Meditatio de Domino et sociabus; de loco ubi steterunt
The Mourners Gathered Behind Closed Doors
The Virgin Mary, her companions, and the disciples huddle in fearful silence behind shut doors on Easter morning, weeping and reproaching themselves for having abandoned the Lord, until Peter arrives in shame and they all break into tears together.
Early on Sunday morning, the Lady and her companions — together with John — stand in the house with the doors shut, distressed and sorrowful, like orphans filled with grief; not speaking, but lost in memory, they sat together glancing at one another furtively, just as tends to happen to those weighed down by great pressure and calamity. Then there was a knock at the door, and they were afraid, because they had feared all things; for their sense of safety had left them. Nevertheless, John went to the door, and looking out recognized Peter, and said, 'It is Peter.' And the Lady said, 'Open it for him.' Peter enters then, shamefaced, with great sobs and weeping; and then they all began to weep, and they couldn't speak a word because of their grief. Afterward the other disciples also come, one after another, weeping. At last, stopping their weeping, they begin to speak about their Lord. Peter says to her: 'I am ashamed of myself, and I should not speak in your presence or appear before others, because I abandoned and denied my Lord, who loved me so much.'✦
Mary's Words of Comfort and Peter's Testimony
The disciples continue to reproach themselves, but the Virgin consoles them with hope in the Lord's mercy and resurrection; Peter recounts his denial and the Lord's foreknowledge of it, and at the Lady's request John is asked to relate the words of the Last Supper.
In the same way, the others, beating their palms and pouring out tears, reproached themselves for having abandoned their sweetest Lord like this. Then the Lady says: Good Master and faithful shepherd, he has departed from us, and we are left as orphans; but I firmly hope that we shall quickly have him back: and you know that my son is kind, and he loved you greatly. Do not doubt, for he will be well reconciled and will willingly forgive every offense, or blame.✦1 So great, by the Father's permission, was the fury against him, and so did the audacity of evildoers prevail, that you could not have helped him, even being with him: and so do not be troubled. Peter answered: Truly, my Lady, it is as you say; for I, who saw only the beginnings, was struck with such great fear in the court of Caiaphas that I scarcely believed I could escape, and I denied him.✦2 Nor was I mindful of the words with which he had foretold this to me, until he looked back at me.✦ Then Magdalene asks what he had foretold Peter; and he answered about the denial, and relates the whole to her, and added that at supper he had said many other things to them about his passion. Then the Lady says: I would like to hear about these things that were said and done at supper by him.3 And Peter nodded to John, so that he himself might relate it.
A Day Spent Remembering the Lord
The disciples spend the entire Sabbath recounting the Lord's deeds and words to one another, while the Virgin listens with surpassing attention, blesses her Son repeatedly, and alone holds fast to certain hope of the resurrection even in the midst of her grief.
John, however, begins and tells the whole story — and so they relate to one another all that the Lord Jesus had done with them, both these things and others, one speaking at one time, another at another, and so they spent the entire day talking about him. They run. How attentively Magdalene was listening — but the Lady herself far more attentively still! How often on that very day she would say in the telling of his deeds: 'Blessed be my son Jesus!' Look at them carefully, then, and suffer with them, because they are in great affliction — indeed, in the very greatest affliction today. For what is there to behold? The Lady of heaven and earth, the Prince of the Churches, and the leaders of all peoples and of the whole divine host — thus fearful, shut up in a little house, not knowing what they ought to do, except to comfort one another as they talk about the deeds and words of their sweetest Lord. The Lady, however, stood with a tranquil and peaceful mind, because she had the most certain hope regarding the resurrection of her son, and in her alone faith remained on that Sabbath day — and for that reason the Sabbath day is attributed to her. Nevertheless, the Lady herself could not stand joyfully, on account of the death of her sweetest son, Jesus Christ.
Preparing Spices for the Lord's Body
After sunset ends the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go out to buy the finest spices, returning with sorrowful devotion to prepare ointments for the Lord's body.
But later, after the sun had set, when it was lawful to work, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to buy spices for making ointments. Late on the previous day, when they had returned from the Lord's tomb, they began to prepare right up to sunset, and afterwards they rested. For it was necessary to observe the sabbath from sunset on Friday to another sunset. So now they go to buy spices. Look at those women carefully as they walk with sorrowful faces in the manner of widows, and make their way to some shop of a perhaps devout gentleman, who sympathizes with them and willingly satisfies their will. They themselves ask for the spices. And they choose the best they can, and with the price paid they return, preparing themselves to make ointments for their Lord. So observe carefully how humbly, devoutly, and faithfully they labor for their Lord, with great tears and deep sighs.
Silence Through the Night: A Sabbath Meditation
The Virgin, her companions, and the apostles keep watch in silence through the night after the preparations are complete, and the narrator offers this entire chapter as the proper meditation for the Sabbath day.
The Lady and the apostles look on, and perhaps lend their help; and when these things were done, they kept silence through the night. And this, to be sure, is the meditation for the Sabbath day concerning the Lady, her companions, and the disciples. On the Sabbath day.
Read the original Latin
Maneautem sabbati, stant in domo, januis clausis, Domina et alifB sociae una cum Joanne afflictae et dolorosae, tanquam orphanae et plenae moerore, non loquentes, sed memorantes sedebant simul, aspicientes se mutuo raptim, sicut contingere consuevit magna pressura et calamitate gravatis. Pulsatum autem fuit ad ostium, et timebant, quia omnia timuerunt; securitas enim eorum discesserat. Tamen Joannes ibat ad ostium, et aspiciens cognovit Petrum, et dixit: Petrus est. Et Domina: Aperias ei. Ingreditur igitur Petrus verecunde cum singultibus magnis, et fletibus; et tunc omnes plorare coeperunt, nec verbum loqui poterant prae moerore. Postea veniunt successim et alii discipuli etiam plorantes. Tandem cessantes a fletu, incipiunt de Domino suo loqui. Dicit ei'go Petrus: Ego verecundor in meipso, nec deberem in conspectu vestro loqui, vel hominibus apparere, quia Dominum meum, qui me tantum diligebat, sic reUqui et negavi.
Similiter et alii cum percussione palmarum, lacrymarumque effusione, seipsos redarguebant, quia Dominum suum dulcissimum sic reliquerant. Tunc dicit Domina: Magister bonus et pastor ndelis recessit a nobis, et nos remanemus velut orphani; sed spero firmiter, quod cito rehabebimus ipsum: et vos scitis, quia benignus est filius meus, et vos multum diligebat, Non dubitetis, quia bene reconciliabitur, et libenter remittet omnem offensam, sive culpam. Tantus autem fuit, permissione Patris, furor contra eum, et ita praevaluit malorum audacia, quod non potuissetis eum juvare, etiam existentes cum eo: et ideo nolite turbari. Respondit Petrus: Vere, Domina mea, ita est, ut dicis; nam ct ego, qui tantum initia vidi, tanto fui timore perculsus in atrio Caiphse, quodvix credebam me posse evadere, et eum negavi. Nec fui memor verborum, quibus hoc praedixerat mihi, quousque me respexerit. Tunc Magdalena quaerit quid ei praedixerat; et respondit de negatione, et narrat ei totum, et addidit, quod eis alia plura dixit in coena de passione sua. Tunc dicii Domina: Yellem audire de his quae dicta et facta fuerunt in coena per eum. Et Petrus annuit Joanni, ut ipse referat.
Joannes vero incipit et narrat totum; et sic tam de his quam aUis, quae fecerat Dominus Jesus cum eis, narrant ad invicem, modo unus, modo alius, sicque totam diem de ipso sermonizando perrespexerat. currunt. 0 quam attente auscultabat Magdalena, sed multum attentius ipsa Domina! 0 quoties in ipsa die dicebat in narratione gestorum: Benedictus sit filius meus Jesus! Intuere ergo eos diligenter, et compatere, quia sunt in afflictione raagna, imo permaxima hodie constituti. Quid enim est videre, quod Domina cceli et terrae, et Princeps Ecclesiarum et omnium populorum, et duces totius divini exercitus, sic timorosi stant reclusi in domuncula quadam, nescientes quid facere debeant, nisi quod se confortant, conferentes de factis et verbis dulcissimi Doraini sui? Domina taraen stabat mente tranquilla et pacata, quia certissimam spem habebat de resurrectione filii sui, et in ea sola remansit fides in ipsa die sabbati: et propterea dies sabbati attribuitur ei. Non tamen poterat ipsa Domina gaudenter stare, propter mortem filii sui dulcissimi Jesu Christi.
Sero autem facto, post solis occasum, cum licuit operari, Maria Magdalena et altera Maria iverunt emere aromata pro faciendis unguentis. Sero etiam praecedenti cum redierant a sepultura Domini, coeperunt parare usque ad solis occasum; postea siluerunt. Nam sabbatum observare oportebat a solis occasu, die Veneris, usque ad alium occasum. Nunc ergo vadunt emere aromata. Intuere tu ilias diUgenter, incedentes moesUs vultibus, more viduarum, et se applicantes ad aliquam apothecam alicujus forte devoti domini, eis compatientis, et libenter satisfacientis voluntau earum. Ipsee vero postulant aromata. et eUgunt quantum possunt meliora, et pretio soluto redeunt, parantes se ad facienda unguenta Domino suo. Conspice ergo diligenter, quomodo humiliter, devote et fideliter laborant pro Domino suo, cum lacrymis raagnis et suspiriis intimis.
Domina vero et apostoli aspiciunt, et forte adjuvant; quibus factis, nocte siluerunt. Et haec quidem est meditatio die Sabbati de Domina, sociabus, et discipulis. SABBATO DIE
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.26.70;Mark.14.68;Luke.22.57;John.18.25 — But he denied it before all of them, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." Mark.14.68 — But he denied it, saying, 'I neither know nor understand what you are saying.' And he went out into the forecourt. [And a rooster crowed.] Luke.22.57 — But he denied it, saying, "I do not know him, woman." John.18.25 — Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not."
- ↩John.10.11 — I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
- ↩Matt.26.69-Matt.26.75;Mark.14.66-Mark.14.72;Luke.22.54-Luke.22.62;John.18.15-John.18.27 — Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." Matt.26.70 — But he denied it before all of them, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." Matt.26.71 — But when he had gone out to the courtyard gate, another girl saw him and said to those there, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." Matt.26.72 — And again he denied it, with an oath: "I do not know the man." Matt.26.73 — After a little while, those who were standing there came to Peter and said, "Truly, you are one of them, for your speech makes it clear." Matt.26.74 — Then he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man!" And immediately a rooster crowed. Matt.26.75 — And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. Mark.14.66 — And while Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came. Mark.14.67 — And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, "You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus." Mark.14.68 — But he denied it, saying, 'I neither know nor understand what you are saying.' And he went out into the forecourt. [And a rooster crowed.] Mark.14.69 — And the servant girl, seeing him again, began to say to those standing by, "This man is one of them." Mark.14.70 — But again he denied it. And after a little while, those standing by said again to Peter, "Truly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." Mark.14.71 — But he began to curse and to swear, 'I do not know this man you are talking about.' Mark.14.72 — And immediately a rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, 'Before a rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.' And he broke down and wept. Luke.22.54 — Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house. But Peter was following at a distance. Luke.22.55 — When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Luke.22.56 — But a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light of the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man also was with him." Luke.22.57 — But he denied it, saying, "I do not know him, woman." Luke.22.58 — After a little while, another person, seeing him, said, "You also are one of them." But Peter said, "Man, I am not." Luke.22.59 — And after about an hour had passed, another man began insisting, saying, 'Truly this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean too.' Luke.22.60 — But Peter said, 'Man, I do not know what you are saying.' And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. Luke.22.61 — And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had told him, 'Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.' Luke.22.62 — And he went out and wept bitterly. John.18.15 — Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered the courtyard of the high priest along with Jesus. John.18.16 — But the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the gatekeeper and brought Peter in. John.18.17 — Then the doorkeeper said to Peter, "You are not also one of this man's disciples, are you?" He said, "I am not." John.18.18 — The servants and the officers had made a charcoal fire, because it was cold, and they were warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. John.18.19 — The high priest then questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. John.18.20 — Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews gather, and I have said nothing in secret. John.18.21 — Why do you ask me? Ask those who have heard what I said to them. Look, these ones know what I said. John.18.22 — When he said these things, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus with his hand, saying, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" John.18.23 — Jesus answered him, 'If I have spoken wrongly, testify about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike me?' John.18.24 — So Annas sent him, bound, to Caiaphas the high priest. John.18.25 — Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, "You are not also one of his disciples, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not." John.18.26 — One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the one whose ear Peter had cut off, said, 'Did I not see you in the garden with him?' John.18.27 — Peter denied again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
- ↩Luke.22.61 — And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had told him, 'Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.'
Notes
- 1 ↩The form 'ndelis' is uncertain — likely a scribal error for 'fidelis' (faithful). Translated as 'faithful' on that basis.
- 2 ↩'ct' in the source is a scribal error for 'et' (and). Translated accordingly.
- 3 ↩'dicii' is an uncertain scribal form, likely for 'dicit' (says). 'Yellem' is a scribal form of 'velim' (I would wish). Both normalized in translation.
Meditationes Vitae Christi (Pseudo-Bonaventure), Castilian court context companion
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