In Praise of the Virgin Mother: Homily I, Part 7 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 seventh 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

7. Est tamen majus aliquid quod mireris in Maria: scilicet cum virginitate fecunditas. A saeculo enim non est auditum, ut aliqua simul mater esset et virgo. O si [alias, quod si] et cujus est mater attendas! quo te tua super ejus mirabili celsitudine ducet admiratio? Nonne ad hoc, ut te videas nec satis posse mirari?

Nonne tuo, imo Veritatis judicio, illa quae Deum habuit filium, super omnes etiam choros exaltabitur angelorum? Annon Deum et Dominum angelorum Maria suum audacter appellat filium, dicens: Fili, quid fecisti nobis sic?[1] Quis hoc audeat angelorum? Sufficit eis, et pro magno habent, quod cum sint spiritus ex conditione, ex gratia facti sunt et vocati angeli, testante David: Qui facit, inquit,  angelos suos spiritus [2]

Maria vero matrem se agnoscens, majestatem illam, cui illi cum reverentia serviunt, cum fiducia suum nuncupat filium. Nec dedignatur nuncupari Deus quod esse dignatus est. Nam paulo post subdit evangelista: Et erat, inquiens, subditus illis [3]. Quis, quibus? Deus hominibus, Deus, inquam, cui angeli subditi sunt, cui principatus et potestates obediunt, subditus erat Mariae, nec tantum Mariae, sed etiam Joseph propter Mariam.

Mirare ergo utrumlibet, et elige quid amplius mireris, sive Filii benignissimam dignationem, sive Matris excellentissimam dignitatem. Utrinque stupor, utrinque miraculum. Et quod Deus feminae obtemperet, humilitas absque exemplo; et quod Deo femina principetur, sublimitas sine socio. In laudibus virginum singulariter canitur, quod sequuntur Agnum quocunque ierit [4]. Quibus ergo laudibus judicas dignam, quae etiam praeit?

References

[1] [48] Et videntes admirati sunt. Et dixit mater ejus ad illum : Fili, quid fecisti nobis sic? ecce pater tuus et ego dolentes quaerebamus te. [Luke 2]
[48] And seeing him, they wondered. And his mother said to him: Son, why hast thou done so to us? behold thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
 

[2] [4] qui facis angelos tuos spiritus, et ministros tuos ignem urentem.[Ps. 103]
[4] Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire.

[3] [51] Et descendit cum eis, et venit Nazareth : et erat subditus illis. Et mater ejus conservabat omnia verba haec in corde suo. [Luke 2]
[51] And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart.

[4] [4] Hi sunt, qui cum mulieribus non sunt coinquinati : virgines enim sunt. Hi sequuntur Agnum quocumque ierit. Hi empti sunt ex hominibus primitiae Deo, et Agno : [5] et in ore eorum non est inventum mendacium : sine macula enim sunt ante thronum Dei. [Apoc. 14]
[4] These are they who were not defiled with women: for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were purchased from among men, the firstfruits to God and to the Lamb: [5] And in their mouth there was found no lie; for they are without spot before the throne of God.


Latin notes

abs-que, prep. gov. abl: without
canō, cecinī, 3, n. and a.: to make musical and rhythmical sounds with voice or instrument; to make melody, play, or sing, to sing, rehearse, celebrate in song or vers
celsĭtūdo, ĭnis, f. celsus. exalted rank or status, spiritual height, highness (title)
dē-dignor, ātus, 1, Iv. a. dep., to reject as unworthy, to disdain, scorn, refuse 
immō: yes indeed; nay rather,
majus: to a greater degree or extent, more (than; sts. w. abl.);
nuncŭpo, āvi, ātum, to call by name, to call, name, To announce publicly, proclaim formally. 
mīror, ātus sum, 1, dep. a. and n.: to wonder at, admire
ob-tempĕro (opt-), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., Ito comply with, attend to, conform to, submit to, obey (cf.:oboedio, obsequor, pareo; class.).α With dat
princĭpor, āri, v. dep. a. [princeps], to rule (eccl. Lat.)
quōcumque: (adv.), indef., to whatever place, whithersoever
super : (adv.), above; above, from above; moreover; besides; more than enough; remaining, surviving, left (with ellipsis of esse); still (or above); of time, in, during. super : (prep. with acc. and abl.)
ŭter-lĭbet, utrălĭbet, utrumlĭbet, pron.I Which of the two you please, whichsoever of the two
ū˘trimquĕ (ū˘trinquĕ), adv. uterque, from or on both sides or parts, on the one side and on the other.

Homily I

But in Mary there is something you might wonder at still more : it is the union of fecundity with virginity. Since the beginning of the world it is unheard of that a woman might be at once a virgin and a mother. And if you consider of whom she is the mother, your admiration will lead you to her exalted highness ! Does it not seem to you impossible to praise it sufficiently?

Is it not indeed your judgement of the truth, that she who has the God-man for her Son is exalted in greatness above all the choirs of angels ? Did not Mary confidently call the God and Lord of Angels her Son, saying : Son, why hast thou done so to us? Which of the angels would have dared to speak thus ? It is sufficient for them and something great, that they are spirits according to nature, by grace they are made and called angels, as David says : Who maketh his angels spirits.

Acknowledging herself in truth a mother, Mary confidently proclaims as her son that majesty whom the angels themselves serve with reverence. Neither does God disdain to be called what He deigned to be. For the Evangelist adds shortly after, And he was subject to them. Who, to whom? God, to man. God, I say, to Whom the angels are subject. God, Whom the powers and principalities obey, was subject to Mary. And not only to Mary, but also to Joseph,for Mary's sake.

Consider, then, and choose which of the two you most admire, the most beneficent condescension of the Son, or the surpassing dignity of the mother. Both are amazing ; both are miraculous. That God should obey a woman is humility without example ; that a woman should command God is a sublimity without parallel. In the praise of virgins, it is wonderfully chanted: They shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.  But what praise, think you, is worthy of her who leads the way before Him ?