VISIO DECIMA, cap. IX

The Gentle Apostles: Matthew, Thomas, Peter, and Matthias

Four apostles—Matthew, Thomas, Peter, and Matthias—are portrayed through their distinct characters and virtues, each clothing justice in symbolic garments and sealing their witness with martyrdom.

Matthew, then — gentle in his ways and without a deep intellect — taught people with kindness and restraint, and while he firmly upheld the apostles' teaching, he made it, as it were, the teacher and standard for his own. And in this way he turned very many people to God through a preaching that flowed as sweetly as honey from the comb into true faith, because the sweetness of his character made people savor his teaching the way an infant sucks milk; and so the Holy Spirit also moved him to write faithfully about the incarnation of the Son of God. He himself, then, made a tunic, as it were, from the silk of a devout intention — that is, a well-ordered contrition — and made it bright as the light of day, and clothed himself in justice with it, and did not shrink from martyrdom for the sake of justice.¹ Thomas, on the other hand, had a strong and vigorous character suited to practical dealings with people, and he didn't shift lightly from one pursuit to another or readily agree to anything; instead, he believed only what he saw, and whatever was inwardly invisible he accepted only through the evidence of signs. For this is why signs are recognized through works: because physical things are perceived physically and spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and it's by the holiness of their works that a person is known to be spiritual.² In this way this one turned very many people to God, and clothed justice with a garment of green silk and flowing length over the tunic; and this shone like a ray of the sun when he adorned it with the uprightness of a good intention, and made it shine everywhere, turning the hearts of unbelievers from idols to God, and offering himself in his martyrdom to the ruler of all. Peter, for his part, wove a tunic of fine linen and purple, making known uprightness, gentleness, and vigor, and clothed justice with the orders of the Church, and in that he subjected himself to many tribulations in body and soul. Matthias, for his part, being gentle and humble and having a dove-like character, fleeing the variety of people's ways and both envy and hatred, was a vessel of the Holy Spirit — the Spirit who dwells in those who don't allow their minds to roam through the streets and pry into all sorts of things — and before both believers and unbelievers he worked many signs and wonders in humility, as if unaware of it, and desired martyrdom as eagerly as a feast.³

The Throne of Justice and the Diversity of the Twelve

Justice is enthroned on a royal seat adorned with eagles and lions, and God's wisdom in choosing twelve apostles of diverse character is celebrated.

So he prepared the royal seat of justice, on which he would sit honorably, with eagles' heads and lions' feet, resting on its four columns, because through the four corners of the world he flew in humility, and no injury could conquer him.^✦ Spreading his preaching far and wide, and patiently enduring countless reproaches, he carried every work of his manfully through to completion. And so people gladly listened to him, and loved him deeply, and he made justice sit upon the throne he had prepared, through his own humility. For God chose twelve apostles of varied and diverse character, just as he had also chosen twelve prophets, because wonderful is God.

Paul's Calling: From Zeal to Apostle

Paul is singled out by God, kindled from a spark of zeal for the old law, struck down and transformed into a bearer of Christ's name through divine pedagogy suited to his fierce spirit.

And then he found a single spark and kindled it with his fire — Paul, that is — through whom he also worked many wonders, because among the fierce and the zealous he brought his signs to completion just as he did among the gentle, so that the people would not reject them by saying that he worked his wonders only among the good. For the Holy Spirit adorned all the apostles' teaching through Paul, who carried the mountain of a lofty mind and was fierce as a leopard, grinding down everything he sought to overcome, since he believed he could accomplish whatever he willed; and the Holy Spirit found in him a spark of faithfulness, because he pursued persecution not out of envy or hatred but out of love for the old law. And God had created the animals before humanity, and had made humankind — in his own image and likeness — ahead of the animals he had previously created. He also first gave the old law according to the animals, which through the humanity of his Son he later transformed into a spiritual understanding according to the practice of the angels' praise. For just as he first formed humanity, and then afterward breathed the breath of life into that person, so too he first set forth the old law, which he afterward changed for the better with a new law. So also, finding Paul burning with extraordinary zeal in the old law, he struck him down, and through this showed him that he would bear the name of his Son in the new law. Raising his spirit to a great height, the Spirit also showed him wonders through which he fought against him; yet his soul was hidden within him, so that he could scarcely feel that he was alive — just as a soul dwelling in a body sends out its thoughts. For if God had revealed his wonders to him gently, he would have turned back to his former zeal because of the fierceness of his spirit.

Paul's Suffering, Strength, and the Soul's Adornment

Paul's bodily weakness and spiritual strength are contrasted, and the soul is taught to adorn itself with love, chastity, and self-control as a bride for the supreme King, while Paul's counsel on virginity reveals the power of love over fear.

And so God held him tightly, and drenched his whole body in labor. His weakness was twofold, in fact: all the veins of his body were soaked with exhaustion, and the fiery darts of the devil wore him down with a certain sweetness of the flesh. But because he had seen God's wonders in the Spirit, he also had the greatest strength in his Spirit; and because he had gazed on many hidden and secret mysteries beyond what it is permitted for a person to speak, his words and his driven deep to hold up a house — because the Son of God, whom the Virgin Mary bore, chose him from the tribe of Benjamin. And so he labored more in preaching than all the others who stayed with him in the body. A woman too adorns herself for the honor and glory of her husband, so that she may appear so much more beautiful to him. And through this, let a person learn how to adorn their soul before the supreme King: when a person has love, they put on a golden garment; and when they love chastity, they adorn their face with precious pearls; and when they gather self-control in food to themselves, they clothe themselves in purple and fine linen. And so whoever wants to abstain from sins should avoid the fleshly desires that are nevertheless eaten to restore health, since the flesh often draws a person's flesh toward sin. Paul, however, did not have the commandment of virginity in the law, and so he did not impose it on people but gave counsel — because a commandment produces fear, but counsel produces love. And so the commandment of fear, which is heard outwardly, is often violated; but the counsel of love, which all the veins of a person receive with longing, is held firmly.

The Freedom of Chastity and Paul as the Wheel of Justice

God's ancient counsel to become man out of love grounds Paul's counsel on virginity, which stands free beyond fear; Paul is then revealed as the wheel of justice's chariot, carrying the law of Christ and hallowing marriage, celibacy, and virginity.

But since counsel was first disturbed through the serpent, God became man out of ancient counsel, in whom love burned so brightly that it would illuminate the whole world.⁴⁵ And so Paul, too, gave counsel — not a command — about virginity, drawing from hidden counsel, which no human being ought to establish by command, since God himself brought it to perfection within himself.⁶ And so chastity, having no legal precept of servitude or fear, stands alone, free in God, beyond all fear —⁷ Paul, then, is the wheel of the chariot of justice, because just as the wheel supports the chariot and the chariot carries every weight, so Paul's teaching carries the law of Christ — since the new law was woven from the old law, in which Moses enclosed circumcision and sacrifices, all of which the Holy Spirit renewed into a new holiness, and which Paul, with new fire, fused into the inscribed chain of justice's necklace. Every work he carried out he hallowed in upright decency: namely, that marriage should be entered in the fear of God and that those living rightly should practice self-control; that through abstinence a person should not afflict themselves more than they could endure by God's grace; and that virginity might adorn itself with the crown of the supreme King — because it was received from God. For just as God fashioned the first human being without any carnal desire, so too did he himself bring forth his garment from virginity without any stain of sin. For in these three states — marriage, celibacy, and virginity — Paul gathered every virtue and the whole life of the saints, and he adorned the apostles' teaching with an elegant beauty. He himself also made shoes of justice from purple silk, as he left the world behind in every way and labored more than all his fellow disciples as they traveled the roads of the churches; and he adorned them with the purest gold, shining like stars, when through good works he set before all believers examples shining in holiness — and he even hastened to give his body over to suffering.

James, Brother of the Lord: Gentle Preacher of the Incarnation

James, gentle and humble, preaches the incarnation and passion of the Son of God, confirmed by miracles and sealed with his own martyrdom.

James, who was called the brother of the Lord, was gentle and had a gracious character. He offered his teaching to God alone, inwardly, and did not seek empty glory, but with great devotion he ran along the right paths and cleansed the muddy streets of unbelief. He also turned people to the true faith, and lovingly dictated how they should teach that the Son of God was born of a Virgin, and he confirmed this not only by setting it forth in tender words but also by holy works and many signs. Through the gentle hearing of his words, then, he prepared them for the ears of justice. For his left ear was of hyacinth, and had the color of a pure cloud, signifying that the Son of God lived in the world without sin, yet washed away and cleansed the sins of humanity; but his right ear was of reddish hyacinth, showing the passion of that same Son of God, through which the devil was defeated. For which reason he also gave himself over to martyrdom.

Simon, John, Bartholomew, Andrew, and Philip: Adorning Justice Together

Simon, John, Philip, Bartholomew, and Andrew each contribute distinct ornaments to justice—necklaces, sashes, bracelets, arm-pieces, and a ring—through their preaching, miracles, Trinitarian doctrine, and martyrdom, while the two heads at the chain's end foreshadow Enoch and Elijah against the Antichrist.

Simon, however, was wise and vigorous, and he preached the bitter torments of innumerable sins to the faithless, and he worked great signs in firm faith. And so people gladly listened to him, and he prepared a rushing path to faith, because he set before them the fear of death. In this way, through his great proclamation, he crafted a necklace for Justice out of emerald and red stones, and from beads and pearls; for he made this necklace as a defense of vigorous character, and he set into it an emerald through the greenness of his prophecy, and red stones along with the other beads and pearls through the fear of punishments. He didn't fear the torment of martyrdom, but patiently endured it. Paul came to his aid, and although he had made the shoes of Justice, he hung an elegant little chain from that same necklace, made of the purest gold and firmly adorned with twelve stones and priceless pearls without flaw. Descending all the way to the feet of this same figure of Justice, it was shaped at its end into two heads: on its right side, from red sardius, like the head of a sea-goat; but on its left, as if from gold, like the head of a leopard, so that the head of the sea-goat even seems to resist the head of the leopard. For he joined his own teaching to the teaching of the other apostles as a defense, and he adorned it with good works, making it blameless both in apostolic teachings and in other virtues, so that, enduring to the end of righteousness, it will not fail until the world comes to an end. There, around that same end, two powers will appear as if in two heads: one, namely, for salvation, ascending upward through the laborious constraint of Enoch and Elijah; the other, however, for perdition, hurrying along with gnashing teeth in the pretense of glorious miracles and virtues through the Antichrist—thus also showing that those who strive for heavenly things crush those who rush toward diabolic seduction. James, the brother of John, however, wove a womanly veil of white silk and gold embroidery by preaching the incarnation and passion of the Son of God, while he destroyed idols through many miracles. With this he adorned the head of Justice so beautifully that the whole Church gave praise to God, where he himself also bowed his head to martyrdom. John, then, through the miracles God showed him, made a sash of green silk, bringing forth chastity with a green and pleasing intent, and into it he set twelve stones of prophetic virtues along with many pearls of good will. On its mouth he placed the green color of a branch from which balsam flows, because he joined to it the green vitality of persevering chastity and the fragrance of virtues, and with it he encircled justice when, through the people's prayers, he uttered 'In the beginning was the Word.' But Philip, being gentle and appearing humble in his teaching, drew a great many people to himself. For this reason he too made golden bracelets, on which he set emeralds, red hyacinths, and most noble pearls, so that the gold could scarcely be seen for the abundance of those stones; for in his teaching and works he displayed the green vitality, labor, and innocence of virtues, and as far as he could he concealed his good will within, and he wrapped these bracelets around the arms of justice, as with his martyrdom he brought his good works to completion. Bartholomew, for his part, in his great zeal for preaching could not be worn out, nor did he even want to stop. Therefore he fashioned a work of gold and of another most beautiful material — electrum — with raised engraving and studded with precious stones, and he extended it from the aforementioned bracelets all the way to the elbows of the arms of justice, stretching it out, and he also divided it from those same bracelets up to the aforementioned elbows, distinguishing it in three places, and he joined those divisions together with slender golden chains. For he, out of the good will he had in faith, lifted up the words of his preaching along with the hidden secrets of God's mysteries and with chosen virtues, and he spread them as far as holy action, rightly distinguishing three persons in one God and faithfully and fittingly asserting the true Trinity, invisibly and ineffably joined together for us; and so, drawing people's minds to himself and submitting his whole body to passion, he adorned the arms of justice with wondrous beauty. Andrew too, making a ring of purest gold, set in it a finest topaz, and he showed the Son of God to be the bridegroom of justice when he adorned sincere faith with the beauty of virtues in the church; and he placed that ring on the finger of justice when he allowed himself to be suspended on the cross.

Thaddaeus, Peter's Crown, and the Recapitulation

Thaddaeus cloaks justice in works of love, Peter crowns her with holiness, and the vision concludes with a brief recap addressing the decline of the Church and the witness of the Psalmist.

And Thaddaeus was both prudent and keen-minded, eager to investigate the ways of people, and so he converted very many to the benefit of the faith, because they could not overcome him; conquering the serpent's deceit through holy works, he showed many miracles before the people. He also made a cloak from reddish silk and was eager to adorn it carefully; he surrounded the adornment of justice, because when he composed works of love in the splendor of the other virtues, he led those things to true beauty, and covered justice with them, where he also subjected himself bodily to suffering. Peter, seeing her clothed in this way, and although he had clothed her with a tunic, nevertheless fashioned a crown from the finest gold, which he also adorned with the most precious stones and gems, and placed it on the head of justice, because through this he proclaimed the glory of the Son of God unflinchingly and without fear, and showed her adorned with all virtues and hidden mysteries; when he adorned justice with the crown of holiness and honor, hanging on the cross, he fittingly gave it over her head by his own martyrdom. In this way justice was clothed by the apostles. A brief recap of what has gone before: how, in these days, when those who lack manly fortitude let all ecclesiastical institutions fall into decline, and the witness of the Psalmist where it says, 'You are just, O Lord,' and to what purpose it was set forth, and how it is to be understood.

Read the original Latin

Nam Matthaeus, mitis in moribus suis existens, nec profundum ingenium habens, blande et leniter homines docuit; doctrinamque apostolorum utique affirmans, eam doctrinae suae quasi magistram praetulit. Et sic plurimum populum cum praedicatione, quae ut favus mellis dulciter stillavit, in vera fide ad Deum convertit, quoniam propter suavitatem morum ipsius doctrinam ejus populi lambebant, quemadmodum infans lac sugit; et ideo etiam Spiritus sanctus eum tetigit, ita ut de incarnatione Filii Dei fideliter scriberet. Ipse utique ex serico piae intentionis camisiam, id est bene ordinatam contritionem, et ut lux diei lucidam paravit, illaque justitiam induit, ubi pro justitia a martyrio non declinavit. Sed Thomas fortes strenuosque mores ad usus hominum habuit, nec leviter ad quamque causam se convertit, nec ulli rei facile consensit; sed quod vidit hoc credidit, et quidquid interius invisibile erat, hoc nonnisi per ostensionem signorum capiebat. Unde enim est ut signa per opera cognoscantur, quoniam corporalia corporaliter videntur, et spiritalia spiritaliter capiuntur; et per sanctitatem operum homo spiritalis esse scitur. Sic iste plurimum populum ad Deum convertit, justitiamque cum veste ex viridi serico et prolixa super camisiam vestivit; quae ut radius solis fulsit, ubi cum rectitudine bonae intentionis illam ornavit, et per omnia lucere fecit, corda incredulorum ab idolis ad Deum convertens, seque martyrio suo rectori omnium offerens. Petrus autem tunicam ex bysso et purpura contexuit, cum rectitudinem, lenitatem et strenuitatem propalavit, illaque justitiam cum ecclesiasticis ordinibus induit, ubi et se multis tribulationibus corpore et anima subjecit. Matthias vero, mitis et humilis existens, columbinosque mores habens, ac diversitatem morum hominum, invidiamque et odium fugiens, vas Spiritus sancti fuit, qui in illis habitat qui mentes suas in plateis discurrere et diversa sciscitare non permittunt; atque coram fidelibus et infidelibus multa signa et mirabilia in humilitate quasi nesciens fecit, martyriumque velut epulas desideravit.

Unde justitiae regalem sedem super quam honeste sederet paravit, capita aquilarum et leoninos pedes in quatuor columnis suis continentem, quia per quatuor partes mundi in humilitate volavit, et a nulla injuria vinci potuit. Praedicationem quoque suam late diffundens, et quamplurima opprobria patienter sustinens, omne opus suum viriliter ad perfectum perduxit. Quapropter et homines eum libenter audierunt, eumque quamplurimum dilexerunt, justitiamque super sedem quam paraverat per humilitatem suam sedere fecit. Deus namque duodecim apostolos in vicissitudine diversorum morum elegit, sicut etiam duodecim prophetas elegerat, quoniam mirabilis Deus est.

Et deinde scintillam unam invenit, eamque igne suo accendit, scilicet Paulum, in quo etiam multa mirabilia fecit, quia et in ferocibus et in strenuis signa sua complet, quemadmodum et in mitibus, ne populus eos abjici at dicendo quod tantum in bonis miracula sua operetur. Spiritus enim sanctus omnem doctrinam apostolorum per Paulum decoravit, qui montem altae mentis portavit, et ferox ut leopardus fuit, super omnia frendens, quae superare voluit, quoniam omnia quae voluisset se posse perficere putavit; scintillamque fidelitatis Spiritus sanctus in illo invenit, quia persecutionem non propter invidiam et odium, sed propter amorem veteris legis agebat. Et Deus bestias prius quam hominem creaverat, hominemque ad imaginem et similitudinem suam praecedentibus bestiis fecerat. Veterem quoque legem secundum bestias primum dedit, quam per humanitatem Filii sui in spiritalem intellectum secundum exercitium laudis angelorum postea convertit. Nam sicut hominem primum plasmavit, et ut deinde spiraculum vitae in illum misit, ita et veterem legem praemisit, quam postmodum nova lege in melius commutavit. Sic et Paulum in nimio zelo inveniens, in vetere lege ipsum prostravit, atque per hoc illi ostendit, quod nomen Filii sui in nova lege portaturus esset. Spiritum quoque illius in altitudinem elevans demonstravit ei mirabilia quibus contra ipsum pugnavit; sed tamen intra illum anima ejus latuit, ita ut vix sentiret se vivere, quemadmodum anima in corpore manens cogitationes suas emittit. Si enim Deus illi miracula sua leniter manifestasset, propter ferocitatem animi sui ad priorem zelum reversus fuisset.

Quapropter Deus eum valde constrinxit, totumque corpus illius labore perfudit. Infirmitas quippe illius in duobus modis erat, ita ut omnes venae corporis ejus languore perfunderentur, et ignea jacula diaboli quadam dulcedine carnis ipsum fatigarent. Sed quia mirabilia Dei in spiritu viderat, idcirco etiam fortissimam vim in spiritu suo habebat, et quoniam plurima arcana et occulta mysteria ultra quam homini licitum sit loqui inspexerat, ideo etiam verba et praedicatio ipsius velut clavi in altum fixi, qui domum sustinent, fuerunt, quoniam et Filius Dei, quem Maria Virgo genuit, istum de tribu Benjamin elegit. Unde et caeteris omnibus qui cum ipso corporaliter manebant, praedicando plus laboravit. Mulier quoque ad honorem et ad gloriam mariti sui se ornat, et ut ipsi tanto pulchrior esse videatur. Et per hoc homo cognoscat qualiter animam suam coram summo rege ornare debeat, quia cum homo charitatem habuerit, vestem auream sibi induit; atque cum castitatem amat faciem suam cum pretiosis margaritis ornat, et cum abstinentiam ciborum ad se colligit, purpura et bysso se vestit. Quapropter etiam homo qui a peccatis se abstinere vult, carnes devitet, quae tamen ob reparationem sanitatis manducentur, quoniam carnes saepe carnem hominis ad peccata trahunt. Paulus autem praeceptum virginitatis in lege non habuit, unde et illam hominibus non indixit, sed consilium dedit, quia praeceptum timorem, consilium vero amorem habet; et ideo praeceptum timoris quod exterius auditur, multoties praevaricatur; consilium vero amoris, quod omnes venae hominis in desiderio percipiunt firmiter tenetur.

Sed quoniam primitus per serpentem consilium disturbatum est, ex antiquo consilio Deus homo factus est, in quo charitas ita ardebat, ut totum mundum illuminaret. Et ideo etiam Paulus ex occulto consilio de virginitate consilium, et non imperium dedit, quam nemo hominum per imperium constituere debet, quoniam Deus illam in semetipso ad perfectum duxit. Unde et castitas legale praeceptum servitii seu timoris non habens, sola libera in Deo absque omni timore

Rota itaque currus justitiae Paulus est, quia sicut rota currum, currus vero omne pondus portat; ita doctrina Pauli legem Christi fert, quoniam nova lex de veteri lege texta est, in qua Moyses circumcisionem et oblationes conclusit, quae omnia Spiritus sanctus in novam sanctitatem renovavit, et quae Paulus cum novo igne in subscripta catenula monilis justitiae conglutinavit. Quaeque enim opera in recta honestate sanctificavit, ita videlicet ut conjugium in timore Dei fieret, et recte viventes continentes essent; et ut homo per abstinentiam se non plus affligeret, quam per gratiam Dei sufferre posset; et ut virginitas cum corona summi regis se ornaret, quia a Deo sumpta est, quoniam sicut Deus primum hominem absque omni succo carnis plasmavit, ita et ipse indumentum suum sine omni sudore peccati a virginitate tulit. In his enim tribus modis scilicet conjugio, continentia, et virginitate Paulus omnes virtutes omnemque vitam sanctorum collegit, atque doctrinam apostolorum eleganti colore decoravit. Ipse quoque calceamenta justitiae ex purpureo serico faciebat, cum saeculum per omnia relinqueret, et cum plus omnibus condiscipulis suis per vias ecclesiarum discurrendo laboraret; illaque purissimo auro velut stellis lucentibus exornavit, cum per bona opera quibusque credentibus exempla in sanctitate lucentia proposuit, ubi etiam corpus suum ad passionem dare festinavit.

Jacobus autem qui frater Domini dictus est suaves mores habens mitis fuit, doctrinamque suam soli Deo intrinsecus obtulit, nec vanam gloriam quaesivit, sed in magno studio rectas vias currens lutulentas plateas infidelitatis purgavit. Populum quoque ad veram fidem convertit, atque dulciter dictavit, quomodo doceret Filium Dei de Virgine natum, quod etiam dulcibus verbis ostendens, sanctis quoque operibus ac plurimis signis affirmavit. Per suavem itaque auditum verborum suorum in aures justitiae paravit. Sinistra enim auris ex hyacintho fuit, coloremque purae nubis habuit, significans quod Filius Dei absque peccato in mundo conversatus est peccata hominum delens et abluens; dextera autem ex rubicundo hyacintho fuit, passionem ejusdem Filii Dei demonstrans, per quem diabolus devictus est. Unde et ipse martyrio se subdidit.

Simon vero sapiens et strenuus fuit, atque innumerabilibus peccatis infidelium amara tormenta praedicavit, magnaque signa in firma fide fecit. Unde et homines eum libenter audierunt, ac torrens iter ad fidem paravit, quia timorem mortis eis proposuit. Hoc modo per magnum praeconium ex smaragdo et rubeis lapillis, et ex bacis atque margaritis monile justitiae fabricavit, cum per munimentum strenuorum morum monile fecit, cui smaragdum per viriditatem praedictionis, ac rubeos lapillos cum caeteris bacis et margaritis per timorem poenarum imposuit, nec tormentum martyrii metuit, sed illud patienter sustinuit. Cui Paulus succurrit, et quamvis calceamenta justitiae fecisset, ad idem monile elegantissimam catenulam suspendit ex purissimo auro factam duodecimque lapidibus et pretiosissimis margaritis sine defectu firmissime ornatam. Quae usque ad pedes ejusdem justitiae descendens, in fine suo formata duo capita habebat, scilicet ad dextram partem suam ex rubicundo sardio velut caput capricorni, ad sinistram vero ut ex auro quasi caput leopardi, ita ut etiam caput capricorni capiti leopardi resistere videtur. Nam munimento doctrinae caeterorum apostolorum doctrinam suam adjunxit, eamque bonis operibus, et tam apostolicis doctrinis quam caeteris virtutibus irreprehensibilem adornavit, ita ut ad finem rectitudinis perdurans non deficiat, quousque mundus finiatur. Ubi etiam circa eumdem finem velut in duobus capitibus duae potestates apparebunt, altera scilicet ad salvationem in laboriosa constrictione per Enoch et Eliam sursum ascendens; altera vero ad perditionem in dissimulatione gloriosorum miraculorum et virtutum per Antichristum frendendo properans, sic etiam ostendentes, quod hi qui ad coelestia tendunt, illos qui ad diabolicam seductionem festinant opprimunt. Jacobus autem frater Joannis muliebre velamen ex albo serico et auriphrygio incarnationem passionemque Filii Dei praedicando contexuit, dum idola per plurima miracula destrueret, quo caput justitiae circumdatum ita ornavit, ut omnis Ecclesia Deo laudem daret, ubi et ipse ad martyrium capitis se inclinavit.

Joannes vero per miracula quae Deus illi ostendit cingulum ex viridi serico castitatem viridi et suavi intentione producens fecit, cui duodecim lapides propheticarum virtutum cum plurimis margaritis bonae voluntatis inseruit. In cujus oris viridem colorem ramo de quo balsamum sudat similem posuit, quia perseverantiae castitatis viriditatem et odorem virtutum adjunxit, illoque justitiam circumcinxit, quando per preces populi « in principio erat Verbum » edidit. Sed Philippus mitis existens, ac in doctrina sua humilis apparens, plurimum populum sibi attraxit. Unde etiam hoc modo armillas ex auro fabricavit, quibus smaragdos rubicundosque hyacinthos, ac nobilissimas margaritas imposuit, ita ut etiam aurum pro multitudine lapidum istorum vix videri posset, quoniam in doctrina, et in operibus suis viriditatem, laborem et innocentiam virtutum demonstrans bonam voluntatem suam quantum potuit intrinsecus celavit, armillasque istas brachiis justitiae circumdedit, cum martyrio suo bona opera sua complevit. Bartholomaeus autem in magno studio praedicationis nec fatigari potuit, nec etiam ab hoc cessare voluit. Quapropter ex auro, et ex alia pulcherrima materia electrum cum elata caelatura, et cum pretiosis lapidibus intermistum fecit, quod de praefatis armillis usque ad ulnas brachiorum justitiae dilatando extendit, et etiam ab eisdem armillis usque ad praedictas ulnas in tribus locis dividendo distinxit; easdemque divisiones cum quibusdam gracilibus et aureis catenulis connexuit. Nam ipse ex bona voluntate quam in fide habuit, verba praedicationis suae cum occultis secretis mysteriorum Dei, et cum electis virtutibus extulit, eaque usque ad sanctam operationem dilatavit, cum in uno Deo tres personas recte distinguens, veram Trinitatem invisibiliter et ineffabiliter sibi connexam fideliter et decentissime asseruit; sic quoque mentes hominum ad se trahens, corpusque suum passioni totum subjiciens, brachiaque justitiae mirabili ornatu circumponens. Andreas quoque annulum ex auro purissimo faciens, optimum topazium illi inseruit; Filiumque Dei sponsum justitiae esse manifestavit, quando sinceram fidem per pulchritudinem virtutum in ecclesia ornavit; annulumque istum digito justitiae imposuit, cum in crucem se suspendi permisit.

Sed et Thaddaeus prudens et subtilis fuit, moresque hominum investigare studuit, et ideo etiam quamplurimos ad utilitatem fidei convertit, quia ipsum superare non poterant, dolumque serpentis vincens per sancta opera coram populo multa miracula ostendit. Pallium quoque ex rubicundo serico fecit, illudque diligenter adornare studuit; ornatumque justitiae circumdedit, quoniam cum charitatis opera in fulgore caeterarum virtutum composuit, et illa ad verum decorem perduxit, justitiamque cum eis obtexit, ubi etiam se passioni corporale subjecit. Petrus vero eam sic vestitam videns, et quamvis ipsam tunica induisset, coronam tamen ex auro optimo fabricavit, quam etiam pretiosissimis lapidibus et gemmis decoravit, illamque capiti justitiae imposuit, quia per hoc quod gloriam Filii Dei infideliter et intrepide praedicavit, et omnibus virtutibus et occultis mysteriis ornatam demonstravit, cum corona sanctitatis et honoris justitiam exornavit; ipsamque in cruce pendens, martyrio suo super caput illius decenter dedit. Tali modo justitia ab apostolis vestita erat.

Brevis superiorum repetitio; quomodo in diebus istis virilem fortitudinem non habentibus omnia ecclesiastica instituta in deterius concidant, et testimonium Psalmistae ubi dicit: « Justus es, Domine, » et ad quid appositum et qualiter intelligendum sit.

Scripture echoes

↩Ezek.1.10 — And the likeness of their faces: the face of a man on the right side for the four of them, and the face of a lion on the right side for the four of them, and the face of an ox on the left side for the four of them, and the face of an eagle for the four of them.

Notes

1 ↩The Latin uses clothing imagery (camisiam, induit) for interior virtues; rendered with 'made a tunic' and 'clothed himself in justice' to preserve the metaphor without flattening it.
2 ↩The tripartite parallel (corporalia corporaliter / spiritalia spiritaliter / sanctitatem operum) is rendered to preserve its rhythm and force; 'cognoscantur' and 'scitur' both convey being known, rendered as 'recognized' and 'known' to avoid repetition.
3 ↩The relative clause 'qui in illis habitat qui mentes suas... non permittunt' is syntactically compressed; rendered to clarify that the Holy Spirit dwells in those who restrain their minds from restless curiosity.
4 ↩The Latin plays on consilium in two senses: the serpent's counsel (deceptive advice) was 'disturbed' (broken/undone), and God's ancient counsel brought about the incarnation. The repetition is intentional and is preserved here.
5 ↩ut here is rendered as result ('so brightly that') rather than purpose, given the descriptive force of the clause; the gloss flags purpose/result ambiguity.
6 ↩ex occulto consilio: 'from hidden counsel' — the source of Paul's counsel is presented as a divine, hidden counsel about virginity, not merely personal advice.
7 ↩The sentence is fragmentary in the source: no finite main verb is present. The participial and adjectival phrases are rendered as a suspended clause, preserving the fragmentary feel with a dash.

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