De claro intellectu sacrae scripturae
The Wisdom of the Simple
Holy Scripture is intended to lead the simple-hearted toward God, and one should approach it with humility rather than rash curiosity.
The unfolding of your words brings light, giving understanding to the simple. Everything written in the Old and New Testaments was written to instruct our soul, so that we might faithfully serve God by hating evil and clinging to God, the highest good, with a pure, whole, and perfect heart, both now and in the future. Therefore, humbly ask about what you don't know, and reverently request that teachers explain what you don't clearly understand. For the unfolding of God's words brings light to the hearts of the simple. If you aren't yet able to grasp higher things, learn the small things with the simple, just as the Lord Jesus says. Let the children come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Therefore, don't rashly investigate things that exceed your understanding, but commit them to the Holy Spirit and firmly believe them to be true, because the Holy Spirit is the teacher of all truth and cannot bear witness to falsehood. The fact that many have many doubts isn't the fault or defect of Holy Scripture, but the blindness of their own minds and their neglect of study in the sacred books, which contain the teachings necessary for eternal salvation.
Devotion Over Curiosity
True understanding of divine mysteries is often granted to the devout in prayer rather than to the curious investigator.
Read the canonical scriptures willingly, pay close attention to the commentaries of the doctors, and make it your goal to understand them. Yet, you shouldn't stop praying or celebrating Mass just because you're busy with your studies. Often, many secrets are revealed to the devout during prayer and at Mass that are hidden from the pompous. They are hidden from curious investigators. It's very helpful for the simple and the unlearned when straightforward words are presented to them; subtle things, however, can be harmful, though they are helpful if the obscure points are explained. Those who diligently pay attention to the readings in the choir and the refectory, and who more carefully search out what the words of the history contain within them, are fed with the honeycomb of every word of God that they hear and read. Therefore, as long as a person lives in a mortal body, they can always learn more and make progress toward grasping higher things; but they will not attain the clear understanding of the angels and the vision of the blessed until they reach the glory of eternal beatitude with Christ’s help. Solid and strong food is harmful to the little ones and the weak; soft food and light drink nourish infants.
The Path of Humility
The simple and humble find grace, while those who rely on their own strength often fall, as illustrated by various metaphors of the spiritual life.
Simple instruments and moderate songs often sound sweeter and bring more joy; loud shouting, like harsh thunder, frightens weak spirits more than it refreshes them. Frequent lightning blinds the eyes, but a light inside a lantern keeps the sight sharp. Deep rivers drown those who swim carelessly, but those who cross by the bridge escape the dangers of the water more safely. Often a free lamb walks safely along a level path, while a strong ox falls, is seized, bound, and slaughtered. In this way, the one who believes simply and obeys humbly finds grace, while the one who relies on himself loses what he has. High things easily lift up the proud, and in the end, they confuse those who boast. I've seen simple people weeping in prayer out of devotion, while those who shout loudly and sing in parts feel nothing of the sort in their hearts. Why does this happen?
The Heart of the Worshipper
God hears the prayer of a simple heart, and true teachers must first correct themselves before correcting others.
Because the simple and humble person strives to please God in everything they do and say. The voice of a simple heart is heard by God in heaven, while the voice of a wandering heart and a distracted singer is heard only by people in the streets and squares of the city. Whoever pays serious attention to the meaning of the psalms, reading and singing them with a focused mind, conceives a great sweetness of devotion. For the Lord is truly sweet to those who are upright in heart and who seek His glory rather than their own praise. Blessed is the word from the mouth of one who speaks and sings, from which the heart of the listener is pierced with compunction. Before a rooster crows, it first beats its wings and rouses itself; so, a good brother and a devout person ought to correct themselves first before they rebuke another. A person teaches well and prudently when they begin with themselves, first amending what they notice and criticize in others. Thus, Saint Paul, while instructing others, humbly calls himself a sinner before everyone else, saying:
The Example of Saint Paul
Saint Paul serves as the ultimate model of humility, attributing all his works and his very identity to the grace of God.
For Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am the first, and I am not worthy to be called an apostle. And why is that, most holy Paul? Because I persecuted the Church of God. How, then, is this saint and chosen vessel truly worthy to be glorified? Not from myself, and not from men, but through the calling and revelation of Jesus Christ, from whom I learned to be gentle and humble, and to obey his Gospel. I take no credit for anything good; instead, I attribute everything I have done and taught primarily to him who called me by his grace to the faith that I preach and keep until death. For by the grace of God alone I am what I am, and his grace in me has not been in vain; rather, it always remains in me and will remain until I reach him who redeemed and saved me with his precious blood.
Read the original Latin
Declaratio sermonum tuorum illuminat: et intellectum dat parvulis. Quaecumque in lege veteri et nova scripta sunt ad doctrinam animae nostrae Scripta sunt: ut Deo fideliter serviamus odiendo malum et adhaerendo Deo summo bono corde puro integro et perfecto hic et in futuro. Quae igitur ignoras humiliter quaere: et quae non bene intellegis pete reverenter a doctoribus tibi declarari. Nam declaratio sermonum Dei illuminat corda parvulorum. Si non potes adhuc altiora capere; tunc parva cum parvulis sdisce: sicut Dominus Iesus dicit. Sinite parvulos venire ad me: talium est enim regnum caelorum. Quae ergo intellectum tuum excedunt noli temere perscrutari: sed omnia haec Spiritui sancto committe, et firmiter vera esse crede; quia Spiritus sanctus doctor est omnis veritatis: et non potest testis esse falsitatis. Quod multi habent multa dubia non est culpa nec vitium sacrae scripturae; sed caecitas mentis eorum et neglegentia studii in sacris libris: qui continent aeternae salutis necessaria documenta.
Igitur canonicas scripturas libenter lege; et expositiones doctorum cum diligentia adverte: et intellegere stude. Nec tamen propter diligentiam studii: est ab oratione et missarum celebratione cessandum. Saepe enim in oratione et in missa multa secreta devotis panduntur: quae pomposis. et curiosis scrutatoribus occultantur. Prodest autem valde parvulis et rudibus cum simplicia verba eis proponuntur; nocent vero subtilia: attamen iuvant si obscura dicta explanantur. Et qui diligenter ad o lectiones in choro et refectorio advertunt; et cautius perscrutantur quid intrinsecus verba historiae continent: pascuntur favo mellis ex omni verbo Dei quod audiunt et legunt. Vnde quamdiu homo corpore mortali vivit semper magis addiscere potest: et ad altiora capienda proficere; sed ad claram intellegentiam angelorum et beatorum visionem non attinget: donec ad aeternae beatitudinis gloriam Christo auxiliante perveniat. Solidus et fortis cibus nocet parvulis et infirmis: mollis cibus et tenuis potus nutrit infantes.
Simplicia organa et moderata cantica dulcius saepe resonant et laetificant: alti clamores quasi dura tonitrua debiles animos magis terrent quam recreant. Crebra fulmina excaecant oculos: lux in laterna conservat aciem visus. Profunda flumina submergunt incaute natantes: per pontem transeuntes evadunt pericula aquae securius. Saepe per iter planum agnus liber transit, ubi bos fortis cadit et rapitur ligatur et mactatur. Sic simpliciter credens et humiliter oboediens gratiam invenit: et sibi confidens perdit quod habet. Alta extollunt leviter superbos et in fine confundunt gloriantes. Vidi simplices in oratione ex devotione flere: et alte clamantes et discantantes nil tale in corde sentire. Quare hoc accidit?
Quia simplex et humilis Deo placere stu det: in omni quod agit et loquitur. Vox simplicis cordis apud Deum in caelo: vox vagi cordis et dissoluti cantoris coram hominibus in vicis et plateis civitatis. Qui sensum psalmorum seriose attendit set morose legit et cantat: magnam devotionis dulcedinem concipit. Vere enim suavis est Dominus rectis corde: qui gloriam eius quaerunt non propriam laudem. Benedictus sermo ex ore loquentis et cantantis: unde compungitur cor audientis. Gallus antequam cantet prius se ipsum alis suis verberat et excitat; sic bonus frater et devotus orator se primitus corrigere debet: antequam alium increpet. Ille bene et prudenter docet; qui a se ipso incipit et primo emendat: quod in aliis notat et reprehendit. Sic sanctus Paulus alios instruens: humiliter se peccatorem prae aliis nominat dicens.
Quia Iesus Christus venit in hunc mundum peccatores salvos facere; quorum primus ego sum: qui non sum dignus vocari apostolus. Et quare o sanctissime Paule? Quia persecutus sum ecclesiam Dei. Vnde ergo sanctus et vas electionis vere digne glorificandus? Non ex me ipso, non ab hominibus: sed per vocationem et revelationem Iesu Christi; a quo didici mitis: et humilis esse: et evangelio eius oboedire. Nihil boni mihi attribuo: sed quicquid egi et docui hoc totum principaliter ascribo: qui me vocavit per gratiam suam ad fidem quam praedico et servo usque ad mortem. Nam sola gratia Dei sum id quod sum: et gratia eius in me vacua non fuit; sed semper in me manet ets manebit: donec perveniam ad eum qui me pretioso sanguine suo redemit et salvavit.
The Little Garden of Roses & The Valley of Lilies companion
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