First Conference: A Preliminary Tract on Grace
We urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain. — Grace is spread upon thy lips, on that account God has blessed thee in eternity. The word proposed secondly is directed to Our Lord Jesus Christ, according to what appears in the Psalm from the preceding and subsequent text. For it is first said in the Psalm — where these words are written — An imposing form before the sons of men; and there follows: Thy throne, God, unto age of age, etc. Therefore it speaks of Christ, who is blessed, in whom all the nations of the Earth are blessed. In Thy seed shall all nations be blessed, was said to Abraham; and because Christ is the Word, through which all things are blessed; and [because] those who are blessed from God the Father are blessed from Christ; for that reason all things are blessed through Christ.
It is said in Ecclesiasticus: The words of the mouth of the wise man [are] grace. There is a word that is written in John: The Law has been given through Moses, but grace and truth have been wrought through Christ. For salvation two things are necessary, namely the knowing of the truth and the exercising of virtue. The knowing of the truth is had through the Law, but the exercising of virtue is had through grace. 'Virtue is a good quality of the mind, by which one lives uprightly, which no one uses for evil, which God works in us'. The Law is held for grace, as apprehensive virtue is for motive, and as an instrument for operative virtue. Though it be, that a bird have the power of sight to see the sky and not have virtue in its wings, it cannot fly nor reach there. So, however much a Jew glories in the Law, from which one is without grace, he is nothing. The craftsman, when he has the instrument, by which he works, unless he has operative virtue in his hands, can make nothing good. Perfidious Jew, you have the Law in your hand, but unless you have operative virtue, in vain do you think, that you have the Law. For that reason no one is saved through the Law, unless grace be there. And so it is clear, that much more excellent is the grace of God than the Law itself. — At another time I spoke to you of the Law of the Decalogue, and now I shall speak to you of grace; and more necessary is grace for us than the Law; to receive which grace fruitfully Mother Church and the Apostle Paul urge us. And in the beginning we shall beg the Lord, that our words may zealously serve grace, and the intention of our mind, if it has grace, be strengthend in words, to be able to say something, which is for the praise of God and the salvation of our souls.
We urge you, etc. The Apostle Paul in this brief word rouses us up to take up divine grace, to guard what has been taken up, and to multiply the grace taken up and guarded. He urges us, not to accept the grace of God in vain, but to receive it fruitfully; therefore he wants to say, that we are to be prompt to take up, guard, and multiply the grace of God. Moroever that this exhortation of his be able to be fulfilled in us, three things occur here for us to consider: first, what is the rise of grace; second, what is the use of grace; and third, what is the fruit of grace. I do not want to speak except in the plainer manner, by which I am able, so that everyone can understand.
First I say: if we consider the rise of grace, I ask, what is the original principle of grace. It is certain, that grace is the best given and the perfect gift, descending from above from the Father of lights. I make this argument from the Canonical [Letter] of James. I posit the major, affirmative universal thus: Every best given and every perfect gift is from above, descending from the Father of lights, among whom there is no transmutation nor overshadowing of alternation; but grace, as I will show in the following [points], is the best given and the perfect gift — the whole of what I say, I want to order towards proving this assumption — but if grace is the best given and the perfect gift: therefore it is descending from above from the Father of lights.
But by which way does grace descend into men? Job asks (this) saying: Through which way is light scattered, and heat distributed over the earth? I respond and say, that grace descends over rational minds through the Incarnate Word, through the Crucified Word, and through the Inspired Word. — Proof. It is said in the Canonical [Letter] of James: He has voluntarily begotten us in the Word of truth, so that we be a certain beginning of His creation. Through the Incarnate Word an abundance of graces descends towards us; whence in John: Of His fullness all of us have accepted even grace on behalf of grace. It is certain that the original Principle, which is God, when He created man in accord with His image and similitude in the state of innocence, did so near create him to Himself, that through the Uncreated Word man was informable in accord with grace. But after man fell through sin, the Divine Wisdom provided a manner of condescension through the Incarnate Word, through which man was to be adapted to grace. And because that was done in the womb of the glorious Virgin, for that reason it was said to Her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with Thee; and the Apostle Paul recommends to those wanting to obtain grace, that they approach the Throne of grace, that is the glorious Virgin. Let us go, he said, with trust towards the Throne of grace. — Thus, therefore, prima facie there occurs to us the Father of mercies and the Mother of mercies and the Son, who is the Light of mercies. Thus is clear the first orgination of grace in us, which happens through the Incarnate Word. O most unhappy ones! who do not know how they can have that beginning of grace.
Second, grace descends into us through the Crucified Word. We were not only inept to take up grace on account of (our) ignorance of the divine precepts, yes indeed, also on account of our infirmity and impotence and concupiscence for earthly things: for that reason the Lord wanted to prop (us up). To heal our languors, He descended into us through the Crucified Word. Whence the Apostle to the Ephesians: God, who is rich in mercy, on account of His exceeding charity, with which He has loved us; when we had died with sins, vivified us together with Christ, by whose grace we have been saved. We have been vivified by Christ through Christ, because Christ has triumphed from death; whence death could not absorb Him, rather the Fount of life absorbed death, according to that which is written: I will be thy death, O Death! Otherwise we could not be healed and saved. Whence the Apostle to the Galatians: I do not throw away the grace of God; for if justice (is) through the Law, therefore Christ died without recompense; However Christ has died, to resuscitate the dead for the taking up of life and grace; therefore grace is flowed into us through the Incarnate Word and through the Crucified Word. — And the Blessed Virgin took up that Word (that is) full of grace; and the stream of graces has come forth from the side of Him, who has the efficacy to heal us.
Third, grace rises in us through the Inspired Word. However much God has sent His Son into flesh, unless you believe that He was crucified, you will not have grace. Whence the Apostle to Titus: Not out of the works of justice, which we have done, but according to His mercy has He saved us through the laver of regeneration and the renovation of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured forth abundantly into us through Jesus Christ, Our Savior. Dear ones! It is the Holy Spirit, who is the giver of graces and the Love proceeding from the Father and the Son. Whatever therefore the Father does and the Son suffers, it is nothing without the Holy Spirit. For He joins us to the Father and the Son. Whence the Apostle: The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in regard to the Second (Person), and the charity of God, in regard to the First, and the communication of the Holy Spirit, in regard to the Third, be with all of you. Amen.
Therefore, if you want to have the love of the Son and of the original Principle and of the Gift, the Holy Spirit, dispose yourself to grace. Whence therefore does grace rise? I say, that it rises from the Father of lights through the Incarnate Word, through the Crucified Word and through the Inspired Word. Noble influence, which has its origin from God incarnate! Much better ought that grace be guarded; but you lose it through sin. In what manner have you dared to introduce into your house a prostitute, who carries off all of what you have? You love temporal things; much more ought you love grace. Since he who is worthy of eternal life, through sin makes himself worthy of eternal death. Such a one ought to be punished much. Whence the Apostle to the Hebrews: He who makes void the Law of Moses dies without any mercy on the testimony of two or three. How much more do you think one merits worse punishments, who tramples upon the Son of God and reckons polluted the Blood of the Testament, in which he was sanctified, and who speaks contumely against the Spirit of grace? If a man sins, he tramples upon the Son of God. — Therefore the grace of God descends to us through the Incarnate Word, through the Crucified Word and through the Inspired Word. Man impunges that most noble influence through sin. On behalf of all the things from the world man ought not have committed sin. Not without cause has God wanted to be tempted. It is said in Ecclesiasticus: As if from the face of a serpent flee from sin. A serpent pouring forth venom kills, thus sin kills the life of grace. — Now it is clear, what is the rise of grace.
Let us see, what the use of grace is. You ought to understand, that the use of grace is for this, that it leads us in making progress; moreover for this it is required, that the use of grace be faithful in respect to God, virile in itself and liberal unto one's neighbor. — First, I say, the use of grace ought to be faithful in respect to God. Whence the Apostle: Since it thoroughly pleased Him who set me apart from the womb of my mother and called me through His grace . . I immediately did not take comfort in flesh or blood. He is faithful who does not diminish the gift, which He accepted on behalf of another. But when you seek something more principle than God, you are not faithful. For that reason the Apostle says: I did not take comfort in flesh or blood, that is, 'I did not seek carnal glory, but only divine.' Those wise in optics say, that if a ray (of light) falls perpendicularly upon a clean and polished body; it is necessary, that it be reflected by the same angle. The influx of grace is as a perpendicular ray; I speak of grace which makes one pleasing, because grace freely given is as an incident ray; it is necessary therefore, that he who truly takes up the grace of God, render God the glory. Whence if you preach for your own glory, there is nothing better for you (to expect). Upon this Ecclesiastes: To the place, whence the rivers go forth, they return; (St. Bernard) says, that 'the origin of springs is the sea, the origin of virtues and sciences is Christ'. Therefore he says To the place, whence the rivers go forth, that is of graces, they return, to flow again. For as the spring does not have length, unless it has a continuous conjunction with its origin, so also light; thus the grace of the Holy Spirit cannot grow in the soul unless through its reversion to is own original Principle.
That reversion and conjunction protects humility, and dissolves pride. Whence in the Canonical (Letter) of James: God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. And what is the reason? Who is humble? Certainly, he who of all the good things which he has, attributes them to their original Principle; but the proud man attributes all his own to himself. The humble man is in continuity with his origin, but the proud is in discontinuity and (is) as one who says: 'this I have not accepted from Thee.' And for that reason Lucifer became darkened, because he receeded from his original Principle; but Christ leads Himself back into His own original Principle through humility, and for that reason He was bright. On account of this it is said in Ecclesiasticus: As much as you are great, humble yourself in all things. Are you an archbishop or bishop; do you want to find grace? Humble yourself. Otherwise we are thieves, if we do not humble ourselves. If a king had enriched anyone, and he did not want to recognize that he had received goods from the former; he would be very unfaithful and ought to be stoned. We see others exalted by God, who nevertheless set themselves up against God, saying: Our exalted hand, and not God, has wrought these things. Such men loose both the land of the living and the grace of the Holy Spirit.
The second difference, the use of grace, is that it ought to be virile in itself. Whence the Apostle to the Hebrews: It is best that grace stabilize the heart, he did not say 'the belly'. In other seasons you have labored to stabilize your hearts. It is proper that he who wants to have strong arms exercise himself by strong works. Similarly, it is proper that he who wants to have stabilizing grace, exercise himself in works of virtue. The Apostle, when he said: By the grace of God, I am what I am; added further: I have labored more abundantly than all. Therefore you praise yourself, Apostle? No; whence he added further: Not I, but the grace of God with me. It is a noble example, that some are acquainted with their own virtue and are not proud from it. How virtuously do some act with the grace of the Holy Spirit! — Sampson with his hair was the strongest man; his fortitude went above nature. And why was his fortitude in his seven hairs? I say, that the seven hairs signified the septiform grace of the Holy Spirit, through which his fortitude was strengthened. But when he reclined in the lap of Delila and had not his hair, he became in strength as all other men. Give me one without grace, who can sustain what blessed Lawrence sustained! For a man can do nothing without grace; and nothing is so hard, that a man cannot sustain with grace. Whence the Apostle: I can (do) all things in Him who strengthens me together with (Himself).
Third, the use of grace ought to be liberal unto one's neighbor. Whence in Matthew: Freely you have accepted, freely give. O Sun, why do you not sell your light? And you, O Seine, why do you not sell drops of water? Certainly, because it has accepted freely, it for that reason communicates freely. Man alone is wretched, who sells the grace collected by himself. Whence has entered that first sale? Certainly from Simon the wizard, to whom the Apostle Peter said: May your money be with you unto perdition! The peak of the Apostles, blessed Peter said: Whichever one has accepted grace, ministering unto the other, as good dispensers of the manifold grace of God. Dionysius (the Areopagite) determines for us the use of grace in The Angelic Hierarchy and The Celestial Hierarchy and he says, that if the superior angels contain themselves and do not want to influence the inferior angels, then they themselves close their own way to the influence of God. If the good, which you have from God, you deny to others and you see one poor in life or in merit; you are not worthy of eternal life, and your life is the worst and like a swine. — It is difficult for a man to be faithful, virile and liberal; for that reason many err about the use of grace.
But what is the fruit of all these things? He who plants a vine plants it on account of its fruit. Moreover threefold is the fruit of grace, which one can never discover, except in him who is in grace. The first is the remission of fault, the second is the fullness of justice, and the third is the perpetuation of blessed life.
The first fruit, I say, of grace is the remission of fault. Whence the Apostle to the Romans: Justified through faith, we have peace towards God through Our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have access through faith in that grace (of His), in which we stand and glory in the hope of the glory of the sons of God. As the Philosopher would have it, that no one be changed from viciousness to virtues except through being accustomed to the contrary habit; so fault is not remitted in eternity except through grace. Can the greedy man come to liberality except through the exercise of liberality? The Philosopher considers vice, in as much as he calls it a certain disordering; when God is known to me, I judge of sin, that it is offensive to God; for through the privation of the law you do not honor God; whence it is necessary that you be subject to the vengeance of God. It is necessary, that he who has not honored out of fault, be subject to punishment. — Sin is subject to the vengeance of God; therefore it is proper, that punishment be eternal, because the offense is infinite. For the offense is as great, as He who is offended; but God is immense, and (His) majesty is infinite; therefore also is the offense infinite; therefore also the punishment is infinite, not in intensity, but in duration; because it is impossible that, created, active virtue be infinite. Therefore it is necessary, that eternal virtue be at work; but God is infinite; therefore if He changes the soul, it is proper, that this be done through some influence of grace. Likewise, (a sin meriting) Gehenna is not forgiven except through grace. See, therefore, in what manner grace frees from the servitude of sin and of the devil.
The second fruit of grace is the fullness of justice, which consists in this, that man be just in himself both as regards God and neighbor, that is that man avoids evil and works good. And in what manner? The Apostle says to Titus: The grace of God Our Savior has appeared to all men, instructing us, to live in this age soberly, justly, and piously, renouncing impiety and secular desires, awaiting the blessed hope and advent of the glory of the Great God. — The grace of Our God and of Jesus Christ has appeared, etc. This is the grace, which expels all evils and grants all goods; therefore in grace is the fullness of justice. Whence in Ecclesiasticus Uncreated Wisdom says: I (am) the mother of beautiful love and of fear and of acknowledgement and of holy hope; in Me (there is) every grace of way and of truth; in Me every hope of life and of truth; pass over to me all you, who desire Me, and be filled up by what I have brought forth. Do you want to be full of grace and virtue? Passover to me, that is, to Christ. And how? We cannot do this, unless we be raised over ourselves; but some things impede us, lest we be raised over ourselves; for that reason it is proper, that we rise up against those things which impede us. In that fullness of grace one is not placed, unless one rises up against oneself and is raised above oneself and loves God above all things and (his) enemy as his very self; because by the name of neighbor every man is understood. Therefore full justice is to love God above all things, and this is to love every man, therefore both family member and enemy. But what brings it about, that a man is raised against himself and above himself? Grace, certainly; I say, the grace of way and of truth. It is difficult for anyone, to love one's enemy, except through grace. A stone cannot be warmed by itself; but if it is placed near a burning furnace, one can then warm it. If you love those who love you, what thanks (is there in that)? To love only your friend is not the virtue of grace.
The third fruit of grace is the attainment of eternal beatitude. Whence the Apostle to the Romans: The stipend of sin (is) death; however the grace of God (is) eternal life. You have the planting ground for life and death. The grace of God is eternal life. What however is sin? Certainly nothing other but the tree of death. Here is the tree of death, and here the tree of life; place yourself in the garden, where the Tree of life is. One would be stupid who would plant a tree of death; if you have planted the tree, upon which you ought to be hung, you were stupid. Therefore evil men plant that tree of sin. — Therefore threefold is the fruit of grace: the first is the remission of fault, the second is the fullness of justice, and the third is the attainment of eternal beatitude.
And according to this grace is threefold, that is curing grace, strengthening grace and consummating grace. — Curing grace is given in the seven Sacraments against the sevenfold disease; in the just it is guarded through the seven exercises of justice, which are dealt with in the seven penitential Psalms. And not without reason are these said to be the seven penitential Psalms and not others, and that they cannot be changed nor multiplied. Likewise, curing grace is perfected in the seven works of mercy. — But strengthening grace consists in two things. For either it is considered in the manner of one rectifying, and so consists in the seven virtues; or it is considered in the manner of one expediting, and so consists in the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. — But consummating grace consists in two septenaries, that is grace (which) consummates on the way, in the seven beatitudes, which are touched upon in the Gospel, when it is said: Blessed (are) the poor, since theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven, etc.; but consummating grace (consists) in seven dowries of the fatherland to the soul itself, which (doweries) are seeing, enjoyment, and holding. The first responds to faith; the second, to hope; and the third to charity. It also consists in four dowries to the body, which redound unto the body from the beatitude of the soul and they are clarity, subtlety, agility and impassibility; which respond to the four cardinal virtues.
And thus are the seven septenaries. To speak of the seven Sacraments, of the seven exercises of justice and of the seven works of mercy would be exceedingly long; to speak also of the seven beatitudes and of the seven dowries would be exceedingly arduous at the present. And for that reason we propose in the middle to hold and speak of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are the gift of wisdom and understanding, the gift of counsel and fortitude, the gift of knowledge and piety and the gift of the fear of the Lord. And let us proceed not in that manner, by which Isaiah proceeded, but let us begin from the last gift, that is from the fear of the Lord; and let us beg the Lord, that He grant us the gifts of the Holy Spirit, who with the Father and the Son lives and reigns..., etc.
Second Conference: On the Gift of the Fear of God
Thoroughly strengthening grace consists in the seven habits of the virtues; and in seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. But consummating grace consists in the seven Beatitudes and in the seven dowries. — Those are the seven septenaries, which are counted in the jubilee year. Of that multitude we said that we cannot speak except of the one septenary, that is the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. We will beg the Lord..., etc.
There shall rest upon him the Spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and of piety, and the spirit of the fear of the Lord will fill him full. Concerning those spirits I want you to understand what John saw in the Apocalyspe in the midst of the throne and the four animals, the Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into every land. John puts forth a fantastic vision and expresses the truth. He calls the gifts of the Holy Spirit horns and eyes. And why? You ought to understand, that of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is a certain efficacy, through which all evils are impunged; there is another efficacy of the gifts, through which man is expedited towards all good things. And because in horns is fortitude, for that reason he call the gifts, through which evils are impunged, horns. And because expeditive virtue is in the eyes, for that reason he calls the gifts, through which man is expedited towards all good things, eyes. — Seven are the sins, which are impunged through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The first is the sin of pride, the second sin is envy, the third wrath, the fourth sloth, the fifth avarice, the sixth is gluttony and the seventh is luxury.
Those vices are expelled through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the seven virtues are introduced, which Christ taught, when He proposed the foundations of salvation upon the Mount. The first virtue is voluntary poverty, of which in the Gospel: Blessed the poor in spirit. The Second is gentleness or meekness, of which in the Gospel: Blessed the meek, etc. The third is morning, of which in the Gospel: Blessed those, who mourn. The fourth is the hunger for justice, of which in the Gospel: Blessed those, who hunger and thirst for justice. The fifth is mercy, of which in the Gospel: Blessed the merciful. The sixth virtue is cleanliness of heart, of which in the Gospel: Blessed the clean of heart. And the seventh is peace, of which in the Gospel: Blessed the peacemakers.
Through those seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, designated by the seven horns, the seven mortal sins are destroyed, and the seven virtues are introduced. The gift of fear destroys pride and induces the good of poverty; the gift of piety destroys envy and introduces gentleness or meekness of soul; the gift of knowledge destroys an angry disposition and introduces the gift of morning — nothing is so contrary to an angry disposition than the clearing of the mind — the gift of fortitude destroys sloth: and introduces the hunger for justice; the gift of counsel destroys avarice and introduces mercy; the gift of understanding destroys gluttonous behavior and introduces cleanliness of heart; the gift of wisdom destroys luxury and introduces peace. — Whence through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit all evils are destroyed, and all good things are introduced.
Those gifts of the Holy Spirit are touched upon in the Lord's Prayer. Those gifts are not had except from the Father of lights; for that reason Christ wanting to teach us, in what manner we can obtain them, teaches us to ask for them in the Lord's Prayer. In the first part the gift of fear is asked for, when He says: Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name. Secondly piety is asked for, when He says: May Thy Kingdom come. Third the gift of knowledge is asked for, when He says: Thy will be done on earth as it is in the heavens. Fourth the gift of fortitude is asked for, when He says: Give us this day our daily bread. Bread strengthens the heart of a man. Fifth the gift of counsel is asked for, when He says: And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Sixth the gift of understanding is asked for, when He says: And put us not to the test. Seventh the gift of wisdom is asked for, when He says: But free us from evil. Amen.
In the first our sanctification is asked for, and this through the gift of fear, when He says, Our Father, who art in Heaven; hallowed be Thy Name. Isaiah: Hallow the Lord of Hosts, He is both thy trembling and they fear. In the second the consummation of human salvation is asked for, which is not had except through the gift of piety; let there be judgment without mercy for him who has not worked mercy. That gift is touched upon, when He says: Thy Kingdom come. In the third part the fulfillment of the divine law is asked for through the gift of knowledge, because it teaches how to ask well and avoid evils. This gift is touched upon, when He says: Thy will be done, etc. In the fourth part the reheating of eternal virtue is asked for, and through this the gift of virute or of fortitude, when He says: Give us this day our daily bread. Bread strengthens the heart of a man. In the fifth the remission of sins is asked for through the gift of counsel, when He says: And forgive our our debts, as, etc. In the sixth petition the warding off of hostile deceit is asked for through the gift of understanding, when He says: And put us not to the test. In the seventh petition the subjugation of carnal concupiscence is asked for through the gift of wisdom, when He says: But free us from evil. Amen. It is impossible, that the soul tame its flesh, unless it be filled full with the gift of wisdom. To speak of these would take a long time.
Come, sons, etc. Those words belong to the prophet David, in which He invites the sons of God's grace and the sons of adoption to learn in addition that reading; and he not only invites children, but also those advanced (in age) and old men and the decrepit. This is one reading, which ought to be taught in youth and never deserted. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: Keep the fear of the Lord and grow old in it. And in Tobias it is said, that Tobias begot a son, whom from his infancy he taught to fear God. Therefore this reading belongs to everyone. It is true that Sacred Scripture speaks of the fear of the Lord; and the fear of the Lord is handed down in Sacred Scripture. A preacher speaks as the man, who is in the field and collects flowers; he cannot collect them all, but he collects some and from that makes a wreath. It is said in Ecclesiasticus: A crown of wisdom the fear of the Lord. I want to make for you a wreath from flowers, which I have collected, which at the present I want to minister to you. It seems to me, that the fear of the Lord is the most beautiful tree planted in the heart of a holy man, (and) which God waters continuously; and when the tree is consummated, then the man is worthy of eternal glory. I want to describe for you the root of that tree and its branches with its one fruit. — (There are) three things to be considered here that I want to say to you, so that as one of you I may learn to fear God. I want to describe for you, what is the origin of the divine fear, what its utility, and what is perfection.
What is the root of the fear of the Lord? For it is proper to go to the original principle, to know, the way through which the fear of the Lord rises in us. Moreover the fear of the Lord rises in us first from the consideration of the sublimity of the Divine Power; second, from the consideration of the perspicacity of the Divine Wisdom; third, from the consideration of the severity of the Divine Vengeance. — First, I say, the fear of God rises in us from the consideration of the Divine Power. Whence in Jeremiah: There is none like Thee, Lord, great art Thou, and great Thy Name in strength; who will not fear Thee, O King of the nations? For Thy distinction is among all the other wise men of the nations and in their diverse kingdoms who is like Thee? First he speaks of the magnitude of the Divine Power, when he says: There is none like Thee, Lord, etc. Whence in the Book of Wisdom: As a drop of pre-dawn dew, so before Thee (is) all the earth. Therefore who will not fear Thee, except the impious and the stupid? Wherefore there is also said in Malachi: A son honors his father and a slave his own lord; if I am thy Father, where is My honor? And if I am thy Lord, where is fear of Me? If a man is impious, he is in want of punishment; if he is stupid, he is in want of sense. That the most high stupidity is not-fearing (the Lord), the Lord says in Jeremiah: Hear he says, stupid people, who have not a heart; because having eyes, you do not see; ears, and you do not hear. Therefore you will not fear Me and grieve from My Face? Who has placed the sand as the terminus of the sea, a sempiternal precept, which will not pass away. You will not fear Me? — Therefore I say, that fear first rises in us from the consideration of the Divine Power.
But secondly the fear of the Lord rises in us from the consideration of the perspicacity of the Divine Wisdom. Whence Job: For He is the only One; and no one can avert His thoughts. And about that I am troubled by His face and considering Him, I am disquieted by fear. — He is the only One, that is, from Himself alone does he have being, and all other things from Him. And as from the first being all things flow, so God is the Cause of all. Therefore if God is the Cause of all, there is no creature, which is not naked in His eyes, because He himself sees and intensively gazes upon the thoughts of men. For that reason Job in the person of the man considering the Divine Wisdom, (which) weighs all other things, says: Considering Him, I am disquieted by fear. Whence upon this the Psalms: Who respects the earth and makes it tremble, etc.; the Gloss says: 'God then respects the earth and makes it tremble, when He brightens earthly man in respect to His grace and converts him to his original Principle, through which all others are derived and governed. And then man trembles thoroughly'. — For that reason a man ought to consider, what he thinks, what he speaks, and what he does; because God sees all things. Whence Boethius in his book On the Consolation says: 'If you do not want to be concealed, there is a great, unspoken necessity of your being proved, since all other things you do in the sight of the Judge (who) sifts all other things'. And in Ester it is said: I saw Thee, Lord, as does the Angel of God, and thoroughly disturbed was my heart because of the fear of Thy glory; for Thou art very wonderful, Lord, and Thy Face (is) full of graces. — I saw Thee, Lord, as does an angel of God. An angel sees and circumspects all things, he approves good things and reproves evil ones; likewise, an angel loves the good and hates evil.
The third origination of the fear of the Lord is from the consideration of the serverity of the Divine Vengeance. Whence in Habakuk: Lord, I have heard what is heard of Thee and I fear. I have heard and thoroughly disturbed is my stomach; from speaking my lips thoroughly tremble. May rot step into my bones and gush beneath me, that I may rest on the day of tribulation. He says: I have heard what is heard of Thee and I fear, that is, that which is said, when it is said: Go, accursed ones, into the eternal fire. He says: May rot step into my bones and gush beneath me, that I may rest on the day of tribulation. Not only on the day of tribulation or of the severity of the Last Judgment, but of whatever other judgment, because God's judgments are very many. Whence the Psalm: Fasten together my flesh with Thy fear, for I am afraid of Thy judgments.
For seven are God's judgments; six are in the present, and the seventh in death, and that will be doubled. — The God's first judgment is that of confinement; the second judgment is that of acute blinding; God's third judgment is that of obstinacy; God's fourth judgment is that of dereliction; the fifth is that of dissipation; the sixth is that of desperation, and the seventh is that of condemnation. — God's first, I say, judgment is that of confinement, because the sinner, when he sins, is despoiled of gratuitous things and wounded in natural ones. And so the sinner is bound by two chains, that is by proneness to evil and by difficulty to good. By those two chains a sinner is bound unto the hands of the devil, as Peter was unto the hands of Herod. — After that judgment there follows another judgment, that is the judgment of acute blinding, which figures in the Book of Judges, where it is said, that the Philistines, when they had captured Sampson, tore out his eyes and made him grind at a millstone. For from sin a man has a chain on his mind, so that he reputes nothing a sin; he thinks, that light is darkness and darkness is light, because he has acutely blinded his spiritual eyes.
God's third judgment is the judgment of obstinacy, that is when the heart of a man can be softened neither with promises nor threats nor whips nor torments. Of such a one it is said: His heart is hardened as a stone. The wife of Lot was converted into a stone. I would rather, that my heart to be converted into a stone, than to be so hard. — God's fourth judgment is the judgment of dereliction, that is when God forsakes a man and exposes him to whatever temptation and sin. The Psalm: When my virtue has failed, do not forsake me, Lord. Do not depart from me. Great is the danger, when a father exposes his son in the midst of wolves. — God's fifth judgment is the judgment of dissipation, when all things, which a man does are dissipated. Nothing upright does he say, nothing prosperous, nothing ordered does he do; rather the whole of what he does, is iniquitous.
God's sixth judgment is the judgment of desperation, that is, when the Lord bears off a man's hope, and a man believes, that he has been deprived of eternal glory. Of such (men) it is said: The desperate have betrayed themselves to impurity, in working every uncleanness, in avarice. That is the most horrible judgment. In that judgment fell Judas; and that is is the greatest judgment, so that in the present life a greater one cannot be given. — The seventh judgment is in death, that is the judgment of condemnation. When a man dies in mortal sin, he is separated forever from eternal glory, and his soul is condemned to eternal fire unto the end of the world, and then he will be punished also in his body. Whence the Apostle says: Terrible is the expectation of judgment. That judgment Habakuk feared, but David feared all God's judgments; whence he said: For I am afraid of Thy judgments.
Therefore collect these three consideration, that is the consideration of the sublimity of the Divine Power, the consideration of the perspicacity of the Divine Wisdom and the consideration of the severity of the Divine Vengeance. And who will there be, who will not fear? Whence Job says: Always as if waves swollen over me I have feared God, and His weight I could not bear. If you were in a small boat, when the waves went over the boat on all sides; you could not flee, because the waves would be everywhere; you could not hide, because you could not hide yourself away, as a man hides himself away from lightning; you could not even resist, because you would have nothing, which you could place against a wave. Collect these three; if they would be yours, more would you fear. And Job says, Always as if waves swollen over me I have feared God. And why? I cannot flee on account of the sublimity of the Divine Power; because if I ascend into Heaven, Thou art there; if I descend into the Inferno, Thou art present; if I take up my wings before dawn and dwell at the extremities of the sea, for indeed to that place will Thy hand lead me, and Thou will hold me with Thy right hand. Likewise, I cannot hide on account of the perspicacity of the Divine Wisdom, because God sees all things. Likewise, I cannot resist on account of the severity of the Divine Vengeance, because he who sins is punished with an eternal judgment. Whence in the Gospel: Do not fear those who kill the body and after that have nothing more, to do; however I will show you, whom to fear; fear Him, who after He has killed, has the power to send into Gehenna. Therefore it is necessary, that we fear God. I would prefer throughout seven thousand years to be under the greatest punishment in the world, than to sustain the least eternal punishment; the Apostle: One must dread to fall into the hands of the living God, because God afflicts in eternity. — Behold the origin of the fear of God. Consider the sublimity of the Divine Power, the perspicacity of the Divine Wisdom and the severity of the Divine Vengeance, so that you may fear God.
But what usefulness is there in fearing God? Tobias says: Do not fear, my son; we indeed live a poor life, but we will have many good things, if we fear God. To three things does the fear of God prevail, that is to impetrate the influence of divine grace, to introduce the rectitude of divine justice and to obtain the brightening of divine wisdom. In those three things all good things are comprehended.
I say, the first usefulness of the fear of God is, that the fear of God prevails to impetrate the influence of divine grace. Whence Isaiah: Whom shall I respect except the little poor man and the contrite in spirit and the one who trembles at My sermons? However much a man be powerful, rich, knowledgeable and strong, unless he fears God, it is worth nothing to him. Whence the Psalm: His desire will not be in the fortitude of a horse, nor His pleasure in the swift feet of a man; the pleasure of the Lord is upon those who fear Him, and in them who hope upon His mercy; and the Apostle to the Philippians: Since we have wrought your salvation in fright and fear. For God is He, who works in you both to will and to accomplish on behalf of your good will. We cannot have the grace of God except through the fear of God, because the mercy of the Lord (is) from eternity and unto eternity upon those who fear Him. No one receives the grace of God, except him who fears God. St. Bernard: 'In truth did I tell you, that there is nothing equally efficacious to deserve, conserve and multiply the grace of God, than if every time (you are) before God you find that you do not know His height, but fear it. Fear therefore, when grace dries up; fear, when it goes away; fear, when it returns again'. He who does not have grace, ought to fear for himself much; similarly, if the Lord renders unto a man a lost grace, he ought to fear for himself much, lest he lose that and become ungrateful, and (that) man's final state become worse than before. — Therefore the fear of God prevails to impetrate the influence of divine grace.
Secondly the fear of God prevails to introduce the rectitude of divine justice. Whence Ecclesiasticus: The fear of the Lord expels sin. For he who is without fear can not be justified. Injustice does not enter into the soul except through sin; moreover the first justification of the soul is, that it subjects itself to the divine sublimity. Having destroyed that fear, it is necessary, that the latter things be destroyed. On this account it is said in Ecclesiasticus: Son, approach God's service, stand in justice and in fear and prepare your soul for temptation; and Ecclesiasticus says: If you do not urgently hold yourself in the fear of the Lord, your house will be swiftly subverted. Consider David, who says: Serve the Lord in fear and exult Him with trembling.
Third the fear of the Lord prevails to obtain the brightening of divine wisdom, because the beginning of wisdom (is) the fear of the Lord. For the fear of the Lord is wisdom's extrinsic principle and intrinsic principle and the complement of wisdom; because fear is servile, and that is an initiative to wisdom, because, as a bristle introduces a thread and does not remain with the thread, so servile fear introduces wisdom and does not remain with wisdom. Another thing is the fear of the vengeance and offense of God; and that is the beginning of intrinsic wisdom and the root of wisdom. The third fear is that of filial reverence; and that is the complement of wisdom, because the fullness of wisdom is to fear God.
Those three things cause fear in us, because the beginning of wisdom (is) the fear of the Lord; and the root of wisdom (is) to fear God, and the fullness of wisdom is to fear God; Job: Behold, the fear of the Lord is itself wisdom. He who does not fear God, knows nothing. And because the fear of the Lord prevails to (accomplish) those three things, that is to impetrate the influence of divine wisdom, to introduce the rectitude of divine justice and to obtain the brightening of divine wisdom; for that reason Ecclesiasticus says: The fear of the Lord (is) as a paradise of blessing. And Solomon in Proverbs (says): The fear of the Lord (is) a fount of life, to turn them away from the ruin of death; Jeremiah: I know and see, that it is an evil and bitter thing, for you to have forsaken the Lord Thy God, and to not have fear of Me before you. If you do not fear God, you have lost grace, you have lost justice and you have lost true wisdom. See therefore, how evil and bitter it is, for you to have forsaken the Lord Thy God. Where there is not fear, there is not wisdom nor justice nor grace. The Psalm: A sepulchre lying open is their throat, the poison of asps under their lips, with their lips they were acting deceitfully, swift their feet to shed blood; whose mouth is full of malediction and bitterness, obliteration and unhappiness in their ways, etc.; The fear of God is not before their eyes. When a man does not have the fear of God, then his sense is converted unto wickedness and it steps outside as asps' poison. Whence he says: A sepulcher lying open is their throat, the poison of asps beneath their tongue. Iniquity follows in work; whence he says: With their lips they were acting deceitfully, swift their feet to shed blood. When a man has been disordered in his affection as much as regards thinking, in his speech as much as regards speaking and in his work as much as regard its effect; then he has nothing good. Whence he says: Swift their feet to shed blood. Obliteration and unhappiness in their ways, and with the way of peace they have not acquainted themselves, that is the way of grace of the Holy Spirit. And why? Because the fear of God is not before their eyes. Let us make a demonstration through the impossible. If you want to strive to have grace, justice and wisdom; and those are not able to be had without fear, there is incipience, wickedness and iniquity, obliteration and unhappiness; but those must be fleed from as the worst things; therefore, etc. — Therefore having considered the origin and utility of the fear of the Lord, we ought to strive to have the fear of God.
The third sub-part of the fear of the Lord concerns the perfection of the fear of God. Moroever the perfection of the fear of God consists in three things, that is in the perfect sanctification and cleansing-out of the conscience, in the perfect promptitude of obedience and in the perfect firmness of trust. — First, I say, that the perfection of the fear of God consists in the perfect sanctification or cleansing-out of the conscience. Whence the Apostle to the Corinthians: Let us cleanse ourselves from every iniquity of the flesh and spirit, accomplishing (our) sanctification in the fear of God. And in what manner shall we accomplish (our) sanctification? It is said in Ecclesiasticus: They who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts and will sanctify their souls in His sight. The Apostle to the Romans: Do you not know, that the kindness of God leads you towards penance? You however according to (your) hardness and impenitent heart treasure up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath and the revelation of the just judgment of God. — They who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, that is, they will hold themselves back and cease from sins. Let us approach therefore to cleanse (our) conscience. It is a wonder, how a man can stand in mortal sin. When a man enters his bed, he enters into a sepulchre. I do not believe, that a man would enter his bed, unless he hopes, that if he dies, that God will be merciful to his soul. I saw some spiritual men, that when they had a little venial (sin), they could scarcely sleep. If I had bound a lion to myself, how could I sleep? The enemy holds you bound, if you are in mortal sin. Rise up therefore and sanctify your soul. Do not halve your confession, but confess most perfectly and most entirely. Let the fear of the Lord lead you to this.
The other subpart of the perfection of the fear of the Lord consists in the perfect promptitude of obedience. Whence in the Book of Paralipomenon: Let the fear of the Lord be with you, and with diligence do all other things; as if he says: 'Do not be sluggish nor negligent,' because it is written in Ecclesiastes: He who fears God neglects nothing. If I believed, that a thief ought to enter my room and carry of (my) treasure; you would not leave the window open. You ought always to fear God, because he who observes the whole Law, (and) however offends in one thing, becomes guilty of (violating) all. And in Deuteronomy it is said: And now Israel, what does the Lord Thy God ask of you, except that you fear Him and keep all His mandates and walk in His ways? And Solomon says: Fear God and observe His mandates; every man is by this, that is, '(is by this) perfected.' Therefore if you want to be perfect, fear God.
The third part of the perfection of the fear of the Lord consists in the perfect firmness of trust; because the fear of the Lord is a tower of firmness and of trust. The Psalm: As a shield will His truth surround you, you will not fear from the nightime fear, from the arrow flying by day, from the difficulty of walking about in darkness, from invasion and the noonday demon. And in Proverbs: The fear of the Lord (is) a tower of fortitude. It is proper that he who does not fear God, fear Him everywhere; and he who truly fears God has that which none can bear off from him. But he who fears something from God has that which ought to be borne off from him. He who fears God cannot lost God. Not so concerning money. If a man has money, he fears, lest he loose it, and it is sure, that he will lose it. But he who fears God is secure everywhere. How great the multitude of Thy sweetness, Lord, which Thou has hidden away for those (who) fear Thee; it follows: Thou has perfected them who hope in Thee. For that reason the fear of God ought to be perfect, because To those (who) fear God (all) will be well, because they will come to the blessing of glory, to which (glory) may He lead us, who with the Father, etc.
Third Conference: On the Gift of Piety
Exercise your very self in piety, etc. The Apostle Paul as a good teacher rouses up the solicitude of our genius and of our minds to a good use of the divine gift. And having (already) supposed the influx of piety, he invites us to the exercise of piety and proposes the result of the effort of piety. If you have accepted the gift of God, exercise yourself to obtain piety. He assigns the reason for this, when he says further: Piety prevails to (accomplish) all things, etc. For that reason he shows, that about that gift of piety there are three things for us to consider, that is the exercise of piety, the result of the effort of piety, and the original principle of piety. If it is a gift, it is proper to know, in what way it is given; if it is a noble gift, it is proper to know, in what way we are to make progress in it; if it is a useful gift, let us see, what fruit we are to successfully pursue from it. — See, my whole intention is, that you conceive the gift of piety in your soul and that you learn, what it is to be pious.
Let us begin from exercise. Moreover the exercise of piety consists in a threefold act, namely in the reverence of divine veneration, in the custody of intrinsic sanctification and in the super-overflowing of internal pity. The first two modes of piety are more radical than the third.
First, I say, the exercise of piety consists in the reverence of divine veneration. Whence in Ecclesiaticus it is said of Josiah, that he bore away the abominations of impiety and governed his heart in accord with the Lord and in (his own) days thoroughly strengthened the piety of sinners. It is certain, that before the advent of Christ the cult of God did not thrive except in the Israelite people and not in the whole people did it thrive, because ten tribes in the time of Jeroboam adored idols, that is the golden calf; nor even during the whole time did the cult of God thrive in the two tribes; because David was the best worshiper of God, afterwards come Manasses the worst, who made the people worship idols; but after him came Josiah, who in his eigth year began to reign and bore away all idolatry and in (his) days he thoroughly strengthened the piety of sinners, that is the divine cult.
That piety is the cult of God, Job says: Behold, he says, piety itself is wisdom. Another translation has: Behold, fear itself is wisdom; but in the Septuagint translation there is had: Behold piety itself is wisdom. And St. Augustine says, that piety in Greek is the same as theosebeia, which is the same as 'the cult of God'. Moreover the cult of God consists most of all in the reverence of God, which is not had without fear. For it is proper, that the worshiper of God with reverence and fear hold the highest and most pious opinions of God. — If you hold a diminished opinion of the power of God, that is, that he cannot create all things from nothing; you do not have the highest opinion (of Him). Similarly, if you hold a diminished opinion of the wisdom of God, that is, that through His wisdom he cannot penetrate the most interior things; you do not hold the highest opinion (of Him). As we have the testimony of light, which not only shines in itself, but can illumine many other bodies; so God sees all things and brightens them, because He Himself is Light. If you hold an opinion of the power of God and of the wisdom of God, that He cannot repair bodies well or ill; then you hold an evil opinion of God and you do not hold the highest opinion (of Him). Likewise, if you do not believe the divine condescensions and pity, through which God fills full with grace, indulgence and beatitude the creature serving Him; you are not a worshiper of God. — Therefore I say, that piety is nothing other than a pious sense, a pious affection and a pious domestic-servitude for the pious, first, and Most High Origin. The Most High Good cannot be had nor worshiped without piety. Naturally every thing tends towards its origin; a stone downwards, and fire upwards, and rivers run towards the sea, a tree is in continuity with its roots, and all other things have continuity with their root. Deiform is the rational creature, which can return upon its origin through memory, intelligence and will; and is not pious, unless it pours itself back upon its origin. For that reason I said, that piety is nothing other than a pious sense, a pious affection and a pious domestic-servitude for the pious, first, and Most High Origin. — Therefore the first exercise of the gift of piety consists in the reverence of divine veneration.
The second exercise of the gift of piety consists in the custody of intrinsic sanctification; of which the Apostle says: I earnestly entreat first of all, that requests, earnest entreaties, prayers and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all, etc.; there follows: so that we may conduct a quiet life in all piety and chastity. You ought to understand, that the sum of the Christian religion consists in piety and purity. For a man can never become pious, unless he has peace. This (peace) is the Christian religion, which consists in these two things. Tranquility of peace is not, except in tranquility of conscience. And a conscience is not holy, unless it be good and pious, that is, that it prefer the life of virtue and grace to the life of nature. — See well, if a man payed more attention t his shoe than to his foot, he would not love his foot much. He who would expose his foot to being broken on account of a shoe, would he love his foot much and pay much attention to his foot? Certainly not. He who on account of a little thing would expose himself to hanging would not love his life much. Is it not proper, that a man guard his soul in holiness? Certainly it is. But he exposes his soul to confusion, who is not wary of his own sin.
O how few there are, who guard the piety of (our) religion! But the Lord interrogates the impious. It is said in Ecclesiasticus: Have mercy on your soul, that is, have piety for your soul; pleasing God, that is, that you study to please God. And in what manner? Gather and contain your heart in holiness. — Some are content, that they have an exterior sanctity, that is in word and in gesture and in exterior comportment; but this is the external decoration of holiness, as the man, who whitewashes the exterior, and makes a sepulcher for the dead, which has been whitewashed exteriorly. But as 'simulated equity is not equity, but a twofold iniquity'; so a simulated sanctify is not sanctity, but rather iniquity. Against such the Apostle speaks: in the last times there will be men (who are) lovers of pleasures, having the appearance of piety, however denying its virtue. — Having the appearance of piety, 'that is of religion', says the Gloss. Those (who) have the appearance of piety are hypocrites. For such a one is the son of perdition. Of such is said: With the spirit of His lips He shall strike the impious, that is the one who will have the greatest appearance of piety. — Therefore the second exercising of the gift of piety is through the guard of intrinsic piety. — But certain ones do not have mercy on their own soul, nay rather they make it as worse as they can. They hate their own soul in the most high manner, (who) could not makes it worse, than they do, because they do all things, which the devil suggests to them. Have mercy on your soul! And certain ones under the appearance of piety take up those things which are contrary to their soul. They say: 'I will go unto turpitude under the appearance of piety'. What piety is that? Certainly none (at all).
The third exercising of the gift of piety is in the overflowing of internal pity. Of this it is said in Ecclesiaticus: These are the men of mercy, whose piety was not lacking; since their good (deeds) remain in seed. — Dearest ones! you ought to run through the ways of the holy Patriarchs, and you will see, that these were the men of mercy, that is Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph and Samuel. How (great) was the piety of Noah! For one hundred years he did nothing except build the ark, to save the human race. How great was piety in most holy Abraham! God descended to strike cities, in which there were abominations of sin; and Abraham interceded with the Lord on their behalf and extorted from the Lord, that if He found ten just ones in the cities, the Lord would spare them. How great was the piety of Joseph! He who was sold by his brothers — nay rather his brothers wanted to slay him — and (yet) he guarded his brothers, governed and even enriched their sons; he had the piety to conserve the whole globe by gathering and conserving grain. How great was the piety of Moses! He who loved the people (who were) provoking the Lord and prayed on their behalf to the Lord saying: Hear me, Lord, that people (of Thine) has sinned; either forgive this people this offense, or if Thou does not do (this), blot me out from Thy book, which Thou has written. St. Bernard gives the example of the wife, who has her little infant and is outside her house. If he says to her: 'Leave your little infant outside your house and enter your house;' she would not want to enter her house, for the boy would remain outside. So did Moses will, that the Lord would forgive their sin, or blot him out from the book of life. So it was concerning Samuel, when the people asked him for a king; afterwards the people recognized, that Samuel has ruled the people well, and since the people had sinned, Samuel feared, lest he would want to pray to the Lord on their behalf. And the people begged him, to pray in their behalf, and Samuel said: Away from me, lest I cease praying on your behalf. Of such great piety was David, the king of Israel! Saul was seeking to slay him, and David had Saul in his hand; he could have slain him, nor was God preventing it, because God said to him: I have betrayed him into your hand. He could have slain him, nor was man preventing it, nor was the law preventing it; and nevertheless he spared him and his house. These, therefore, are the men of mercy, whose piety failed not.
To that piety blessed Peter invites us, who was the other Apostle, saying in his second Canonical (letter): Minister virtue in faith, knowledge in virtue, abstinence in knowledge, patience in abstinence, piety in patience, love of brotherhood in piety and charity in the love of brotherhood. What does he want to say? He places piety in the midst of two things, that is among patience and charity. He says that piety is the purple robe and he calls patience and charity the royal garment. It is fitting that he, who want to be pious to his neighbor, support him patiently and love him charitably. David conducted himself patiently and charitably towards his enemy; thus is it proper, that a man conduct himself towards his neighbor. — Where is piety today? It is not the mean, because God bears extremes away; there is such cruelty today, that a man cannot be satisfied with vengeance; there reigns today impatience and angry behavior; man judges evilly; even if a man does not offend me, nevertheless I will judge evilly about him. Whence is this? Certainly, because I do not have charity. Blessed Peter knew well to say, in what manner I could have charity, because if I have patience on one side, and charity on the other; behold the exercise of piety.
You say loudly, brother: I do not have that gift. Therefore it is proper, that I explain to you the original principle of piety.
And you say: 'You ought to begin from the beginning; and you have begun from the exercise.' No, brother, I cannot lead you to the original principle of piety except through the act and exercise of piety. Moreover the gift of piety originates first from the Uncreated Trinity, second from the Incarnate Wisdom, and third from Holy Mother Church, sanctified through the Spirit.
See, I say, that the gift of piety rises first from the Uncreated Trinity, that is from God the Father. Although God has all the most noble properties, He is nevertheless the most excellent in that property, that is of piety; whence it is said in the prayer: God, to whom it is proper to be merciful always and to spare, etc. And in Ecclesiaticus: Pious and merciful God, He both at all times forgives the sins of tribulation and is the Protector of all who seek Him out in truth. — He is pious and merciful, because He spares and protects. The Lord says: In the manner a father is merciful to his sons, so have I been merciful to you. Search all the works of God from beginning unto the end, you will find great, greater and the greatest workings of pity. The great workings of divine pity are the workings of nature; the greater workings of divine pity are the workings of grace, but the greatest workings are the workings of glory. Hear! You are an image of God; and (what) is called an image if not a copy; therefore if you are truly a copy of God, you ought to configure yourself to God in piety. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: In judging be merciful as a father to orphans and (stand) in the place of the man of their mother; and you will be as an obedient son of the Most High, and He will be merciful to you. — In judging, that is in fostering law, be merciful to orphans, that is to be truly a son of the Most High. When the glorious God is compassionate unto to the wretched; why do you not imitate Him? If there were any fountain, which makes dessicated plants grow green, it would be valued much. A soul without piety has dessicated plants. The stream of divine pity pours itself most copiously upon (these) and makes dead plants grow green. Is it not proper, that you introduce that stream into your soul? But you can not introduce Him except through piety. Therefore the first original influence of piety is from the Uncreated Trinity.
The second original influence of piety itself is from the Incarnate Wisdom. Whence the Apostle to Timothy: Manifestly a great thing of piety is the sacrament, which has been manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, has appeared to angels, has been preached to the Gentiles, has been believed in the world, has been assumed in glory. The Mystery of human redemption accomplished through the Incarnate and Crucified Word is a great sacrament of piety. — He says, which has been manifested in the flesh, through the Incarnation; has been justified in the Spirit, on the patibulum of the Cross; has appeared to Angels, in being glorified; has been preached to the Gentiles, in the mission of the Holy Spirit; has been believed in the world, through the spreading of the faith; has been assumed into glory, through the exam of the final judgment. I say, that the Incarnate Son of God assumed our indigence. What did this? Piety certainly. Whence He ought to be made like to His brothers in all things, to become a merciful and faithful High Priest before God, to propitiate anew the crimes of the people. Through piety He assumed flesh, ascended the Cross, came back to life from the dead, sent the Holy Spirit upon the earth, called the Church to Himself and through piety freed everything fitting from misery. The Apostle says to the Romans: Do you contemn the riches of His goodness and patience and longanimity? Or are you ignorant, that the goodness of God leads you towards penance? But you according to your hardness and your impenitent heart treasure up wrath for yourslef on the day of wrath and of the revelation of the just judgment of God. The Son of God offered the Holocaust, that is His very Self on our behalf; this is the great sacrament of piety. — This sacrament is repeated daily upon the altar. For those reasons He gave us the Sacrament of the Altar, so that, mindful of the sacrament of piety, we might put on the internals of piety. Cruel is the heart which is not softened to those.
The third original influence of the gift of piety is from Holy Mother Church, sanctified through the Holy Spriit, who has the pledge of the Holy Spirit. Holy Mother Church has pointed out piety to all. Those who are born from one father and one mother love each other more, than those born from one father, and/or from only one mother. The Holy Spirit makes us sons of one father and of one mother and members of one body. The Apostle: The grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of all us men, has appeared, instructing us, to live soberly and justly and piously in this age, as ones denying impiety and secular desires. — Dearest ones! see, if your piety is of a brother for a brother, and of a brother-in-a-womb for a brother-in-the-womb! Who is your father? God certainly. Who is your mother? She is the Church, who bore us from her womb through the Holy Spirit and will give us birth, when we will be presented in eternal light. Do you not see, that as one member suffers together with the other, so also we ought to have compassion on one another? We are all members of one body, we eat from one food, we are produced from the same womb, we tend towards the same inheritance; and our inheritance will be magnified, as much as we are more, not lessened. We are one body, we ought to be piously concerned for one another. Come to your father, your father receives you, and/or your mother; if Holy Mother Church assists, even disgraceful sinners will be compelled to return. Therefore we ought to have compassion on one another.
To point this out there is written in the Psalm: Behold, how good and how jocund (it is) that brothers live as one. As ointment upon the head, which descended upon the beard, the beard of Aaron. We have One Father, one sacrifice, one Sacrament and one reward. He says: As ointment upon the head, etc. First there is the ointment upon the head; afterwards it descends unto all others, who approach the head. — Piety ought to be first in prelates and the members of the ruling class and afterwards in the common folk; whence it says: that it descended upon the collar of his vestment. Of that oil of piety there is said in the fourth (Book) of Kings, that a certain woman came to Elisha and said, that her creditors wanted to accept her boys (as payment); and she said My man was a God fearing man. And Elisha told (her), to take away all the vases of her neighbors and to place inside each of them some of that oil, until all were filled full. For what (purpose) did he precept here to take away the vases of her neighbors? Could such a wife multiply the oil and fill the wine-jar, and not have worked? I say, that the wife represents a type of the Church, Elisha represents a type of Christ. When the Church is a poor little (woman) in mertis, is it not also proper, that She return interest? Through what does She return it? It is proper, that she fills full the vases of her neighbors. You want, the piety of Mother Church to descend to you? Fill full the vases of your neighbors. That oil of piety ought to be had among all. Whence in the Canticle (of Canticles): (As) an oil poured out, (so) Thy Name.
Especially ought it be in the hearts of pontiffs. Whence pontiffs are anointed on the head, and having been enjoined they ought afterwards to purify all of the common folk. It is said in the Book of Machabees: When the holy city was held in peace, and they guarded the laws in the best manner on account of the piety of Onias and held their souls with hatred of evil; it came to be, that they lead kings and pontiffs in reverence to the (Holy) Place and brightened it with many gifts. Afterwards Menelaus and his own entered the Temple, and Antiochus defiled the Temple. I believe, that the impediment was, that the Holy Spirit was not in the common folk, because the impediment was in the pastor. — Blessed Gregory (the Great) was a noble and rich man; he founded seven monasteries and enriched them and in the seventh in the city of Rome he became a monk, afterwards a cardinal and then Pope. Blessed Gregory, when he was Pope, was accustomed to have twelve poor, who used to eat before him. On a certain day there was with those twelve one, who sometimes appeared youthful, sometimes with venerable grey hair. After lunch blessed Gregory rose up and lead him into his room and questioned, who he was. Who responded: 'I am that shipwreck-survivor, to whom you were merciful near the sea port. I said, that my ship had been endangered, and I asked you for alms, whence I would be able to be sustained. You caused me to be given 50 aurei, afterwards all the silver saucers, which were in your house; and then I knew, that the eternal God had disposed you to this honor, and that you had arrived at that dignity by arraignment, so that you could give much on God's behalf.' And blessed Gregory said: 'Who are you?' He responded: 'I am His angel.' And blessed Gregory was terrified, because he had seen an Angel; and so he was consoled, because his work of piety pleased God so much. (Saints) Martin and Nicholas, because they were merciful men, for that reason oil flows out of their tombs. — Now it is clear concerning the exercise of piety and concerning its original influence.
But what is the utility of the gift of piety? He says: Piety prevails to (accomplish) all things, having (as it does) the promise of the life, which is now and is to come. I do not know how to add more. Do you have temporal goods? For them piety prevails; and similarly for spiritual goods. Those who have endured the deceitfulness of the flesh, have been freed at all times through the gift of piety, and afterwards have successfully pursued mercy. For piety prevails to (accomplish) all things: it prevails to become acquainted with true things, to turn away all evils, and to successfully pursue all good things.
First, I say, piety prevails to become acquainted with true things, that is salutary things; whence in Ecclesiasticus: The Lord does all things and gives wisdom to those who act piously. God grants His gifts upon every creature; but the knowing of the truth He does not give except to those acting piously. In what manner can one attain originals who does not attain the origin of truth? In what manner does one know the origin of truth who turns away from the origin of truth? The Apostle says to Timothy: If anyone teaches otherwise and does not acquiese to the sane sermons of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and to that doctrine which is according to piety, he is proud both knowing nothing and growing faint about questionings and about fights of words. It is proper, that man assent to the doctrine, which is according to piety. It is said in Daniel: Furthermore let the impious act impiously; revelation is closed to the impious. If you want to be true scholars, it is proper, that you have piety.
Second, piety prevails to turn away all evils. Whence blessed Peter: The Lord knows how to snatch the pious from temptation, (and) how, moreover, to reserve the impious to be tormented on the day of judgment. The impious are those who do not recognize divine piety. Moreover the impious one, when he has come into the depth of his sins, contemns (piety). The impious one is he who defends his own impiety, that is, his sin. Of such ones the Psalm says: A sepulchre lying open is their throat, with their lips they act deceitfully; judge them God! They fall down from their thoughts; according to the multitude of their impieties expel them, since they have provoked Thee, Lord! Do you want to be freed from evil? Hear David, who says: I said: I will confess against myself my injustice to the Lord, and Thou has remitted the impiety of my sin. Praise God and grow angry against your sin and do not defend sin, because to defend sin is a twofold sin. Notable is what the Psalm says: Blessed the man, who does not go off in the counsel of the impious, by consenting to sin: and in the way of sinners has not stood, by remaining in sin; and in the cathedra of pestilence does not sit, by defending his sin.
The third utility of the gift of piety is, that it causes one to successfully pursue every good. Whence it is said in the Book of Maccabees, that Judas used to consider, that those who had gone to sleep with piety, brought back the best grace, which (grace) may He deign to bestow on us, who with the Father..., etc.
Fourth Conference: On the Gift of Knowledge
God, who told light to grow bright from darkness, etc. That word was written in the Second Epistle to the Corinthians, in which the Apostle Paul, a great teacher, explained the gift of that knowledge; and he explained that gift as much as regards its antecedents and its subsequents. The gift of knowledge is anteceded by two things: one is as an innate light, and the other is as an infused light. The innate light is the natural light of the judgment or the reason; the superinfused light is the light of faith. As much as regards the first he says: God, who told light to grow bright, that is, the natural light of judgment impresses the rational creature, that is, not only the possible intellect, but even the agent intellect. As much as regards the superinfused light of faith he says: He has shown in our hearts, etc.; that is, through the infusion of the light of faith. God founded (our) rational nature and superadded grace. Two, therefore are the antecedents. — The consequents are also two, that is, a clear knowing of the Creator, and a revealed knowing of the Savior. As much as regards the antecedents he says: God, who told, etc.; as much as regards the consequents he says: for the illumination of the knowledge of the brightness of God, where the clear knowing of the Creator is touched upon; upon the Face of Christ Jesus, where the revealed knowing of the Savior is touched upon. — The Apostle give (us) to understand, that the soul has a multiform brightness and from one it transcends into another. Whence the Apostle to the Corinthians: But we all, gazing on the glory of the Lord with revealed faces, are transformed into the same image from brightness into brightness, as by the Spirit of the Lord. The brightness of the soul is knowledge, and conversely the darkness of the soul is ignorance. He says We are transformed from brightness into brightness.
Here it must be noted, what is the brightness of philosophical knowledge, of theological knowledge, of gratuitous knowledge, and (what is) the brightness of glorious knowledge. The brightness of philosophical knowledge is great according to the opinion of worldly men, nevertheless it is small in comparison to the brightness of Christian knowledge. But the brightness of theological knowledge seems small according to the opinion of worldlings, but according to truth it is great. The brightness of gratuitous knowledge is greater, but the brightness of glorious knowledge is the greatest; it is in that (brightness) that Paul has stood. The Psalm: Wonderful has Thy knowledge become in me, it has strengthened (me), and I can not face it, that is, in this life.
All that knowledge and its brightness is divinely given, although always in granting them the gift is greater. It is true, that philosophical and theological knowledge is a gift of God; but properly speaking the gift of God is gratuitous knowledge; but glorious knowledge is not only a gift, but also a reward. Moreover, In the Canticle of Anna in the Book of Kings there is said: Let the old things recede from your mouth, because the God of all knowledge is the Lord, and thoughts are prepared for Him; not stupid thoughts, which are scattered through the ways of error, but good thoughts are prepared for the Lord through the ways of truth. Job: Have you known the paths of the clouds, the great paths and all perfect knowledge? He calls the paths great, that is philosophical and theological knowledge, which are called great paths, because they comprehend many sciences; he calls the paths perfect as much as regards gratuitous and glorious knowledge. Of the path of the clouds are the sciences of perfect men, because, as clouds drag away the virtue of heat into the heights, so perfect men are raised aloft in abstraction of mind. — Of these four sciences we want to talk, so that we can arrive at the third, of which we are speaking here.
Philosophical knowledge is nothing other than a certain knowing of the truth as scrutable. Theological knowledge is a pious knowing of the truth as credible. Gratuitous knowledge is a holy knowing of the truth as lovable. Glorious knowledge is a sempiternal knowing of the truth as desirable.
First let us begin from philosophical knowledge. I say, that philosophical knowledge is a certain knowing of truth as scrutable. Of this knowledge it is said in Proverbs: Behold, I have described (my doctrine) in a threefold manner and with knowledge, to show you the firmness and eloquences of (its) truth. That can be the word of Solomon and the word of God. I say, that it can be the word of God. For He describes philosophical knowledge in a threefold manner, that is He describes it according to a threefold reason, as natural, as rational, and as moral, that is, inasmuch as it is 'the cause of existing, the reason for understanding and the order of living'. Inasmuch as it is the cause of existing, it designates natural knowledge; inasmuch as it is the reason for understanding, it signifies rational knowledge; inasmuch as it is the order of living, it describes moral knowledge.
Nor is it only the word of God, nay rather it is also that of Solomon, who discussed (everything) from a ceder of Lebanon even to hyssop. He said: Behold, I have described (my doctrine) to you in a threefold manner, to show you the firmness, that is the solid and firm truth, and the eloquences of (its) truth; he described it in a threefold manner, that is inasmuch as it is the truth of things, the truth of conversations and the truth of morals, according to which (his doctrine) is the non-division of a being from being, and a non-division a being to being, and of a being from its end. The truth of things is an non-division of a being from being; the truth of conversations is a non-division of a being to being; the truth of morals is a non-division of a being from its end. — The truth of morals is rectitude, according to which a man lives well, inside and out, according to the dictate of law, because law is the rule of rectitude; the truth of conversations is the adequation of voice and intellect; the truth of things is 'the adequation of intellect and thing'. And because philosophical knowledge teaches the eloquences of truth; truth is also threefold: for that reason he said, that he described (his doctrine) in a threefold manner.
Do you not believe, that Solomon acquired that threefold knowing? — Of the knowledge of conversing he says, that he had it. Whence in the Book of Wisdom he says: Give me, Lord, the wisdom standing before Thy thrones, that I may be worthy of the thrones of my father (David). There it was written: Moreover God gave to me to speak from consideration and to anticipate the worthy (sayings) of those which were given to me. In His hand are we and our conversations. It is impossible, that wisdom become doctrine except through conversation. Moreover conversation is not sufficient to teach, unless it be full of considerations. And a man cannot speak in a manner full of considerations, unless his conversation be discussive, inquisitive and persuasive, that is, that he has conversation powerful to speak every thing, which he can apprehend and/or know, and/or to which his affection can be inclined. Moreover he suitably expresses what he says through grammar, rationally investigates through the science of logic and efficaciously persuades through rhetoric. That therefore is a part of philosophy, that is, the conversational science, which is threefold, as is clear, which Solomon did obtain.
The other part of philosophy, that is, which is in the truth of things, Solomon says he obtained. Whence he says in the Book of Wisdom: God gave me of those which are true knowledge, that I may know the disposition of the globe and the virtues of the elements. It is certain, that a knowing of the truth of things is triform, accord to which there are concrete forms, abstract forms and separated forms. Concrete forms he considers physics, abstract forms metaphysics, and separated forms mathematics. Whence he says: God gave me knowledge of those things which are, that is principally of beings, which (are) true beings, as much as regards the science of metaphysics; that I may know the dispositions of the globe, as much as regards mathematics; and the virtues of the elements, as much as regards natural philosophy. Solomon knew the course of the year from the disposition of the stars, the nature of the animals and the virtues of roots; Solomon learned everything.
Of the third part of philosophy, that is of morals, Solomon also says, that he obtained it. Whence in Ecclesiastes: I have purified all things with my soul, to know and consider and seek wisdom and reason, and to become acquainted with the impiety of the stupid and the error of the imprudent. He says that he has considered many things and has ordained all towards morals. — Dearest ones! The impiety of the stupid is in having an evil opinion of the Cause of causes; the error of the imprudent is about the regimen of monastic life, and/or of economic life, and/or of political, that is, about the regimen of their own things, and/or of one's family, and/or of a city-state. Great prudence is required for one's own regimen, greater for the regimen of the family, but the greatest about the regimen of a city-state. It is impossible, that the sun illumine bodies remote from itself and not illumine those near to itself. One cannot have an ordered family, unless he himself be ordered. If one wants to have chaste servants; and will not himself be chaste, it cannot be. Similarly unless a man rules his family well, he cannot rule the city-state well, because as is the prince of a city-state, such also those dwelling in it.
Therefore Solomon shows, that he arrived at the triform description of philosophical knowledge, that is, to a description of rational, moral and natural knowledge and to a triform description of each of those. — He who has a description of those sciences according to truth, would have the largest mirror for becoming acquainted with (all things), because nothing is in any of those sciences which does not import the vestige of the Trinity. That would be easy to show, but it would be long (to speak about it).
The first brightness, that is, of philosophical knowledge, is great according to the opinion of worldly men; but it is easily eclipsed, unless a man himself beware of the head and tail of the dragon. If anything is interposed between himself and the Sun of justice, he will suffer the eclipse of stupidity. Jeremiah: Stupid has every man become from his own knowledge, that is, occasionally, not causally. He who confides in philosophical knowledge and apprises himself on account of this and believes himself to be better, has become stupid, that is, when through that science without an ulterior light he believes, that he apprehends the Creator; as if a man by candles wanted to see heaven and/or a solar body. It is certain, that rational philosophy is consummated in rhetoric; since threefold is the genus of the deliberative, that is, when one deliberates on the utility, the security, the honesty, and its opposite, that is on damage, on danger and on sin or on dishonesty. A man cannot know, what be useful, what be damaging, except from an addition beyond that science. There is said in the Gospel: What does it profit a man if he gain the entire world, but suffer the detriment of his own soul? What value is it, that a man know many things, if he relinquishes true honesty of soul? — It is also certain, that according to moral knowledge a man cannot know, what be useful, what be damaging, except from an addition beyond moral knowledge, according to which moral knowledge is a rite of worshiping, a norm of living and a censure of judging. Who can know the rite of worshiping through natural philosophy? — It will (only) be, because a man has natural and metaphysical knowledge, which extends itself towards the highest substances, and there a man arrive, to rest there; it is impossible, that he not fall into error, unless he be assisted by the light of faith, that is, that man believe God, Three and One, most powerful and best according to the ultimate influence of goodness. Otherwise if you believe insane things about God; you attribute what is proper to God to another, you blaspheme and are an idolater, as if a man were to attribute the simplicity of God and/or something of this kind to another. — Therefore that knowledge casts philosophers down headlong and obscures them, because they do not have the light of faith. Whence the Apostle: They who when they have become acquainted with God, have not glorified Him as God, nor have given thanks; but have become vain in (their own) thoughts, and their foolish heart has been obscured; calling themselves wise they have become stupid. And in the Book of Wisdom: For if only they could know how to judge the age, by this means would they not have found the Lord more easily? — Philosophical knowledge is the way to the other sciences; but he who wants to stand still there, falls into darkness.
Beyond philosophical knowledge God has given us theological knowledge, which is the pious knowing of credible truth; because Eternal Light, that is God, is a light inaccessible to us, so long as we are mortal and have eyes for twilight. Whence St. Augustine: 'keenness of the mind (is) weak, in so far as it is not fastened by an excellent light, unless it be cleansed through the justice of faith'. For that reason theological knowledge is founded upon faith: as the philosophical sciences are founded upon their first principles, so the knowledge of Scripture is founded upon the articles of faith, which are the twelve foundations of the (heavenly) city. Of that knowledge it is said in Isaiah: They will not wound and they will not kill on all My holy mountain; there follows: because the earth has been filled full with the knowledge of God and as the waters of the sea covering it up, Sacred Scripture is compared to the water of the sea on account of its profundity of mysteries, on account of its multiformity of senses and on account of its stabilizing of the Churches.
First, I say, Sacred Scripture is compared to the water of the sea on account of its profundity of mysteries. The sea is profound nor can a man rush across it; so great is the profundity of mysteries of Sacred Scripture, that, however much a man be illumined and however much he be industrious, he cannot attain to their profundity. Whence Isaiah: You will have a vision of all things as words of a sealed book, which when they give it to one who knows letters, they say: 'Read!', and he responds: "I cannot; for it is sealed'. And a book is given to one not knowing letters, and it will be said to him: 'Read!'; and he will respond 'I do not know letters'. Neither the one knowing nor the one not knowing could read. Who therefore will read it? I say, that he who by pride wants to enter the sanctuary of God will not be able, even though he be literate; similarly, if the illiterate wants to enter, he is stupid. It is proper therefore, that one have literacy and spirit.
Second, Sacred Scripture is compared to the water of the sea on account of its multiformity of senses. In the sea there are diverse currents; thus Sacred Scripture in one letter is manifold with consideration. Whence in Daniel: Moreover, you, Daniel, close (your) conversations and seal the book until the time established; very many things will pass by, and manifold will knowledge be. — Some wonder, that in the same Scripture we have so many considerations. St. Anselm says, that in the same earth diverse things can be planted; the earth through divine virtue makes various things sprout; so through the Holy Spirit there are in the same letter various considerations. Nor is it inconvenient when the equivocal has been posited in a manifold manner as equivocal. In theology both things and voices are signified. For that reason, when there are very many properties of a thing, then through one thing very many things are signified. As many as are the properties of the sun, all, when the sun signifies what is just, are properties of the just.
The third reason, why sacred Scripture is compared to the water of the sea, is on account of its stabilizing of the Churches. The Psalm: Upon the seas Thou has founded her; and elsewhere: Thou who has founded the earth upon its stability. Some deride David, who said, that God founded the earth upon waters. The earth, since it is dry, unless there be moisture, which penetrates the earth, is driven back into dust; and as the human body receives humor through veins, so it is necessary, that from the sea come sweet waters and that they hold the earth (together). He said, that He founded the earth upon the waters, on account of a mystery. The earth, which the Holy Spirit fills, is the ecclesiastical hierarchy; (He said:) He who weighs on three fingers the mass of the earth, because He founded the sacred Church upon divine eloquences. Sacred eloquences are stabilizers. The Apostle says to Timothy: I write to you, Timothy, so that you may know, in what manner it is proper that you comport yourself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God, the column and firmament of the truth.
Where Sacred Scripture is lacking, it is necessary, that the earth, that is the Church, be thoroughly moved: They have not known nor have they understood, they walk in darkness; all the foundations of the earth shall be moved. Arius, who wanted to bear off the foundation of the Trinity; Nestorius, who wanted (to bear off) the unity of the Person, and Eutyches, who wanted to confound the natures in Christ; those thoroughly struck at the foundations of the Church. — Every pontiff ought to know that science; whence it is sought from the hierarch: Do you know the Old and New Testament? — The King of the Angles sought from a certain bishop, what the two horns signified upon his mitre. He responded, and well, that they signified the two Testaments, which bishops ought to know. 'And what do those two little hanging things signify, which hang behind (your) back?' He responded, that they signified the ignorance of both, 'because we know neither the one nor the other, but throw both behind (our) back.' And in this he spoke badly.
Because the ecclesiastical hierarchy has been founded on Scripture, which is compared to the water of the sea on account of those three things; for that reason a sentence has been given against those who do not have that science. In Hosea: Because you have repelled knowledge, I will repel you, lest you busy yourself in my priesthood. From the helm of a ship and from the regimen of a city-state is repelled him who knows nothing of regimen. If the foundations of the Church consist in the science of Sacred Scripture, for that reason he who does not know Sacred Scripture must be repelled from the ecclesiastical office and dignity. If a blind man wants to lead another, it would be the greatest folly. Neither by lot nor by friendship must one be chosen as a sailor. — And it must be known, that knowledge is repelled, when a man does not care to learn more of it. Isaiah: On that account My people were lead captive, because they had not knowledge, that is, neither in (their) head nor in (their) members. — Likewise, knowledge is repelled, when a man knows a science and does not want to live according to that science nor employ it. Whence the Lord says: Woe to you, Scribes and experts in the Law! because you have taken away the key of knowledge; you yourselves have not entered and those who were entering, you have prohibited. If a doctor eats the food, which he prohibits to an infirm person, the infirm person is scandalized and wants to eat that food. — Wherefore Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees! because for the one knowing good and not doing it, it is a sin, as blessed James says. From knowledge fault is increased and also punishment; whence in Luke: The servant, who is acquainted with the will of his Lord and does not prepare and does not act according to his will, will be flogged with many things. If a man does not prohibit evil by example, and/or counsel, woe to him! You make yourself a doctor of Sacred Scripture, but you recommend the contrary to good and truth. He who ought to have marched by the right way, and another says to him, that he marches through the crooked way; for him it would be an inexpiable sin. To the one impeding the salvation of anther by example, counsel, and/or by persuasion, it is proper to give your life soul on behalf of his soul. Do I, if I can draw another to that which is better, and I draw him to what is worse, not sin gravely? If I impede the good of another, I act worse than the devil; because the devil acts as an enemy. — That knowledge, if fulfillment of the work is not present, it is not useful, but dangerous. The first brightness can darken, but that one can damn.
For that reason it is proper to have the other brightness, that is of gratuitous knowledge, which is the form of the two preceding brightnesses. You are lacking in the third sign, if you do not have that knowledge. That knowledge is a holy knowing of the truth as credible and lovable. Of that knowledge it is said in the Book of Wisdom: The Lord has lead forth the just through straight ways and has shown him the Kingdom of God; He has honored him in labors and given him the science of the saints. Gratuitous knowledge is called the science of the saints for a threefold reason.
First, because it is given by the Holy Spirit; I say by the Holy Spirit moving the soul, inspiring and informing it to sanctity. I say by the Holy Spirit inspiring it to the knowing of sanctity, to the agreeableness of sanctity and to the custody of sanctity. Whence the Apostle to the Corinthians: We have not accepted the spirit of this world, but the spirit, which is from God, that we may know the things which have been granted by God to us; and in what manner? If we know, guard and approve the things inspired by the Holy Spirit for the knowing of sanctity, for the agreeableness of sanctity and its custody. Whence in John: Father, sanctify them in the truth.
In another manner gratuitous knowledge is called the science of the Saints, because it has mixed into it nothing of viciousness, nothing of carnality, nothing of curiosity and nothing of vanity. Whence in Leviticus: The Lord also said to Aaron: Wine and all, that can inebriate, do not drink, you and your sons, that you may have the knowledge of discerning among the holy and the profane. He who has the knowledge of discerning among the holy and the profane will abstain from all that, which can inebriate, that is, from all superfluous delectation in a creature; this is the wine (that) inebriates. Anyone who either on account of vanity, or on account of curiosity, or on account of carnality inclines to a superfluous delectation, which is in a creature; does not have the science of the saints. It is said in Genesis: From every tree, which is in paradise, you may eat; however of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not eat, because, in whatever hour you eat it, you will die by death. Adam with his wife contracted the vice of curiosity, when the devil said to them: You will be as gods, knowing good and evil; He also contracted the vice of carnality, when he ate of the fruit; he also contracted the vice of vanity, when he wanted to be as gods (are). — Hear, brothers; who have the science of the saints, that is, you clerics, bewares of yourselves, lest you have mixed into (yourselves) something of viciousness; because, if a man mix into himself something of viciousness, he looses the knowledge of discerning between good and evil.
Third, gratuitous knowledge is called the science of the Saints, because it contains a rivalry for all sanctity. — Whence in the Book of Ecclesiastes: In much knowledge will indignation be; he who adds knowledge adds grief. A man knowing his defects, has the grief of compunction on his own behalf, the grief of compassion on behalf of his neighbor, and the grief of rivalry on behalf of the honor of God. — The Psalm: Sons of men, how long heavy in heart? So that you love vanity and seek mendacity? And you shall know, that the Lord has made His Holy One wonderful; the Lord will hear me out, when I cry to Him. Grow angry and do not sin; for what you say in your hearts upon your beds, be sorry. He who has true knowledge and knows God and sees, that he does not walk uprightly nor perfectly, is in continuous grief, because he sees, that his affections and thoughts are scattered. St. Augustine: 'Knowledge begets the expression of sorrow'. — A man sees a carnage of bodies, he grieves much. Therefore he who sees a carnage of souls, in what manner can he abstain from tears? That grief pleases God much. The Lord says of that knowledge: Mercy I want and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than holocaust. I know others' infirmities; I ought to suffer with them. Isaiah: We saw Him, a man of griefs and one knowing infirmity. There is not the spirit of the knowledge of God in that member, when he sees a member of his Head wounded and does not grieve with him. David grieved from the death of Absalom, who nevertheless had persecuted him. Therefore there is grief of compunction on one's own behalf, grief of compassion on behalf of one's neighbor. — The third grief is the rivalry on behalf of the divine honor. Whence in the Book of Maccabees: Thou, Lord, who have knowledge, have known, that when I can be freed from death, I sustain hard griefs of the body; but according to my soul on account of fear of Thee I freely suffer this. Those words Eleazar said, when he wanted rather to die, than make a semblance of eating pieces of pork. This, philosophy does not teach, that on behalf of a conclusion I expose myself to death.
The Psalm: Thy servant am I; give me understanding, to know Thy testimonies. Gratuitous knowledge teaches one to know and the manner of knowing. Whence upon this matter of the Apostle: However if anyone estimates himself to know something, he has not yet become acquainted with the manner in which it is proper to know; St. Bernard says: 'You see, that the Apostle does not approve the one knowing much, but the manner of knowing; see, that he has established every fruit and utility of knowledge in the manner of knowing. What does he call the manner of knowing? To know, in what order, in what study, to what end anyone learns (something) more; in what order, to learn in addition first that, which is more suited to (his) salvation; in what study, to (learn in addition) more ardently that, which more vehemently draws him to the love of God; to what end, to learn more not on account of inane glory, or curiostiy, but on account of his own edification and that of his neighbor. There are those who want only, to know, and that is foul curiosity. There are those who learn more and want to know, to be known, and that is foul vanity. And there are those who want to know, to sell knowledge for money, or for honors, and that is a foul source of profit. There are those who want to know, to edify others, and that is charity. And there are those who want to know, to be edified, and that is prudence'.
Knowledge inflates, but charity edifies; for that reason it is proper to join charity with knowledge, so that a man have at once knowledge and charity, to be able to fulfill that which the Apostle says: In charity (be) rooted and founded, so that you can comprehend with all the saints, what is the length, breadth, sublimity and depth, to know also the supereminent brightness of the knowledge of Christ. That is the knowledge, which is the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Of the last knowledge, that is, of glorious knowledge, I will speak one word. Of this it is said in the Book of Wisdom: To know thee is most high justice; there follows: and it is the root of immortality. That knowledge is initiated in contemplatives, perpetuated in sleepers and consummated in the resurrected. May He deign to present that knowledge to us, who with the Father (lives and reigns...), etc.
Fifth Conference: On the Gift of Fortitude
A strong woman who will find (one), etc. That word is written in Proverbs; without doubt it is said for the commendation of Mother Church, especially for the commendation of the glorious Virgin. In which word she is commended for three things: first, for strengthening of spiritual fortitude; second, for fecundity of supernatural conceiving; and third, for discretion of salutary counsel. The first is noted, when he says: A strong woman who will find (one), etc. The second, when he says: Far off and from the last ends (of the earth) her price. The third he adds: She sought wool and flax, etc. — Of the gift of fortitude we will now speak; of the privilege of fecundity tomorrow in the morning, and of the gift of counsel tomorrow in the evening.
First, I say, She is commended for the strength of spiritual fortitude, when he says: A strong woman who will find (one)? One seeks not by despairing, but by trusting. Who therefore will find? Certainly He who reaches from end even to end; He will find Her and send a best-man to Her, that is, the Archangel Gabriel. 'Gabriel' is interpreted 'the fortitude of God', and he was sent to find a strong woman. Without doubt Solomon wanted to rest in Her as in a secure place; but this could not be, unless he was strong, because it is said in the Canticle, that before the couch of Solomon sixty strongmen stood in flanks. 'Solomon' is interpreted 'desirable king'; sixty strongmen flanked his couch. — The number sixty is perfect and results from the multiplication of a group of six into a group of ten, and by this the entirety signifies the ten precepts of the Decalogue. As much as one is strong and unshackled according to the dictate of the Law and the precepts of the Decalogue; then one is strong, so that he cannot be wounded by what is exterior. Whence in Proverbs: Fortitude and ornament (are) His clothes. As the body is embellished from habit, so the soul is embellished from fortitude; for that reason it is called a piece of clothing for the soul; nor is only fortitude a piece of clothing for the soul, and/or for the glorious Virgin, nay rather (also) for Mother Church. Whence Isaiah: Thoroughly rise up, thoroughly rise up, daughter Sion; put on the vestments of your glory.
This talk concerns the habit of fortitude, how we can be clothed (by it). If we want to rightly describe fortitude; one must pay attention, that it is from Heaven. Whence in the Book of Maccabees: Not in the multitude of an army (is) the victory of war, but from Heaven is fortitude. The Psalm: God is wonderful in His saints; the God of Israel Himself will give virtue and fortitude to His common-folk. Therefore fortitude is a gift of God. And so that we may better become acquainted with the gift of fortitude, we want to say three things concerning this gift. First I want to describe it on the part of the one giving it; secondly, on the part of the one taking it up; and third, on the part of the work of the one sucessfully pursuing it.
First, I say, I want to describe it on the part of the one giving it; and I say, that it is given by God protecting, by God redeeming and by God indwelling. — First, I say, the gift of fortitude is given by God protecting. For God protects us according to a hierarchical ordering, by walling us inside and out. It is written in Proverbs: A tower most strong (is) the Name of the Lord, to it runs the just and he shall be exalted; and in the same (passage): The substance of the rich (is) the city of fortitude and as the withstanding wall surrounding it. Fortitude is from God, as from a solid, sublime, and strong principle; and the eternal God is the origin of fortitude in all things; because nothing is powerful nor strong except through the fortitude of the First Principle. Therefore that fortitude descends from God protecting us as from the First Principle according to hierarchical dispositions; which fortitude renders every man rich and secure and powerful and confident.
Second, that fortitude is from God redeeming through the Incarnation of the Divine Word. Whence Isaiah: My fortitude and my praise (is) the Lord, and He has been made (man) to save me; you will draw waters in joy from the fountains of the Savior. Those are the waters, in which the soul is fortified, purified, redeemed, santified and snatched from the power of the demons. Through which is the soul redeemed? It is said in Habakuk: His splendor shall be as the light; horns in his hands; where His fortitude is hidden away. Likewise it is written: When the armed strongman guards his entrance hall, in peace are those things which he possesses; however if one stronger overcoming him conquers him, all his arms, in which he trusted, shall be borne away, and he will distribute his spoils. That one who is stronger is God, because what is infirm in God is stronger than men. The Son of God was made infirm for our sake.
The third reason for the influence of fortitude is from God indwelling. Whence in Micah: I am filled full with the fortitude of the Lord, with judgment and with virtue. The human body, when it does not have spirit, does not have virtue, even if it is a gigantic body; thus if God is not in the soul, then it does not have virtue. Of our most strongman, that is, of Christ, it is said: There will rest upon Him the Spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and of piety, etc.; and he places fortitude in the middle, because Christ does not dwell in us, unless we have those two things, that is, the Spirit of the Lord and fortitude; and for that reason he placed fortitude in the middle. St. Peter at the voice of the handmaid denied (Him), and (yet) he stood against Caesar; because without the Spirit of the Lord the soul is weak, and with the Spirit of the Lord it is strong. Against Caesar he stood, because he was then strong with the Spirit of the Lord.
In designating this mystery it is said, that Samson according to the doctrine of the Angel did not permit a razor to ascend upon his head; but his hairs grew, and he became the strongest of men. It was wonderful, because he was strong with hairs and without hair he became infirm. Dalila the prostitute deceived him; she asked him, where his fortitude was. Four times she asked him, and on the fourth time he told her the truth, but the first three times he concealed the truth from her. The first time he said: If I be bound with seven sinew-like ropes, I will be similar to all other men; and when he was bound, and the Philistines came towards him, to seize him, he immediately broke the ropes. Likewise she asked him, where his fortitude was; and he said: If I be bound with seven new ropes, which have not yet been at work; I will be as all other men. The third time he said to her: If you fasten my seven hairs upon the earth with a nail, I will be as all other men. The fourth time he revealed to her the truth and he said: If you scrape off the seven hairs, which are on my head, I will be similar to all other men; and then the Philistines seized him. What is this? — I say that the scraping off of the hairs signified the subtraction of the septiform grace of the Holy Spirit. Of all saints it is plane, that as long as there remained with them the grace of the Holy Spirit, they were strong. — Why did she not say to him, where is your fortitude? See, hers is that process of sending away the Holy Spirit, through which the Holy Spirit is lost. Four are the amusements of the senses, that is, being occupied, thinking, the bending of the interior affections and the impunging of divine laws. In the last the Holy Spirit is sent away, but in the others a man is only disposed towards this. First the devil offers the delights of sense; and by this one is bound by seven sinew-like ropes. Afterwards, when a man delays in thinking upon the delight offered, then one is bound by seven new ropes, which were not yet at work. After, there follows the bending of the affections: as from a multitude of rays, heat is generated; so, when manifold thinking is in the soul, then the soul is bent toward that; and this the-binding-of-hairs-upon-the-earth-with-a-nail signifies. Still a man has not lost the Holy Spirit. But fourth there follows the impugning of the divine laws, when the hairs of the head are scrapped off, that is, when the grace of the Holy Spirit is subtracted. — We have the means, by which the gift of the Holy Spirit proceeds, because (it is) from God protecting, from God redeeming and from God indwelling. Through the grace of the Holy Spirit nature guards the origin of life and we ought to guard the spirit of life. What value is a man, unless he have the Holy Spirit?
You now may say: through what is the soul disposed to taking up the influx of that gift? I say, that fortitude, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit, comes into us first through the inexpungable shield of faith; second, through the imperturbable solace of hope; and third, through the inexstinguishable kindling of charity.
First, I say, the soul is disposed to the gift of fortitude through the inexpungable shield of faith. Whence the Apostle to the Hebrews: Who through faith conquered kingdoms, etc.; were made strong in war; to the Ephesians: In all things taking the shield of faith in which you can extinguish all the fiery darts of the worthless one; and in Ezra: A strong thing is wine, stronger is a king, stronger are wives, he said third; and fourth he said: The strongest thing is truth. — He shows, how a man can conquer the fortitude of the devil. The devil draws a man towards concupiscence of the flesh, towards concupiscence of the eyes and towards pride of life. The concupiscence of the flesh renders men most strong; men suffer much, to be able to quench the lust of the flesh. Similarly, ambition renders men strong; on account of ambition for honors many suffer many things. Likewise, concupiscence of the eyes, which is the foment of concupiscence and of pride, renders men strong, because men suffer many things, to acquire temporal things. In the king pride is signified; in the wine, that makes a man drunk and renders a man bold, concupiscence of the eyes is signified. It is written: Do not look at wine attentively, when it becomes yellow in the goblet. By wives, concupiscence of the flesh is signified. What material withstands them? In what manner can wine or the other two be conquered? I say: through truth. The Psalm: As a shield, will His truth surround you, that is, by indwelling faith, you shall not be afraid of the night-time fear, etc. And blessed Peter said: Your adversary goes around as a roaring lion, seeking, whom to devour; resist him, (being yourselves) strong in faith. If we loved the truth, we would not fear the devil, because it is written: The eyes of the Lord contemplate the entire earth and they provide fortitude to those who believe in Him with a perfect heart.
The second disposition to the influx of the gift of fortitude is through the imperturbable solace of hope. Whence the Apostle to the Hebrews: We have the strongest solace, who take refuge in holding the hope proposed to us. And in Isaiah: They who hope in the Lord will change their fortitude; they will assume wings as eagles, they will run and they will not labor; the will walk and they will not become weak. A man would freely bear a great burden for a mark of gold. If a fly refreshes so much; you ought, therefore, to move yourself to sustain much for the hope of a future and eternal reward. In God we ought to confide, because to the weary He gives fortitude. The Philosopher wants, that one of the cardinal virtues be magnanimity; but it is not proper, that that magnanimity, which is a virtue, be in you, but in God.
Third, a man is disposed to the influx of the gift of fortitude through the inextinguishable kindling of charity. Whence in the Canticle: Place me as a token upon your heart, as a token upon your arm; because strong as death is love, durable as Hell (its) rivalry; its lamps the lamps of fire and of flames; many waters could not extinguish charity. Do you believe that you (can) extinguish a burning furnace with a drop of water? Every virtue is as a drop of water in respect to the soul of the lover. Strong as death is love; death conquers all (men), similarly love conquers everything Durable as Hell (its) rivalry; Hell because it holds does not let go, thus charity conquers and strongly holds all things. Paul, what do you say of charity? Who, he says, will separate me from the charity of God? He responds: Tribulation? or anguish? or hunger? or nakedness? or danger? or persecution? or the sword? And he says: I am certain, that neither death nor life, neither things imminent nor future could separate me from the charity, which is in Christ Jesus. (St. John) Chrysostom says, that Paul enumerated all creatures and says: Nor can any other creature separate me from the charity which is in Christ Jesus; that is, if a new creature could be made, it would not separate me. — That charity is drawing us to (our) heavenly nature, it does not release a foreign attack upon us; as much as it is of itself, it is perpetual; unless I give (Him) a writ of divorce, God will not take His charity away from us (sic). In the Psalm: I love Thee, Lord, my fortitude, the Lord my firmament and my refuge and my liberator. Protector of my life, from whom shall I be anxious? (Sts.) Catherine and Lucy were strong through the love of God. If we have not been bound with the Lord through charity, we easily let go of our fortitude.
But you know, that a habit without act is nothing; for that reason it must be known, that for three things is the gift of fortitude given: first, to accomplish manly works; second, to cast down the powers of the air; and third, to endure worldly tribulations. — First, I say, that the gift of fortitude is given to accomplish manly works; whence in Proverbs: A negligent hand has worked indigence; however the hand of the strong prepares riches. And of the strong woman it is said: She dispatches her hands to strong (works), and her fingers grasp the spindle. (This) is spoken of the Church and of Her members. It is proper to place one's hand to strong (works) before (one's) fingers grasp the spindle, that is, it is proper first to act strongly, afterwards a man can teach in a perspicacious manner. In the spindle, by which the thread is extracted from the tow, there is signified the industry, through which men accept doctrine and explain it. It is proper that he, who wants to teach well, dispatch his hands to strong (works). In the Book of Kings it is said: Step inside, because you are a strong man, and you announce good things; and in Isaiah: Ascend upon an exalted mountain, you who evangelize Sion. If an arm is weak, even if the sword was strong and good; there will not be a good blow. Some are full of conversations and have too little of works.
Second, the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to cast down the powers of the air. Whence in John: I write to you, young men, since your are strong, and the word of God remains in you, and you have conquered the malignant one. That fortitude ought to be in every Christian and especially in the leader of the army of the Christian people. It is written in the Book of Maccabees, that Let Judas strong in strengths from his youth, be for you the prince of the militia, and he himself will conduct the people's war. Everyone who accepts the care of souls, becomes a prince of the militia; and when the prince is not good, then the army is in great danger. Whence Jeremiah complains aloud: Vanished, he says, is every ornament from daughter Sion; they have become her princes as rams not finding pasture, and the have gone away without fortitude before the face of the one pursuing them. There were two, to whom the Lord gave fortitude, that is, Caleb and Joshua. Of Caleb it is said: The Lord gave fortitude to him, Caleb, and even to his old age that virtue remained, so that he could ascend unto the exalted place of the land. And similarly it is said of Joshua, that he was made strong in war. Caleb is interpreted 'whole heart'. And Joshua is interpreted 'salvation'. On behalf of the salvation of others those (men) went about exploring the land of promise.
Third, the gift of fortitude is given to endure worldly tribulations. Whence it is said in the Book of Maccabees, that Eleazar, when he passed from life, leaving an example of fortitude for the young and old, said: Freely for Thy love I suffer these things. He could have been freed, if he pretended, that he had eaten pieces of pork; but he did not want to, nay rather he wanted to die and to leave an example of fortitude to all. — Who will have that gift? All now flee for a little thing, for the loss of a little temporal thing, and/or of a little convenience; and why? Because they do not have fortitude. But Job himself says: The just will hold his way. The way of Christ Himself is, that a man walk cleanly and strongly. Gird, he says, your loins with fortitude. And elsewhere it is said: The victor has lead me, as I sing in psalms, forth upon the heights. — We will beg Our Lord Jesus Christ, that He through His mercy may deign to thus lead and rule us in this mortal life, that we may be able to obtain the aforesaid gifts of the Holy Spirit and arrive at that ineffable joy, in which there lives an reigns He, whom 'we will see, love and praise', by His leave, who is Three and One; the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sixth Conference: On the Fortitude of the Blessed Virgin
A strong woman, etc. In the evening we touched upon that word, which is from Solomon to the glorious Virgin, in which he commends Her for three things: first, for strength of spiritual fortitude; second, for fecundity of supernatural conceiving; and third, for discretion of salutary counsel. — And rightly are those three conjoined: because the strength of spiritual fortitude was the beginning of the supernatural conceiving, and the gift of counsel was as its complement, because that Virgin, who ought to have conceived Christ, the Son of God, the Virtue of God and the Wisdom of God, ought to be strong and gifted with sense through wisdom. And for that reason the Wise man, wanting to give an explanation of the Virgin's conceiving, speaks first of the spirit of fortitude and speaks afterwards of the gift of counsel, because She, over whom there ought to rest a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of fortitude, a spirit of knowledge and of piety, and a spirit of the fear of the Lord, ought to (Herself) be filled full with the spirit of the septiform gifts of the Holy Spirit, but especially of the spirit of fortitude and of counsel.
In this, moreover, which he says: Far off and from the last ends her price, the glorious Virgin is understood to be commended for the fecundity of supernatural conceiving. This I do not have on my own authority, but St. Bernard says: 'If our salvation and that of all (men), if the restitution of innocence has been placed in the hand of a woman; it is necessary, that a strong woman be sought, who is necessary for so great a work'; and he adds: 'Not from the earth, not from the sky nearby, but from the highest heaven Her stepping forth'. — Far off therefore and from the last ends her price. This is the price, of which the Apostle says: You have been bought at a great price: bear and glorify God in your body. Because that price is great, the Apostle Peter says: Not with the corruptible things of gold and/or silver have you been redeemed from your vain comportment of (your) fathers' tradition, but with the precious blood as if of an immaculate and unpolluted Lamb. This was the great price that was owed, by which the whole world and the whole human race ought to be redeemed: because man could not satisfy, because no man could be worth all men, nor could any creature. Nothing was sufficient to redeem the whole human race, unless one had a human nature and a nature above every creature; therefore it was proper, that He have a divine and a human nature.
That price where will one find it? Certainly nowhere except in the womb of the glorious Virgin. Whence Isaiah: Behold, the Virgin will conceive and will give birth to a son, and His name will be called Immanuel. — Immanuel is interpreted 'God is with us'. I was not fitting that the Virgin have a son except God, nor that God have a mother except the Virgin. Far off and from the last ends is He, because in Him there is conjoined the highest with the lowest, and the first with the last. That price is far off, by which the whole human race is redeemed; because the lowest is redeemed, for that reason also the highest; because the last is redeemed, for that reason also the first. Man among the creatures was created last.
Far off and from the last ends her price; and of whom (is) her? Of this blessed woman, the Virgin, is the price, through which we prevail to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven; or it is Hers, that is, taken from Her, payed through Her and possessed by Her: taken from Her in the Incarnation of the Word; payed through Her in the redemption of the human race; and possessed from Her in the pursuing of the glory of paradise. She brought forth, payed and possessed that price; therefore it is Hers as the one originating, as the one paying and as the one possessing. That woman brought forth that price as one strong and holy; payed it as one strong and pious; possessed it as one strong and strenuous.
I say first, that She brought forth that price, that is God and man. The blessed Virgin brought forth as a woman strong and holy, I say, in the sanctity of incorrupt chastity, in the sanctity of prompt obedience and in the sanctity of full benevolence. — First I say, the blessed Virgin brought forth that price as one strong and holy in the sanctity of incorrupt chastity. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: Grace upon grace (is) a woman holy and chastened; and the Angels said: Hail, full of grace, because (She was) holy and chastened; holy in Her flesh and chastened in Her mind. The Apostle: A woman, (who is) unmarried and a virgin, thinks of those things which are the Lords, to be holy in body and in spirit. On this: The Angel Gabriel was sent, etc., St. Bernard says: 'Gabriel was send to the Virgin, whom the Apostle describes, as holy in mind and body, not recently nor fortuitously found, but elect from the age, foreknown by the Most High and prepared for Him, served by the Angels, signified beforehand by the Patriarchs, promised by the Prophets'. To that Virgin Gabriel ought to have been sent as a best-man. She alone pleased the Most High. Likewise St. Bernard: 'The royal Virgin, outshining with a twin ornament of mind, provoked the sight of the citizens upon Herself, to incline the heart of the King into desiring Her and to draw to Herself from the supernal regions the heavenly messenger'.
Second, the blessed Virgin brought forth that price as one strong and holy in the sanctity of prompt obedience. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: The eternal foundations (are) upon solid rock, and the mandates of God in the heart of a holy woman. The Church ought to have been founded; for that reason it was proper to lay the foundations, that is, the mandates of God, and it was proper, that in some person they be located. This could not be except in the glorious Virgin; the Psalm: Her foundations (are) on holy mountains; a man is born in her and the Most High Himself has founded her. He says: The mandates of God (are) in the heart of a holy woman, that is the glorious Virgin's. She was not lazy, She was not knowing and not doing, but was obedient. For that reason in Her heart there had been founded those mandates of God. It is said in the Gospel: Everyone, who hears the word of God and does it, is similar to him who builds his house upon firm rock; however he who hears and does not do, is similar to him who builds upon sand. — First it was proper to find a person, in whom the mandates of God were located, that is, a strong woman. This was the glorious Virgin, Whence in Luke: Lifting up her voice, a certain woman from the crowd, said to Him: Blessed the womb, which carried Thee, and the breasts, which Thou did suckle. And Jesus said: Rather, blessed those who hear the word of God and guard it. — Not only was She blessed, who conceived and nursed Him, but also those who follow Her. And who are they? They who hear the word of God and fulfill it. Eve, having transgressed the mandate of God, destroyed the house, which God prepared for us for our salvation; but the wise woman built the house and repaired our salvation.
Third, the blessed Virgin brought forth that price as one strong and holy in the sanctity of full benevolence. Whence the Angel Gabriel said to Her: Blessed (art) Thou among women, etc. The Holy Spirit shall come upon Thee, and the virtue of the Most Hight will overshadow Thee. And for that reason He also who shall be born from Thee shall be called Son of God. St. Augustine: 'The Holy Spirit is love, and although He is given with His gifts, there is not a gift, from which one cannot be separated, except the gift of love. Since all other virtues are common to the good and to the evil; the love of God and neighbor belongs to the good and the pious; it is that alone, which sanctifies. The Holy Spirit comes upon (us), because love is added to love, to transcend the boundary of the others.' Whence Hugo says: 'Because the love of God was burning in the mind of the Virgin in a singular manner, for that reason it worked wonders in Her flesh'. — It is said in Exodus: That the bramble-bush was burning and was not being burnt up, that is, the glorious Virgin, bringing forth the Son of God even (into) the light of day, through the fire of divine love gave light to the world and was not corrupted. The love of charity preserved Her from corruption. And for that reason He also who shall be born from Thee, through an undiminished and unpolluted love, will be called Son of God. As out of the love of a man with a woman there is born a son of flesh; so out of the love of the Virgin with God is born the Son of God.
But there preceded the figure in the bramble-bush and fire, which Moses saw; the figure in the rod and flower of Aaron; the figure in the fleece and dew of Gideon; and there preceded the figure in the strong woman and her price, which Solomon desired; the figure in the woman and man, because Jeremiah says: The woman will surround the man. All this was consummated in the glorious Virgin. Whence St. Bernard: 'What has been shown to Moses in the bramble-bush and fire, to Aaron in the rod and flower, to Gideon in the fleece and dew; this openly did Solomon foresee in the strong woman and Her price; more openly did Jeremiah sing of the woman and the man; most openly did Isaiah declare concerning the Virgin and Her son; and at last Gabriel exhibited in greeting the Virgin'.
Historic events are touched upon here: The first historic event is in the bramble-bush and he fire, where the Mystery of the Incarnation is expressed. The second historic event is in the rod of Aaron, which having been cut off and dry in the space of one night sprouted leaves, flowered, and brought forth fruit. The third historic event is, because Gideon asked the Lord, that dew would fall wholly on the fleece, and the area remain dry; and he filled a conch full with dew. — The other three words are of Solomon, Jeremiah and Isaiah. The word of Solomon concerns the strong woman and her price. The word of Jeremiah concerning the woman and the man: A new thing, he says, will the Lord do upon the earth: a woman will surround a man. The word of Isaiah concerning the Virgin and Her Son: Behold, he says, the Virgin will conceive and will bear a son, and his name will be called Immanuel. And this (will be) a sign for you, etc.
Who caused the Virgin to conceive? Certainly the Holy Spirit, who is fervent, fecund, unpolluted, manly, incorrupt and deifying love. That He is fervent love, is signified to us in the bramble-bush and fire. That He is fecund love, is signified in the rod of Aaron, which in the space of a night sprouted leaves, flowered and brought forth fruit. That He is unpolluted love, is signified in fleece filled full, because dew does not dirty fleece, but cleans it. That He is manly love, is signified to us in the woman and the man, because the woman surrounded the man, that is girded him on every side. That He is incorrupt love, is signified to us in the Virgin, who conceived a son. That He is deifying love, is signified to us in the Virgin giving birth to God. — That price is most precious. On account of this Isaiah says: More precious will a man be than gold, and man than the finest, pure gold. This he said of Christ, who made us precious.
Everyone, who wants to be holy, ought to follow the glorious Virgin in the sanctity of incorrupt chastity, of prompt obedience and of full benevolence. And as by following the glorious Virgin we become precious and holy, so by following Eve we become evil and vile. Whence in Proverbs: The price of a harlot barely one loaf of bread; however a woman seizes the precious soul of a man. Stupid Eve, for eating one piece of fruit you have sold yourself and your man and all of us! O son of Eve! beware lest you be an imitator of Eve; but for whatever delectation you give your soul; you are an imitator of Eve. What does it profit a man, if he gain the entire world, but suffer the detriment of his soul? Or what a man give in exchange for his soul? For the entire (universe), which God created, I would not give my soul. Christ gave His own blood for redeeming my soul, and for sin you sell yourself and your soul!
Do you know, what comes about through sin? The most precious becomes the most vile. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: The fornicating woman as a harlot is trampled upon in the street. Therefore a fornicating cleric or priest what is he? Certainly an abomination to the Lord. Therefore fly concupiscences and let us follow the Virgin, who believed the Archangel Gabriel, not the woman, who believed the serpent. Solomon followed foolish women, for that reason he grieved and says in Ecclesiastes: I have found a woman more bitter than death, who is a hunters' snare, and a net her heart, chains are her hands. He who pleases God will flee from her, however he who is a sinner will be seized by her. A snare is for those looking at it, a net for those desiring and consenting to it, and chains for those grasping them.
I say first, that she is a snare for those looking at her; whence it is written: Many having admired the appearance of another's woman, have become reprobate. One reads of blessed Bernard, that his sister came to see him, adorned with the most beautiful dress; he himself spit in her face and fled from her. Not enduring that she asked, why he did this; he responded: 'because you come in the dress of a prostitute to seize souls and you carry the devil with you'. For that reason he says: is a hunters' snare, that is the devil's, who through her seizes souls; because he who sees a woman to desire her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart. — Likewise, she is a net to those desiring and consenting to her. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: On account of the appearance of a woman many have perished. It is difficult to carry fire in a fold, so as not to burn up one's garments. — Likewise, the hands of a woman are chains to those grasping them, because she holds (so) tightly, that the man cannot be separated from her. Whence the Apostle: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. — From a (woolen) vestiment proceeds (moth) larva, and from a woman the iniquity of a man. — If we want to be most precious, we ought to adhere to the price of the strongest woman, the incorrupt Virgin, most obedient and most loving. That woman, that is, Eve, expelled us from paradise and sold us, this one leads us back and purchases us. — Therefore She brought forth that price as a strong and holy woman.
Second, She payed off that price as a strong and pious woman, that is, when Christ suffered on the Cross to pay off that price, to purge, wash and redeem us; then the blessed Virgin was present, accepting and agreeing to the Divine Will. And it pleased Him, that the price of Her womb be offered on the Cross on our behalf. Whence in John: She stood near the Cross, the Mother of Jesus, and the sister of His Mother, Mary of Clophas, and Mary Magdalene. When, therefore, Jesus saw the Mother and disciple standing, whom He loved, He said to His Mother: Woman behold Thy son, that is, Him who is handed over as the price of the redemption of the human race; and as if He said: it is proper, that Thou lack Me, and that I lack Thee — and Thou Thyself as one holy did conceive Him and as one pious Thou doest offer Him — may it please thee, Virgin, that I redeem the human race and that I please God. And lest She be destitute, He said to the disciple: Behold, your Mother; He gave the virginal man the Virgin.
Let us hear something of Her piety. She is our hope, who payed off that price, as one pious in the piety of divine veneration; second, in the piety of compassion for Christ; and third, in the piety of pity for the world, and chiefly for the Christian people.
First, I say, She payed off that price as one strong and pious with the piety of divine veneration. Whence in Proverbs: A false and vain grace is beauty, a woman fearing the Lord will be herself praised. Moreover there is no one, who could return the honor taken from God except Christ. And the blessed Virgin is venerative and restorative of the honor taken from God, and the Mother consenting, that Christ be offered as the price. Therefore shall She be praised. Anna was praised, because she offered Samuel; whence it is said of her: The woman went on her way and ate, and her expressions were no more changed into diverse ones. She offered a son to serve; but the Blessed Virgin offered Her Son to be sacrificed. — Abraham, you wanted to offer your son, but offered a ram! but the glorious Virgin offered Her Son. — The poor little widown is praised, becasue she offered everything, which she had; but this woman, that is the glorious Virgin, most merciful, pious and devoted to God offered Her whole substance. — In this is reprehended the impiety of men, who do not render thanks to God from that which they have accepted. So many good things you have received from God, that is, prebends and other things; if one does something on God's behalf, it seems to him something great. But if you give yourself and everything, which you have, on God's behalf, it is nothing. The Blessed Virgin payed that price strong and pious in the piety of the divine veneration. Piety principally consists in the worship of God.
Second, the glorious Virgin payed off that price, strong and pious in the piety of compassion for Christ. It is said in John: A woman when she gives brith, has pain because her hour has come. On account of childbirth a woman has pain, that is, before giving birth. But the Blessed Virgin did not have pain before giving birth; because She did not conceive out of sin, as (did) Eve, to whom the malediction was given; but She had pain after birth. Whence She gave birth, before She was in labour. On the Cross She was in labour; whence in Luke: And your very soul shall a sword pierce. In other women there is pain of body, in this one there is sorrow of heart; in others there is the pain of corruption, in this one there is the sorrow of compassion and of charity. Whence He invites us to consider Her sorrow in Jeremiah: All, He says, who pass by in the street, attend and see if there is a sorrow as my sorrow.
That sorrow ought to transverberate the minds of all. Christ on your account has died, ought you not suffer together with Him? The Blessed Virgin suffered together with Him in the greatest manner; but on the other hand it pleased Her, that He was betrayed on our behalf. No one knows, how great suffering with Christ is worth. There is nothing, that extinguishes temptations and elation so much, than that the mind be guarded in suffering the sorrow of Christ with Him. The time of the Passion of Christ comes; and some again are crucifying the Son of God for themselves, that is, as much as they can. It is a most high cruelty of Christian iniquity, that you who have been washed by the Blood of Christ, by sinning, do again crucify Him, as much as you can.
Third, the Blessed Virgin payed off that price as a woman strong and pious in the piety of mercy for the world, and especially for the Christian people. Isaiah: Can a mother forget her infant, to not have pity on the son of her womb? Even if she has forgotten, nevertheless I will not forget you. This is said of Christ. — And here it can be understood, that the whole Cristian people have been produced from the womb of the glorious Virgin; that is signified to us through the woman formed from the side of the man, which (woman) signifies the Church. Whence in Genesis: The Lord sent upon Adam a deep sleep; and when he was asleep He took one of his ribs and made a woman and He brought her to Adam. And Adam said, that she would be 'woman' ['a heroine'], because she had been taken from a man. This (is), he said, the bone of my bones, and the flesh of my flesh. And the Lord said: On this account a man relinquishes father and mother and (their) sons and daughters, and clings to his wife. And the Apostle said: This is a great sacrament; moreover I say, in Christ and in the Church. — And why, with him sleeping, did He take one of his ribs? Could he not do this, with him making vigil? This is mysterious. Was not the Church formed from the side of Christ, while Christ was asleep on the Cross? And from his side there overflowed blood and water, that is the Sacraments, through which the Church is reborn. From the rib of Adam was formed Eve, who was joined with him in marriage. As man was formed from the virgin earth, so Christ from the glorious Virgin. And as from the side of Adam sleeping there was formed a woman, so the Church from Christ hanging upon the Cross. And as from Adam and Eve there was formed Abel and his successors, so from Christ and the Church the whole Christian people. And as Eve is the mother of Abel and of us all, so the Christian people have, as mother, the Virgin.
O what a pious Mother we have! Let us be configured to Our Mother and let us follow Her piety. She has suffered so much for souls, because She reputed as nothing temporal danger and corporal suffering. So on account of the salvation of our soul may it please us to crucify our body. It is said in Matthew: When Jesus was in the house of Simon the leper, there came a woman having an alabaster jar of oinment, and she brok the alabaster jar and poured the ointment upon Jesus' head. And the house was filled from the odor of oinment. The disciples seeing this, a certain ones of them murmured saying: For what this loss? For she could have offered it for sale and given it to the poor. And Jesus said: For what have you bothered this woman? A good work has she worked on Me; for you will always have the poor with you, however Me you will not always have. Magdalene bears the type of the penitents; she broke the alabaster jar of ointment out of the piety, which she had for Christ. And we for the universal Church and for our soul ought to have a penitent piety. And as Magdalene by offending lost God; so, when she annointed the feet and head of Christ, did she find Him. — See, that whoever of you have that ointment, that it is employed on God and that he repents and be wary of his own sin. Some have compassion on their flesh, not their soul. Whence in Lamentations: The hands of merciful women have cooked their sons. Such a one is not similiar to the Virgin nor to Christ. One cooks one's sons who has not compassion on his soul, but exposes it to the burning of concupiscences and infernal torments. Of such a woman it is said: Better is the iniquity of a man than a benificent woman; you cannot afflict your body too much. Let us not give our body to sin. We have been bought at a great price. Do not become the slaves of men nor of demons nor or sinners. If you had redeemed some slave, you would not give him (away) for nothing. — Now it is clear, in what manner the glorious Virgin brought forth that price as one strong and holy and payed it off as one strong and pious.
Third, She possesses that price glorified in heaven. because (She is) strong and strenuous, fighting in a manly manner, triumphing in a noble manner and reigning in a sublime manner. — First, I say, the Blessed Virgin possesses that price, because (She is) strong and strenuous as one fighting in a manly manner. In Genesis: The Lord said to the serpent: I will place enmity between you and the woman and your seed and her seed; She shall crush your head, and you will lie in wait for her heel. St. Bernard says of the glorious Virgin: 'The head of the ancient serpent She crushed, while every manner of malign suggestion as much from the allurements of the flesh as from pride of mind She brought to nothing'. — Do not permit, that the serpent enter into your heart through suggestion; because St. Gregory says, that when the head of a serpent enters into some opening, then the whole body easily enters. On this account the Psalm says: Blessed (is) he who will hold and smash your little ones upon the rock, that (deed) is the first movement towards Christ; and then one has peace. He who want to defend his land fears for himself, lest the enemy enter the land; because he who holds the borders of a land with fortitude, possesses the interior [medullium] more securely.
Second, the Blessed Virgin possesses that price, because as one strong and strenuous (She is) triumphing in a noble manner, which is signified in Judith, where it says: One Hebrew woman wrought confusion in the house of Nebchadnezzar. Judith amputated the head of Holofernes, and all his (servants) fled. In the Gospel it is said: Your very soul shall a sword pierce, that is a living sorrow. From what? Certainly from the Passion of Christ. Who brought on the Passion of Christ? Judas; the pagan; (and) Pilate. Those were the instruments; but who moved them to this? Certainly the devil wrought a sword, from which the soul of the Virgin was transfixed; and She was cured, and the devil was conquered. The devil wanted to have the bait of the Flesh of Christ; but the Deity clung to his throat as a hook; a nail was thrust into the forehead of Sisara. He who destroyed the army of the Madianites triumphed in a noble manner. — Therefore in accord with this example let us not permit ourselves to be conquered.
Third, the Blessed Virgin possesses that price, because as one strong and strenuous (She is) reigning in a sublime manner. Whence in Ester it is said, that Ester found grace in the sight of Asuerus before all other women, and he placed the diadem on her head and made her queen. The Blessed Virgin on account of Her sanctity, piety and sublimity had a crown of precious stone. Who is that stone? Certainly Christ. Whence blessed Peter: Behold, I will place a precious stone upon the foundation. The Blessed Virgin has been crowned with that stone in the flesh; seeing in the flesh the glorified body of Christ, seeing in spirit His glorified soul and in mind His Divinity. First Christ was crowned, and She after (Him). Whence in the Canticle: Step forth, daughters of Sion, and see king Solomon with his diadem, with which his mother crowned him on the day of his betrothment and on the day of the gladness of his heart, that is in flesh and mind, because He first put on flesh, suffered and afterwards was glorified; and the whole Church was crowned through Him. Whence in the Apocalypse: A great sign appeared in Heaven; a woman girt with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. — We will have that crown, if we want to imitate the glorious Virgin. Whence it is written: Blessed the man, who suffers temptation, since, when he has been proven, he will accept the crown of life; and in the Apocalypse: Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life; which (crown) may He present to us, who with the Father (and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns...), etc.
Seventh Conference: On the Gift of Counsel
A strong woman who will find one? etc. I said yesterday and today, that the Most Blessed glorious Virgin is commended in those words first for strength of spiritual fortitude; second, for fecundity of supernatural conceiving; and third, for discretion of salutary counsel. The first is noted there: A strong woman who will find one?, the second there: Far off and from the last ends her price; the third there: She sought wool and flax and worked by the counsel of her hands. Of two things we spoke: yesterday we spoke of (Her) strength and gift of fortitude, today in the morning we said, in what manner She brought forth, payed off and possesses the price of the redemption of man and/or of the human race. It is true, that I had proposed to give you an example; but because I ought to speak of the gift of counsel, the Blessed Virgin also has a part here and She wanted us to have a part; for that reason I have reserved it until now.
The price of anyone is the glorious Virgin, and why? Because She brought forth, payed off and possess our price for the world. A certain converso was in the religion of the Cistercians; he had a good will towards the glorious Virgin, every day he recited for Her a psalter of one hundred and fifty Ave Maria's; but he was stiff necked . On a certain day he became infirm and was carried to the abbey of the grange. On a certain night, when all were at Matins, he alone remained in the infirmary; and it seemed to him, that certain ones were carrying him into the greatest fore-court, in which he saw Christ and the Apostles and the assemblage of the angels; and demons presented him to Christ. And he who was carrying him, said: 'Thou art a just judge; that one is ours'. The Blessed Virgin said: 'He is Mine, because he served Me'. A grave dispute broke out. The enemy said: 'Thou art a just judge, a non-acceptor of persons; I want, that you judge according to the truth'. And Christ said: 'Let us see whose he is'. And all his defects written on the paper were place on one side of the balance, and on the other side of the balance were placed the good things, which he had done. And the side, in which his defects were, was bent down to the earth. And then the enemy said: 'See, Lord, that that one is ours: I ask for justice'. And then the Blessed Virgin said to Christ: 'Thou art My Son; the blood, which Thou doest have, Thou hast from Me; I ask that Thou give Me one drop'. And Christ said: 'I cannot deny this to You'. And then the Blessed Virgin placed the drop of Blood together with his merits; and immediately that side of the balance bend down to the earth. And the enemy said: 'It is not good to fight with Thee'. Nevertheless, because the Lord did not want to let the evil, which he had done, go unpunished; He gave the demons power over his body; and then they beat him most atrociously, so that there scarcely remained in him any member, which was not entirely beaten. And the Judge said: 'It is sufficient'. When the brothers returned from Matins, they found him as if dead. The abbot questioned and caused it to be inquired, who did this. No one was found, who knew anything concerning this. Afterwards he spoke and asked his abbot and confessed to him; and assumed by noble compunction, he migrated to the Lord, and that was his punishment in place of purgatory.
Let us speak of counsel. — She sought wool and flax and worked by the counsel of her hands. See, that the Holy Spirit described this gift of counsel as much as regards its preambulary act, and this as much as regards the intrinsic and extrinsic act, and as much as regards the proper act. The first and second are noted when He says: She sought wool and flax; and the third there: she worked by the counsel of her hands.
Let us first speak of the proper act. You ought to understand, that it is the counsel, by which we are instructed to discern, what it licit, what is fitting, what is helpful for salvation according to the indication of upright reason; the other is the counsel, by which we are instructed to choose what is licit, what is fitting, and what is helpful according to the rule of a good will. — The third is the counsel, by which we are instructed to seek after what is licit, what is fitting, and what is helpful according to the exercise of virtuous acting. — And of that counsel it is said: she worked by the counsel of her hands.
First, I say, counsel is that, by which we are instructed to discern, what is licit, what is fitting, and what is helpful according to the judgment of upright reason. Whence in Proverbs: I, Wisdom, dwell in counsel and I am among learned thoughts. — I dwell in counsel, that is, that by which a man is instructed to discern what is licit, what is fitting, and what is helpful according to the judgment of upright reason. — First a man ought to consider, whether it be licit, or whether it be fitting; many things are licit, which are not fitting. Afterwards he ought to consider, if it is even helpful, because the Apostle says: All things are licit to me; but not all things are helpful. Having made that threefold consideration, thoughts are instructed, and wisdom dwells in a man's counsel.
Another is the counsel, by which we are raised to choose what is licit, what is fitting, and what is helpful according to the proposal of a good will. Whence in Ecclesiaticus: Gold and silver is the resting place of the feet, and upon both a well-pleasing counsel. By gold there is signified Sacred Scripture, by silver the science of philosophy. Both are speculative, and/or practical. Sacred Scripture concerns faith and morals, partly speculative and partly practical. Through those sciences ones feet are stabilized, because the heart is stabilized through theological and philosophical proofs; nevertheless counsel stabilizes it more.
Third is the counsel, by which we are helped to seek after what is licit, what is fitting, and what is helpful according to the exercise of virtuous acting. Of that counsel it is said in Judith, that the priests said to Judith: May the God of our Fathers give you grace and may every counsel of your heart be thoroughly strengthened with virtue. — Counsel of your heart, etc., that is, what you have conceived in mind, may you consumate in work. The Psalm: May He grant to you according to your heart and may He confirm your every counsel. That counsel adds in addition helpfulness. — Threefold is its act, that is, to discern well, to choose well, and to seek after in a helpful manner. For that reason He says: She worked by the counsel of her hands. Not only did she decide and choose, but she also sought after. It is not sufficient to have a good will, unless a man want to help it along in work, from intellective virtue into affective (virtue) and from affective into action. The Philosopher says, that there are three necessaries for virtue, that is, 'to know, to will and to work in an unalterable manner'.
And He not only explains the gift of counsel as much as regards its proper act, nay also as much as regards it preambulary act, when He says: She sought wool and flax. Wool is that, from which one makes a thick vestment; flax is that, from which one makes a subtle vestment. From wool one makes a warm vestment, from flax one makes a delicate vestment. Likewise, from wool an outer vestment is made, from flax an inner vestment is made. According to that threefold property there are three understandings, that is, the allegorical, the anagogical and the tropological.
According to allegory by wool and flax there is signified the New and Old Testament. — According to anagogy by wool, from which one makes a warm vestment, there is signified the revelation of prayer, because prayer is as warmth; but by flax, from which one makes a delicate vestment, there is signified delights. — According to tropology by wool forensic things are given to be understood, by flax the experiences of just men. — Therefore when it says: She sought wool and flax, etc., there is understood the New and Old Testament, the revelation of prayers and delights, similarly there are understood forensic things and the experiences of just men. — Out of those I choose, that which is the counsel, by which we are instructed to discern, what is licit, what is fitting, and what is helpful according to the judgment of upright reason; that (which) is the counsel, by which we are raised to choose what is licit, what is fitting, and what is helpful according to the proposal of a good will; the third (which) is the counsel, by which we are helped along to successively pursue what is licit, what is fitting, and what is helpful according to the exercise of a virtuous act.
The first counsel is regulated according to the dictate of divinely instituted laws; the second counsel is regulated according to the dictate of divinely inspired reasons; the third counsel is regulated according to the dictate of divinely illumined men. — The first counsel, I say, is regulated according to the dictate of divinely inspired laws. Whence in Proverbs: Guard law and counsel, and you shall have grace for your throat and life for your soul. What is that law? Certainly a law written for public places and a law divinely inspired. Of that law he says: Guard law, etc. The Psalm: For Thy testimony is also my meditation and Thy justifications my counsel; because counsel is made in testaments and in testimonies. In designating this, there is said in Exodus, that when Moses ought to have entered the oracle, he used to enter through he midst of the two cherubim. He used to go through the middle, because Christ ought to be respected in accord with two Testaments.
Second, counsel is regulated according the dictate of divinely inspired reasons. Of this it is said in Tobias: In every season bless the Lord and ask Him, to direct your ways, and that all your counsels remain continually in Him. The Psalm: Reveal to the Lord your way, and He shall grant you the petitions of your heart. Be subject to the Lord, etc. However much a man have knowledge of the New and Old Testament, it is nevertheless proper, that he consult the Lord; I do not say, that he is to have a special allocution with Him, but that it is proper, that the Lord thoroughly teach the truth to him as a light. — In this some are reprehended, because they want to rule by their own knowledge; concerning which ones Isaiah (says): Woe deserting sons! to have made counsel and not from Me, and to have begun a web and not through My spirit. They make spiders' webs who employ Sacred Scripture for evil things. St. Bernard says: 'You will never understand Paul unless you discover the spirit of Paul'.
It is counsel, by which we are instructed according to the dictate of divinely instituted and inspired laws; but because it is difficult for a man to be instructed by himself; for that reason there is required the third counsel, by which one is regulated according to the dictate of divinely inspired men. Of which (gift) it is written: Let a heart of good counsel stand with you. Conversely of evil counselors it is written: From a counselor guard your soul. Do not attend to these (men) in every counsel. But with a holy man be persistent, whoever you know is observing the fear of God; whose soul is according to your soul. He gives the reason: Because the soul of a holy man sometimes states true things (more) clearly, than do seven watchmen, sitting on the height to see, and he sees more than you do. — Let us gather from this, that one counsel consists in this, that a man not put counsel in his own self; but he ought to ask counsel from another. Nor does it only consist in this, nay also, that he knows to discern a counselor and to choose a good one and to flee a bad one.
But who is a good counselor? Certainly he, of whom Ecclesiasticus says: There are many peacemakers for you, one in a thousand a counselor. — One counselor, that is, Christ, of whom Isaiah says: His Name will be called the Admirable, the Counselor, God, the Strong, Father of the age to come, the Prince of peace. He is the Angel of great counsel; that is the One, to whom we ought to attend with a pure heart. Ecclesiasticus says: Before all works let a true word precede you, and before every act a stable counsel. — A true Word, that can neither deceive nor be deceived, is the Only-begotten Son of God, both in His doctrine and in His life. Let that Word and His stable counsel go before you. There is not a stable counsel except from my God: The counsel of the Lord remains for ever.
That Counselor, that is, Christ, has many counselors, with whom He shares His counsel. Paul said: One will be more blessed, if he remains such continually according to my counsel; moreover I think, that (in this) I also have the spirit of God. Whence to the Corinthians: You know the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, since when He was rich, He became needy on our behalf. And the Apostle himself says: In this I give counsel, however I do not have a precept. St. Augustine says in the orginal, that 'in as much as Christ was made (so) needy, that he did not have what wolves had, because wolves have dens; however the Son of man does not have where to recline His head; hear what is said below: Christ became needy so that we may imitate His poverty'. The Master says, that we are to imitate Him in giving alms, in humility, in poverty and in obedience.
That counsel was confirmed by the Twelve Apostles and by the counsels of the Saints. Whence it is said in Ecclesiastes: The words of wisemen as goads and as nails on high, I have fixed upon; which through the counsel of masters have been given by one shepherd. If you want the testimony of the Saints concerning those counsels, ask Sts. Anthony, Paphnutius and Macarius, who all established the observing of those counsels. Ask the pontiffs Basil, Augustine, Martin and Gregory; all were monks and established the observing of those counsels and observed them. Ask also St. Benedict, who was an abbot; ask St. Dominic, ask St. Francis, who established all those counsels to be observed. From the Lamb there proceeded lamps and they are illuminations to manifest counsels. It is written: God who has been glorified in the counsel of the saints; The Psalm: I will confess to Thee, Lord, in my whole heart, in the counsel of the just and (their) congregation. We ought, therefore, to choose a good counselor.
It is not sufficient for you to choose a good counselor, unless yourself beware of a evil counselor. Whence it is written: From a evil counselor keep your soul; and in Ecclesiasticus: A spirit of evil counsel squanders intelligence. Who is that spirit? He who converts great things into nothing, and good things into evil, and certain things into doubts. And why does he squander them? I say, because intelligence is for this, that from doubt one makes progress into certitude; therefore, when anyone leads into doubt, then he causes intelligence to fall. — First, I say, an evil counselor is he, who converts great things into nothing, as (are) they who say, that the counsels of God are evil and nothings. Such counselors were the Pharisees and experts in the Law, of whom it is said: The Pharisees and experts in the Law have spurned the counsel of Go. Would that now there be none such (as this)! — Someone will say: 'Do you praise me, because I follow the counsels and enter the religion of the Friars Minor and/or the (Friar) Preachers'? He says: 'It is a contrived order, recently instituted, it has (only) exterior signs'. He says further: 'It is too little to spurn temporal things; we cannot let go of them. Why ought we to let go of those few goods? What value is barefootedness? Corporal exercising is useful a little bit, piety, however, for all things'. — Most dear ones! however much the Order be contrived and new, nevertheless it is good. And what he says, that corporal exercising is useful a little bit, and too little to let go of temporal goods; I say, that those are the greatest sacrifices. Christ came not on behalf of the small (of heart). It is the greatest thing to live in chastity and poverty. Those are the greatest, highest and noblest sacrifices, and you repute the counsel of God as nothing, you contemn the counsel of God in yourself and in others. If you do not want to enter religion, do not prohibit another. St. Gregory says, that, 'So much is let go by those who follow, that it can be desired by those not following'. For that reason blessed Peter says: Behold, we have relinquished all things. It is the greatest thing that a man reduce his body to perpetual servitude. A holocaust to the marrow is to place one's own will into the will of another. When I do that for the sake of God, it is worth more than the whole world. Against those who speak against the counsels of God, there is said in Proverbs: I called and you refused; you have despised My every counsel and neglected My rebukings; on this account I will laugh at your destruction. — A dog, when it lies on straw and does not want to eat, does not permit, that another eat. Thus those do not want to enter religion nor do they permit others to enter. — Therefore the first counselor is he, who converts great things into nothing.
The other evil counselor is he, who converts good things into evil. The Psalm: Since they have deflected evils upon you, they have thought counsels which could not stabilize; since you put them behind, etc. It is an evil thing, when someone says something, from which the counsel of Christ can be reputed evil; as when someone reproves the counsel of entering holy religion. Stupid, dangerous, pernicious and temerarious is, that which Christ called converting good into evil. Of entering religion some say, that one shoe does not fit all feet; but religion imposes one rule upon all. If you say this, you are saying that Christ and the Apostles are stupid. He also says: No one, putting his hand to the plow of God and looking backwards, is fit for the Kingdom of God; and blessed Peter says: It is better to become acquainted with the way of justice than after acknowledging it to have turned backwards. — Dearest ones! I say: if one shoe can be made, according to which any foot can be fitted, that shoe can be made for all. Anyone can fit himself to the rule of religion, because one way it is made for the youth, in another for the elderly, in another for the strong, in another for the weak. Whence St. Augustine says: 'Let there be distributed to each one of you by your superior food and clothing, not equally to all, because not all equally fare well, but rather to each one, as there is need'. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: Put your feet into her chains and your neck into her torque. And for you her foot gear will be as the protection of fortitude and the bases of virtue, and her torque as a stole of glory. For the ornament of life is in her, and in her chains the saving bindings. — You will say: 'To give purgative medicine, not preparatory, this is foolish'. I say, that religion has purgative and preparative medicine, because one has despised himself before being able to be among those being received. — You say, that 'there is danger in false brothers'. This is not said of religious, but of false brother Christians, not yet religious. — You will say: 'Many fall'; and blessed Peter says: It was better that they did not become acquainted with the way of justice, than after acknowledging it, to have turned backwards. You ought not to fall with those falling, but stand with those standing.
The third evil counselor is he, who reduces certain things into doubt. Whence it is said in Ezra, that certain ones came, who were across the stream, and they said to the Jews: Who gave you counsel, to build this house and establish its walls? The Jews had the counsels of God and of the Prophets; nevertheless those across the stream came to give counsel, nor did they know, what to do in Jerusalem. — Some do not know, what to do in religion, and nevertheless they want to give counsel and say to one willing to enter: 'What do you want to do? Attend to what pleases God: It is better to be in the will of God than in the hand of counsel. — By this way if you want to wait, for the Lord to reveal (it) to you, and you do not want to do what Holy Scripture and holy men tell you, and what Christ inspires you, you will always be able to be at the crossroad.' Of such it is said: A duplicitous man is inconstant in all his ways. A man ought to follow the counsels of the saints, of St. Benedict and the others. He ought not to bring forth new counselors, but follow the counsel of Christ, whose life is the certain form of living. If a religious says: 'There is no salvation except among us'; he speaks evilly. One ought not to praise as holy, what others reprove. One can stand on behalf of his religion, so that he does not exceed (decency) in the manner of speaking and urging. He who thus follows counsel shall have joy. Whence in Proverbs: Those who go into the counsels of peace, joy follows forever, to which may He thoroughly lead us, who with the Father (and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns...), etc.
Eighth Conference: On the Gift of Understanding
I will bless the Lord, etc. That brief word belongs to David himself through the Holy Spirit explaining for us that gift of understanding given to us by the Holy Spirit, and he explains it for us as much as it regards the humble gratitude of the one taking it up and as much as regards the liberal diffusion of the One giving it. The humble gratitude of the one taking it up is noted when he says: I will bless the Lord; the liberal diffusion of the One giving it is noted, when he adds below: Who grants me understanding. That gift requires, that a man be grateful to God, and causes, that a man recognize himself and the gift and the Principle of the gift; and by understanding the Principle of the gift a man recognizes himself, and so gives thanks. And then he blesses God and pours back the beauty of the gift upon the very Author of the gift and praises Him and does not impunge the Giver. — Moreover we dispose ourselves to take up that gift through three things: first, through holiness of life; second, through the manageability of meekness; and third, through the capturing of the intelligence, that we may bless the Author of that gift.
First, I say, we dispose ourselves to take up that gift of understanding through holiness of life; whence Isaiah: Whom will He teach knowledge, and whom will He make understand hearing? Those who have been weaned from milk and plucked from breasts. — Milk signifies the sweetness of carnal delights, on which delight carnal men and infants feed, that is, those who follow infantile movements. And as long as a man has been joined to these carnal consolations, he is called a suckling-child and he is not fit to take up the solid food of life and of understanding. If we want to bless God and receive that gift, it is proper, that we be plucked from those consolations and that we sequester ourselves form the milk of concupiscences. Of Daniel and his companions, who were continent, it is said, that God gave them knowledge and discipline in every book and in wisdom. Delectation over touch greatly impunges that gift, (as does) drunkenness before this and luxury afterwards.
Second, a man is disposed to receive that gift through the managability of meekness. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: Be meek to hear a word, so that you understand it. Concupiscence beclouds the intellect, and rage impedes the intelligence, because 'anger impedes the soul, so that it cannot determine (what is) true'. — The Philosopher says, that 'by quieting the soul one becomes prudent and knowledgeable'. When water is quiet, then a man sees his face well in it; but when it is disturbed, then one can see nothing in it. Thus, when a man is in anger, then he cannot see the truth. The contentious impede intelligence in themselves and in others. The enraged also pertinaciously defend (what is) false. Whence the Lawgiver was the most gentle. Isaiah says: Only shaking alone will give understanding to hearing. A manageable man learns more and becomes gentle.
Third, a man is disposed to worthily take up the gift of understanding through a capturing of (his) intelligence. Whence Isaiah according to the Septuagint translation says: Unless you believe, you will not understand. And St. Augustine says: 'Unless a man capture his intellect and follow by faith those things which he hears, he is not disposed to the gift of understanding'. And the Apostle says: Taking captive the intellect into the submission of Christ. He who according to the light of his own intelligence wants to investigate Sacred Scripture, thinks the most false errors. In this life of ours we are small, and 'it is proper that the one learning more believe'; for it is proper to believe God and most of all in sublime things, which transcend our intelligence. The first Angel erred, because he presumed of himself. — The disordered concupiscible (appetite) impedes that gift; similarly also the irascible, when it is disordered; but when the rational (appetite) is disordered, it impedes that gift most of all. It is proper, therefore, that we capture our intellect if we want to take up that gift. Rage-bound is he who despises all things; he is not disposed to take up that gift nor (is) the presumptuous. Therefore it is proper, that we capture our intellect, because he who belives that he knows more, frequently knows less. — Through these three things a man is disposed to worthily take up the gift of understanding. The first is now clear, that is, the humble gratitude of the one taking it up.
Liberality follows on the part of the One giving, which is touched upon, when he says: Who grants me understanding. May God give me something to say and grant understanding to me to say something appropriate concerning this gift of understanding. — Every radiation of the intelligence comes from that fount of intelligence. And though the radiation of the intelligence be multiform, I want nevertheless to say something at the present of three things, that is, that understanding is the rule of moral circumspections, the door of sciential considerations and the key of heavenly contemplations; and that is a gift.
First, I will begin from that which is the rule of moral circumspections. For it is proper, that you have complied (with it), if you want to have that gift of understanding. The Psalm: I shall give you understanding and I will instruct you in this way, in which you shall step; I shall make My eyes firm upon you. Do not become as horse and mule, who do not have an intellect. The Lord promises us that understanding and shows us, in what manner we ought to receive it. — I will make, he says, My eyes firm upon you. The Divine Pleasure accepts what we do by approving (it) in the present and by remunerating (us) in the future. If you want to be regulated according to that rule, beware of yourself, that you be not bestial, but regular: to be directed not according to the impulse of sense, but according to the judgment of reason; nor according to bestial fantasies, but according to intellectual judgments. Otherwise there will happen to you what happened to Adam, who, having contemned the rule of truth, followed the instinct of the woman, and the woman followed the instinct of the serpent. The Psalm: A man, when he is in honor, has not understood; he has been compared to the foolish beasts of burden and became similar to them. Man became brutal and subject to (his) passions.
That understanding is prudential, by which a man is instructed according to the dictate of divine law to become acquainted with, what is to be avoided, that is, every evil; what is to be followed to the grave, that is, every good; and what is to be expected, that is, the Most High Good. — First, I say, prudential understanding teaches, what is to be avoided, that is, every evil. Whence the Wiseman says: If you invoke wisdom and incline your heart to prudence and seek her as if money and dig her up as treasures; then you shall understand the fear of the Lord and shall find knowledge of God. He who wants to have that understanding, ought to seek it with the desire of (his) heart and the studiousness of work; and what then shall he find? Certainly the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God. That every man, who wants to be directed to good, ought to fear God, so that he may avoid every evil; the Psalm says: Holy, he says, and terrible His Name; the beginning of wisdom the fear of the Lord; good the understanding of all who have it. Behold, the fear of the Lord (is) wisdom, and to recede from evil, prudence, says the Wiseman. Therefore prudential understanding teaches first, what is to be avoided, that is, every evil.
Second, it teaches, what is to be followed to the grave, that is, every good according to the way of interor thinking and of exterior acting. It is written in Josuah: Do not turn from the Law; there follows: so that you may understand all the other things, which you do. The wisdom of the cunning is to understand their own way, and the imprudent of the stupid, erring. It is written: If understanding is yours, respond to your neighbor; if not, let your hand be upon your mouth. And in the Book of Wisdom: The Holy Spirit of discipline flees falsehood and bears Himself away from thoughts which are without understanding. For God wills, that we do all things rationally. And blessed Ambrose says, that we ought to do nothing nor speak of that, of which we cannot render an account. — That is the second part of moral understanding. Solomon says: There is a season for every business and an opportunity.
Third, prudential understanding instructs (us), what it to be expected, that is, the Most High Good. Whence in Proverbs: A most free gem (is) the expectation of the one asking; to whatever he turns himself, he understands prudently. In all things, which direct our intelligence in acting and avoding, a man ought to take counsel from its end. For it is proper, that a man expect something in that which he does. If you intend a temporal convenience, you expect a vile wage. A free, nay a most free gem is the eternal Good. Whence in Baruch: Learn, where prudence is, where virtue is, where understanding is, so that you may know at the same time, where there is eternal length of life and food, where there is light for the eyes and peace. — He says: so that you may know, where there is eternal length of life and food, light for the eyes and peace. And where is that? Certainly, the length of days (is) in His right hand; and the Psalm says: In Thy house is the fount of life, etc. If you have light for your eyes, you act prudently.
Here there is a threefold prudential understanding, and he who does not have that understanding cannot be rectified. Whence it is written: A nation without counsel is also without prudence: so that they do not taste nor understand nor forsee the last things. He touches upon the three parts of intelligence, that is the memory of past things, the intelligence of present things and the circumspection of future things. — That understanding is the rule of moral circumspections together with the desire of the heart and the prosecution of work, so that a man may consider, what is to be avoided, what is to be done, and what is to be expected. For God gives that understanding, and it is a gift of God. Whence the Psalm: I shall give you understanding and shall intruct you in this way, in which you shall step.
Another is the understanding, which is the door of sciential considerations, of which there is said in Ecclesiasticus: In the treasures of wisdom (is) understanding, etc.; this is to say, that the treasures of knowledge (have) been hidden away and/or that they consist in becoming acquainted with the highest causes, and/or conclusions, and/or principles. And it is proper to dig by the study of truth, so that a man may arrive at that treasure. — That understanding, which is the door of sciential considerations, is partly form the dictate of nature, that is from interior light; partly from the frequency of experience, as from an exterior light; and partly from the brightening of eternal Light, as from a superior light.
What is partly from the dictate of nature, is clear in Ecclesiaticus, where it is said: God created man from the earth, that is, as much as regards the body, and according to His image He made him, that is, as much as regards the soul. There follows: He created out of him a helper similar to himself; counsel and tongue and eyes and ears and heart did He give them for thinking things out, and with the discipline of understanding He filled them full. He gives one to understand, that the human soul has three acts, according to which it has power and act. 'Every noble soul has three acts', by which it turns itself completely upon its body, upon itself, and towards divine things. Sometimes it turns itself completely upon its body: it has a tongue for speaking, ears for hearing, etc.; sometimes it turns itself completely upon itself; sometimes towards understanding and becoming acquainted with God. — And this is according to the threefold consideration of the soul; for the soul is considered as the form and perfection of the body, as this something and as image. — Moreover that that understanding is partly from the dictate of nature, is clear in Adam, because he imposed names on all things. But that God filled him full with the discipline of understanding, that was his privilege; wherefore it is not in us. Moreover our soul has stampted above it a certain light of nature, through which one is capable to become acquainted with the first principles, but that alone does not suffice, because, according to the Philosopher, 'we are acquainted with principles, inasmuch as we are acquainted with their terms'. For when I know, what the whole is, what the part is; I immediately know, that 'every whole is greater that its part'.
Second, I say, that partly it is from the frequency of experience: in Ecclesiasticus: An expert in many strengths is acquainted with many things. The Philosopher: 'Out of many sensations there is made one memory; out of many memories there is made one experience; out of many experiences there is made one universal, which is the principle of art and of science'.
And however much a man has a good natural judgment and with this frequency of experience, they are not sufficient, unless there be a brightening through a divine influence. Whence it is said in Daniel: Give wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those understanding discipline. He Himself revels things profound and hidden away and knows the things constituted in darkness; and light is with Him. He touches upon sapiential, sciential and intellectual certitude. And whence is that certitude? Certainly from God. He touches upon sapiential certitude, when he says: He Himself reveals things profound. The Apostle: He Himself has begun to shine in our hearts for the illumination of the knowledge of the brightness of God. That light is pure and it is with Him; whence in John: He Himself is the True Light, which illumines every man coming into this world. No one is certainly illuminated except through Him. And St. Augustine in the fourteenth (chapter) On the Trinity asks, whence (is) this, that the impious sometimes judges well; whence he asks: 'Where have those laws of justice been written, according to which the impious judges well?' And he responds, that 'they have been written in the book of eternal Light, and not by migrating, but by impressing they descend upon the soul, as the image of a ring, which is pressed upon wax, does not leave the ring', etc. Moreover this brightening is assisted by the Angels; in Daniel it is said: It came to pass, however, when I, Daniel, saw the vision and sought intelligence; behold, there stood in my sight as if the appearance of a man, etc., and he shouted and said: Gabriel, make that one understand the vision. Those visions descended from the Father of lights, and the Angel assisted the intellect of Daniel, to seize the light of God and through this to understand. The Gloss says, that the intellect by nature has the strength to understand, accord to which a man is discerned from a sheep; but God alone illumines perfectly. It is true that a man is instructed in the manner of a minister and in a supportive manner by an Angel, as was clear in Daniel: but effectively God alone has the power over that rational soul, because it itself is immediately formed by God. For He Himself illumines all men. Whence an Angel thus illumines, as he who opens a window, is said to illumine a house. 'For He alone has His cathedra in the heavens who teaches man throughout the earth'. — Whence it is not true what philosophers say, that one intelligence creates another, because to create belongs to the Omnipotent God, and not to any other created virtue; whence to that Light, which is pure act, belongs this making. Paul said in the Acts of the Apostles: In Him we live and move and are; and St. Augustine says that the Apostle does not speak there of corporal life, but of intellectual life. Whence it is said there of God, according to which He is for all things 'the cause of existing, the reason for understanding and the order for living'. He is the cause of existing immediately producing all perpetual things, but mediately (all) temporal things, nevertheless (these) immediately through elementary virtues. Moreover He is the reason for understanding, because intelligences are made certain by Him above the transmutability of (their) nature. Even if every creature were to attack, God nevertheless is to be loved; nor can God cause Himself not to be loved. With all things corrupted, the certitude of truth remains. God is also the order for living; unless the gift of the Holy Spirit indwell in a man, he is not ruled according to the rule of upright life. — According to which God is the cause of existing, He enters in the soul as its Principle; but according to which He is the order for living, He enters into the soul as an infused gift; according to which He is the reason for understanding, He enters into the soul as the sun of the intelligence. That One is the sun, who illumines all; from whom some wander away, according to which the impious say in the Book of Wisdom: Therefore let us wander from the way of truth and justice; light has not shown upon us, and the sun of the intelligence has not risen for us, etc.
In the sciences there are three things to beware of, which banish Sacred Scripture and the Christian Faith and every wisdom; one of which is against the cause of existing, another against the reason for understanding, and the third against the order for living. The error against the cause of existing concerns the eternity of the world, as positing the world as eternal. The error against the reason for understanding concerns fatal necessity, as positing that all things come about from necessity. The third concerns the unity of the human intellect, as positing that there is intellect in all (men). — Those errors are signified in the Apocalypse in the number of the name of the beast. There it is said, that he has a name whose number (is) 666, which is a cyclical number. The first stream upon a circle of motion and time; the second, upon the motion of the stars; the third, upon one intelligence, by saying, that it steps into and out of the body.
The whole (of it) is false. The first error is refuted by that which is written in the Old Testament: In the beginning God created heaven and earth. According to the second error there is nothing from free decision, the Cross of Christ is worth nothing. According to the third, there is no difference in merit and reward, if one (and the same) is the soul of Christ and of Judas the betrayer. The whole (of it) is heretical.
The first error, I say, destroys the cause of existing; (it says:) because you have the opinion, that God is the cause of all things, (it must be) either according to a part, or according to the whole. If according to a part: therefore you take from God His principality of causing. According to the whole: therefore God is the cause of this some other thing: therefore God produces (the world) not from His very self, not from some other thing, because it is nothing; therefore from nothing. — Likewise, there follows that second error, that a thing had at the same time being and non-being, and that being (is) before non-being; and many other inconveniences. Whence it is certain, that God created all things. And for that reason that good woman said to her son in the Book of Maccabees, that he look at all things again, because from nothing did God create them.
The second error concerns fatal necessity, as concerns the constellations: (it says,) if a man be born in such a constellation, of necessity will he be a thief, and/or evil, and/or good. That voids free decision and merit and reward; because if a man does out of necessity what he does, what value is freedom of decision? What will he merit? — It also follows, that God would be the origin of all evils. It is true that some disposition remains from the stars; but nevertheless God alone rules over the rational soul. Jeremiah says: They have been vehemently confounded, because they have not understood everlasting disgrace. They who err thus shall have an everlasting disgrace.
The third error, which comprehends both, is the worst. Some insane (men) understood the intellect in an evil manner. Whence certain ones say, that it is fire; certain ones, that it is water; those have be reproved by the philosophers. — That that intellect is one in all (men), that is against the root of distinction and individuation, because in diverse (persons) the intellect has distinct being: therefore it has proper and distinct and individuating principles of its essence. — That others say, that one intelligence radiates over all. that is impossible; because no creature can (do) that. Whence it belongs to God alone.
'Every intellectual substance is knowing and returning upon itself with a complete return'. Whence every intellectual substance understands and loves and judges itself. Whence it has reason for reflection and light radiating upon it. And this indeed is true in God, and as much in the Angel as in man; but differently: Because in God there is likewise reflection and light by itself, but they differ in reason. In the Angel, moreover, they differ in reason and nature, but not in time, because it cannot understand more than it understands, because '(its) intelligence is full of forms'. But in man they differ both in reason and in nature and in time, because man does not understand at once, when he can understand. If therefore the human intellect has a reason for its apprehending and judging, (it has) a possible and agent intellect; nor can that intellect sufficiently be illumined without the assistance of a superior and higher light, because the Wiseman says: The body, which is corrupted, weighs down the soul, etc.; and the Philosopher says: 'As the eye of twilight is held towards the light of the sun, so our intellect is held towards the most manifest things of nature'.
Of the third understanding, that is, that which is the key of the contemplation of heavenly things, it would be long to speak. We will beg the Lord, etc.
Ninth Conference: On the Gift of Wisdom
If you have risen together with Christ, etc. That word is suitable for the present season and our proposal; that (word) is written in the Epistle which is read at Mass, and it is the word of the Apostle to the Colossians, in which the sacred Apostle urges us to obtain true wisdom and to flee from vain wisdom. He touches upon the first when he says: If you have risen together with Christ, seek the things which are above, etc. He touches upon the second, when he says: not those which are upon the earth; in which he gives one to understand, that as the soul has a twofold power of sight, so does it have a twofold affection. It has one power of sight for heavenly and invisible things, it has another for earthly and corruptible things; thus the soul also has a twofold affection: one is for eternal things, and the other is for temporal things. So also is it with the wisdom, which is from above, and the other, which is from below. He urges us towards the first and he discourages us from that, which is upon the earth. — That, which is from above, blessed James describes, saying: Do not glory and be evil against the truth. For this is not the wisdom descending from above, but earthly, animal, and diabolic. By such an entire solicitude one seeks to delight in every savor, in the affluence of secular riches and in the experience of sensual delectations and in the excellence or in the ambition of secular ostentation. Inasmuch as it makes a man solicitous, to delight with every savor in the affluence of riches, it is earthly; inasmuch as it makes a man solicitous, to delight in the experience of sensual delectations, it is animal; but inasmuch as it makes a man solicitous, to delight in the excellence and ambition of secular ostentation, it is diabolic; because the root of all evils (is) pride, and it is principally damned in the diabolic kingdom.
Of that threefold wisdom the Apostle says to the Corinthians: It is written: I shall destroy the wisdom of the wise, and reprove the prudence of the prudent. That is the wisdom, of which Jeremiah says: They are wise, to do evil things, however they do not know how to do well. To disperse that wisdom Christ died, became poor, afflicted and humble, to teach us to beware of it. The Apostle to the Corinthians: Has God not made the wisdom of this world stupid? as if he says, when on the Cross He chose things contrary to worldly wisdom. The Apostle: It pleased God through the stupidity of preaching to save those who believe. Because the stupid (deed) belongs to God, it is wiser than men. You appreciate the affluence of riches, and Christ chose poverty; you appreciate the experience of sensual delectations, and Christ chose the sharpness of the Passion; you appreciate the ambition of secular ostentation, and Christ wanted to be despised and emptied. And the wisdom of God did prevail; for that reason he says: Because the stupid thing belongs to God, it is wiser than men. Solomon in Proverbs says: I am the most stupid of men, and the wisdom of men is not with me. I have not learned wisdom and I have not known the wisdom of the saints. Christ was stupid by exterior appearance, when He withdrew from the appetite of the stupid; more stupid, when He wanted to be afflicted; but most stupid, when He chose the death of the Cross and died by the most foul death. — This is the wisdom of the saints. The Apostle: This is our glory, the testimony of our conscience, because not in carnal wisdom, but in the wisdom of God have we comported ourselves in this world". The Apostle: If anyone seems among you to be wise in this age, let him become stupid, so that he may be wise. And to the Philippians he says: Many walk, (about) whom I often used to tell you, now however also crying I say, they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ, whose end (is) destruction, whose god is their belly, on account of animal wisdom; and (whose) glory (is) in their own confusion, on account of diabolic wisdom; who taste earthly things, that is, on account of earthly wisdom.
Do not therefore taste the things which are upon the earth, because Christ has been crucified, to empty that wisdom; and as Christ has died, to empty out and destroy vain wisdom; so has He risen again and ascended, to teach true wisdom and to establish (it) in our hearts. On the Cross He taught (us) to spurn the wisdom of the world, and going into heaven He taught us to seek after the wisdom of God and to love the Fount of life. Every wisdom of the world is to spurn that. However it is the greatest stupidity to empty out the death of Christ; which they do who taste the things which are upon the earth; for that reason it is proper to empty that wisdom and to seek after the wisdom which is from above.
But what is the wisdom, which is from above? The Wiseman says in Ecclesiastes: See, that only wisdom precedes stupidity, as much as light differs from darkness. Therefore he gives one to understand, that wisdom is light; the light, I say, descending from above from the Father of lights, from whom (is) every best given and every perfect gift. That light descends to illumine our cognitive power, to gladden our affective (power) and to thoroughly strengthen our operative (power). It descends from God Most High into the intellect, from the intellect into the affection, and even to the lowest (part), that is, operation. — That there is light descending to illumine our intellective power, is clear, because there is written in the Book of Wisdom, that she is the warmth of eternal light, the reflection without spot of the Majesty of God and the image of His Goodness. And since she is one, she can do all things and remaining continually in herself she makes all things new and throughout the nations she transfers herself into holy souls and establishes them as friends of God and prophets. For God loves no one, except him with whom wisdom dwells. For she is more imposing than the sun and above every disposition of the stars, compared to light she is found to be superior. Deservedly it is said that wisdom is the throne of God, and that (her) soul, which has been described as more beautiful than heaven, nay than the whole universe, is the throne of God.
Second, wisdom descends from above as a light to gladded our affective (power). Whence in Ecclesiasticus: Wine and music gladded the heart, and above both the delight of wisdom. — Wine and music gladded the heart, that is, from the exterior and according the species impressed, which are not the truth itself, but a certain similitude of the thing, nor do they fill the soul nor do they truly, but in the manner of a phantasm, gladden it. But where there is a union according to truth, there is jocundity, where truth slips into the soul it both fills it full and gladdens it. Of that wisdom the Wiseman says: This one have I loved and I have placed her before (me), I have reckoned kingdoms and thrones and riches to be nothing in comparison to her; above health and beauty have I loved her. Moreover all good things have come to me equally with her and innumerable honesty through her hands; and I have been gladden in all things since that wisdom went before me. The Philosopher says, that wisdom has the greatest delectations. If it is a great thing to be brightened with wisdom, it is more (so) to be gladdened (by her), inasmuch as one loves her Principle.
Third, wisdom descends from above as a light to thoroughly strengthen our operative (power). Whence in Ecclesiastes: Wisdom makes wisdom strong above ten princes of the city. Note, that no subcelestial virtue, neither earthly nor human, either heavenly or angelic, so thoroughly strengthens the soul, as supercelestial wisdom. Whence in the Book of Wisdom: Wisdom entered into the soul of the servant of God, and he stood against kings. A strong contest did He give to him, so that he may conquer and know, that wisdom is more powerful than all.
And thus this wisdom edifies the Church and the soul, to be a little dwelling of God and the house of God, (to be) I say, a pleasant house, a beautify house, and a oak-strong house. There is said in Matthew: Everyone, who hears My words and does them, will be likened to the wise man, who built his house upon firm rock. That house is principally built by wisdom: whence in Proverbs: Wisdom builds her own house, she carves out seven columns. It is certain, that wisdom delights to be with men; whence she says: My delights: to be with the sons of men. However, that wisdom does not dwell with us, is not a defect on her part, but on ours. If we want, the aforesaid light to dwell in us; it is proper, that we have the seven columns. — But what are the seven columns of her house? Will I make them out of my head? Be off! Sacred Scripture sufficiently explains them. Where therefore do we find them? Blessed James, describing the wisdom, which is from above, posits seven conditions for her, saying: First indeed, she is pure, then peaceable, modest, persuadable, consenting to good things, full of mercy and good fruits, not judging, without simulation. If I can explain those to you, I do not believe that I would waste my words, nay I would give you a great way towards wisdom.
Those columns of hers are not but certain steps towards wisdom. Gather the seven columns. The first is purity in the flesh; the second is innocence in the mind; the third is moderation in speech; the fourth is persuasibility in the affection, and the fifth is liberality in effect; the sixth is maturity in judgment and the seventh is simplicity in intention. Through these the house of wisdom is stablized.
The first column, I say, of the house of wisdom is purity in the flesh; whence he says: First indeed she is pure. Why is that first? Because this is that, by which it is proper to begin; for it is written in the Book of Wisdom: into a malevolent soul wisdom will not enter, nor will she dwell in a body subdued by sins. An impure body has been subdued by sins; for that reason wisdom cannot dwell in it. There is said in the Book of Wisdom: Since I knew, that I could not otherwise be continent, unless God gave it. — St. Gregory Nazianzen was a most pure youth. It happened, that he was studying at Athens. On a certain night, as he slept, there came to him a very beautiful lady, having two attendants as virgins; he began to drive her away. And the lady said: 'Do not flee me, because I do not come to corrupt you. I am Wisdom, and (my) two attendants are humility and Chastity or Purity. If you want me, who am Wisdom, keep those attendants (as your own), that is, Humility and Chastity, because where there is pride, there will be contumely; however where there is humility, there is wisdom'. True virginity is that, in which wisdom is associated. Humility, with purity, is the principle column of wisdom. Solomon says: A luxurious thing wine, and a tumultuous thing, drunkenness; whoever delights in these, shall not be wise; and elsewhere: Wine and women cause wisemen to apostatize and reveal those who are sensible. You have a ready example in Solomon, who apostatized on account of women even to the cult of idolatry; who nevertheless had been filled full with wisdom as a river. If there was a tavern, in which a wine was sold, which induced the forgetfulness of every wisdom; I believe that no one would be so foolish, that he would buy that wine. I believe, that the eternal God by the highest dispensation of His counsel permitted Solomon to fall, to teach all men to flee women.
The second column of the house of wisdom is innocence in the mind; which is noted, when he says: then she is peaceable. St. Augustine says, that 'peace is the tranquility of order', that is, when a thing humbly subdues itself to its superior, regards itself equal to its peer and discretely presides over its inferior. All, who are sons of wisdom, have this order. It is said in Ecclesiaticus: For the sons of wisdom, the church of the just. Whence (is) war? If you loved peace, obeyed your superior and presided in an orderly manner over your inferior, you would have peace. He who thoroughly troubles peace has destroyed the house of wisdom. It is written in Proverbs: He who is patient is governed by much wisdom; he who is impatient exalts his own stupidity, and thus he perverts the house of wisdom. Blessed James: Who is the wise and disciplined man among you? Let him show from his good comportment his own accomplishment in the meekness of wisdom.
The third column of the house of wisdom is moderation in speech, and this is noted, when he says: modest. Above all things moderation is demanded in speech; whence in Ecclesiasticus: A wise man will keep silent until the (proper) time, however the lascivious and the imprudent will not observe the time. For every business there is a season and an opportunity. Is it not most high foolishness, that a man pierce himself through and his neighbor with the same sword? Evil talk is killing listener and speaker. You cannot detract your neighbor, without slaying yourself with the same sword. If I say a word to scandalize, I cannot wound you, unless I also wound myself. So close is keeping-silent and wisdom, that the stupid one, who keeps silent, shall be reputed wise; and the wiseman, who speaks much, is reputed stupid. With one word I can utter detractions, on account of this it is proper to weigh one's words. Whence immoderation of speech is to be most highly feared. — For talk, as an instrument, is expressive of wisdom, and for that reason it ought to be undertaken according to the rule of wisdom. Whence it is written: The words of the mouth of the wiseman, grace; and the Apostle: Let not any evil talk proceed from your mouth. It is a thing to be wondered at, when men sit at the table, to refresh themselves spiritually, and one devil speaks of temporal things and of detractions and all, who are at table, feed from that venom. Death and life in the hand of the tongue. If the woman had kept silent, when the devil said to her: Why did God precept you, not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? the devil would not have had occasion to tempt her further. And even the philosophers taught their disciples, to be silent; Cato: 'The first virtue I think is to feast on one's own tongue'. I believe, that the sins of the tongue are so great, that God has to make a world sufficient for them alone, if he rose forth to judge them.
The fourth column of the house of wisdom is that, which is persuasibility in affection; which is noted, when he says: persuadable, consenting to good things. There is no one who is persuadable in something good, unless he be kind; and this also agrees with wisdom. The malignant one is persuadable in something evil. It is written: Kind is the spirit of wisdom, and she will not free an abusive word from her lips. Good persuasibility causes one to appreciate and love and to consent to (good) things; and as much as a man is wiser, so much is he more persuadable in good things. Whence in Proverbs: A golden earing and a shining pearl, she who exposes wisdom and an obedient ear. As an earing ornaments the ear, and a pearl upon a crown ornaments the face; so a good word ornaments wisdom. When the wiseman is exposed, he controls himself, even if he is (so) ornamented. For if I correct myself in accord with a word of good admonition, what do I do, but ornament myself with that word? If nevertheless this pearl is proposed to the stupid, he tramples upon it as a dog. Whence in Proverbs: Do not expose a mocker, lest he hate you; expose (your) wisdom, and he will love you. Dearest ones! it is better to be corrected by a wiseman than to be deceived by the adulation of the stupid. Stupid (is he), when he is corrected, does not turn back from evil, nor is lead towards the good. He who is acquainted with his own defects, and those displease him, is wise. He who exposes a man and recalls him from evil, shows him more respect, that if he gave him the whole world.
The fifth column of the house of wisdom is liberality in effect. Wisdom wants to have mercy in affection, but also in effect. This is noted, when he says: Full of mercy and good fruits. By their fruits you shall know them. Whence in Proverbs it is said: She opened her hand to the helpless and extended her palms to the poor man. He opened his mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency (is) on his tongue. From the fruit of her hands she gave to the helpless. Wisdom teaches, that a man is to accomplish not works of play, but fruitful ones, because the fruit of good labors is glorious. Among all fruitful works, the more fruitful are the works of mercy. Therefore give from the fruits of your hands.
Those who are appointed to the government of others ought to have that mercy; whence in Acts: Therefore consider brothers, those men of good testimony from among you, full of the Holy Spirit and of wisdom, whom we are to constitute to dispense this work. One would not be a wise dispenser, who stole the goods of God. If something is given to you to be dispensed to the household, and you steal and place it in your purse; do you not believe, that the household of the lord would cry against you and call you the worst dispenser, and that the lord would say: Throw that useless servant into the outer darkness? There is a greater wisdom, which can exist, that the dispenser expend fruitfully those things which he has to dispense and which have been handed over to him to be dispensed. Such was blessed Stephen and Lawrence. The supreme pontiffs in the primitive Church did not vacate those lands; now there is care for having temporal goods, not for dispensing them. He says: full of mercy; the Apostle: That which a man sows, this he also reaps. If a lord gave his servant grain to sow in his field, and he put the grain into a sack and did not sow it, the land would bear bad fruit, nay it would cry out against him. As mercy is a friend to wisdom, so avarice is its enemy. The avarous deride everyone, who do not love money. In Deuteronomy: Gifts thoroughly blind the eyes of the wise and change the words of the just". — They thoroughly blind the eyes, not the corporal ones, but the spiritual; therefore they bear away the light of wisdom. It is written: It is easier, for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, because he has a earthly and ponderous heart.
The sixth column of the house of wisdom is maturity in judgment; and this is noted, when he says: not judging. There is maturity in judgment, when a man does not judge rashly. Whence in Ecclesiasticus: A wise judge shall judge his own people, that is, over whom he has authority. But if he transcends his authority, he is not a wise judge, but (his) judgment is rash. If he judges without authority, what is he? Certainly nothing. It is also proper, that the judgment of the wiseman have rectitude of zeal and clarity of knowledge. Of the first (it is said): The mouth of the just will meditate wisdom, and his tongue will speak judgment. He is a just judge who is moved by a just zeal, approves all good things and reproves evil ones; but he who does not have upright zeal cannot judge well. Love and hatred pervert judgment. If you hate me you cannot judge me in an upright manner; and why? Because it seems to you, that all the things, which are in me, are evil. — Likewise it is proper, that the judge have clarity of knowledge. In what manner am I to judge well of an unknown thing? Whence when the friends of Job showed him, that he was not just, saying: The just God does not punish the just; and nevertheless he punishes you; therefore you are not just; they wanted to judge of hidden matters. Job, hearing this, responded to them saying: Turn around and come, and I shall not find any wiseman among you. For that reason blessed James says: Not judging, not that a man ought not to judge, by time and place, of a thing, of which he has certitude and authority and upright zeal; but because men judge evil (to be) good, and conversely good (to be) evil. It is better, if I ought to judge of another, that I have a good opinion (of him) rather than an evil one. A man ought to be more prone to clemently excuse, than to judge evilly. Nowadays all are judgers of worthless thoughts. Therefore a man ought not transcend his authority nor judge rashly without rectitude of zeal and clarity of knowledge. Matthew: Do not judge, so as not to be judged. That men judge the interior defects of another and neglect them in themselves, is most high stupidity. St. Gregory: 'A spirit, as much as it is more curious to investigate another's things, so much is it the more stupid to know of its own'.
The seventh and last column of wisdom is simplicity in intention, which is noted, when he says: without simulation. Of that it is said, that king Solomon made a great throne from ivory, and made in it six steps. The other columns are round-about but that one is the most principle and on the summit. Of that one the Apostle speaks, saying: Seek those things which are above; and in Ecclesiastes: What does a wiseman have more than a stupid one, and what a poor man, except that he continues on to that place, where there is life? Certainly, where Christ is, and when Christ will appear, life will appear. — But where is Christ? Certainly, above in Heaven; the Apostle Seek the things which are above. Therefore in Heaven there is Christ and life. Christ is the fount of wisdom, He himself is the foundation of this gift and its complement. The Apostle as a wise architect says: No one can place another foundation except that which has been placed, which is Christ Jesus. As a certain Gloss says, a man holds himself in a manner contrary to a tree in root; for a tree has its roots below, a man above; and the spiritual edifice has its foundation above, but the corporal below; therefore Christ is the foundation of this gift. Likewise He is also its complement, because in Him have the treasures of wisdom and knowledge been hidden away. In Him the house of wisdom is consummated. Whence it is said in Ecclesiastes: The eyes of the wiseman are in his head, that is in Christ: the stupid man walks in darkness. In Christ is the consummation of every good thing. Whence in John: This is, moreover, eternal life, that they know Thee the Only True God and Him whom Thou has sent, Jesus Christ. Those things which are above, we ought to desire, see and do; and to them may He thoroughly lead us who lives and reigns without end. Amen.
