Virginity is pleasing to God (Colloquy of the Blessed Virgin and the Angel: Pt 3)

Ave Maria. [JJ Tissot, Brooklyn Museum]

We continue Lent with our series presenting the homilies of St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) on the Virgin Mother. In this and in subsequent posts, I shall be publishing English excerpts* from his 'Colloquy of the Blessed Virgin and the Angel', to which I have added a number of references and notes.

*SERMONS OF ST. BERNARD ON ADVENT & CHRISTMAS
Compiled and translated at St. Mary s Convent, from the Edition (1508), in black-letter of St. Bernard s Sermons and Letters. R. & T. WASHBOURNE, LTD., 2 & 4 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON MANCHESTER : 74 BRIDGE ST. GLASGOW : 248 BUCHANAN ST. BENZIGER BROS. \ NEW YORK, CINCINNATI, CHICAGO 1909

Totus tuus ego sum et omnia mea tua sunt. Tecum tutus semper sum. 

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

Virginity is pleasing to God

But who has taught thee, O prudent Virgin, O devout Virgin, that virginity is pleasing to God? What page of the Old Testament exhorted thee, what ordinance counselled thee, what law commanded thee to live in the flesh, yet not according to the flesh, and lead on earth the life of the angels? Where didst thou read that the “wisdom of the flesh is death,”[1] and that we are not to “make provision for the flesh in its concupiscences”?[2] Where didst thou read of virgins that they sing a new song no other can sing, and that they follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth?[3] Where didst thou read that they are praised who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven?[4] Where didst thou find that “though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh”[4]; and that “he that giveth his virgin in marriage doth well; but he that giveth her not, doth better”[5]  [7] ?

Where didst thou hear, “I would that all men were as myself”[6]; and “it is good for a man, if he so remain according to my counsel”? The unction of the Holy Spirit, O Virgin, has taught thee all these things. Before becoming thy Son God has been thy Master. Thou dost vow thyself as a chaste virgin to Christ, and thou knowest not thou shalt be His Mother. Thou wilt conceive, but without sin; thou wilt bring forth, but without sorrow; thou knowest not man, but thou wilt bear a Son. What Son? Thou wilt be Mother of Him whose Father is God. The Son of the Father’s love will be the crown of thy chastity; the wisdom of the Father’s mind will be the fruit of thy virginal womb. Of God, therefore, thou wilt conceive, and thou wilt bring forth a God. Take courage, then, fruitful Virgin, chaste Mother, spotless Mother; thou wilt no longer be accursed in Israel, nor reckoned among the barren. Thou wilt be blessed on earth by the angel, and all generations of the earth shall call thee blessed. “Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.”

[1] [6] For the wisdom of the flesh is death; but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.
Nam prudentia carnis, mors est : prudentia autem spiritus, vita et pax : [Romans 8]

[2] [14] But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh in its concupiscences.
sed induamini Dominum Jesum Christum, et carnis curam ne feceritis in desideriis. [Romans 13]

[3] [3] And they sung as it were a new canticle, before the throne, and before the four living creatures, and the ancients; and no man could say the canticle, but those hundred forty-four thousand, who were purchased from the earth.
Et cantabant quasi canticum novum ante sedem, et ante quatuor animalia, et seniores : et nemo poterat dicere canticum, nisi illa centum quadraginta quatuor millia, qui empti sunt de terra.
[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:
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 [Revelation 14]

[4] [12] For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it.
Sunt enim eunuchi, qui de matris utero sic nati sunt : et sunt eunuchi, qui facti sunt ab hominibus : et sunt eunuchi, qui seipsos castraverunt propter regnum caelorum. Qui potest capere capiat. [Matthew 19]

[4] [3] For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
In carne enim ambulantes, non secundum carnem militamus.
[4] For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God unto the pulling down of fortifications, destroying counsels,
Nam arma militiae nostrae non carnalia sunt, sed potentia Deo ad destructionem munitionum, consilia destruentes, [2 Corinthians 10]

[5] [38] Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.
Igitur et qui matrimonio jungit virginem suam, bene facit : et qui non jungit, melius facit. [1 Corinthians 7]

[6] [7] For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.
Volo enim omnes vos esse sicut meipsum : sed unusquisque proprium donum habet ex Deo : alius quidem sic, alius vero sic.
[8] But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.
Dico autem non nuptis, et viduis : bonum est illis si sic permaneant, sicut et ego. [1 Corinthians 7]

[7] [34] And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
Et mulier innupta, et virgo, cogitat quae Domini sunt, ut sit sancta corpore, et spiritu. Quae autem nupta est, cogitat quae sunt mundi, quomodo placeat viro. [1 Cor 7]