Verba Matris ad filiam per exemplum probancia, quod predicatores et amici Dei non minus coronantur in conspectu Dei, si gentes non conuertantur ad eorum predicacionem recta intencione factam, quam si conuertantur.
The Reward of Faithful Intent
The Mother of God uses the analogy of a worker searching for gold to illustrate that reward is based on the effort of the task rather than the outcome.
The Mother of God says: "Someone hires a worker to labor, telling him: 'Carry sand from the shore and search through every load, in case you might find a grain of gold there!'" His reward will be no less if he finds nothing than if he finds a great deal."
Laboring for Souls
The chapter extends the metaphor to preachers and friends of God, confirming that their divine reward is rooted in their love and obedience rather than the success of their conversions.
It's the same for someone who works for the progress of souls through word and deed out of divine love; their reward won't be any smaller if they convert no one than if they convert many. The Master gave this example: 'A soldier,' he said, 'who goes out to battle at his lord's command, intending to fight bravely, but returns wounded without having taken any prisoners, would receive no less a reward for his good will, even though he lost the battle, than if he had won the victory.' It's the same way with the friends of God. For they will be crowned for every word and work they do for God's sake and for the sake of souls being mended, and likewise for every hour of trouble they endure for God's sake, whether many are converted or none at all.1
Read the original Latin
Mater Dei loquitur: "Qui conducit operarium ad laborandum dicendo ei: 'Porta arenam de litore et inquire in quolibet onere, si forte ibi inuenire poteris granum auri!' Non minor erit merces eius, si nichil inueniret, quam si reperiret multum.
Sic est eciam cum illo, qui verbo et opere ex diuina caritate laborat ad profectum animarum, non enim erit minor merces illi si nullos conuerterit quam si multos,
sicut magister dixit exemplum: 'Ille,' inquit, 'bellator qui ad preceptum domini sui egrediens ad bellum et habens velle fortiter dimicandi rediret sauciatus nullum habens captiuum, non minorem mercedem obtineret amisso bello propter voluntatem bonam quam si victoriam fuisset consecutus.'
Sic est eciam cum amicis Dei. Nam pro quolibet verbo et opere, quod faciunt propter Deum et ut anime emendentur, necnon et pro qualibet hora tribulacionis, quam paciuntur propter Deum, coronabuntur, siue multi conuertantur siue nullus."
Notes
- 1 ↩The term 'emendentur' (mended/amended) is used here in the sense of spiritual correction or restoration.
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