VISIO SECUNDA, cap. XXXVI
Rays of Knowledge and Devotion Rising to Fortitude
The outbreathing of the spirits of knowledge and devotion rises toward fortitude and the fear of the Lord, showing how contemplative strength is fortified and shared.
But you can see how, from the middle of the fifth planet's sign — the one nearest below the sun — a kind of ray rises upward toward the sign of the sun; this means that from the power of the spirit of knowledge, which through its closeness to right action ought to be present to the spirit of fortitude, the outbreathing reaches up toward that same fortitude, because knowledge lifts itself up to fortitude so as to be strengthened by it and not to be turned into foolishness. Another, reaching toward the head of the Crab, which extends from the sign of the Wolf's head, stretches out — because from the power of knowledge's strength the outbreathing expands into the confidence that emerges from bodily trial: since when a person knowingly and simply, and with the protection of discretion, disciplines their body, they trust that their sins have been punished and cleansed. But another directs itself toward the left horn of the Moon's sign, because when knowledge withdraws from temporal things, it pours out its expiration — putting temporal matters aside — toward the fear of the Lord, and it takes hold of that fear so as to faithfully instill it as terror in others. From the middle of the sixth planet's sign as well — the one nearest above the One — a single ray stretches upward toward the sign of the sun, showing that from the protection of the spirit of devotion, which by its own sweetness is close to the fear of the Lord, the outbreathing rises up to the spirit of fortitude, and there, strengthened, it fortifies itself so it can resist evil. For whoever intends to walk devoutly, let them join fortitude to themselves, so that they may have the strength to persevere in devotion. And another is directed toward the right horn of the Moon's sign, showing that when the spirit of devotion walks prosperously, it advances toward the prosperity of the fear of the Lord — also making it known to others so that they too may hold the fear of the Lord along with devotion.
Turning from Adversity to Faith
When devotion meets adversity, the soul is directed toward faith born of hell's pains, so that fortified by both, one may escape eternal loss.
Another, however, extends toward the head of the Stag, which proceeds from the sign of the Wolf's head, signifying that when a person rejects the adversity of the spirit of devotion and directs their outbreathing toward the faith that emerges from the pains of hell, so that — fortified by devotion and faith — they may thus escape the infernal penalties and not lose heavenly happiness through the impulse of stubbornness.
The Fear of the Lord as Guardian of Sight and Steps
The fear of the Lord protects the inner gaze and guides the steps of the spirit toward uprightness and eternal blessedness.
But what you see radiating from the sign of the Moon — like a ray — over both eyebrows and over both feet of the aforementioned image, this shows that the saving outbreathing that comes from the fear of the Lord warns a person to guard the gaze of their mind so that the soul does not fall into blindness, and that it thus directs and urges the strength of the inner spirit's steps toward the path of uprightness, so that, walking in truth, the person may attain eternal blessedness. For just as the eyebrow protects the eye, and just as the ankle bears the body of a person, so the fear of the Lord shapes the inner sight so that it does not forget God, and it preserves the inner strength by which a person is carried toward whatever things are useful and right.
Temptation as Medicine Against Presumption
Even the virtuous are assailed by temptations for their own good, lest presumption lead them to perish.
Because even though any faithful person may stand out for their virtues, they are still assailed — as if forsaken — by temptations at one time or another, and this for their own good, so that they may not be led astray by presumptuous elation and so perish.
Read the original Latin
Sicut autem vides quod a medio signi planetae quinti, qui proximus sub sole est, quasi radius quidam sursum ad signum solis ascendit, hoc est quod a virtute spiritus scientiae, qui per vicinitatem rectae operationis spiritui fortitudinis adesse debet, exspiratio sursum ad eamdem fortitudinem tendit, quia scientia ut a fortitudine roboretur, ne in insipientia vertatur ad ipsam se elevat. Quidam vero ad caput cancri, quod a signo capitis lupi exit, se extendit, quoniam a virtute virium scientiae exspiratio ad fiduciam quae a corporali tribulatione egreditur se dilatat, quia cum homo scienter et simpliciter ac cum munimine discretionis corpus suum castigat, peccata sua punita et purgata esse confidit. Sed quidam ad sinistrum cornu signi lunae se dirigit, quoniam cum a temporalibus scientia se subtrahit, expirationem suam, temporalia postponens, ad timorem Domini diffundit, eumque ut terrorem hominibus fideliter incutiat apprehendit. De medio etiam signi planetae sexti, qui proximus super unam est, velut radius unus sursum ad signum solis tendit, ostendens quod de munimine spiritus pietatis, qui suavitate sua vicinus timori Domini est, exspiratio sursum ad spiritum fortitudinis ascendit, ibique confortatus, ut malignitati resistere possit se munit. Nam quicunque pie incedere disponit, fortitudinem sibi associet, ut in pietate perseverare valeat. Et alius ad dextrum cornu signi lunae dirigitur, demonstrans quod prospere incedens, spiritus pietatis prosperitatem timoris Domini aggreditur, hominibus etiam ut cum pietate timorem Domini habeant innotescens. Alius autem ad caput cervi, quod a signo capitis lupi procedit, extenditur, significans quod adversitatem spiritus pietatis abjiciens, exspirationem suam ad fidem quae ab infernalibus poenis egreditur producit, quatenus homo, pietate et fide munitus, infernales poenas sic effugiat, ne supernam felicitatem per impulsum contumaciae amittat. Quod vero vides qualiter a signo lunae quasi radius super utrumque supercilium, ac super utrumque talum praefatae imaginis radiat, hoc ostendit quod a timore Domini exspiratio salutifera veniens, hominem ut aciem mentis suae custodiat, ne caecitatem animae incurrat monet, et ut robur gressuum interioris spiritus ad viam rectitudinis sic dirigat exhortatur, quatenus in veritate gradiens aeternam beatitudinem adipiscatur.
Nam sicut supercilium oculum tuetur, et sicut talus corpus hominis portat, ita timor Domini interiorem visum ne Dei obliviscatur informat, interioremque fortitudinem, per quam homo ad quaelibet utilia et recta defertur, conservat.
Quod fidelis quilibet quamvis virtutibus emineat, eisdem tamen al quando quasi destitutus salubriter tentationibus pulsetur, ne praesumptione elationis seductus pereat.
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