Question 185. How does she comprehend in herself the blessing of Judah?

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Latin (Borgnet)English

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QUAESTIO CLXXXV. Qualiter comprehendat in se benedictionem Judae?

Sequitur benedictio Judae.

Haec est Judae benedictio: Audi, Domine, vocem Judae, et ad populum suum introduc eum: manus ejus pugnabunt pro eo, et adjutor illius contra adversarios ejus erit ¹.

In qua etiam quatuor ponuntur. Primum est precum exauditio, et hoc est: Audi, Domine, vocem Judae. Secundum est ad populum introductio, et hoc est: Ad populum suum introduc eum. Tertium est suiipsius defensio, et hoc est: Manus ejus pugnabunt pro eo. Quartum est aliorum protectio, et hoc est: Adjutor illius contra adversarios ejus erit.

Et hujusmodi benedictionum sufficientia sumitur sic: Benedictio vel est ad bonum vel ad malum. Si ad bonum, vel est ad finem, et sic est precum exauditio: vel est ipse finis, et sic est ad populum introductio. Si autem est contra malum, vel sui, et sic est suiipsius defensio: vel aliorum, et sic est aliorum protectio.

Haec autem omnia fuerunt in beatissima Virgine in summo, in qua fuit precum exauditio in summo. Nam, III Regum, II, 20, legitur ipsi dictum in persona Bethsabee: Pete, mater mea: neque enim fas est ut avertam faciem tuam, etc. Et in persona Esther dicitur ei, Esther, V, 6: Etiamsi dimidiam partem regni mei petieris, impetrabis. Nam et illam Filius nihil negans honorat. Item, ad populum introductio ei convenit in summo: ipsa enim ut columna nubis populos in terram promissionis introducit, et ut stella maris dirigit, imo ut porta caeli introducit. Item, suiipsius defensio in ipsa in summo fuit: quia ab hoste nunquam laesa fuit. Item, adhuc suiipsius defensio in ipsa in summo fuit: quia alios sic defendit, quod in ipsa nec pugnam adversarius sumpsit, utpote in qua ipse hostis omnino exstinctus fuit. Item, aliorum protectio in ipsa in summo fuit: quia nos ab hoste protegit auxilio, ab ira Filii suffragio et exemplo.

QUESTION 185. How does she comprehend in herself the blessing of Judah?

The blessing of Judah follows.

This is the blessing of Judah: Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him in to his people; his hands will fight for him, and his helper will be against his adversaries ¹.

In this also four things are posited. The first is the hearing of prayers, and this is: Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah. The second is introduction to the people, and this is: Bring him in to his people. The third is defense of oneself, and this is: His hands will fight for him. The fourth is protection of others, and this is: And his helper will be against his adversaries.

And the sufficiency of blessings of this sort is taken thus: a blessing is either toward good or against evil. If toward good, either it is toward the end, and thus it is the hearing of prayers; or it is the end itself, and thus it is introduction to the people. But if it is against evil, either against one's own evil, and thus it is defense of oneself; or against that of others, and thus it is protection of others.

But all these things were in the most blessed Virgin in the highest degree, in whom the hearing of prayers was in the highest degree. For in 3 Kings 2:20 it is read as said to her in the person of Bathsheba: Ask, my mother, for it is not right that I should turn away your face, etc. And in the person of Esther it is said to her, Esther 5:6: Even if you ask half of my kingdom, you will obtain it. For the Son honors that one also, denying her nothing. Likewise, introduction to the people belongs to her in the highest degree: for she introduces peoples into the land of promise as the pillar of cloud, and directs as the star of the sea, indeed introduces as the gate of heaven. Likewise, defense of herself was in her in the highest degree, because she was never harmed by the enemy. Likewise, still, defense of herself was in her in the highest degree, because she so defends others that the adversary did not even take up battle in her, as one in whom the enemy himself was wholly extinguished. Likewise, protection of others was in her in the highest degree, because she protects us from the enemy by help, from the wrath of the Son by intercession and example.

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Sic igitur patet qualiter beatissima Virgo habuit benedictionem Judae.

Thus therefore it is clear how the most blessed Virgin had the blessing of Judah.

Notes

Deuteronomy 33:7. (Deuteron. XXXIII, 7.) ↩