Praises of the Virgin Mother by St Bernard : Homily I : §2/9

St Bernard, by Juan Correa de Vivar,
c. 1540-45. Museo del Prado.
(public domain).

The following posts present the text of four homilies by St Bernard (1090-1153) frequently given the title of Missus est but which he himself called Praises of the Virgin Mother.

 

He was the first Cistercian monk to be placed on the calendar of saints and was canonized by Alexander III on the 18th January 1174. Pope Pius VIII bestowed on him the title of Doctor of the Church, “Doctor mellifluus,” on the 20th of August 1830. 

I offer this annotated presentation of St Bernard’s Homilies as a small gift to our gentle Queen and Mother in gratitude for her multitudinous graces and favours, requesting her continued help and protection for the author and his family.

The Latin text and references are based upon De laudibus Virginis Matris (Patrologia latina, vol. 183. J. P. Migne). The English text is based upon the version compiled and translated at St. Mary's Convent, York, and published by Washbourne in 1909.

Homily I : §2/9

 §2.  Accordingly, he says: “The Angel Gabriel was sent from God.”[1] 

St Gabriel (12c). Church of Santa Maria
 (“The Martorana”), Palermo, Sicily.[2]

I do not think this Angel was one of the lesser ones who are accustomed for whatever reason to carrying out frequent missions on earth. This is clear from his name which may be interpreted as meaning “Strength of God.” He was not sent (as is usually the case) from a higher spirit, but from God Himself. For this reason it is said he was “sent from God,” or appointed by God, lest we should suppose that God had revealed His design to anyone before the Blessed Virgin – with the sole exception of the Archangel Gabriel who was indeed considered to possess such excellence among his peers that he was deemed worthy of both such a name and such a message. 

The name befits the messenger, for who indeed could more fittingly proclaim Christ – the power of God – than the one whom He honours with a similar name ? For what is strength, if not power? Nor is it unbecoming or inappropriate that the Lord and His nuncio should bear the same title, for though the name is alike in both cases, the cause for which it is given is not the same for both. Christ is called the Strength or Power of God in quite another sense than the Angel. In the Angel it is merely an appellation but in Christ it expresses a substantial quality, for Christ is called, and is, the power of God[3]. Stronger than the strongly-armed one who used to keep His court in peace, He came down upon him, waged war against him and vanquished him with the might of His arm[4]. In this way did He powerfully rescue the vessels of captivity. 

The Angel Gabriel is called the strength of God either because he had merited the prerogative of officially announcing the advent of the power of God, or in order that he might strengthen the Virgin – by nature meek, simple and modest – who might be terrified by the novelty of the miracle. This he did saying: 

“Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.”[5] 

It may not unreasonably be supposed that the same Angel strengthened her own spouse, a man no less humble and timorous, although this Angel is not actually named by the Evangelist. “Fear not, Joseph,” he says, “son of David, to take unto thee Mary thy wife.” Gabriel is therefore fittingly chosen for this task; indeed, because such a mission is entrusted to him, he is rightly designated by such a name.

Footnotes

[1] Luke i. 26.

[2] To indicate Gabriel's importance in the Heavenly court, Orthodox images such as this one show him as a Byzantine courtier of the highest rank, wearing red shoes and the long scarf called a λῶρος / loros. The standard known as a λαβαρόν / labarum in his right hand is also a symbol of authority in the Byzantine court. Photographed at the Church by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike licence.

[3] Christum Dei virtutem  / Christ the power of God:  1 Cor. i. 24.

[4] He hath shewed might in his arm: Luke i. 51..

[5] Luke i. 30.

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The Virgin of Tenderness. >12th century.

SUB tuum præsidium confugimus, Sancta Dei Genitrix. Nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus, sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper, Virgo gloriosa et benedicta. Amen. 

 

Totus tuus ego sum

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:

Ad Jesum per Mariam.

He that hearkeneth to me, shall not be confounded: and they that work by me, shall not sin. They that explain me shall have life everlasting. Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) xxiv. 30-31.30-31.