Verba Virginis gloriose ad filiam de modo Christum de cruce deponendi et de suis amaritudine et dulcedine in Filii passione et qualiter anima per virginem et amor Dei et mundi per duos iuuenes designantur et de condicionibus, quas anima debet habere tamquam virgo.
The Sorrow and Solace of the Cross
Mary recounts the bitter details of the descent from the cross and the profound, mixed sorrow and joy she experienced in her Son's burial.
Mary said, "My daughter, there are five things you need to think about." First, you must consider that all the limbs of my Son grew stiff and cold in death, and the blood that flowed from his wounds during his passion clung to all his limbs, clotted.1 Second, consider how his heart was pierced so bitterly and mercilessly that the one doing the piercing didn't stop until the lance reached his rib and both sides of his heart were caught upon the blade. Third, reflect on how he was taken down from the cross. The two men who took him down from the cross used three ladders: one reached his feet, the second went under his armpits and toward his arms, and the third reached the middle of his body.2 The first one climbed up and grabbed him around the waist. The second, climbing up a different ladder, first pulled the nail from one arm, then moved the ladder and pulled the nail from the other hand. In fact, these nails extended far beyond the wood of the cross. As the one who was supporting the weight of the body climbed down little by little and as carefully as he could, the other climbed the ladder that reached to the feet and knocked the nails out. As it neared the ground, one of them held the body by the head, and another by the feet. But I, as his mother, held him by the middle. And so, the three of us carried Him to a certain stone, which had been covered by me with a clean linen cloth, in which we wrapped His body. But I didn't sew the linen. For I knew for certain that He would not decay in the tomb. Afterward, Mary Magdalene and other holy women arrived, and holy angels were there too—as many as dust motes in a sunbeam—all of them showing their devotion to their Creator. No one can describe the sadness I felt at that time. For I was like a woman in labor, whose every limb trembles after the birth. Although she can barely breathe from the pain, she still rejoices inwardly as much as she can, because she knows that her son, having been born into this same misery from which he has departed, will never return to it. In the same way, even though I was incomparably sad because of my son's death, I still rejoiced in my soul because I knew that my son would not die again, but would live forever. And so, a certain joy was mixed with my sadness. I can truly say that once my Son was buried, it was as if two hearts were in one tomb. Isn't it said: 'Where your treasure is, there is your heart also'?✦ And so, my heart and my thoughts were always dwelling in my Son's tomb. In this way, my heart and my thoughts were always dwelling in my Son's tomb.
The Allegory of the Two Suitors
Through the allegory of a virgin choosing between two suitors, the soul learns to discern between the deceptive allure of the world and the life-giving call of God.
Then, adding to this, the Mother of God said: "I’ll tell you about that person as an example—what his situation was, what state he was in, and how he is established now." It was as if a certain virgin were betrothed to someone, and two young men stood before her; one of them, called by the virgin, said to her: I advise you not to trust the one you’ve betrothed yourself to. He is rigid in his demands, slow to reward, and stingy with his gifts. Believe me, then, and trust what I say; I will show you another who isn't harsh, but gentle in all things—someone who gives you what you desire immediately, and who provides, in abundance, the things that please and delight you. Hearing this, the virgin thought to herself and replied: 'Your words are sweet to hear.' You are personally gentle and beautiful to experience.3 I believe it's wise to follow your words." As she took the ring off her finger to hand it to the young man, she noticed an inscription above it with three words. The first was: 'When you reach the top of the tree, be careful not to grab a dead branch for support, or you might fall!' The second word was: 'Be careful not to take advice from the enemy!' The third word was: 'Don't place your heart between the teeth of a lion!' When the virgin saw this, she pulled back her hand and kept the ring, thinking to herself, "Maybe these three things mean that this man, who wants me as his bride, isn't faithful." It seems to me that his words are empty, that he's full of hatred, and that he'll kill me. As she thought this over, she looked again and saw another writing, which also contained three words. The first was: 'Give to him who gave to you!' The second word was: 'Give blood for blood!' The third was: 'Don't withhold from the owner what is his own!' After seeing and hearing these things, the virgin thought to herself, "The first three words teach me how to escape death, and the next three, how to obtain life." Therefore, it is right that I should follow the words of life more closely." Then the virgin, using wise counsel, called to herself the servant of the one who had first betrothed her; and as he approached, the one who wanted to deceive her moved away from them. That is the soul of one who is betrothed to her God.
The Soul's Response to Divine Grace
The Mother of God interprets the allegory, explaining how the soul must reject the world's false promises and embrace the service of Christ.
The two young men who stood before her are the friendship of God and the friendship of the world. Even now, the friends of the world are drawing closer and more intimately to her. They were the ones who spoke to her about the riches and honors of the world—the ones to whom she had almost extended the ring of her love, and to whom she had almost agreed in everything. But with the grace of my Son helping her, she saw a certain writing—that is, she heard the words of His mercy—in which she understood three things. First, she must guard herself so that as she climbs higher and leans on things destined to fall, a more severe fall doesn't await her. Second, she understood that there is nothing in the world but sorrow and anxiety. Third, that the devil's reward is evil. Then she saw another writing—or rather, she heard his words of comfort. First, so that she might give what is hers to God, from whom she has everything. Second, so that she might offer Him the service of her own body, since He shed His blood for her. Third, so that she might not estrange her soul from her God, who created and redeemed her. Once they've heard and carefully considered these things, God's servants draw near to Him and find favor, while the servants of the world distance themselves from Him.
The Virtues of the Heavenly Bride
The soul, as a bride of Christ, is instructed on the necessary virtues, purity, and the importance of following a faithful spiritual guide to reach the Bridegroom.
But now her soul is like a virgin who has just risen from the arms of her bridegroom, and she is bound to possess three things. First, she must wear proper clothing so that she isn't mocked by the King's servants if they find any flaw in her attire. Second, she must be well-mannered according to the will of her Spouse, so that if anything unseemly is found in her actions, the Spouse isn't dishonored because of her. Third, she must be completely pure, so that the Bridegroom finds no stain in her for which she could be despised or cast aside. Next, she should have guides to the chamber of her Spouse, so she doesn't go astray in the corridors or along some narrow path. Anyone who is to be a guide must have two qualities: first, that they are visible to the one following; second, that they are heard, so that what they teach and where they are going is clear. Anyone following a leader, however, is bound to three things: first, not to be sluggish or lazy in following; second, not to hide from the one they're following; and third, to pay close attention to the leader's footsteps, considering them carefully and following them with diligence. Therefore, for the soul to reach the Bridegroom’s chamber, it must be led by a guide who can successfully bring it to its Bridegroom, God.
Read the original Latin
Maria loquebatur: "Quinque cogitare debes, filia mea.
Primo, quod omnia membra filii mei in morte diriguerunt et frigescebant, et sanguis, qui de vulneribus eius in passione effluxit, membris omnibus adhesit coagulatus.
Secundo, quod in corde punctus erat tam amare et immisericorditer, quod pungens non destitit, donec lancea attigit costam et ambe partes cordis essent in lancea.
Tercio cogita, quomodo deponebatur de cruce! Hii duo, qui deponebant eum de cruce, tres applicabant scalas: una protendebatur ad pedes, secunda subtus ascellas et ad brachia, tercia ad meditatem corporis.
Primus ascendit et tenebat eum per medium. Secundus, ascendens per aliam scalam, excussit primo unum clauum de uno brachio, deinde applicata scala excussit clauum alterius manus.
Qui quidem claui longe ultra stipitem crucis protendebantur.
Descendente igitur illo, qui sustentabat onus corporis, paulatim et modice, prout poterat, ille alius ascendit scalam, que tendebatur ad pedes, et excussit clauos de pedibus.
Cumque appropinquaret ad terram, unus eorum tenuit corpus per caput, alius per pedes. Ego vero, que mater eram, tenui per medium.
Et sic nos tres portauimus eum ad quandam petram, que in lintheo mundo per me operta erat, in quo obuoluimus corpus. Sed non consui lintheum. Sciebam enim pro certo, quod non in tumulo putresceret.
Postea Maria Magdalena et alie sancte mulieres venerunt, necnon et angeli sancti, multi quasi athomi solis, affuerunt, obesequium exhibentes creatori suo.
Qualem autem tristiciam tunc temporis habui, non est, qui valeat dicere. Eram enim sicut mulier pariens, cuius omnia membra post partum tremula sunt.
Que, licet pre dolore vix respirare possit, tamen gaudet interius, quantum potest, eo quod scit filium suum natum in eandem miseriam, de qua exiuit, numquam rediturum.
Sic ego, licet ex morte filii mei eram incomparabiliter tristis, tamen, quia sciui filium meum non amplius moriturum sed in eternum victurum, gaudebam in anima mea. Et sic cum tristicia mea quedam leticia miscebatur.
Vere dicere possim, quod sepulto filio meo quasi duo corda in uno sepulchro fuerunt. Numquid non dicitur: 'Ubi est thesaurus tuus, ibi est et cor tuum.' ? Sic in sepulchro filii mei semper cogitacio et cor meum versabatur."
Deinde adiciens mater Dei dixit: "Dicam tibi de illo tali per modum exempli, quomodo et in quo statu positus erat et quomodo nunc constitutus est.
Quasi quod quedam virgo cuidam desponsata esset et ante ipsam duo iuuenes starent, quorum unus a virgine vocatus dixit ei:
'Consulo tibi, ne credas ei, quem desponsasti. Ipse enim rigidus est in operibus suis, tardus in remuneracione, auarus in donis.
Crede ergo magis michi et verbis, que tibi dico, et monstrabo tibi alium, qui non est durus sed lenis in omnibus, qui dat tibi statim, quod desideras, qui dat eciam tibi copiose, que placent et delectant.'
Quibus auditis virgo cogitans secum respondit: 'Verba tua sunt dulcia ad audiendum. Tu personaliter lenis es et pulcher ad senciendum. Consultum credo verba tua sequi.'
Et cum extraheret anulum de digito, ut porrigeret iuueni, vidit superius unam scripturam, in qua erant tria verba.
Primum erat: 'Cum veneris in cacumen arboris, caue, ne apprehendas aridum ramum arboris ad sustentandum te, ne forte cadas!'
Secundum verbum erat: 'Caue, ne recipias consilium ab inimico!'
Tercium erat: 'Non ponas cor tuum inter dentes leonis!'
Cumque virgo videret hec, retraxit manum et retinuit anulum cogitans secum sic: 'Hec tria, que video, forte notant, quod iste, qui me in sponsam habere cupit, non est fidelis.
Michi videtur, quod verba sua sunt vana et plenus est odio et interficiet me.'
Et cum sic cogitaret, iterum respexit et vidit aliam scripturam, in qua eciam erant tria verba. Primum erat: 'Da ei, qui tibi dedit!' Secundum verbum erat: 'Da sanguinem pro sanguine!' Tercium erat: 'Non alienes possessori, quod suum proprium est!'
Quibus visis et auditis cogitauit iterum sic virgo: 'Prima tria verba informant me, quomodo fugiam mortem, sequencia tria, quomodo optineam vitam. Ergo iustum est, ut magis sequar verba vite.'
Tunc virgo sapienti usa consilio vocauit ad se seruum illius, qui eam primo desposauit, et eo appropinquante ille, qui eam decipere voluit, se ab eis elongauit.
Talis est anima illius desponsata Deo suo.
Duo iuuenes, qui ante eam stabant, sunt amicicia Dei et amicicia mundi. Nam amici mundi magis et vicinius appropinquant ei usque nunc.
Qui loquebantur ei de diuiciis et honore mundi, ad quos pene extendisset anulum amoris sui et eis in omnibus consensisset.
Sed succurrente gracia filii mei vidit scripturam quandam, idest audiuit misericordie eius verba, in quibus intellexit tria.
Primo, quod caueret sibi, ne, dum alcius ascenderet et rebus casuris inniteretur, grauior ei casus immineret. Secundo intellexit nichil esse in mundo nisi dolorem et sollicitudinem. Tercio, quod mala est diaboli retribucio.
Deinde aliam scripturam vidit, scilicet audiuit verba eius consolatoria.
Primo, ut daret sua Deo, a quo habet omnia. Secundo, ut redderet ei seruicium corporis sui, qui sanguinem suum fudit pro eo. Tercio, ut non alienaret animam suam a Deo suo, qui eam creauit et redemit.
Istis auditis et diligenter consideratis appropinquant ei nunc serui Dei et placent, et elongant se ab eo serui mundi.
Sed nunc anima eius est quasi virgo, que de brachio sponsi sui nouiter surrexit, que tenetur habere tria.
Primo vestes decoras, ne forte derideatur a famulis regis, si in vestibus deprehenditur aliqua deformitas.
Secundo debet esse morigerata iuxta voluntatem sponsi, ne, si aliquid in actibus suis inueniatur inhonestum, dehonestetur sponsus propter eam.
Tercio debet esse mundissima, ut sponsus non inueniat in ea unam maculam, pro qua contempni et repudiari possit.
Deinde habeat ductores ad cubiculum sponsi sui, ne forte in ambitibus vel in subtili aditu errare contingat.
Qui vero ductor esse debet, duo habeat: primo, ut videatur a sequente; secundo, ut audiatur, quid docet et quo itur.
Ille autem, qui sequitur aliquem precedentem, tria tenetur habere: primo, ut non sit segnis et piger in sequendo; secundo, ut non abscondat se a precedente; tercio, ut diligencius attendat et consideret vestigia precessoris et eum sollicite sequatur.
Ergo anima eius ut ad cubiculum sponsi perueniat, necesse est, ut a ductore ducatur, qui eam ad sponsum suum, Deum, feliciter perducat.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.6.21 — For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Notes
- 1 ↩The Latin 'diriguerunt' (grew stiff/rigid) and 'frigescebant' (were growing cold) describe the rigor mortis of the crucified Christ.
- 2 ↩The Latin 'meditatem' is likely a scribal error for 'medietatem' (middle/midpoint).
- 3 ↩The term 'senciendum' here suggests an experiential or sensory perception of the divine, rather than mere intellectual knowledge.
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