Quia Dem aignis sitam praemunire dignatur
Signs of Divine Mercy
God uses signs and omens throughout history to warn humanity and call them to repentance.
A created being. It's also a sign of divine mercy that God sometimes warns our ignorance through the evidence of His signs. When a comet appears, people believe that disasters are looming. Are you unaware that a comet changes kingdoms on earth? Anyone who has touched the histories of public affairs at all knows what signs occurred when the destruction of Italy was imminent. The volumes historians have written about memorable events are full of prodigies and omens. Finally, you don't doubt that many signs of faith and power preceded the time of Elijah and Elisha. The Ninevites, too, did penance because of the evidence of signs in the preaching of Jonah.
The Purpose of Signs
Signs serve to challenge unbelief and strengthen faith, as evidenced by the scriptural demand for them.
Unbelief is stirred up by the evidence of signs, and tender faith is strengthened by them. Hence that saying: "What sign do you show us?" And: "Jews demand signs, and Greeks look for wisdom."
Read the original Latin
creaturam. Hoc quoqne diuinae miserationis est, quod signorum suorum indicio ignorantiam nostram quandoque praemunit. Cometa siquidem apparente creduntur imminere eomitia. An ignoras terris mutantem regna eometem? Italiae quoque imminente excidio, quae signa contigerint, non nescit quisquis aliquatenus rerum publicarum historias attigit. Historicorum uolumina, quae de rebus memorabilibus scribuntur, prodigiis plena sunt et ostentis. Denique sub Helya et Heliseo multa fidei et uirtutis signa praecessisse non ambigis. Niniuitae quoque signorum indiciis penitentiam egerunt in praedicatione lonae.
Infidelitas namque signorum argumentis erigitur, et fides tenera eisdem roboratur. Vnde illud: Quod signum ostenc dis nobis? et: ludei signa quaerunt, Greci sapientiam.
Policraticus companion
Study the argument weekly; pray the tradition daily
Pair the outline with the Chosen Portion app, which serves short daily portions from the same royal devotional tradition — free on iOS.
John of Salisbury argued that rulers must keep the law of God before their eyes daily; Chosen Portion gives modern readers that same daily discipline in five minutes a morning.
- 8 weeks, one book per week, with the 3-4 key chapters flagged in each
- Discussion questions usable for a reading group from week one
- A daily 5-minute companion portion in the app alongside your weekly study