In Praise of the Virgin Mother: Homily I, Part 9 of 9

'To this warm love of Jesus Christ was joined a most sweet and tender devotion towards His glorious Mother, whose motherly love he repaid with the affection of a child, and whom he jealously honoured. (from Pope Pius XII's Encyclical 'Dr Mellifluus', on St Bernard, the 'last of the Fathers' - 1953)


This is the ninth instalment of our series on St Bernard's homilies in praise of the Virgin Mother. The Latin text is followed by notes, references and an English translation.

Homilia I

9. Sed felix Maria, cui nec humilitas defuit, nec virginitas. Et quidem singularis virginitas, quam non temeravit, sed honoravit fecunditas: et nihilominus specialis humilitas, quam non abstulit, sed extulit fecunda virginitas: et incomparabilis prorsus fecunditas, quam virginitas simul comitatur et humilitas. Quid horum non mirabile? quid non incomparabile? quid non singulare?

Mirum vero si non haesitas in eorum ponderatione, quid tua judices dignius admiratione, utrum videlicet potius stupenda sit fecunditas in virgine, an in matre integritas; sublimitas in prole, an cum tanta sublimitate humilitas: nisi quod indubitanter horum singulis praeferenda sunt simul cuncta, et incomparabiliter excellentius est atque felicius, omnia percepisse, quam aliqua.

Et quid mirum si Deus, qui mirabilis legitur et cernitur in sanctis suis [1], mirabiliorem se exhibuit in Matre sua? Veneramini ergo, conjuges, in carne corruptibili carnis integritatem: miramini etiam, vos sacrae virgines, in virgine fecunditatem: imitamini, omnes homines, Dei Matris humilitatem.

Honorate, sancti Angeli, vestri Regis Matrem, qui nostrae adoratis Virginis Prolem, ipsum utique nostrum pariter ac vestrum regem, nostri generis reparatorem, vestrae civitatis instauratorem. Cujus apud vos tam sublimis, inter nos tam humilis, a vobis pariter, et a nobis detur et dignitati debita reverentia, et dignationi honor et gloria in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

References

[1] [36] Mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis; Deus Israel ipse dabit virtutem et fortitudinem plebi suae. Benedictus Deus! [Ps. 67]
[36] God is wonderful in his saints: the God of Israel is he who will give power and strength to his people. Blessed be God.


Latin notes


cernō, crevī, crētus, 3, a.: to distinguish; discern, perceive, see, behold
comitor , ātus sum, 1. dep. a.: to accompany, attend, follow
dignātĭo, ōnis, f. dignor, graciousness, condescension.
dignĭtas, ātis , f. dignus. Lit., a being worthy, worth, worthiness, merit, desert
efferō, extulī, ēlātus, ferre, irreg. a.: to bear, or bring out or forth; bear away, rescue; raise, elevate, lift up or high
haesĭto, āvi, ātum, 1, v. freq. n. [haereo], to stick fast, remain fixed in a place. to be uncertain, undecided, to be at a loss, to hesitate.
in-dŭbĭtanter, adv. id., indubitably, without doubt (post-class.)
legō, lēgī, lēctus, 3, a.: to gather, collect; cull, pick, gather; gather in, furl; wind up; select, elect, choose; take to one's self, claim; take in point after point in travel or with the eye, coast along, pass by; trace, pursue; traverse; ; read; survey, review.
nihilominus : none the less, just as much
percipiō, cēpī, ceptus, 3, a.: to take in completely; perceive; feel, 7.356; understand,To learn, know, conceive, comprehend, understand, perceive
prōrsus adv.: pro+vorsus, forward, right onward:
prōlēs, is, f.: that which springs forth; offspring, race, progeny,
quidem : (adv.), indeed, truly, at least, yet,
temerō, āvī, ātus, 1, a.: to treat recklessly; outrage; desecrate, defile, profane

Homily I

Happy was Mary in whom neither humility nor virginity was wanting. A truly singular virginity, which did not outrage fecundity but rather  honoured it.   And an equally rare humility, that a fruitful virginity did not impair but elevated. Whence an incomparable fecundity, which virginity accompanies, together with humility. Which of them is not wonderful,? Which of them not incomparable? Which of then not unique ?

It would be amazing for you not to hesitate while in pondering them. Which do you judge to be more worthy of your admiration:  the fecundity in the Virgin, or the integrity (virginity) in the Mother; or the sublimity in the offspring, or the humility with such sublimity? Without any doubt, all of them taken together are to be preferred to each one individually; and it is incomparably more excellent and blessed to have these together rather than individually.

It is not be wondered at that God, Who (as we read and perceive) is wonderful in His saints, should also show Himself even more wonderful in His Mother ? All ye married, venerate her integrity in corruptible flesh ! All ye sacred virgins, wonder at the fruitfulness in the virgin!  All ye men, imitate the humility of the Mother of God !

All ye holy angels, who adore the Child of the Virgin, honour the Mother of your King ! He is at once our King and yours, the Redeemer of our race, the restorer of your city. To Him Who with you is so glorious, with us so humble, be rendered for ages without end, both by us and by you, the reverence due to His dignity and the honour and glory worthy of His condescension.