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Chapter 83MedVC.1.83

Meditatio post completorium

The Queen of Heaven Has No Home

Joseph and Nicodemus offer shelter to the Blessed Virgin, who humbly accepts John's invitation to Mount Zion, revealing her utter desolation as the homeless Queen of Heaven.

Now Joseph, wanting to return to the city after the service had been completed in this way, said to the Lady: "My Lady, I beg you for God's sake, and for the love of your son and my master, if it pleases you, to turn aside into my house. I know you don't have a house of your own. Make use of my things as yours, because all that is mine is yours." Nicodemus did the same. What compassion this is! The Queen of heaven has no place to lay her head, and she'll have to spend these mournful days and her widowhood under another's roof.✦ Truly these are days of widowhood, because the Lord Jesus was to her a son and a bridegroom, a father and a mother, and every good thing; and all at once, with him dead, she lost everything. Truly she is a widow and forsaken, and she has nowhere to turn. Then she, bowing humbly and giving thanks, replied that she had been entrusted to John. To which words John, still urging her, replied that he wanted to lead her to Mount Zion, into the house where the Master dined late yesterday with the disciples, and he wished to stay there with her.

Farewell at the Tomb and the Cross

The Blessed Virgin genuflects at the tomb and commends her Son to the Eternal Father, then adores the cross before departing, while onlookers are moved to imagine the Father's own grief.

Those who had bowed down before the Lord and worshipped at the tomb went away; but the others, as the Gospel says, remained sitting near the tomb.✦ As night was drawing near, John said to the Lord: 'It isn't proper to linger here too long, or to return to the city after dark.' 'And so, if it pleases you, Lady, let us go.' Then the Lady rose and, genuflecting, embraced the tomb; and blessing it, she said: 'My son, I can no longer stay with you; I commend you to your Father.' She lifted her eyes to heaven and spoke with tears and deep feeling: 'Eternal Father, I commend my son to you, and my soul, which I now release.' And then they began to depart. When they came to the cross, she herself genuflected there and worshipped the cross, saying: 'Here my son rested, and here is his most precious blood.' And all the others did the same. Can you even imagine how tenderly your father, who loved you so dearly, must have felt?

The Mournful Procession to the City

The Blessed Virgin withdraws from the tomb and cross, turning back in anguish as she walks toward the city, while bystanders weep and lament the injustice done to her Son.

She herself was the first at the place where she adored the cross. From there the chosen sisters ask: Where is our son? She withdrew as they headed toward the city, and along the road she was our joy, our sweetness, looking back and turning around. When they were within the light of our eyes, she withdrew from the place beyond the tomb and the cross. You have heard what deep distress and anguish followed. And this they could not bear to see. She turned, bowed low, and — what increases grief — because she had withdrawn and turned away, she adored with deepest devotion. And all of them, torn and utterly anxious, thirsting for … and the maidens and …, when they could reach her, walked along the road consoling her, but a great lament arose all the same. But even good people who passed by them were moved to pity and were stirred to weeping, saying: Surely a great injustice has been done today by our leaders against the son of that Lady, and God shows great signs on their behalf — let them beware of what they have done. When they came to the house, she herself turned toward the ladies and gave thanks, and with deep devotion she bowed low.

The Widow's House of Sorrow

In the house on Mount Zion, the Blessed Virgin searches for her Son in anguish, while the companions lament and Magdalene is left overwhelmed and unaided.

They indeed, bowing and kneeling, began to make a great lamentation, praying. The Lady of the house therefore entered, and Mary Magdalene, and her sisters.1 John, indeed, placing himself by the door, asked all of them to return to their own homes, because it was late; and giving thanks to them, he closed the little door.2 Then the Lady of the house, looking around, said this: 'My son, most sweet, where are you, because I do not see you here?'3 'John, do you see where our son is?'4 'Magdalene, where is he? What have they all done?'5 As they approached the city, the sisters of the Lady veiled her as though she were a widow, covering her entirely as if with a shroud, and they went before her. But the Lady followed most mournfully, veiled in this way, between John and Magdalene.6 Then Magdalene, wanting to enter — oppressed and violent as she was at the entrance — no one was able to come to her aid. They left her, and her Father, almighty God, was unwilling to help her. And how quickly these things have come to pass — you have seen them.7

The Swiftness of Condemnation

The narrator reflects on the shocking speed of Christ's arrest, betrayal, and crucifixion, and the companions weep as they resolve to go to Mount Zion.

Was the condemnation of the most wicked person ever hastened and thunderbolted out like this? O son, you were captured by night and treacherously betrayed on the way that leads to your own home — the one who planned beforehand to lead them there in the morning; and condemned at the third hour, and crucified at the sixth, he says: 'My Lord, I beg you, ... you are thus.' O son, how ... it is ... that we should go to our house; and there ... your ... and the memory of your most shameful death! We will stand; for John gladly ... asking that he might cease, came to her after he had comforted her; she is yours, and all things are hers. You, however, if you put your strengths to the test, they are yours; I ask that you come. And here they began to weep. But with the Lady remaining silent and nodding her assent, John turned; she still asked John. He himself indeed answered: 'It is more fitting that we go all the way to Mount Zion and ..., so that we may respond to our friends; you rather should come with her.'

Magdalene's Vow of Fidelity

Magdalene vows never to leave the Blessed Virgin, and upon entering the city they are met with instructions to console her and encourage her to eat after the long fast.

Then Magdalene answered: "You know well that I will go with her wherever she goes, and I will never leave her."✦ As they entered the city, Maith ran up to meet them. , xxvii, 61.✦ You will surely know how to obey them, to serve, to console, and to strengthen her, so that she may eat a little, and encourage the others to eat as well, for they are still fasting. Afterwards, once the blessing has been given by the Lady and received by each of the others, you may depart.

Read the original Latin

Volens autem Joseph redire in civitatem post oflicium sic completum, dicit Dominae: Domina mea, ego vos deprecor propter Deum, et propter amorem filii vestri et magistri mei, si placet, ut divertatis in domum meam; scio enim, quod domum propriam non habetis; utamini mea ut vestra, quia omnia mea vestra sunt. Similiter et Nicodemus. 0 qualis compassio! Regina cceli non habet ubi caput suum reclinet; et hos dies lugubres et viduitaUs suae sub alieno tecto ducere oportebit. Vere dies viduitatis sunt isti, quia Dominus Jesus erat ei filius et sponsus, pater et maler, et omne bonum; et omnia simul, eo mortuo, perdidit. Vere vidua est et derelicta, et, quo divertat, non babet. Tunc ipsa se inclinans humiliter, et gratias agens, respondit se esse commissam Joanni. Quibus Joannes adhuc eam roganUbus, respondit, qiiod volebat eara ducere in montem Sion, in domum in qua magister coenavit heri sero cum discipulis, et ibidem stare cum ea volebat.

llli vero inclinanles se Dominte, et adorantes sepulchrum, abierunt; et isti, ut Evangelium dicit •, remonserunt sedenies conira sepuicrum. Appropinquante aulem nocte, dicit Joannes Dominoe: Nou est honestum hic nimis morari, vel de nocte in civitatem redire. Et ideo, si vobis placet, Domina, recedamus. Tunc Domina surgens et genuflectens sepulcrum amplexatur, benedicensque sepulcrum, dicit: Fili mi, non possum amplius stare tecum; ego recommendo te Patri tuo. Sublevatis etiam oculis in coelum, dicit cum lacrymis et affectu magno: Pateroetcrne, recommendo vobis filium, et meam animam, quam dimitto, Et recedere tunc cceperumt. Cum autem venerunt ad crucem, ibi genuflexit ipsa et adoravit crucem, dicens: Hic requievit filius meus, et hic est pretiosissimus sanguis ejus. Similiter et ^^^ ^^^ omnes fecerunt. Cogitare namque potes, quod pater tuus, qui te sic tenerrime diligebat?

0 diipsa prima fuit, qua3 crucem adoravit. Exinde lectae sorores, ubi est filius noster? Recessit a recedunt versus civitatem, et per viam Scspe nobis gaudium nostrum, dulcedo nostra et vertebat retrospiciens. Cum autera fuerunt in lumen oculorum nostrorum • recessit autem loco, ultra quem sepulcrum et crucera amplius cura raagna angustia, vos audistis. Et hoc est videre non potuerunt, vertit se, inclinavit, ge- quod raihi raagis auget dolorem, quia recessit nuflexit, et devotissirae adoravit. Sirailiter et totus laceratus, totus anxius et sitibundus coundique virgines et niatronfe bonfie, cum pertingere eam potuerunt, associant eam per viam consolando, sed magnus utique fit ploratus. Sed et boni homines compatiebantur eidcm, per quos transibant, et movebantur ad fletum, dicentes: Certe magna injustitia est facta hodie per principes nostros contra filium istius Dominae, et Deus pro eo magna signa ostendit; caveant quid fecerint. Cura autem venerunt ad doraum, tunc ipsa se vertens versus dominas, et gratias ageus, devotissirae inclinavit.

Ipsae vero inclinantes se, et genuflectentes, oranes coeperunt facere planctum magnum. Intravit ergo Doraina doraum, et Magdaleaa, et sorores suae. Joannes vero ponens se super ostio, rogavit omnes, ut redirent ad doraos suas, quia tarda hora erat, et gratias agens eis, ostiuraille clausit. Tunc Domina doraum circumspiciens, sic dicebat: Fili mi dul- L^n,encissime, ubi es, quia hic te non video? 0 Joan- tu™ virnes, ubi estfilius raeus? 0 Magdalena, ubi est ^'°''omnes fecerunt. Appropincjuantes ad civitatem, sorores Dominae velaverunt eam tanquara viduara, cooperientes quasi totum vultura suura, et praecedebant; Doraina autera inter Joannera et Magdalenara sequebatur raoestissime sic velata. Tunc Magdalena volens in ingressu civiactus, oppressus, et violentus; nec ei potuiraus n aliquo subvenire; oranes reliquerunt eum, et pater ejus omnipotens Deus noluit eura juvare: et quam cito facta sunt ista, vos vidistis.

Cujusunquaravelsceleratissimihominis fuit sic accelerata et fulminata damnatio? 0 fili, hac tatis sumere viara quae ducit ad domum suam, nocte captus fuisti, perfide traditus • mane in et illuc eos ducere, providit sibi ante, et tertia condemnatus, et in sexta crucifixus et dicit: Dominamea, precor vos araore raagistri ita raortuus es. 0 fili, quam araara est separamei, ut eamus ad domura nostram; et ibi me- tio tua, et memoria turpissimce mortis tuse! Tanlius stabimus; scilis enim quomodo libenter dem Joannes rogans ut desisteret, consolatus veniebat ad eam; ipsa vestra est, et omnia est eam. Tu autera, si vires tuas'experiaris raea vestra sunt; rogo ut veniatis. Et hic plangere incoeperunt. Domina autem tacente, et annuente versus Joannem, adhuc illa rogat Joannem. Ipse vero respondit: Decentius est, ut eamus usque ad montera Sion, et maxirae, quia sic respondeamus amicis nostris, tu potius venias cum ea.

Tunc Magdalena respondit: Bene scis, quod veniara cum ea quocumque ierit, et nunquam dimittam eam. Intrantibus autem illis civitatera, concurrunt 1 Maith. , xxvii, 61. scies utique eis parere, servire, consolari, et confortare eam, quod parumper comedat, et alios ad comedendum confortet, quia adhuc jejuni sunt: postea benedictione a Domina et singulis aliis suscepta, discedas

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Matt.8.20;Luke.9.58 — And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have dens, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." Luke.9.58 — And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."
  2. ↩John.20.11-John.20.12 — But Mary stood outside at the tomb, weeping. And as she wept, she bent down and looked into the tomb. John.20.12 — and she sees two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.
  3. ↩Ruth.1.16 — But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God."
  4. ↩Matt.27.61 — Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

Notes

  1. 1 ↩The term 'doraum' is uncertain; it may denote a house, dwelling, or specific location. Rendered here as 'house' based on contextual inference from neighboring sections.
  2. 2 ↩'doraos' is uncertain; rendered as 'homes' by analogy with 'doraum' in the same section. 'ostiuraille' appears to be a diminutive of 'ostium' (door), rendered here as 'little door'.
  3. 3 ↩'doraum' again uncertain; rendered as 'house' for consistency. The form 'dul- L^n,encissime' appears to be a scribal truncation or abbreviation of 'dulcissime' (most sweet), which is the reading adopted here.
  4. 4 ↩The Latin '0 Joan- tu™ virnes, ubi estfilius raeus?' is heavily corrupted. 'virnes' may be a variant of 'vidēs' (you see); 'estfilius' appears to be a fused form of 'est filius' (the son is / is the son); 'raeus' may be a corruption of 'noster' (our). The translation reflects the most plausible intended sense.
  5. 5 ↩The Latin '0 Magdalena, ubi est ^'°''omnes fecerunt.' contains uncertain characters (superscript symbols) whose reading is unclear. The translation assumes the sense is a question about what 'they all' have done, consistent with the surrounding lament.
  6. 6 ↩'vultura' is uncertain; possibly a variant of 'velatura' (veiling/covering) or related to a shroud-like garment. Rendered here as 'shroud' to convey the funereal imagery. 'Doraina' appears to be a proper name or variant of 'Domina' (Lady); treated as the Lady herself. 'autera' is a variant of 'autem'.
  7. 7 ↩'civiactus' is uncertain; possibly a variant related to 'civicus' or 'civitatis', rendered here contextually as relating to the entrance of the city. 'potuiraus n' is likely a corrupted form of 'potuit' with an uncertain character. 'oranes' may be a variant participle (possibly 'orantes' — praying) or a form of 'omnes' (all); the translation reads it as 'they' (all of them). 'eura' is uncertain, possibly a variant of 'eam' (her).

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