MEDULLA S. THOMAE AQUITATIS PER OMNES ANNI LITURGICI DIES DISTRBUITA, SEU MEDITATIONES EX OPERIBUS S. THOMAE DEPROMPTAE
Compilation and organization by
FR. Z. MÉZARD O. P.
NOTE
All titles marked with an asterisk contain material that is no longer attributed to Saint Thomas Aquinas
36. Wednesday after the First Sunday of the Passion: The Spiritual Tomb*
Wednesday of the First Week of the Passion
The contemplation of heavenly things is represented by the tomb. Thus, concerning the passage of Scripture (Job 3:22): "And they rejoice exceedingly when they find the tomb?", St. Gregory comments: in the contemplation of divine things, the soul, dead to the world, hides itself like a body in the grave and, far from all the turmoil of the age, rests for three days as if by a triple immersion. Those troubled and vexed by the insults of men, upon entering spiritually into the presence of God, no longer feel troubled, according to what the psalmist says (Ps 30:21): "You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man."
Three things are necessary for this spiritual tomb in God: that the soul practices virtues, becomes entirely pure and white, and dies radically to the world. All these conditions are mystically present in the burial of Christ.
1. The first is found in St. Mark (14:8), where it is said that Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus' tomb in advance: the precious nard signifies the virtues that have great worth. Nothing in this life is more precious than the virtues. Therefore, the holy soul that wishes to be anointed in divine contemplation must first and foremost receive the balm through the exercise of virtues. Thus, Job says (5:26): "You shall come to the grave at a ripe old age…" — to which the Glossa adds: of divine contemplation — "...as a sheaf of wheat is gathered in its season." — The Glossa again adds: for the time of action has as its reward eternal contemplation; and it is necessary that the perfect man first exercise his soul in virtues in order to then keep it in the granary of rest.
2. The second is also found in St. Mark (15:40), where it is said that Joseph bought a linen cloth, for the linen is a piece that only becomes white through much labor. Hence, it symbolizes the purity of the soul, which can only be attained through much effort. It is written in the Apocalypse (22:11), "He who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." St. Paul said to the Romans (6:4): "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life," progressing from good to better, by the righteousness of faith, in hope of glory. Thus, men must guard themselves in the tomb of divine contemplation by the brightness of inner purity. Therefore, concerning what is written (Mt 5:8): "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," St. Jerome said: the Lord, who is pure, is seen by the pure heart.
3. The third is found in St. John (19:39), when it says, "Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds." The hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes, with which the dead body is preserved from corruption, signify the perfect mortification of the external senses, by which the soul, dead to the world, remains uncorrupted by vices; according to St. Paul's word (2 Cor 4:16): "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day," meaning that he becomes increasingly pure from vices by the fire of tribulation.
Therefore, the soul of man must, first of all, die to this world with Christ and then, subsequently, be buried with Him, in the secret of contemplation. St. Paul told the Colossians (3:3): "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
From the Humanity of Christ, chapter XLII
(P. D. Mézard, O. P., Meditationes ex Operibus S. Thomae.)
#God #Deus #Isten #Gott #Jesus #Católico #Catholic #Katholik #katholisch #Katolikus #catholique #Faith #Fé #foi #信仰 #Latin #Latim #Gospel #Evangelho #Evangélium #évangile #Dieu #福音 #日本 #カトリック #Bible #Biblestr #Nostr #Grownostr
quotingTitle of the work in Latin
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MEDULLA S. THOMAE AQUITATIS PER OMNES ANNI LITURGICI DIES DISTRBUITA, SEU MEDITATIONES EX OPERIBUS S. THOMAE DEPROMPTAE
Compilation and organization by
FR. Z. MÉZARD O. P.
NOTE
All titles marked with an asterisk contain material that is no longer attributed to Saint Thomas Aquinas
35. Tuesday after the First Sunday of the Passion: The Tomb of Christ
Tuesday of the First Week of the Passion
"Why do you trouble this woman? For she has done a good work for Me... For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial" (Mt 26:10-12).
It was fitting that Christ be buried.
1. First, to confirm the truth of His death; for no one is placed in a tomb unless it is known that he is truly dead. Therefore, in the Gospel (Mark 15:44-45), it is written that Pilate, before allowing Christ to be buried, sought to ascertain by diligent inquiry whether He was dead.
2. Second, because having risen from the tomb, He gave hope of resurrection, through Him, to those who are buried, according to what is said in the Gospel (John 5:28): "All who are in the graves will hear the voice of the Son of God."
3. Third, for the example of those who, through the death of Christ, died spiritually to sins, in accordance with the Scripture (Ps 30:21): "They are hidden from the trouble of men." Therefore, the Apostle says (Col 3:3): "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Thus, the baptized, who by the death of Christ have died to sins, are as if they are buried with Christ through immersion, according to the Apostle (Romans 6:4): "We were buried with Christ through baptism."
*
Just as the death of Christ efficiently effected our salvation, so did His burial. Therefore, Jerome says: "We rise through the burial of Christ." And what is stated in Scripture (Isaiah 53:9): "And He made His grave with the wicked," the Glossa says: that is, the people who had no piety, He will give them to God the Father, because He won them through His death.
*
Of Christ, Scripture says (Ps 87:6): "He has become a man without help, free among the dead." Now, Our Lord showed that even buried among the dead He was free, by the fact that the inclusion in the tomb could not prevent Him from rising from it through the resurrection.
IIIa q. LI a. 1
(P. D. Mézard, O. P., Meditationes ex Operibus S. Thomae.)
#God #Deus #Isten #Gott #Jesus #Católico #Catholic #Katholik #katholisch #Katolikus #catholique #Faith #Fé #foi #信仰 #Latin #Latim #Gospel #Evangelho #Evangélium #évangile #Dieu #福音 #日本 #カトリック #Bible #Biblestr #Nostr #Grownostr
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