Question 191. How does she comprehend in herself the blessing of Naphtali?

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Latin (Borgnet)English

p. 277

QUAESTIO CXCI. Qualiter comprehendat in se benedictionem Nephthali?

Sequitur, Deuteron. XXXIII, 23: Et Nephthali dixit: Nephthali abundantia perfruetur, et plenus erit benedictionibus Domini: mare et meridiem possidebit.

Benedictio Nephthali quatuor comprehendit. Primum est abundantia donorum spiritualium, ibi, Abundantia perfruetur. Secundum est plenitudo caelestium donorum, ibi, Plenus erit benedictionibus Domini. Tertium est peccatorum conversio, et hoc est, Mare. Quartum est justorum conservatio, et hoc est, Meridiem possidebit.

Sufficientia horum est: Benedictio vel est in se, vel in aliis. Si in se, vel est benedictio quantum ad statum gloriae, et sic est plenitudo caelestium bonorum: vel est benedictio quantum ad statum gratiae, et sic est abundantia donorum spiritualium. Si autem est benedictio respectu aliorum illi aut sunt mali, aut boni. Si mali, sic est peccatorum conversio. Si boni, sic est justorum conservatio.

QUESTION 191. How does she comprehend in herself the blessing of Naphtali?

There follows Deuteronomy 33:23: And he said to Naphtali: Naphtali will enjoy abundance, and he will be full of the blessings of the Lord; he will possess the sea and the south.

The blessing of Naphtali embraces four things. The first is abundance of spiritual gifts, there, He will enjoy abundance. The second is fullness of heavenly gifts, there, He will be full of the blessings of the Lord. The third is conversion of sinners, and this is the sea. The fourth is preservation of the just, and this is, He will possess the south.

The sufficiency of these is: a blessing is either in itself or in others. If in itself, either it is a blessing as regards the state of glory, and thus it is fullness of heavenly goods; or it is a blessing as regards the state of grace, and thus it is abundance of spiritual gifts. But if it is a blessing with respect to others, they are either evil or good. If evil, thus it is conversion of sinners. If good, thus it is preservation of the just.

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Haec autem beatissima Virgo habuit in summo: quia et gratia fuit plena, et super omnes gloriosa. Item, peccatorum reconciliatrix et mediatrix. Item, omnium peccatorum salvatrix et justorum conservatrix.

Sic quoque habuit benedictionem Nephthali.

The most blessed Virgin had these things in the highest degree, because she was both full of grace and glorious above all. Likewise, she is reconciler and mediatrix of sinners. Likewise, she is savior of all sinners and preserver of the just.

Thus also she had the blessing of Naphtali.