"And thy own soul a sword shall pierce" are words spoken by Simeon to Our Blessed Mother when she presented her first-born in the Temple, in accordance with the Law of Moses.
It is traditional to reflect on the Sorrows of Mary in the month of September. To this end, in the following posts I offer the words of the French scholar and preacher Bossuet, taken from his Elevations* on the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. I have added my own (fairly literal) translation and occasional notes on Scriptural references.
*élévation: THÉOLOGIE. Mouvement de l’âme vers Dieu ; prière qui favorise et traduit ce mouvement. Elevation: theology. A movement of the soul towards God; a prayer that favours and translates this movement.
Laudetur Jesus Christus et Maria Immaculata.
 |
| The Presentation in the Temple. J-J Tissot. |
XIXe ÉLÉVATION.
L'épée perce l’âme de Marie.
The Nineteenth Elevation
A sword pierces Mary's heart
« Cet enfant sera en butte aux contradictions : et votre âme même, » ô mère affligée et désolée, « sera percée d'une épée. » Vous aurez part aux contradictions : vous verrez tout le monde se soulever contre ce cher Fils : vous en aurez le cœur percé, et il n'y a point d'épée plus tranchante que celle de votre douleur : votre cœur sera percé par autant de plaies que vous en verrez dans votre Fils : vous serez conduite à sa croix pour y mourir de mille morts. Combien serez-vous affligée, quand vous verrez sa sainte doctrine contredite et persécutée? Vous verrez naître les persécutions et les hérésies : le miracle de l'enfantement virginal sera contredit comme tous les autres mystères, pendant même que vous serez encore sur la terre ; et il y en aura qui ne voudront pas croire votre inviolable et perpétuelle virginité. Vous serez cependant la merveille de l'Eglise, la gloire des femmes, l'exemple et le modèle de toute la terre. Peut-on assez admirer la foi qui vous fait dire : « Ils n'ont pas de vin ; » et : « Faites ce qu'il vous dira? » Vous êtes la mère de tous ceux qui croient ; et c'est à votre prière que s'est fait le premier miracle qui les a fait croire.
" This child is set... For a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul," O Mother most most afflicted and most desolate, "a sword shall pierce."[1] You will have a share in these contradictions; you'll see the whole world rise up against this beloved Son; your heart will be pierced, and there will be no sword-point more piercing than that of your sorrow; your heart will be pierced by as many wounds as those endured by your Son; you'll be led to His Cross, there to suffer a thousand deaths. How great shall be your affliction when you see His holy teaching contradicted and persecuted it? You'll see the birth of persecutions and heresies; the miracle of the virgin birth will be contradicted by like all the other mysteries, even whilst you are still living on earth; and there will be those who refuse to believe in your inviolable and perpetual virginity. You will, however, be the miracle of the Church, the glory of women, an example and model for the whole world. Can we ever sufficiently admire the faith which caused you to say: "They have no wine;"[2] and: "Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye."? [3] You will be the mother of all those who believe; and it was at your prayer that was accomplished the first miracle which made them believe.
[1] And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; Et benedixit illis Simeon, et dixit ad Mariam matrem ejus : Ecce positus est hic in ruinam, et in resurrectionem multorum in Israel, et in signum cui contradicetur : And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed. et tuam ipsius animam pertransibit gladius ut revelentur ex multis cordibus cogitationes.[Luc. ii. 34, 35]
[2] And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine. Et deficiente vino, dicit mater Jesu ad eum : Vinum non habent.
[3] His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye. Dicit mater ejus ministris : Quodcumque dixerit vobis, facite.
No comments:
Post a Comment