Praises of the Virgin Mother by St Bernard : Homily III : §10-11/14

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 III : §10-11/14

 §10.   Then the Angel, looking upon the Virgin and easily reading the various thoughts turning over in her mind, comforts her in her fear and reassures her in her doubt; addressing her familiarly by her name, he gently persuades her not to be afraid, saying[1]:

“Fear not, Mary...” The Annunciation, by Philippe de Champaigne (c. 1644).
The Met Fifth Avenue, N.Y. Public domain.

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

There is here no deception here, no falsehood; no fraud, no snare. I am not a man, but a spirit; I am an Angel of God, not a minion of Satan. “Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.” 

Oh, if you knew how pleasing your humility is to the Most High and what a sublime exaltation awaits you in His presence, you would not judge yourself unworthy of conversation with an Angel, nor even of his service! Why would you consider yourself unworthy of Angels’ grace when you have found grace with God? You have found what you were seeking; you have found what no one before you could find; you have found grace with God. What grace? The grace of peace and reconciliation between God and man, the destruction of death and the restoration of life. This is the grace you have found with God, and let this be a sign for you[2]:

“Thou shalt conceive and bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus.” 

Understand from the name of the promised Son, O prudent Virgin, how great and what a special grace you have found with God. “And thou shalt call his name Jesus.” Another Evangelist gives the reason for this name”[3]:

“For he shall save his people from their sins.”

Footnotes

[1] Luke i. 30.

[2] Ibid. 31.

[3] Matt. i. 21.

 §11.   I have read of two men who bore the name of Jesus; they both prefigured Him and both were of service to their people. 

Joshua passing the River Jordan, by Benjamin West (1800).
Art Gallery of New South Wales. Public domain.

One conducted his brethren into the Land of Promise[1]; the other led forth his people from the captivity of Babylon[2]. Both did, indeed, defend those they governed from their enemies, but they did not save them from their sins. Our Jesus, on the other hand, saves His people from their sins and likewise introduces them into the land of the living. 

“For he shall save his people from their sins.” Who is this that also forgives sins? Would that the Lord Jesus would deign to number me, a sinner, among His people, and save me from my sins! Truly, blessed are the people that have our Lord Jesus for their God, for He will save His people from their sins. But I fear there are many who profess to be of His people, but whom He does not recognize as such. I fear that to many who seem to be among the more religious-minded of His people He will say[3]: 

“This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” 

For “the Lord knoweth who are His”[4], and whom He hath chosen from the beginning. “And why call you me, Lord, Lord; and do not the things which I say?”[5]  

Do you want to know whether you belong to His people, or rather do you want to be one of His people? Do what Jesus tells you, and He will number you among His followers. Fulfil what the Lord Jesus commands in the Gospel, what He prescribes in the Law and the Prophets, what He ordains through His ministers in the Church. Obey His representatives set over you – not only the good and considerate ones, but also the difficult ones; and learn of Jesus Himself for He is meek and humble of heart[6]. You will then belong to the blessed people whom He has chosen for His inheritance; you shall be of His praiseworthy people, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying[7]: “You are the work of my hands, Israel, my inheritance;” and of whom He bears witness, saying[8]: 

“A people, which I knew not, hath served me: at the hearing of the ear they have obeyed me.”

Footnotes

[1] Jos. i. 11.

[2] Aggeus i. ; Ezra ii. 2.

[3] Matt. xv. 8.

[4] 2 Tim. 2. 19.

[5] Luke vi. 46. 

[6] Matt. xi. 29.

[7] Isai. xix, 25.

[8] Psalm. xvii. 45.

+       +        +

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.