St Bernard's Praises of the Virgin Mother: Homily 2, Part 2

St Bernard. Musée de Cluny [Public domain]

'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)

Our series on St Bernard's homilies in praise of the Virgin Mother continues with the second homily. The Latin text and an English translation are followed by references and notes on vocabulary.

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

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

HOMILIA II. In Luc. I, 26, 27

2. Ut igitur quae Sanctum sanctorum conceptura erat pariter et paritura, sancta esset corpore, accepit donum virginitatis : ut esset et mente, accepit et humilitatis.

2. In order, therefore, that she who was to conceive and give birth to the Holy of Holies might be holy in body, she received the gift of virginity, and that she might be holy in mind, she received the gift of humility. 

His nimirum Virgo regia gemmis ornata virtutum, geminoque mentis pariter et corporis decore praefulgida, specie sua et pulchritudine sua in coelestibus cognita, coeli civium in se provocavit aspectus, ita ut et Regis animum in sui concupiscentiam inclinaret, et coelestem nuntium ad se de supernis educeret.

Certainly, with these gems of virtue the royal Virgin was adorned, and, radiant with the double splendour of holiness in body and mind, her appearance and beauty once known,  the citizens of heaven fixed their gaze upon her. The King Himself stooped to desire her beauty, and sent forth His supernal ambassador.  

Et hoc est quod nobis hic Evangelista commendat, cum angelum perhibet a Deo destinatum ad Virginem: A Deo, inquit, ad virginem: id est, a celso ad humilem, a Domino ad ancillam, a Creatore ad creaturam.

And this is what the Evangelist reports to us when he says that the angel was sent from God to a Virgin that is, from the highest to the lowliest ; from the Lord to His handmaid: from the Creator to His creature. 

Quanta dignatio Dei! quanta Virginis excellentia! Currite, matres; currite, filiae; currite, omnes quae post Evam, et ex Eva, et parturimini cum tristitia, et parturitis. Adite virginalem thalamum, ingredimini, si potestis, pudicum sororis vestrae cubiculum.

How great the condescension of God ! How great the excellence of the Virgin ! Hasten, all ye mothers! And hasten, all ye daughters! Hasten, all ye who after Eve and on account of Eve, are born and give birth in sorrow! Approach the Virgin's chamber ; enter, if you can, the modest room of your Sister 

Ecce enim Deus mittit ad Virginem, ecce affatur angelus Mariam. Apponite aurem parieti, auscultate quid nuntiet ei, si forte audiatis unde consolemini.

For, behold ! God sends forth to the Virgin, behold an angel addresses Mary. Place your ear  to the wall ; listen to what he
announces ; perchance you may receive a word of consolation.  

Latin vocab

auscultō āvī, ātus, āre: * ausculta for auricula, to hear with attention, listen to, give ear to

nīmīrum: (adv.), without wonder or doubt; certainly, undoubtedly, doubtless.
pariēs, etis, m.: a wall, whether partition or external wall
prae -fulgĭdus, a, um, adj., very bright: