam quam Angeli sine onere carnis, cum carne ipsa in carne duxit, et cum sarcina carnis illos sine sarcina carnis ad majus bravium antecurrit.

Tertia proprietas fuit ad inferiores largitas. Hanc etiam cum excellentia habuit: illi enim dant dona Dei: ipsa dedit ipsum Deum. Item, ipsi dant tantum inferioribus: ipsa autem superioribus summum donum tribuit: dedit enim mundo Deum et Deo mundum, et cuilibet homini regnum caelorum.

Habuit igitur beatissima Virgo etiam proprietates Virtutum in summo.

The second property of the Virtues was slowness from no weakness. She had this with excellence, because the same angelic life which Angels led without the burden of flesh, she herself led with flesh in flesh, and with the burden of flesh she ran ahead of those without the burden of flesh toward a greater prize.

The third property was generosity toward inferiors. She also had this with excellence: for they give the gifts of God, but she gave God himself. Likewise, they give only to inferiors, but she bestowed the highest gift upon superiors: for she gave God to the world and the world to God, and to each human being the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore the most blessed Virgin also had the properties of the Virtues in the highest degree.