LXIV. O ecclesia (De undecim milibus virginibus)
The Church Adorned in Precious Beauty
The church is described in radiant sensory imagery, her eyes like sapphire, ears like Mount Bethel, nose like a mountain of myrrh and frankincense, and mouth like the sound of many waters.
O Church, your eyes are like sapphire, your ears like Mount Bethel, your nose like a mountain of myrrh and frankincense, and your mouth like the sound of many waters.
Ursula's Bridal Longing and the World's Scorn
Ursula, in the vision of true faith, leaves her husband and the world to pursue the Son of God with bridal longing, but the people dismiss her words as the innocence of girlish ignorance.
In the vision of true faith, Ursula loved the Son of God. She left behind her husband along with this world, looked toward the sun, and called to the most beautiful young man, saying: 'With great longing I have longed to come to you, and to sit with you in heavenly weddings, running toward you by a foreign way, like a cloud that runs through the purest air, like sapphire.' And after Ursula had spoken in this way, this report went out through all peoples. And they said: 'The innocence of girlish ignorance does not know what it is saying.'
The Fiery Burden and the Contempt of the World
Ursula is tested with a fiery burden amid great harmony, leading to the recognition that the contempt of the world is like Mount Bethel and its sweet fragrance rises above all things.
And they began to play with her in great harmony, until a fiery burden fell upon her. Whence all recognized that the contempt of the world is like Mount Bethel. And they also recognized the sweetest fragrance of myrrh and frankincense, because the contempt of the world rises above all things.
The Devil's Assault and the Blood of the Lamb
The devil attacks and kills noble customs in the virgins' bodies, and the elements cry out before God's throne that the red blood of the innocent Lamb is poured out in his betrothal.
Then the devil attacked his own members, and they killed the most noble customs in those bodies. And at this, with a loud cry, all the elements heard, and before the throne of God they said: Watch! The red blood of the innocent Lamb is poured out in his betrothal.✦✦
Heaven's Symphony Over the Serpent's Defeat
All heaven is called to praise the Lamb in the highest symphony, for the ancient serpent has been suffocated by the substance of the word of God in these pearls.
Let all the heavens hear this, and in the highest symphony let them praise the Lamb of God, because the throat of the ancient serpent has been suffocated in these pearls by the substance of the word of God.✦✦
Read the original Latin
O ecclesia, oculi tui similes saphyro sunt, et aures tue monti Bethel, et nasus tuus est sicut mons mirre et thuris, et os tuum quasi sonus aquarum multarum. In visione vere fidei Ursula filium dei amavit et virum cum hoc seculo reliquit et in solem aspexit atque pulcherrimum iuvenem vocavit dicens: In multo desiderio desideravi ad te venire et in celestibus nuptiis tecum sedere per alienam viam ad te currens velut nubes, que in purissimo aere currit similis saphiro. Et postquam Ursula sic dixerat, rumor iste per omnes populos exiit. Et dixerunt: Innocentia puellaris ignorantie nescit, quid dicit. Et ceperunt ludere cum illa in magna symphonia, usque dum ignea sarcina super eam cecidit. Unde omnes cognoscebant, quia contemptus mundi est sicut mons Bethel. Et cognoverunt etiam suavissimum odorem mirre et thuris, quoniam contemptus mundi super omnia ascendit. Tunc diabolus membra sua invasit, que nobilissimos mores in corporibus istis occiderunt.
Et hoc in alta voce omnia elementa audierunt et ante thronum dei dixerunt: Wach, rubicundus sanguis innocentis agni in desponsatione sua effusus est. Hoc audiant omnes celi et in summa symphonia laudent agnum dei, quia guttur serpentis antiqui in istis margaritis materie verbi dei suffocatum est.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rev.5.6 — And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
- ↩Rev.19.7-Rev.19.9 — Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Rev.19.8 — And it was granted to her that she be clothed in fine linen, bright and pure—for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Rev.19.9 — And he said to me, "Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."
- ↩Matt.13.45-Matt.13.46 — Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. Matt.13.46 — who, having found one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
- ↩Rev.12.9 — And the great dragon was thrown down—the ancient serpent, the one called the Devil and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
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