Omina uana esse, et rea ex'jide eua cuique
The Vanity of Superstition
The author dismisses common omens and superstitious practices as having no inherent power over the course of human events.
to respond. There is a rustic and perhaps Oiffellian proverb: anyone who believes in dreams and omens will never be secure. I consider this a very true and very faithful sentiment. For what does it matter to the sequence of events if someone sneezes once or more often? What if they yawn? Finally, what if they make a sound from somewhere? Yet these things, for reasons known to natural philosophers, do pertain in some way to the person around whom they occur. Granted, provided they cannot hinder or promote the actions of others; just as empty incantations or certain superstitious bindings cannot, which the entire medical profession condemns, even if these very things are often called 'physics' by some under a more distinguished name.
Faith and the Divine Order
While all things fall under the Creator's providence, true power lies in faith and the holy actions of the saints rather than empty omens.
They say that the most hidden logic of natural science is beyond human understanding. For there is nothing that exists or happens without a legitimate cause and reason preceding it; and, as another says, nothing happens on earth without a cause. It's clear, therefore, that nothing escapes the hand of the Creator of nature. From this it follows clearly that everything pertains to natural science. For my part, however these things may be, I believe without a doubt that we shouldn't reject anything that comes from faith and is directed toward the glory of the almighty God; for I know it is written: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord," in which alone a person's path is made to prosper. This is how the whole company of the saints has gone before us. Cuthbert, a man of our own people, used to place the Gospel of John upon the sick in the name of the Lord, and they were healed. The tunic of blessed Stephen, when placed upon the dead, raised them to life.
The Power of Holy Devotion
Holy prayers and sacred signs are effective tools of grace, whereas omens only hold power over those who lack firm faith.
The Apostles' Creed healed the demon-possessed man who was carrying it. The Lord's Prayer, when recited or given with faith while herbs were being gathered or administered, has very often brought about the desired effect of healing. Blessed Benedict broke a deadly vessel with the sign of the cross, just as if he had thrown a stone to make a sign. Passages from the Gospel, whether carried, heard, or spoken, are found to have helped very many people. These things and others like them are not only lawful but also very useful. Other things, however, shouldn't be so much despised as avoided. It's certainly true that for those who love God, all things work together for good; yet God permits the faithless, the reprobate, or even those who waver in faith to be subject to many deceptions. Nevertheless, all omens have only as much power as the faith of the person receiving them allows.
Steadfastness Against Omens
Historical examples of leaders and saints demonstrate that true strength of character involves refusing to be swayed by superstitious fear.
That is why Julius Caesar couldn't be deterred from any undertaking by any omen or superstition. It happened that when he was once setting sail for Africa, he stumbled as he was getting off the ship; but, turning the omen to a better meaning, he said, "I have you now, Africa," and he conquered it. Furthermore, on the night before he died, his wife Calpurnia saw him lying in her lap covered in many wounds. Though she begged him to stay away from the Senate the next day, he wouldn't be persuaded, for he didn't want it to seem that he had ever done anything timid in his life because of some omen. During the destruction of Massilia, he was the first to dare to cut down a grove that was held sacred to the gods, proving himself a stranger to all superstition. Blessed Mark also, when he was setting out for Alexandria to preach the Gospel, when...
Read the original Latin
respondere. Rusticanum et forte Oiffelli prouerbium est: Qui sompniis et auguriis credit, numquam fore securum. Ego sententiam et uerissimam et fidelissimam puto. Quid enim refert ad consequentiam rerum, si quis semel aut amplius stemutauerit? Quid si oscitauerit? Quid denique si undecumque sonum emiserit? Haec tamen, ex causis quas phisici nouerunt, aliquatenus ad eum pertinent circa quem fiunt. Esto, dum aliena opera impedire aut promouere non queant; sicut nec inania carmina aut superstitiosae quaedam ligaturae, quae tota medicorum secta condempnat, licet haec ipsa a quibusdam eminentiori quodam nomine phisica soleant appellari.
Phisica etenim dicunt, cuius occultissima ratio est, ut humano sensu nequeat comprehendi. Nichil etenim est uel fit, cuius ortum legitima causa et ratio non praecedant; et, ut alius ait, nichil fit in terra sine causa. Constat itaque quia artificis naturae manum nichil euadit. Ex quo consequenter patet ad phisicam omnia pertinere. Ego quidem, quocumque modo ista se habeant, indubitanter credo illa sola non esse respuenda quae ex fide proueniunt et referuntur ad gloriam omnipotentis Dei; cum scriptum nouerim: Omnia quaecumque in opere uel in uerbo feceritis, in nomineDomini facite; in quo sola uia hominis prosperatur. Sic omnium sanctorum turba praecessit. Cuthbertus siga nif er quidam gentis nostrae in lege Domini euangelium lohannis superponebat infirmis, et curabantur. Beati Stephani tunica superposita mortuum suscitauit.
Symbolum apostolorum demoniacum, a quo gestabatur, curauit. Oratio dominica herbis, dum legebantur aut dabantur ex fide dicta, saepissime contulit optatum salutis eftectum. Beatus Benedictus signo cnicis uas mortifenim fregit, ac si pro signo lapidem intorsisset. Capitula euangelii gestata uel audita uel dicta inueniuntur profuisse quamplurimis. Haec equidem et similia non modo licita sed et utilissima sunt. Alia uero non tam contempnenda quam fugienda. Certum siquidem est quod diligentibus Deum omnia cooperantur in bonum, Infideles autem et reprobos aut etiam hesitantes in fide multis permittit Deus ludificationibus subiacere. Omnia tamen omina tantum possunt quantum excipientis fides permittit.
Vnde et lulius Cesar nullo augurio nullaue superstitione a quocumque incepto potuit absterreri. Contigit enim ut quandoque in Afiricam nauic gio proficiscens in egressu nams prolaberetur; uerso itaque ad melius omine, Teneo te, inquit, Afirica: eamque obtinuit. Praeterea Calpumia uxor eius ea nocte, quam is in terra ultimam gessit, uidit eum multis uulneribus conf ectimi in sinu suo iacere, rogansque ut die sequenti a curia abstineret, non obtinuit, ne ille in uita sua aliquid timidum quocumque auspicio egisse uideretur. In excidio Massiliensium, lucum qui diis sacratus habebatur, primus ausus est caedere, probans se ab omni superstitione alienum. Beatus quoque Marcus euangelizandi causa Alexandriam proficiscens, cum
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