Question 192. How does she comprehend in herself the blessing of Asher?

Latin (Borgnet)English

p. 278

QUAESTIO CXCII. Qualiter comprehendat in se benedictionem Aser?

Sequitur, Deuteron. XXXIII, 24 et 25: Aser quoque ait: Benedictus in filiis Aser, sit placens fratribus suis, et tingat in oleo pedem suum. Ferrum et aes calceamentum ejus. Sicut dies juventutis tuae, ita et senectus tua.

Benedictio Aser sex comprehendit. Primum est filiorum multiplicatio, et hoc est: Benedictus in filiis Aser. Secundum est fratrum dilectio, ibi, Sit placens fratribus suis. Tertium est misericordiae abundantia, et hoc est: Tingat in oleo pedem suum. Quartum est incorruptibilis patientia, et hoc est: Ferrum. Quintum est sonora doctrina, et hoc est: Et aes calceamentum ejus. Sextum est in bono continuatio perseverantiae, et hoc est: Sicut dies juventutis tuae, ita et senectus tua.

Sufficientia horum haec est: Vel benedictio est respectu aliorum, vel in se. Si respectu aliorum, vel respectu inferiorum, et sic est filiorum multiplicatio: vel ad pares, et sic est fratrum dilectio: vel ad superiorem, Deum scilicet, et sic est abundantia misericordiae per quod est imitatio Dei, juxta illud Lucae, VI, 36: Estote misericordes, sicut et Pater vester misericors est. Si in se, vel est a malo, et sic est patientia: vel est ad bonum, et hoc vel est respectivum, et sic est doctrina: vel est absolutum, et sic est perseverantia.

Haec autem omnia manifestissime habuit beata Virgo: quia omnium bonorum mater est: quia est plena charitate ad Deum et dilectione ad proximum. Regina misericordiae est. Summam quoque patientiam et doctrinam et perseverantiam habuit, ut superius manifestum est in materia de virtutibus.

QUESTION 192. How does she comprehend in herself the blessing of Asher?

There follows Deuteronomy 33:24 and 25: He also said to Asher: Blessed in sons is Asher; may he be pleasing to his brothers, and may he dip his foot in oil. Iron and bronze are his shoe. As the days of your youth, so also your old age.

The blessing of Asher embraces six things. The first is multiplication of sons, and this is: Blessed in sons is Asher. The second is love of brothers, there, May he be pleasing to his brothers. The third is abundance of mercy, and this is: May he dip his foot in oil. The fourth is incorruptible patience, and this is iron. The fifth is resounding teaching, and this is: And bronze his shoe. The sixth is continuation of perseverance in good, and this is: As the days of your youth, so also your old age.

The sufficiency of these is this: either a blessing is with respect to others or in oneself. If with respect to others, either with respect to inferiors, and thus it is multiplication of sons; or toward equals, and thus it is love of brothers; or toward the superior, namely God, and thus it is abundance of mercy, through which there is imitation of God, according to Luke 6:36: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. If in oneself, either it is from evil, and thus it is patience; or it is toward good, and this is either respective, and thus it is teaching; or absolute, and thus it is perseverance.

But the blessed Virgin most manifestly had all these things, because she is the mother of all good persons; because she is full of charity toward God and love toward neighbor. She is queen of mercy. She also had the highest patience and teaching and perseverance, as is manifest above in the matter concerning the virtues.