An Explanation of the Angelic Salutation (by St Thomas Aquinas) : Part 2 of 2

The Annunciation. 1442-3. Fra Angelico. San Marco Museum, Florence.

This post is the second of two in which we present the Latin text that St Thomas Aquinas wrote on the Angelic Salutation.

I have included my own (fairly literal) English translation, together with a number of Scriptural references.

Article 2: “Blessed art thou among women”

Articulus 2: Benedicta tu in mulieribus

Thus she was exempt from each of these curses and, accordingly, “blessed among women.” For she alone destroyed the curse and bore the Blessing; she opened the gate of Heaven and for this reason the name Mary befits her as because it means “Star of the Sea”[1], for just as sailors are guided to port by the star of the sea, so are Christians guided by Mary to glory.

Sic ergo immunis fuit ab omni maledictione, et ideo benedicta in mulieribus: quia ipsa sola maledictionem sustulit, et benedictionem portavit, et ianuam Paradisi aperuit; et ideo convenit ei nomen Maria, quae interpretatur stella maris; quia sicut per stellam maris navigantes diriguntur ad portum, ita Christiani diriguntur per Mariam ad gloriam.

[1] Mar- ia > Mar -is Stella in Latin.

Article 3: “Blessed is the fruit of thy womb”

Articulus 3: Benedictus fructus ventris tui

The sinner often seeks after that which he is unable to find, but the just man can find what he seeks. “The substance of the sinner is kept for the just.” [Prov. xiii. 22][2] Thus Eve sought the fruit and did not find in it all the things she desired; but the Blessed Virgin found in her fruit everything Eve desired. For Eve desired three things in her fruit.

Firstly, that which the Devil falsely promised her, namely that they would become like gods, knowing good and evil. “You shall be,” said this liar, “as Gods” [Gen. ii. 5][3] . But he lied because he is a liar and the father of lies [Joan. Viii. 44]; for Eve, having eaten the fruit, was not made like God  but unlike Him because through sinning she departed from God her Saviour, whence she was driven out of Paradise. But the Blessed Virgin and all Christians found this in the fruit of her womb; because through Christ we are united to God and made like unto Him: “When he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is”[I Joan. iii. 2] [4].

Peccator aliquando quaerit in aliquo quod non potest consequi, sed consequitur illud iustus. Prov. XIII, 22: custoditur iusto substantia peccatoris. Sic Eva quaesivit fructum, et in illo non invenit omnia quae desideravit; beata autem virgo in fructu suo invenit omnia quae desideravit Eva. Nam Eva in fructu suo tria desideravit. Primo id quod falso promisit ei Diabolus, scilicet quod essent sicut dii, scientes bonum et malum. Eritis (inquit ille mendax) sicut dii, sicut dicitur Gen. III, 5. Et mentitus est, quia mendax est, et pater eius. Nam Eva propter esum fructus non est facta similis Deo, sed dissimilis: quia peccando recessit a Deo salutari suo, unde et expulsa est de Paradiso. Sed hoc invenit beata virgo et omnes Christiani in fructu ventris sui: quia per Christum coniungimur et assimilamur Deo. I Ioan. III, 2: cum apparuerit, similes ei erimus, quoniam videbimus eum sicuti est.

[2] The good man leaveth heirs, sons, and grandsons: and the substance of the sinner is kept for the just. Bonus reliquit haeredes filios et nepotes, et custoditur justo substantia peccatoris.

[3] For God doth know that in what day soever you shall eat thereof, your eyes shall be opened: and you shall be as Gods, knowing good and evil. Scit enim Deus quod in quocumque die comederitis ex eo, aperientur oculi vestri, et eritis sicut dii, scientes bonum et malum.

[4] Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is. Carissimi, nunc filii Dei sumus : et nondum apparuit quid erimus. Scimus quoniam cum apparuerit, similes ei erimus : quoniam videbimus eum sicuti est.

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.