In Praise of the Virgin Mother: Homily I, Part 8 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 eighth 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

8. Disce, homo, obedire; disce, terra, subdi; disce, pulvis, obtemperare. De auctore tuo loquens evangelista, Et erat, inquit, subditus illis; haud dubium, quin Mariae et Joseph. Erubesce, superbe cinis! Deus se humiliat, et tu te exaltas? Deus se hominibus subdit, et tu dominari gestiens hominibus, tuo te praeponis auctori?

Utinam mihi aliquando, tale aliquid cogitanti, Deus respondere dignetur, quod et suo increpando respondit apostolo: Vade, inquit, post me, Satana, quia non sapis ea quae Dei sunt [1].Quoties enim hominibus praeesse desidero, toties Deum meum praeire contendo: et tunc vere non sapio ea quae Dei sunt. De ipso namque dictum est: Et erat subditus illis.

Si hominis, o homo, imitari dedignaris exemplum, certe non erit tibi indignum sequi Auctorem tuum. Si non potes forsitan sequi eum quocunque ierit, dignare vel sequi quo tibi condescendit. Hoc est, si non potes sublimem incedere semitam virginitatis, sequere vel Deum per tutissimam viam humilitatis: a cujus rectitudine si qui etiam de virginibus deviaverint, ut verum fatear, nec ipsi sequuntur Agnum quocunque ierit.

Sequitur quidem Agnum coinquinatus humilis, sequitur et virgo superbus; sed neuter quocunque ierit: quia nec ille ascendere potest ad munditiam Agni, qui sine macula est; nec is ad ejusdem mansuetudinem descendere dignatur, quia scilicet non coram tondente, sed coram occidente, se obmutuit. Attamen salubriorem elegit sequendi partem in humilitate peccator, quam in virginitate superbus: cum et illius immunditiam sua humilis satisfactio purget, et hujus pudicitiam superbia inquinet.

References

[1] [23] Qui conversus, dixit Petro : Vade post me Satana, scandalum es mihi : quia non sapis ea quae Dei sunt, sed ea quae hominum.[Mat.23]
[23] Who turning, said to Peter: Go behind me, Satan, thou art a scandal unto me: because thou savourest not the things that are of God, but the things that are of men.


Latin notes

attamen = tamen : (conj.), however, notwithstanding, nevertheless, still, yet.
aliquandō: adv. (alius and quandō), at some time; formerly
cinis , eris, m.: ashes, embers
coinquinatus: from cŏ-inquĭno, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., to defile all over, to pollute wholly, to contaminate.
dominor , ātus sum (pass. inf., dominārier,), 1, dep. n.: to be lord or master; rule, reign, be supreme
ērubēscō, rubuī, 3, inc. n. and a.: to redden; to blush; feel shame before; to revere, respect
fateor , fassus sum, 2, dep. a.: to own, admit, acknowledge, confess,
forsitan : (adv.), perchance, perhaps
gestĭo, īvi, or ĭi, ītum, 4, v. n. 2. gestus, I., to use passionate gestures, to throw one's self about (espec. for joy), to be transported, to exult, to be joyful, cheerful
incēdō, cessī, cessus, 3, a. and n.: to step onward; walk, especially with pomp or dignity; advance
increpō, uī, itus, rarely āvī, ātus, 1, n. and a.: to make a noise or din; resound; clash; snap; (fig.), chide, blame, reprimand; taunt
inquĭno, āvi, ātum, 1, v. a.  to befoul, stain, pollute, defile
mansŭētūdo, ĭnis, f. id., tameness. In gen., mildness, gentleness, clemency
ob-tempĕro (opt-), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., to comply with, attend to, conform to, submit to, obey
ob-mūtesco, tŭi, 3, v. inch. n., to become dumb, to lose one's speech
pŭdīcĭtĭa, ae, f. pudicus, shamefacedness, modesty, chastity, virtue 
quidem : (adv.), indeed, truly, at least, yet, 
quīn: (conj.), why not, wherefore not? nay but
sēmĭta, ae, f.se-(=sed-), i.e. aside; and root mi-, to go; cf.: meo, trames, a narrow way, a path, footpath, lane, byway, etc
sub-do, dĭdi, dĭtum, 3, v. a.I To put, place, set, or lay under
tondeō, totondī, tōnsus, 2, a.: to shear; finish, 

Homily I

Learn, O man, to obey ; learn, O earth, to be subject ; learn, O dust, to be submissive. The Evangelist, speaking of your Creator, says :  He was subject to them, that is, of course, to Mary and Joseph. Blush, O dust and ashes, and be ashamed to be proud. God humbles Himself, and do you exalt yourself ?  God submits to man, and do you, exulting, prefer yourself to your Creator as lording it over men?

Would that, when I think such thoughts, God would deign to make me the same reprimand as to His Apostle : Get behind me, Satan, for thou savourest not the things that are of God. As often as I desire to be preeminent among men, so often do I contend preeminence with my God; and then I truly do not savour the things that are of God. For it was said of Him: And He was subject to them.

If, O man, you disdain to imitate the example of your fellow-man, it will certainly not be unworthy for you to follow that of your Maker. If perchance you cannot follow Him whithersoever he goeth, deign to follow Him whither He condescends to show you; which is to say: if you are unable to proceed along the sublime, narrow path of virginity, then follow God on the most safe road of humility; for, I should admit that should even virgins deviate from this straight path, they will not follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.

The soul that is humble, but stained with sin, and the proud virgin both follow the Lamb; but neither follows  whithersoever he goeth. The former cannot rise to the purity of the Lamb who is without stain; the latter does not deign to descend to His meekness of Him Who, not only before His shearers, but even before His executioners, was dumb and opened not his mouth. The sinner, however, chooses the safer path by following in humility rather than being proud in virginity, because the humble satisfaction of the former purges away his impurity; whereas the pride of the latter pollutes his purity.