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Chapter 88MedVC.1.88

Quod Dominus apparuit Magdalenae

The Other Marys at the Tomb

The other Marys see angels in the tomb but receive no comfort, for they seek only the Lord of angels.

The other Marys stayed there, and looking into the tomb, they saw two angels standing in white, who said to them: 'Whom do you seek — the living among the dead?'✦ But they didn't pay attention to the angels' words then, nor did they receive any comfort from the vision of the angels, because they weren't seeking angels, but the Lord of angels.

Magdalene's Grief and the Angels' Question

Magdalene weeps outside the tomb, returns to look again, and tells the angels she does not know where her Lord has been laid.

Once more the two Marys, crushed and as if overwhelmed, withdrew a little way from there and sat down grieving. But Magdalene, not knowing what else to do — because she couldn't live without her Master, and she couldn't find him there, and she didn't know where else to look for him — stood outside the tomb, weeping. So again she looked into the tomb, because she always hoped to find him there when she returned — it was where she had buried him — and she saw the same angels sitting there, who said to her: 'Woman, why are you weeping?'✦ 'Whom do you seek?'✦ And she said: 'They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they have put him.'✦

Love's Remarkable Power

The narrator marvels that love made Magdalene forget the angels' message, and her longing for Christ overwhelms all fear and restraint.

See the remarkable work of love: a short time before, she had heard from one angel that he had risen, and afterward from two that he was alive — yet she didn't remember, and says: 'I don't know.' Love did this — because, as Origen says here, her soul was not where she herself was, but it was where her Master was. She couldn't think, or speak, or hear about anything except him. As she wept like this, she had no concern for the angels; her love for her Master could no longer hold itself back.

The Lord Appears to Magdalene

The Blessed Mother urges Jesus to console Magdalene; he appears at the tomb, calls her by name, and she pleads to know where his body lies.

The Lord Jesus, therefore, speaks of this to his mother, and says that he wishes to go and console her, who is deeply grateful for this, and says: "My blessed son, go in peace, and console her, for she loved you deeply and grieved greatly at your death. Remember to return to me." And embracing the Lord, she let him go. He came therefore to the tomb and appeared. "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Magdalene," he says to her, "Woman, Magdalene, whom do you seek?"✦ "Why are you weeping?"✦ And she, still not fully recognizing him, yet like someone intoxicated, answered, saying: "Lord, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."✦ Look at her well, how with tearful countenance she humbly and devoutly entreats him to teach her about the one she seeks. For she always hoped to hear some new word about her beloved.

Mary's Recognition and the Ascension Word

Jesus calls Mary by name; she recognizes him with joy, seeks to kiss his feet, and he redirects her toward heavenly things and the message of his ascension.

Then the Lord said to her: "Mary."✦ She herself, as if coming back to life and recognizing him at the sound of his voice, said with unspeakable joy: "Rabbi" — that is, "Master" — "you are the Lord whom I was seeking. Why did you hide yourself from me for so long?"✦ And she ran to his feet, wanting to kiss them. But the Lord, wanting to raise her mind toward heavenly things so that she would no longer seek him on earth, said: "Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go tell my brothers: 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father.'"✦ And she added: "Didn't I tell you that on the third day I would rise again?"✦ How then were you looking for me in the tomb? And she replied: "I tell you, Master, that such great grief over the bitterness of your suffering and your death had filled my heart that I forgot everything and remembered nothing except your dead body and the place where I had buried him. That is why I brought this ointment this morning."✦ "Blessed be your magnificence, by which..."

The Joy of the Resurrection and Contemplative Gladness

The narrator and the faithful rejoice that the Lord has risen, contemplating his presence and the great Passover, imagining he must have touched Magdalene before departing.

She has deigned to rise again and return to us. So they stand together with Origen—1 —Matthew—2 —and—3 Beloved, with gladness and great joy. She herself looks at him closely, asks about each thing, and eagerly receives the answer. So now, here is the great Passover. Yet even though the Lord answered her this way from the beginning, I can scarcely believe he didn't touch her familiarly before he departed—kissing her feet and hands.

Christ's Purpose and Magdalene's Prayer

The narrator reflects on why Christ initially withheld touch, then imagines Magdalene's prayer of attachment and the Lord's promise to be with her always before she departs to announce the news.

But he acted this way from the start for a purpose — either because he showed himself to be the kind of person he truly was in his heart, as people generally understood it, or because, as I said, he wanted to lift his mind up toward heavenly things, just as Bernard seems to suggest. It can piously be believed that he did this to gladden her, not to disturb her — she whom he visited so lovingly and uniquely, before all those who are found written in Scripture. Therefore he did not say that word obstinately or in a harsh way, because the most kind Lord is neither obstinate nor harsh, especially toward those who are devoted to him.✦ After a short while, the Lord departed, saying that he needed to visit others as well. Then Magdalene, as if transformed — for she was unwilling to ever depart from him — says: 'Lord, I see that your way of life will no longer be with us, as it once was. I beg you, do not forget me.' Remember, Lord, how many good things you bestowed on me, and the closeness and love you showed toward me — and remember me, Lord my God. And the Lord said to her: 'Do not be afraid. Trust, and stand firm, because I will always be with you.'✦ Then she, having received his blessing as he departed, came to her companions and announced this to them.✦

The Lord Appears to the Three Marys

The women grieve because they have not yet seen the Lord, but he appears on the road, greets them, they worship his feet, and he sends them to tell the brothers to go to Galilee.

The women were indeed rejoicing over the Lord's resurrection, but because they had not yet seen him they withdrew with her, grieving. So as the three Marys were on their way together, before they reached the city, the Lord Jesus appeared to them, saying: 'Greetings.'✦ They were filled with a joy beyond words; falling down, they held his feet.✦ Here too, in the same way, they search and they behold, they receive a joyful response, and they keep a great Passover. The Lord Jesus said to them: 'Tell my brothers to go into Galilee; there they will see me, just as I told them.'✦ You see that the Master of humility calls his own disciples brothers — surely he hasn't abandoned this virtue?

A Word to the Contemplative Reader

The narrator exhorts the reader to be present in spirit at every scene of Christ's life to find understanding and consolation.

But if you wish to find understanding and consolation in what I've preached, recall the things I told you earlier — that in every place and in every action you should be present in spirit, as if you were there in the body. And the same applies to what will be said below.

Read the original Latin

Mariae autem rcmanserunt ibidem, et respicientes in monumentum, viderunt duos angelos, stantes in albis, qui dicunt eis^: Quem quoeritis, viventem cum mortuis? lllae autem nec tunc attenderunt ad verba eorum, nec aliquam consolationem accepcrunt de visione angelorum, quia non quaerebant angelos, sed Dominum angelorum. Iterum duae Mariae conterrilae, tt quasi absorptae, elongaverunt se inde aliquantulum, et sedebant dolentes, Magdalcna vero ncsciens quid aliud facere debcret, et quia sine Magistro suo vivere non potcrat, et ibi eum non inveniebat, et ubi eum quaereret, ignorabat ^ stabat ad monumentum foris plorans. Iterum ergo respiciens in monumentum, quia semper sperabat ibi cum rcviderc, ubi cum sepelierat, vidit ipsos angelos sedentes, qui dicunt ei: Mulier, quid ploras? quem quceris? Et illa: Tulerunt Dominum meum, et nescio ubi posuerunt eum. Vide mirabilem operationem amoris: paulo ante audierat ab uno angelo, quod resurrexerat, et postea a duobus quia vivebat; et non recordabatur, sed dicit: Nescio. Amor hoc faciebat, quia, ut dicit hic Origenes ^, anima sua non erat ubi ipsa erat, sed ibi erat, ubi Magister suus erat.

Nesciebat cogitare, loqui nec audire, nisi de ipso. Cum autem ista sic ploraret, nec de angelis aliquid cararet, amore suo Magister suus non poterat amplius se tenere. Dominus ergo Jesus refert hoc matri, et dicit quod vult ire ad consolandum eam; quee hoc mullum acceptat, et dicit: FJli mi benedicte^ vade in pace, et consoleris eam, quia muUum te dihgit, et de tua morte multum doluit; et memento redire ad me, et amplexans Bominus dimisit eum. Venit ergo ad monumentum in apparuit j^qj,|. q ^j^j gj,^^ Magdalena, et dicit ei: Mulier, Magda- quem qumris? quid ploras? Et illa eum non cohT-to '° gnoscens adhuc ut ebria, i^espondit, dicens: Domine, si tu sustulisti eum, dicito mihi, uhi posuisti eum; et ego eum tollam. Conspice bene eam, quomodo lacrymabili vultu, suppliciter et devote eum exorat, ut doceat eam illum, quem quasrit: semper enim sperabat audire ahqua nova de suo dilecto.

Tunc Dominus ad eam dixit: Maria. Ipsa vero quasi reviviscens, et cognoscens eum ad vocem, indicibiU gaudio dixit: Rabbi, id est, Magister, Dominus vos estis, quem quaerebam; quare tamdiu vos mihi celastis? Et currens ad pedes osculari volebat. Dominus vero volens animum suum elevare ad ccelestia, ut non quaereret eum amodo in terra, dixit; Noli me taiigere, nondum enim ascendi ad Patrem meum; sed dicfratrihus meis: Ascendo ad Patremmeum, et Patrem vestrum, etc. Et addidit: Nonne prfsdixi tibi, quod tertia die resurgerem? quomodo igitur me in sepulcro quaerebas? Et illa: Dico vobis, Magister, quod tantus dolor de acerbitate passionis et mortis vestree cor meum repleverat, quod omnium obUta, de nihilo recordabar, nisi de corpore vestro mortuo, et de loco, ubi sepeUveram ipsum: et ideo unguentum hoc mane detuleram. Benedicta sit magnificenUa vestra, qua?

resurgere et ad nos redire dignata est. Stant ergo simul 1 Orig. , ■ Mutth. , xxvur, 9 et uon. dilecti cum jucunditate et gaudio magno. Ipsa vero curiose aspicit eum, et interrogat de singuUs, et responsum alacritaUs recipit. Nunc ergo et hic est magnum Pascha. Licet autem sic a principio Dominus ei responderet, vix credere possum, quin eum famihariter tangeret, antequam inde discederet, osculando pedes et manus.

Sed dispensative sic fecit a principio,vel quia talem se ostendebat, quaUs erat in corde suo, secundum communem expositionem; vel quia, ut dixi, volebat animum suum erigere ad^oelestia, secundum quod Bernardus innuere videtur. Pie namque credi potest, quod quam sic amanter et singulariter, ante omnes qui scripti reperiuntur, visitabat, ad laeUficandam eam, non turbandam faciebat. MysteriaUter ergo, non pertinaciter dixit iUud verbum: quia non pertinax, neque durus, benignissimus Dominus est, et maxime diUgentibus se. Post aUqualem vero morulam discessit Dominus dicens, quia et alios oporteret eum visitare. Tunc Magdalena, quasi aUerata, sicut nolens ab eo unquam discedere, dicit: Domine, ut video, vestra conversatio non erit amodo nobiscum, sieut consueverat; rogo ne obUviscamini mei. Mementote, Domine, tot bonorum, quot mihi contuUstis, et famiUaritatis et dilectionis, quam habuistis ad me, et recordamini mei, Domine Deus meus. Et Dominus ad eam: Noli timere; confide et constans esto, quia semper ero tecum. Tunc ipsa benedicUone ab eo recepta, et Christo discedente, venit ad socias, et nuntiat hoc eis.

lUae vero de resurrectione Domini gaudentes, sed quod non viderant eum dolentes, recedunt cum ea. Cum ergo istde ] tres Mariae insimul pergerent, antequam venirent ad civitatem, apparuit eis Dominus Jesus dicens ^: Avete. lUae vero ultra quam dici posset exhilaratoe, procidentes tenuerunt pedes ejus. Hic ergo similiter et quaerunt et aspiciunt, et respousum jucunditatis accipiunt, et faciunt magnum Pascha. Dicit autem eis Dominus Jesus: Dicite fratribus meis, ut veniant in Galilceam; ibi me videbunt, sicut prcedixi eis. Vides, quod Magister humilitatis vocat discipulos suos fratres; numquid hanc virtutem dimisit? Tu autem si in praedicUs vis intelUgentiam et consolationem habere, recordare de his, quae superius tibi dixi, ut scilicet in omnibus locis et factis ita sis animo, ac si praesens esses corpore. Et idem de infra dicendis

Scripture echoes

  1. ↩Luke.24.5 — And when the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, 'Why do you seek the Living One among the dead?'
  2. ↩John.20.13 — And they say to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She says to them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.'
  3. ↩John.20.15 — Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, thinking that he was the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
  4. ↩John.20.13 — And they say to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She says to them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.'
  5. ↩John.20.15 — Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, thinking that he was the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
  6. ↩John.20.15 — Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, thinking that he was the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
  7. ↩John.20.13 — And they say to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She says to them, 'Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.'
  8. ↩John.20.16 — Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni" (which means "Teacher").
  9. ↩John.20.16 — Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni" (which means "Teacher").
  10. ↩John.20.17 — Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.'"
  11. ↩Luke.24.6-Luke.24.7 — He is not here, but has been raised. Remember how he spoke to you while he was still in Galilee, Luke.24.7 — saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.
  12. ↩Mark.16.1-Mark.16.3;Luke.24.1 — And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might come and anoint him. Mark.16.2 — And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun has risen. Mark.16.3 — And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" Luke.24.1 — Now on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared.
  13. ↩John.20.17 — Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.'"
  14. ↩Matt.28.20;Acts.1.8 — teaching them to observe everything I commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Acts.1.8 — But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
  15. ↩Matt.28.8-Matt.28.10;John.20.18 — And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Matt.28.9 — And behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Greetings!" And they came and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Matt.28.10 — Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.' John.20.18 — Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and she told them these things that he had said to her.
  16. ↩Matt.28.9 — And behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Greetings!" And they came and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
  17. ↩Matt.28.9 — And behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Greetings!" And they came and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
  18. ↩Matt.28.10 — Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.'

Notes

  1. 1 ↩The source reads '1 Orig.', likely an editorial abbreviation or reference to Origen; the '1' is uncertain and may be a manuscript siglum or abbreviation.
  2. 2 ↩The source reads ', ■ Mutth.' with an uncertain symbol (■) and abbreviation 'Mutth', likely for Matthew (Mattheum); reading is uncertain.
  3. 3 ↩The source reads ', xxvur, 9 et uon.' — all three tokens are uncertain abbreviations or corrupt readings; the intended sense is unclear.

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