PRIMA VISIO, cap. IX
The Human Face at the Height of Humility
At the peak of conquering humility, the soul bears the face of a human being and reveals the good intention of the heart.
Indeed, at the top of the curved arc of the left wing there is what looks like a human face, shining like the brightness of the stars. This means that at the peak of conquering humility, when a person crushes earthly concerns — which stand against him like hostile forces on the left — in humility, and turns to defend his Creator, he bears the face of a human being. It's because he begins to live honorably, not like a beast, but according to what human nature teaches him. For this reason, even in these righteous works he reveals the good intention of his own heart, so as to show forth an excellent splendor.
The Creation of Rational Light and Human Vocation
God created rational light in the angels, and from their fall fashioned human beings to take their place and glory.
That by the word of God saying 'Let there be light,' rational light — that is, the angels — was created, and that from these, when certain ones fell from blessedness, the Lord made another rational life, which would be clothed in flesh, that is, the human being, who would obtain the place and glory of the fallen ones.✦12
Read the original Latin
Quod vero in summitate arcuatae incurvationis, sinistrae alae quasi facies hominis est, quae sicut fulgor stellarum radiat, hoc est quod in apice vincentis humiliationis, cum homo terrenas causas, velut in sinistra sibi adversantes, in humilitate conterit, et ad defensionem Creatoris sui se convertit, aspectum hominis habet, quia non secundum pecus, sed secundum quod humana natura eum docet, in honestate vivere incipit. Unde etiam in his justis operibus bonam intentionem cordis sui, ut eximium splendorem radiare ostendit.
Quod in verbo Dei dicentis « Fiat lux, » rationalis lux, id est angeli creati sunt, et quod ex his a beatitudine quibusdam cadentibus, Dominus aliam rationabilem vitam, quae carne tegeretur, id est hominem, qui locum et gloriam lapsorum obtineret, fecerit.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gen.1.3 — And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.
Notes
- 1 ↩The text presents a theological speculation on the creation of angels at God's command (echoing Gen 1:3) and the subsequent creation of humanity to fill the place left by the fallen angels. This is a medieval theological opinion, not a defined doctrine.
- 2 ↩'Fiat lux' is a direct quotation of Genesis 1:3 (Vulgate). Candidate scripture allusion preserved pending Moses resolution.
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