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Chapter 7MedVC.1.7

De nativitate Christi, et aliis

The Journey to Bethlehem

Joseph and the pregnant Mary travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census, but find no lodging and take shelter in a poor covered walkway.

Now when the nine-month term had arrived, an edict went out from the emperor that the whole world should be registered—that is, each person in their own city. And when Joseph needed to go to his own city, namely Bethlehem, and knew that the time of his wife's delivery was at hand, he took her with him. So the Lady travels this long road once again. For Bethlehem is near Jerusalem, about five or six miles away. They bring an ox and a donkey with them, and they go like poor cattle traders. But when they reached Bethlehem, because they were poor—for many had gathered for the same reason—they could not find a place to stay. Have compassion on the Lady here, and observe how delicate and young she was—she was fifteen years old—worn out from the long journey, moving among the crowds with modesty, looking for a place to rest, and she couldn't find one. Everyone turned her away and her companion, and so they were forced to take shelter under a covered walkway where people used to go for cover in rainy weather. There in the same place Joseph, who was a craftsman, likewise shut himself in.

The Birth of the Lord

At midnight the Virgin gives birth without pain, tenderly cares for the infant, and adores him while Joseph and the animals warm the child in the manger.

Now then, look closely at everything, most especially because I intend to relate what was revealed and shown by the Lady herself, as I received it from a certain holy man of our order, worthy of belief, to whom I think these things were revealed. And when the hour of birth had come, that is, in the middle of the night of the Lord's day, the Virgin rose and leaned against a certain column that was there; Joseph, meanwhile, sat grieving, perhaps because he could not provide what was needed. Rising then, and taking some hay from the manger, he threw it at the Lady's feet, and turned to one side. Then the Son of the eternal God, coming forth from His mother's womb without any pain or injury, in a moment — just as He was in the womb, so He was outside the womb — upon the hay at His mother's feet. And the mother immediately bent down, lifted Him up, and tenderly embracing Him, placed Him in her lap. And with a breast full from heaven, and taught by the Holy Spirit, she washed or anointed Him all over with her milk. Having done this, she wrapped Him in the veil of her head and laid Him in the manger. And now the ox and the donkey, kneeling, placed their mouths over the manger, breathing through their nostrils — as if using reason — to show that the child, so poorly wrapped, needed the warmth in that time of such great cold.✦ The mother, for her part, knelt and adored, and giving thanks to God, said: 'I give You thanks, Lord, holy Father, who have given me Your Son; and I worship You, eternal God, and You, the Son of the living God, and my own.' Joseph likewise adored Him, and taking the donkey's saddle and pulling from it a small cushion of wool or hair, he placed it beside the manger, so that the Lady might sit on it. She then placed herself there to rest, and put the saddle under her feet as a support. And so the Lady of the world stood, holding her face over the manger, leaning with her eyes and all her affection upon her most beloved Son.

The Pearl of Poverty

The narrator closes the vision and reflects on the extreme poverty of Christ's birth as the highest virtue and the foundation of the spiritual life.

So much for the revelation. Once these things had been shown in this way, the Lady vanished and the Angel remained. He spoke great praises to the same one — the very praises that he had also told me — but I had neither the gift for learning them nor the ability to write them down. You have seen the birth of the most holy Prince; you have seen at the same time the delivery of the heavenly Queen, and in both you could perceive the most extreme poverty — how they lacked many necessities. This is the highest virtue — the Lord recovered it. This is that gospel pearl for which everything must be sold in order to buy it.✦ This is the proper foundation of the whole spiritual building: for when burdened with the weight of worldly things, the spirit cannot rise to God. Blessed Francis used to say — it is about poverty, brothers, that you should know it to be the spiritual way of salvation, as it were the warmth that fosters humility and the root of perfection, whose fruit is manifold but hidden. Great is our shame, then, that we do not embrace it with all our strength, but burden ourselves with superfluous things — when the Lord of the world and the Lady, his mother, kept it so strictly and with such zeal.

Christ Chose Poverty for Our Sake

Drawing on Bernard, the text teaches that God came down to raise up humility and poverty, and that the poor are entrusted to the faithful.

About this, Bernard says: "This kind of thing abounded on earth, and people did not know its value. And so the Son of God, desiring this, came down so that he might raise her up to himself, and through his own regard make her precious to us as well.1 Adorn the bridal chamber — namely with humility and poverty.2 In these swaddling cloths he is pleased with himself — and with Mary bearing witness to it — he delights in being wrapped in these silken cloths: and offer to your God the abominations of the Egyptians.3 "Thus far Bernard. The same author, in his sermon on the Nativity — which begins: 'Blessed God and Father' — finally comforts his own people. Do you want to know his people? The poor person is left to you, says the one who is a man after God's own heart.4

Woe to the Rich, Joy to the Poor

Christ's birth brings no comfort to the rich and self-satisfied, but announces joy to the poor and laboring shepherds.

But he himself says in the Gospel — as if by voice — to the rich: "You have your consolation here."✦ For what will console those who already have their own consolation? The infancy of Christ does not console the chatterers; the tears of Christ do not console those who only laugh; his swaddling clothes do not console those who walk about in fine robes; the stable and the manger do not console those who love the first seats — how good! 13, 46, Bernard. In the Vigil. Nativity. Lord's. In the Nativity, Lord's.

Humility Shown in the Stable

The text notes textual sources and then reflects on the profound humility of Christ and Mary in the manger, urging the reader to embrace humility without which nothing pleases God.

[Servant]. Nay rather, by the author in the book. From Sala. . Document. , among the works. Augustine. , Appendix. place. VI. for seats in synagogues. To the shepherds keeping watch, the joy of light is announced, and it is said that a Savior is born to them: to the poor and the laboring; not to you who are rich, who have your consolation and your dominion.✦ "Thus far Bernard. You could also have observed the deepest humility in both, in this very nativity itself; for there is no stable — no dignity, no beasts, no hay, and other cheap things.✦5 This virtue, both the Lord and the Lady kept most perfectly in all their actions, and commended it to you. Let us strive, therefore, with all the zeal we can muster, to embrace it, because without it there is no salvation; for no work of ours can please God when it comes with pride.6

Pride Destroys, Humility Saves

Augustine and Bernard teach that pride cast down the angels while humility lifts humans to angelic status, and God will judge human pride no less severely.

For according to blessed Augustine: "Pride made angels into demons; humility makes humans like angels." And Bernard: "What sort of person do you suppose must be found to obtain the place of a rejected angel?"✦ Once pride shook that kingdom, battered its walls, and even overthrew them in part — and no small part at that.✦ What then? Does not that city hate — and vehemently abhor — a plague of this kind? Be certain, brothers: he who did not spare the proud angels is not going to spare humans either.✦ He is not contrary to himself. Thus far Bernard.

The Son of God Chose Suffering

Bernard meditates on how Christ chose the hardships of poverty and affliction rather than bodily pleasure, and the reader is urged to imitate him discreetly.

You could also have given thought to both of these, and especially to the child Jesus — no small affliction of heart, about which Bernard speaks in this way: "The Son of God, about to be born — who had the power to choose whatever time he wished — chooses what is more troublesome, especially for a little one, and the son of a poor mother, who barely had cloths for wrapping, a manger for lying down."✦ And since the need was so great, I hear no mention of skins being made. "And further down: "Christ certainly, who is not favored, chose what is more troublesome to the flesh." That, then, is the better thing, the more useful thing, the thing rather to be chosen: and whoever teaches or persuades otherwise is to be avoided as one would avoid a seducer. "And further down: "And yet, brothers, he himself is the child promised long ago through Isaiah, knowing to reject evil and to choose good."✦ Evil, then, is the pleasure of the body; but good truly is affliction: inasmuch as the wise Child, the Word made infant, both chose this and also rejects that.✦ "Thus far Bernard." Go, and do likewise — discreetly, however, Lord.✦

The Angels and Shepherds

Angels announce the birth to the shepherds, ascend with praise, and the heavenly court comes to adore the newborn Christ and his mother; the shepherds then arrive and worship.

1 November. On the word Isaiah. , 'I saw the Lord.'✦ , 'The same.' , on the Nativity. The Lord. , Luke 2. … your chambers, Zion, but — — and, by the divine way. He chose. so that you don't go beyond your ability. And about these virtues it will be possible to speak elsewhere — let us return to the house of the Nativity. When the Lord was born, then, a multitude of angels was present there and adored their God; and immediately they went to the shepherds who were nearby, perhaps a mile off, announcing to them the Nativity itself and also the place. From there they ascended into heaven with songs and shouts of joy, announcing these same things to their fellow citizens. The whole heavenly court, then, was made joyful by this great deed, and with feasting and praises and thanksgivings offered to God the Father, all who were there came, one after another through their orders, to see the face of the Lord their God; and adoring him with all reverence, and also his mother, they resounded with songs of praise to the same one.✦ For who among them, having heard such new things, would have remained in heaven without going to visit their Lord, thus humbly placed on earth? In none of them could such pride have been brought down. And so the Apostle says: "And when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says: 'Let all God's angels worship him.'"✦7 Up to this point, I think it has been pleasant to meditate on the angels, however the truth may have stood.8 And the shepherds came and worshipped him, reporting what they had heard from the angels.✦ His most prudent Mother kept all the things being said about him in her heart; but the shepherds went away rejoicing.✦ Bend your knee — you who delayed so long — and worship the Lord your God, and afterwards greet his mother, and reverently salute the holy old man Joseph. Then you will kiss the feet of the child Jesus lying in the manger, and ask the Lady to hold him out to you or to let you take him.9

Come and Adore the Christ Child

The reader is invited to kneel, adore the infant Jesus with reverence and love, observe Mary's tender care, and rejoice in the mystery of the Nativity.

Take him into your arms, hold him, gaze upon his face attentively, and reverently kiss him, and delight in him with confidence. You can do this, because he himself came to sinners for their salvation, lived among them humbly, and at last gave himself to them as food.✦10 Therefore his kindness will allow himself to be touched by you according to your desire, and will not impute it to presumption, but to love.11 Always, nevertheless, do these things with reverence and fear, because he himself is the Holy of Holies.✦ Afterwards, return him to his mother, and observe carefully how eagerly and wisely she cares for him, nurses him, and renders to him all the other services. So you too help her, if you can; delight in these things, rejoice, and remember to meditate diligently — and how much [there is] of the Nativity…12 Lord.13 Noct.14

Gaze Upon His Face

The reader is encouraged to gaze upon the face on which the angels long to look, always with reverence and fear, mindful of personal unworthiness.

1, response. 2, and at Vespers. 2, for Matins. , auliph. — * Title. , lu, 4. Then you may wait upon the Lady and the child Jesus, and gaze often upon his face, on which the angels long to look.✦ Always, however, as I said, do this with reverence and fear, lest you suffer rejection. For you ought to consider yourself unworthy of such company.

A Day of Great Joy

The text celebrates the Nativity as a day of jubilation: Christ is born, the Sun of Justice shines, the Holy Spirit comes forth, and peace is proclaimed.

You should also meditate with joy on how great today's solemnity is. Today Christ is born, and truly this is the day of the birth of the eternal King and of the Son of the living God.✦15 Today a Son is given to us, and a child is born to us.✦ Today the sun of justice, which had been hidden in darkness, shone forth brightly.16 Today the Holy Spirit, the head of the churches of the elect, came forth from his chamber.17 Today he revealed his longed-for face, altogether beautiful, before the sons of men.✦18 Today that angelic hymn was made: Glory to God in the highest.✦19 Today peace to men was proclaimed, so that it might be contained within the same hymn.✦20

The Wonders of the Incarnation

The text marvels at the Incarnation as the surpassing miracle in which God is born of a Virgin, all prophecies are fulfilled, and divine kindness is revealed.

Today, too, the Church sings throughout the whole world: the honey-flowing hearts of God's people have been made one, and on earth the angels sing.✦ Today the kindness and humanity of the Savior, of God our…✦ Today God is worshipped in the likeness of sinful flesh.✦ Today two miracles come together that surpass every understanding, and by faith alone. No one can grasp — namely, that God is born, and a Virgin gives birth.✦ Today the multitude of the fathers' miracles has shone forth. Finally, all the things that have been said about the Incarnation shine forth more clearly here, as if begun there and made manifest here. And so now join those things to these meditations, and these to that spouse.

Signs at the Birth of Christ

The chapter closes with a jubilant acclamation and three miraculous signs at Christ's birth: a spring of oil in Rome, a rainbow around the sun, and the fall of Romulus's golden statue.

Rightly, then, this is a day of jubilation, of gladness, and of exceedingly great joy.✦ For at Rome, near a certain shop called the Veterans', soldiers who were walking about there and buying the necessities they had earned from their pay, a spring of most abundant oil gushed out from the ground and flowed in an exceedingly copious stream throughout the whole day. And a circle in the manner of a rainbow appeared around the sun in the whole world.✦ And at Rome the golden statue which Romulus had placed in his palace — it had been prophesied that it would not fall until a virgin should give birth — as soon as Christ was born, immediately fell.✦ In that place Pope Calixtus established the Church of Saint Mary, which is now called 'across the Tiber.'

Read the original Latin

Adveniente autem novem mensium termino ^, exiit edictum ab imperatore, ut describeretur universus orbis, sciUcet quiUbet in civitate sua. Cumque Joseph ire veUet in civitatem suam, scilicet Bethleem, et sciret instare tempus partus suae conjugis, duxit eam secum. Vadit ergo iterum Domina hoc longo itinere. Nam Bethleem est prope Hierusalem per quinque vel sex milUaria. Ducunt autem secum bovem et asinum, et vadunt sicut pauperes mercatores besUarum. Cum autem fuerunt in Bethleem, quia pauperes erant, nam muUi concurrerant pro eadem causa, hospitium invenire non potuerunt. Compatere hic Dominae, et conspice ipsam delicatam et j uvenem, quindecim enim erat annorum, ex longo itinere faUgatam, et cum verecundia inter geutes conversantem, quaerentem ut quiescat, et non invenit: omnes UcenUant eam et socium ejus, et sic coguntur divertere ad quamdam viam coopertam, ubi homines tempore pluviae divertebant. Ibidem Joseph, qui erat magister Ugnarius, forte aUqualiter se clausit.

Nunc autem diligenUssime inspice omnia, maxime quia referre intendo quse ab ipsa Domina revelata et ostensa fuerunt, prout a quodam sancto nostri ordinis fide digno habui, cui puto revelata fuisse. Cumque venisset hora partus, sciUcet in media nocte dominicce diei, surgens virgo appodiavit ad quamdam columnam, qnai ibi erat; Joseph vero sedebat moestus, ex eo forte quod non poterat quae decebantparare. Surgens ergo et accipiens de foeno prsesepis, projecit ad pedes Domiu£e, et vertit se in aUam partem: tunc Filius Dei aeterni exiens de matris utero, sine aUqua molesUa vel lcesione, in momento, sicut erat in utero, sic fuit extra uterum super foenum ad pedes matris suae. Et mater inconUnenti se incUnans, recoUigens eum et dulciter amplexans, posuit in gremio suo et ubere de coelo pleno, et Spiritu sancto edocta, lavare sive linire ipsum per totum cum lacte suo: quo facto involvit eum in velo capitis sui, et posuit eum in praesepio. Et nunc bos et asinus flexis genibus posuerunt ora super praesepium, flantes per nares ac si ratione utentes cognoscerent, quod puer sic pauperrime contectus, calefactione, tempore tanti frigoris, indigebat. Mater vero flexis genibus adoravit, et gratias agens Deo, dixit: Gratias tibi ago, Domine sancte Pater, qui fiUum tumn mihi dedisti, et adoro te, Deus aeterne, ette filium Dei vivi et meum. Joseph autem similiter adoravit eum, et accipiens sellam asini, et extrahens de ea cussinellum de lana sive bora, posuit juxta praesepe, ut Domina super eo sederet. Ipsa ergo se posuitjbi ad seiJendum, et sellam posuit subtus cubitura, et sic stabat Domina mundi, tenens vultum suum super praesepe, innixa oculis et toto aflectu super dilectissimum filium suum.

Hucusque de revelatione. His ergo sic ostensis, disparuit Domina, et remansit Angelus, et dixit eidem laudes magnas, quas etiam ille mihi dixit, sed nec discendi, nec scribendi aptitudinem habui. Vidisti ortum sacratissimi principis; vidisti simul et partum reginaj coelestis, et in utroque arctissimam paupertatem potuisti conspicere multis necessariis indigere. Hanc virtutem altissimam Dominus reinvenit. Hcec est illa evangeUca margarita ', pro qua emenda omnia sunt vendenda. Haec est totius spirilualis sedificii proprium fundamentnm: nam cum sarcina temporalium rerum spiritusad Deum non potest ascendere. De Pauper- qua dicebat beatus Franciscus: " Paupertatem, fratres, noveritis esse spiritualem viam salutis, tanquam humilitatis fomentum, et perfectionis radicem, cujus est fructus multiplex, sed occultus. " Magna ergo nobis est vcrecundia, quod eam non amplectamur toto posse, sed oneramur superfluis, quando mundi Dominus, et Domina mater ejus eam sic strictissime et studiosissime servaverunf.

De qua sic dicit Bernardus ^: " Abundabat in terris haec species, et nesciebat homo pretium ejus. Hanc itaque Dei Filius concupiscens descendit, ut eam ehgat sibi, et nobis quoque sua aestimatione faciat pretiosam. Adorna thalamum, sciUcet humilitate et paupertate. In his complacet sibi pannis, et Maria testimonium perhibente, his sericis delectatur involvi: et abominationes iEgyptiorum immola Deo tuo. " Hucusque Bernardus. Idem in sermone Nativitatis, qui incipit: Benedictus Deus, et pater ^: " Denique populum suum consolatur. Vis nosse populum ejus? Tibi derelidus est pauper *, ait homo secundum cor Dei.

Sed et ipse in Evangeho: Vce vofcis, inquit *, divitibus, qui habetis hic consolationem vestram. Quid enim consoletur eos, qui suam habent consolationem? Non consolatur Christi infantia garrulos: non consolantur Christi lacrymse cachinnantes: non consolantur panni ejus ambulantes in stolis; non consolantur stabulum et praesepe amantes primas ca" Maith. , xiii, 46, Bem. , in Vigil. Nativ. Dom. , in Nativ, Dom.

, seru). Imo auctorein lib. £/e Sala! . Docum. , iuter Oper. August. , Append.

, lom. VI. pro thedras in synagogis. Vigilantibus pastoribus annuntiatur gaudium lucis, et eis natus dicitur esse Salvator: pauperibus atquelaborantibus; non vobis divitibus, qui vestram habetis consolationem, et vestrum dominium. " Hucusque Bernardus. Potuistis etiam attendere in ufroque profundissimam humilitatem in hac ipsa nativitate; uon cnim sunt stabulum dcdignatj, non bestias, non foenum, et caetera vilia. Hanc virtutem in omnibus actibus, tam Dominus, quam Domina perfectissime servaverunt, et uobis commendaverunt. Nitamur ergo omni, quo possumus, studio ipsam amplecti, quia sine ipsa non est salus; nuUa enim operatio nostra cum superbia Deo placere potest.

Nam secundum beatum Augustinum ®: " Superbia fecit angelos dcemones; humilitas facit homines angelis similes. " Et Bernardus '^: " Qualem putas necesse est hominem inveniri, qui repudiati locum angeli sortiatur? Semel turbavit superbia regnum illud, concussit muros, etiam prostravit ex parte, et parte non modica. Quid ergo? Numquid non odit civitas illa, et vehementer hujusmodi pestem abominatur? Certi estote, fratres, eum qui superbis non pepercit angeUs, nec hominibus parciturum. Non est contrarius sibi ipsi. " Hucusque Bernardus.

PotuisUs etiam attendere in utroque, maxime in puero Jesu, non parvam cordis afflictionem, de qua sic dicit Bernardus *: " Nasciturus itaque Dei FiUus, cujus in arbitrio erat quodcumque vellet eUgere tempus, eligit quod molestius est prsesertim parvulo, et pauperis matris tilio, quce vix pannos haberet ad involvendum, praesepe ad recUnandum. Et cum tantaessetnecessitas,nullam audio pelUum fieri menUonem. " Et infra: " Christus utique, qui non faUitur, elegit quod carni molestius est. Id ergo meUus, id utilius, id potius eUgendum: et quisquis aUud doceat vel suadeat, ab eo tanquam a seductore cavendum. " Et infra ': " Et tamen, fratres, ipse es promissus olim per Isaiam ^'^ parvulus, sciens reprobare malum, et eligere bonum. Malum ergo voluptas corporis; bonum vero afflictio est: siquidem et hanc eUgit etiUamreprobat Puer sapiens, Verbum infans. " Hucusque Bernardus. Vade, et tu fac similiter^^, discrete tamen, Dominic.

I Nov. de verb. Isa. , Vidi Dom. , " Id. , de Nativ. Dom. , Lcij.

thalamura tuum, Sion, sed. — et, vje divinum. clegit. ut non excedas posse tuum. Et de his virtutibus alias poterit dici -, redeamus ad domum nativitatis. Nato itaque Domino, angelorum multitudo ibi existens suum Deum adoraverant, et confestim ad pastores iverunt, qui erant ibi prope forte per milliare, nuntiantes eis ipsam nativitatem et etiam locum. Exinde ascenderunt in ccelum cum canticis et jubilis, concivibus suis ea similiter nuntiantes. Tota igitur superna curia exliilarata, magnoque facto festo et laudibus, et gratiarum actionibus Deo Patri exhibitis, venerunt omnes, quotquot ibi erant, successive per ordines suos videre faciem Domini Dei sui, et adorantes eum cum omni reverentia, et etiam matrem ejus, laudem eidem etcantica personabant.

Quis enim eorum, auditis novis, remansisset in coelo, quin visitasset Dominum suum sic humiliter constitutum in terra? In nullo eorum hsec superbia cadere potuisset. Et ideo dicit Apostolus ': Et cum introdudt primogenitum in orbem ierrarum, dicit: Et adorent eum omnes angeli Dei. HcTC meditari de angelis jucundum puto, quaUtercumque se habuerit veritas. Yeneruntque pastores et adoraverunt eum, referentes quse audierant ab angelis. Mater vero prudentissima, omnia quae de ipso dicebantur, conservabat in corde suo; illi autem gaudentes abierunt. Genu flecte et tu, qui tantum distulisti, et adora Dominum Deum tuum, et postea matrem ejus, et reverenter saluta sanctum senem Joseph. Deinde osculeris pedes pueri Jesu jacentis in lecto, et roga Dominam, ut eum tibi porrigat vel permittat accipere.

Accipias eum inter brachia tua, retine, et intuearis faciem ejus dihgenter, ac reverenter deosculare, et delectare in eo confidenter. Hoc facere potes, quia ipse ad peccatores venit pro eorum salute, et cum eis humiUter conversatus, et tandem se ipsis dimisit in cibum. Unde benignitas sua patienter se tangi pro tuo velle permittet, nec imputabit praesumptioni, sed amori. Semper tamen cum reverentia et timore haec facias, quia ipse sanctus sanctorum est. Postea redde ipsum matri: et conspice diUgenter, quam studiose et sapienter gubernat eum, lactat, ac caetera ei facit obsequia. Ita et tu adjuva eam, si potes; in his delectare, jucundare, ac sedulo meditari memento, et quan^ /" Natiu. Dom. , Noct.

1, resp. 2, et in Vesp. 2, ad Mafinif. , auliph. •— * Tit. , lu, 4. tum potes famuleris Dominae et puero Jesu, et intuearis faciemejus saepe, in quam desiderant angeU prospicere. Semper tamen, ut dixi, cuw reverentia et timore ^, ne patiaris repulsam; reputare enim te debes indignam taUum conversatione.

Meditari debes etiam cum gaudio, quanta sit hodierna solemnitas. Hodie namque natus est Christus, et sicvere estdies nataUs Regis aeterni, et Filii Dei vivi. Hodie ^ filius datus est nobis, et puer natus est nobis. Hodie sol justitias, qui erat in nubilo, clare refulsit. Hodie Spiritus sanctus, Ecclesias electorum caput, processit de thalamo suo. Hodie desideratam faciem ostendit, /"oma speciosus '■' prce filiis hominum. Hodie factus est ille hymnus angeUcus: Gloria in excelsis Deo. Hodie pax hominibus est annuntiata, utin eodem hymno contiuetur.

Hodie, etiam cantat Ecclesia ^ per totum mundum melliflui facti sunt cobU, et in terra eanunt Angeli. Hodie primitus ^ apparuit benignitas et humanitas Salvatoris Dei nosti^i. Hodie adoratus est Deus in simiUtudine carnis peccati. Hodie iUa duo miracula conUgerunt, quae superant omnem intellectum, et sola fi. des apprehendere potest, sciUcet quod Deus nascitur, et Virgo parit. Hodie aUorum miraculorum claruit multitudo. Denique omnia, qu® dicta sunt de incarnatione, quasi hic clarius elucescunt: ibi inchoata, hic manifestata. Unde nunc illa, et istis meditationibus ista conjuge.

Merito ergo est dies illajubilationis, et gaudu, et laetitiae magnae nimis. Nam Romae de quadam taberna dicta emeritoria miUtes ibi spatiando, et emeudo necessaria, ea quae stipendiis suis meruerant, expendebant) fons olei largissimi emanavit de terra, et per totum diem iargissimo rivo ftuxit. Et circulus ad modum coelesUs arcus circa solem in toto orbe apparuit. Et Romae statua aurea, quam Romulus in suo palatio posuerat, quas prophetabatur non cadere donec virgo pareret, statim ut Christus natus est, corruit. In quo loco Calixtus Papa Ecclesiam Sanctae Mariae, quae nunc dicitur trans Tiberim, constiluit

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Isa.1.3 — An ox knows its owner, and a donkey its master's manger; but Israel does not know, my people do not understand.
  2. ↩Matt.13.45-Matt.13.46 — Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. Matt.13.46 — who, having found one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
  3. ↩Luke.6.24 — But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.
  4. ↩Luke.2.8-Luke.2.14 — And there were shepherds in the same region, living out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke.2.9 — And an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. Luke.2.10 — And the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.' Luke.2.11 — For today a Savior has been born to you, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. Luke.2.12 — And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. Luke.2.13 — And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Luke.2.14 — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
  5. ↩Luke.2.7 — And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
  6. ↩Isa.14.12-Isa.14.15;Luke.10.18 — How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who laid low the nations! Isa.14.13 — And you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens; above the stars of God I will raise my throne, and I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north." Keep the quotation open into v.14 for continuity. Isa.14.14 — I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'" Close the quotation here so the transition to v.15 lands clearly. Isa.14.15 — But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit. Luke.10.18 — He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning."
  7. ↩Isa.14.12-Isa.14.15 — How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who laid low the nations! Isa.14.13 — And you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens; above the stars of God I will raise my throne, and I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north." Keep the quotation open into v.14 for continuity. Isa.14.14 — I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'" Close the quotation here so the transition to v.15 lands clearly. Isa.14.15 — But you are brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit.
  8. ↩Rom.11.21 — For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
  9. ↩Luke.2.7 — And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
  10. ↩Isa.7.14-Isa.7.16 — Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Look, the young woman will conceive and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel. Isa.7.15 — Curds and honey he shall eat, by the time he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good. Isa.7.16 — For before the boy knows to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread because of its two kings will be abandoned.
  11. ↩John.1.14 — And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
  12. ↩John.13.15 — For I have given you an example, that just as I have done to you, you also should do.
  13. ↩Isa.6.1 — In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple.
  14. ↩Heb.1.6 — But again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 'And let all God's angels worship him.'
  15. ↩Heb.1.6 — But again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 'And let all God's angels worship him.'
  16. ↩Luke.2.15-Luke.2.20 — And when the angels had departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now as far as Bethlehem, and let us see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' Luke.2.16 — And they went quickly and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Luke.2.17 — And when they saw this, they made known the saying that had been spoken to them concerning this child. Luke.2.18 — And all who heard marveled at the things spoken to them by the shepherds. Luke.2.19 — But Mary treasured all these words, turning them over in her heart. Luke.2.20 — And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.
  17. ↩Luke.2.19 — But Mary treasured all these words, turning them over in her heart.
  18. ↩John.6.51 — I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.
  19. ↩Exod.26.33-Exod.26.34;Heb.9.3 — And you shall hang the veil beneath the clasps, and bring in there, inside the veil, the Ark of the Testimony; and the veil shall separate for you between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Exod.26.34 — And you shall place the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony, in the Holy of Holies. Heb.9.3 — And behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holy of Holies,
  20. ↩1Pet.1.12 — To them it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
  21. ↩Isa.9.6 — For the increase of his government and for peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
  22. ↩Isa.9.6 — For the increase of his government and for peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
  23. ↩Ps.45.2 — My heart is stirred by a noble theme; I address my work to the king; my tongue is the pen of a ready scribe.
  24. ↩Luke.2.14 — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
  25. ↩Luke.2.14 — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
  26. ↩Luke.2.13-Luke.2.14 — And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Luke.2.14 — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
  27. ↩Titus.3.4 — But when the kindness and the love for humankind of our Savior God appeared,
  28. ↩Rom.8.3 — For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.
  29. ↩Isa.7.14;Matt.1.23 — Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Look, the young woman will conceive and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel. Matt.1.23 — "Look, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call his name Immanuel," which means, "God with us."
  30. ↩Luke.2.13-Luke.2.14 — And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Luke.2.14 — Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.
  31. ↩Rev.4.3 — And the one who sat there was in appearance like a jasper stone and a carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow in appearance like an emerald.
  32. ↩Isa.7.14;Matt.1.23 — Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Look, the young woman will conceive and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel. Matt.1.23 — "Look, the virgin will conceive and bear a son, and they will call his name Immanuel," which means, "God with us."

Notes

  1. 1 ↩The manuscript reads 'ehgat,' an uncertain form; the normalized text emends it, and the translation follows the most plausible intended sense: 'might raise up / exalt.'
  2. 2 ↩The manuscript reads 'sciUcet,' an uncertain form; the translation follows the most plausible intended sense: 'namely / that is.'
  3. 3 ↩The contrast between humble cloths and 'abominations of the Egyptians' is rendered as given; the theological sense likely points to renouncing worldly luxuries in favor of poverty.
  4. 4 ↩The manuscript reads 'derelidus,' an uncertain form; the translation follows the most plausible intended sense: 'left (to you) / left behind.'
  5. 5 ↩'ufroque' is a corrupted form, likely 'utroque' (in both); 'uon' is likely 'non'; 'cnim' is likely 'enim'. 'dcdignatj' is heavily corrupted and uncertain; tentatively rendered as 'dignity'.
  6. 6 ↩'nuUa' is a corrupted form, likely 'nulla' (no). 'ipsam' and 'ipsa' refer back to 'virtutem' (virtue/humility).
  7. 7 ↩Quotation from Hebrews 1:6 (Vulgate). The Apostle is Paul.
  8. 8 ↩The readings HcTC and quaUtercumque are uncertain scribal forms, normalized tentatively. Translation follows the most plausible intended sense: hactenus ('up to this point') and quacumque ('however/in whatever way').
  9. 9 ↩Lecto rendered as 'manger' rather than 'bed' given the Nativity context.
  10. 10 ↩The phrase 'gave himself to them as food' anticipates the Eucharistic theology of Christ's self-giving; the Latin 'se ipsis dimisit in cibum' carries sacramental resonance.
  11. 11 ↩'pro tuo velle' rendered as 'according to your desire'; 'velle' could also mean 'will' or 'wishing.' The sense is that Christ permits the devotional embrace in response to the soul's longing.
  12. 12 ↩The Latin text breaks off mid-sentence: 'et quan^" Natiu.' The reading is corrupt or truncated. The translation renders the most plausible intended sense — an exhortation to meditate on the Nativity — and marks the break with an ellipsis.
  13. 13 ↩'Dom.' is an abbreviation, likely for 'Dominus' (Lord). It appears to be a liturgical rubric or marginal note rather than a sentence in the main text.
  14. 14 ↩'Noct.' is an abbreviation, likely for 'nocturnus' or 'noctis' (of the night / nocturn). It appears to be a liturgical rubric indicating the night office.
  15. 15 ↩The forms 'sicvere' and 'estdies' are uncertain in the source; the reading 'sic vere est dies' ('truly this is the day') is adopted as the most plausible intended sense. 'nataUs' is likewise uncertain, read here as 'natae' (genitive singular feminine) modifying an implied 'dies' or as a genitive of the birth-event.
  16. 16 ↩'justitias' is uncertain in case; read as accusative plural or genitive singular. 'nubilo' (ablative) is taken as 'in the cloud/darkness' rather than a specific cloud.
  17. 17 ↩'Ecclesias' is uncertain in case (possibly accusative plural or genitive singular); read here as genitive plural ('of the churches') or as a collective singular. 'caput' as 'head' is taken in the sense of leadership/headship over the churches of the elect.
  18. 18 ↩The source text is corrupt at this point: 'oma' is uncertain (possibly 'omnis' or a corruption), 'speciosus' is clear, and 'prce' is an uncertain reading (possibly 'prae'). The translation adopts the most plausible intended sense: 'altogether beautiful before the sons of men.'
  19. 19 ↩'angeUcus' is an uncertain/corrupt form; read as 'angelicus' (angelic).
  20. 20 ↩'utin' is uncertain (possibly 'ut + in'); 'contiuetur' is an uncertain reading (possibly 'continuetur', 'might be contained/held together'). The sense is that the announcement of peace belongs to and is held within the same angelic hymn.

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