Verba matris ad filiam sub figura de alio episcopo, et qualiter talis episcopus per brucum vermem, verbosa eloquentia per euolatum, due considerationes per duas alas, verba placentia mundi per morsum designantur, et de Virginis admiratione de vita istorum duorum episcoporum et de predicatoribus.
The Metaphor of the Earthly Shepherd
The mother describes a worldly bishop using the metaphor of a caterpillar to illustrate his vanity, pride, and lack of spiritual correction.
The mother speaks again to the bride, saying, "I have shown you another bishop, whom I have called a shepherd of the flock." We compare him to a caterpillar, which has an earthy color, flies off with a great noise, and wherever it lands, bites intolerably and with pain. This shepherd has an earthy color because, even though he was called to poverty, he’d rather be rich than poor, in charge than subject, and have his own way than be disciplined by the obedience of others. He also flies off with a great noise, because instead of divine sermons he is full of wordy eloquence, instead of spiritual teaching he argues about the vanity of the world, and instead of the holy simplicity of his order, he praises and imitates the world's vanity. He also has two wings, that is, two considerations: the first is that he wants to give everyone beautiful and pleasing words so that he might be honored by everyone. The second is that he wants everyone to bow down to him and obey him. Furthermore, the caterpillar bites without comfort. In this way, he bites, causing damage to the soul. For although he is a physician of souls, he does not tell those who come to him about their danger and infirmity, nor does he use the blade of correction; instead, he speaks pleasant things to them so that he might be called gentle and avoid being shunned by anyone.
The Deception of Appearances
The Virgin highlights the hypocrisy of bishops who manipulate their outward appearance of poverty or generosity to gain worldly honor.
Look, there's something truly remarkable about these two bishops. For one appears on the outside to be poor, solitary, and humble, just so he can be called spiritual. Another desires to possess the world, so that he might be called merciful and generous. Yet another wants to appear to possess nothing, and still he secretly craves to possess everything. The other wants to possess many things openly, so that he may give much away and be highly honored for it. Therefore, as the common saying goes, because they serve me in such a way that I do not see—because I do not approve—I will reward them in such a way that they will not see.
The Mystery of Preaching and Grace
The mother explains that the efficacy of preaching depends on the Holy Spirit rather than the character of the speaker, urging the bride not to be troubled by the instruments God uses.
Are you wondering why such people are praised for their preaching? I’ll tell you: sometimes a wicked person speaks to the good, and the good Spirit of God is poured into them—not because of the teacher’s goodness, but through the teacher’s words, in which the good Spirit of God is present for the sake of the good of those who hear. Sometimes a good person speaks to those who are evil, and they are made good by what they hear, both because of the good Spirit of God and because of the teacher's goodness. Sometimes a cold person speaks to others who are cold, so that when these listeners pass on what they've heard to those who are absent but fervent, they themselves may become more fervent as they listen. Therefore, don't be troubled by those to whom you are sent. For God is wonderful; He lays gold underfoot and places mud among the rays of the sun.
Read the original Latin
Item loquitur mater ad sponsam dicens: "Alium episcopum ostendi tibi, quem vocaui pastorem gregis. Hunc similamus bruco, qui terreum habens colorem cum sonitu magno euolat et, ubicumque resederit, mordet intolerabiliter et cum dolore.
Sic iste pastor terreum habet colorem, quia cum ad paupertatem vocatus est, magis desiderat esse diues quam pauper, magis preesse quam subijci, magis habere voluntatem propriam quam aliorum obedientia disciplinari.
Euolat quoque cum sonitu magno, quia pro diuinis sermonibus abundat verbosa eloquentia, pro doctrina spirituali disputat de mundi vanitate et pro sancta ordinis sui simplicitate laudat et imitatur mundi vanitatem.
Habet insuper duas alas, idest duas considerationes: Prima est, quod omnibus vellet dare verba pulcra et placentia ad hoc, ut ab omnibus honoraretur. Secunda est, quod vellet ut omnes se ei inclinarent et obedirent.
Item brucus mordet inconsolabiter. Sic iste mordet damnose ad animam. Nam cum sit animarum medicus, non dicit accedentibus ad se periculum eorum et infirmitatem nec utitur resecationis ferro, sed loquitur eis placentia, ut vocetur mitis et ne ab aliquibus deuitetur.
Ecce in istis duobus episcopis mirabile magnum est. Alter enim apparet extra pauper solitarius et humilis, ut vocetur spiritualis. Alius desiderat possidere mundum, ut vocetur misericors et largus. Alius iterum vult videri possidere nichil et tamen concupiscit omnia possidere occulte.
Alter vult possidere in aperto plurima, ut tribuat multa et sic honoretur multum. Propterea secundum vulgare prouerbium, quia ipsi seruiunt michi taliter, quod non video, quia non approbo, ideo remunerabo eos taliter, quod non videbunt.
Miraris, cur tales laudantur de predicatione sua? Respondeo tibi: Quandoque malus loquitur bonis, quibus infunditur spiritus Dei bonus non propter bonitatem doctoris sed per verba doctoris, in quibus spiritus Dei bonus est propter bonum audientium.
Quandoque bonus loquitur malis, qui efficiuntur boni ex auditu et propter spiritum Dei bonum et propter bonitatem docentis.
Quandoque eciam frigidus loquitur frigidis, ut frigidi auditores, dum referunt audita ad absentes feruentes, ipsi audientes fiant feruentiores. Propterea noli turbari ad quos mittaris. Deus enim est mirabilis, qui sternit aurum sub pedibus et lutum collocat inter radios solis."
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