Christus ammonet sponsam, quod progrediatur et perseueret in virtutibus imitando sanctorum vitam, ut efficiatur brachium eius; probat enim, quod sancti transformatiue efficiuntur brachium Christi.
The Anatomy of the Divine Life
Christ describes the indwelling of the Trinity and the heavenly host within the saints using the metaphor of a human body.
The Son says, "I told you before that my friends are my arm; it's truly so." For in them is the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and my Mother, along with the entire heavenly host. The Godhead is like the marrow, without which no one lives. My humanity, which was strong enough for the Passion, is like the bones. The Holy Spirit, however, is like the blood, because He fills and gladdens all things. My Mother is like the flesh in which the Godhead, humanity, and the Holy Spirit dwelt. The skin or outer covering is the entire heavenly host.
The Preeminence of the Mother
Christ highlights the unique virtue and purity of His Mother, who surpasses all saints in her union with the Divine.
Just as skin covers the flesh, so my Mother excels all the saints in virtue. For although the angels are pure, she is even purer. And although the prophets were filled with the Spirit of God, and the martyrs also suffered much, the Spirit was fuller and more fervent in my Mother, and she was more than a martyr. Even though the confessors abstained from all things, my Mother practiced a more perfect abstinence, because my divinity was in her, united with my humanity.
Becoming the Arm of Christ
The believer is invited to participate in the life of the saints and be united to Christ through the grace of His Body.
Therefore, my friends, when they have me, the Godhead by which the soul lives is within them; the strength of my humanity, by which they are made strong even to the point of death, is in them; and the blood of my Spirit, by which their will is made ready for every good, is in them. Their flesh, too, is filled with my blood and my flesh when they refuse to be defiled, keeping themselves in chastity through the cooperation of my grace. My skin is also joined to their skin when they imitate the life and ways of my saints. This is why my saints are rightly called my arm; you, too, must become a member of that arm by choosing to keep progressing in goodness and by imitating them as much as you can. Just as I unite them to myself through the union of my Body, so you must be united to them and to me through that same Body of mine.
Read the original Latin
Filius loquitur: "Dixi tibi prius, quod amici mei sunt brachium meum: vere sic est. In eis est enim Pater et Filius et Spiritus sanctus et Mater mea cum omni celesti exercitu.
Deitas quippe est quasi medulla, sine qua nemo viuit. Ossa sunt humanitas mea, que fortis fuit ad passionem. Spiritus sanctus vero est sicut sanguis, quia implet et letificat uniuersa.
Mater vero mea est sicut caro, in qua fuit deitas et humanitas et Spiritus sanctus. Pellis autem seu cutis est omnis celestis exercitus.
Sicut enim pellis tegit carnem, sic Mater mea omnes sanctos precellit virtute. Nam licet angeli mundi sunt, mundior tamen est ipsa. Et licet prophete impleti fuerint Spiritu Dei, martires quoque multa passi, plenior tamen et feruencior fuit in Matre mea Spiritus, ipsaque plus quam martir fuit.
Confessores eciam et si se ab omnibus abstinuerunt, perfecciorem tamen abstinenciam habuit Mater mea, quia in ipsa fuit deitas mea cum humanitate.
Ergo amici mei, cum me habent, in eis est deitas, qua anima viuit, est fortitudo humanitatis mee, qua fortes fiunt usque ad mortem, et sanguis Spiritus mei, quo voluntas eorum fit mobilis ad omne bonum.
Caro quoque eorum tunc impleta est sanguine meo et carne mea, quando nolunt inquinari seruantes se in castitate cooperante gracia mea. Pellis quoque mea est coniuncta pelli eorum, quando vitam et mores sanctorum meorum imitantur.
Sic ergo sancti mei bene vocantur brachium meum, quorum et tu effici debes membrum per voluntatem progrediendi in bono et eos, in quantum poteris, imitando.
Sicut enim ego coniungo eos michi per corporis mei coniunccionem, sic tu eis coniungi debes et michi per idem corpus meum."
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