Caput XLIX. De contemplatione Christi pueri.
Sweetness in Contemplating the Boy Christ
The recluse is invited to find sweetness in contemplating Christ as a boy at Nazareth, obeying his mother and assisting his foster father.
Besides, do you think no sweetness will come to you if you contemplate him as a boy at Nazareth among the boys? If you look upon him obeying his mother, if assisting his foster father as he works?1
Searching for the Lost Child
The recluse is drawn into the scene of the twelve-year-old Christ remaining in Jerusalem, and into Mary's sorrowful search and gentle rebuke.
What if you consider him at twelve years old going up to Jerusalem with his parents, and remaining in the city for three days after they returned, not knowing — and you search for him with his mother?✦ O what a great flood of tears will flow when you hear his mother chiding her son with a certain gentle rebuke: 'Son, why have you done this to us?'✦2 Behold, your father and I, grieving, were seeking you (Id.✦3
The Mother's Grief
A scriptural citation closes the chapter with Mary's words of sorrow.
II, 48).
Read the original Latin
Praeterea nihilne tibi suavitatis aestimas accessurum, si eum apud Nazareth puerum inter pueros contempleris? si obsequentem matri, si operanti nutritio assistentem intuearis? Quid si duodennem cum parentibus Jerosolymam ascendentem, et illis redeuntibus et nescientibus in urbe remanentem per triduum cum matre quaesieris? O quanta copia fluent lacrymae, cum audieris matrem dulci quadam increpatione filium verberantem, Fili, quid fecisti nobis sic? Ecce pater tuus et ego dolentes quaerebamus te (Id. II, 48).
Scripture echoes
- ↩Luke.2.41-Luke.2.51 — Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. Luke.2.42 — And when he was twelve years old, as they were going up according to the custom of the feast, Luke.2.43 — And when the days were completed, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, and his parents did not know it. Luke.2.44 — But supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances. Luke.2.45 — and not having found him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. Luke.2.46 — After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Luke.2.47 — And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and his answers. Luke.2.48 — When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, 'Child, why have you treated us like this? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in anguish.' Luke.2.49 — And he said to them, 'Why were you seeking me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?' Luke.2.50 — And they did not understand the word that he had spoken to them. Luke.2.51 — And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and he was subject to them. And his mother kept all these things in her heart.
- ↩Luke.2.48 — When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, 'Child, why have you treated us like this? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in anguish.'
- ↩Luke.2.48 — When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, 'Child, why have you treated us like this? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in anguish.'
Notes
De institutione inclusarum (A Rule of Life for a Recluse) companion
A rule only lives if you keep it daily
Chosen Portion gives your new rule its anchor: one free devotional portion every day.
Aelred built his sister's day around fixed times of prayer and meditation; Chosen Portion supplies the fixed daily portion that makes a modern rule of life keepable.
- Anchor your rule with a fixed 10-minute daily portion
- Practice Aelred's threefold meditation with guided daily prompts
- Review and adjust your one-page rule after 30 days of tracked practice