De defensoribus et constructoribus ecclesiarum
The Vision of the Great Tree
The angel reveals a magnificent tree, lush with foliage, flowers, fruit, birdsong, and fragrance.
So when the soul had delighted in these visions, and wanted to stay right there, the angel said to her: 'Look.' And looking, she saw a tree, the largest and broadest, the greenest in foliage and flowers, and the most fruitful with every kind of fruit. In its foliage were many birds of diverse colors. Singing with diverse voices and making music, they lingered there; and beneath its branches were lilies and roses, many and abundant.1 and of all kinds of herbs. And from it rose every kind of fragrant thing.
The Blessed Souls in Golden Cells
Beneath the tree, men and women in golden and ivory cells praise God, crowned and robed in monastic splendor.
Under the same tree were men and women in golden and ivory cells. And they themselves unceasingly praised and blessed God almighty for all his gifts and blessings; and each one of them had a golden crown on his head, wonderfully adorned. And each one held a golden scepter in his hand; and they were clothed in such garments. Such as monks had been clothed in before.
The Soul's Question and the Angel's Answer
The soul asks the angel about the tree and its blessed inhabitants, and the angel identifies them as builders and defenders of holy churches.
The soul turned to the angel and said, 'What is this tree, and those souls that are under it, what good were they doing while they were in the body?' And the angel said, 'This tree is a figure of holy Church. And these who are under it are the men and women who were builders and defenders of holy churches. who sought to build them up
The Virtues of the Church's Builders
The angel describes how these benefactors defended churches, renounced worldly ways, and lived sober, just, and pious lives.
or they were eager to defend holy churches. and for the benefits bestowed on holy churches. they obtained the fellowship of those churches, and through their intercession. leaving behind the warning of secular garb. they restrained themselves from carnal desires. which wage war against the soul, soberly.✦ and justly. and they lived piously in this world.
The Blessed Hope and the Journey Onward
The angel notes their untroubled blessed hope and then calls the soul to continue the journey.
awaiting the blessed hope. As you see, nothing confounds them. And he added, 'Let's set out.'
Read the original Latin
Cum igitur anima his delectata visionibus. vellet ibidem stare dixit ei angelus. 'Respice.' Et respiciens vidit unam arborem maximam et latissimam. frondibus et floribus viridissimam; omniumque frugum generibus fertilissimam. In cuius frondibus aves multe diversorum coloribus. et diversarum vocum cantantes et organizantes morabantur; sub cuius etiam ramis lilia et rose multe nimis. et cunctarum herbarum.
specierumque odoriferarum genera oriebantur.
Erant autem sub eadem arbore viri et femine in cellis aureis et eburneis. et ipsi sine cessatione laudabant et benedicebant deum omnipotentem pro universis beneficiis ac donis; et habebat unusquisque illorum auream coronam in capite suo mirabiliter ornatam. et sceptrum aureum in manu sua quisque tenebat; et erant vestiti talibus vestimentis. qualibus ante monachi induti fuerant.
Anima autem ad angelum conversa ait. 'Que est ista arbor. et ille que sub ea sunt anime. quid boni agebant dum erant in corpore?' Et ait angelus. 'Hec arbor typus est sancte ecclesie. et isti qui sub ea sunt viri et femine constructores et defensores erant sanctarum ecclesiarum. qui vel edificare.
vel defensare studebant sanctas ecclesias. et pro beneficiis que sanctis largiebantur ecclesiis. ipsarum fraternitatem consecuti sunt; et per illorum. commonitionem relinquentes secularem habitum. continebant se a carnalibus desideriis. que militant adversus animam; sobrie. et iuste. et pie vixerunt in hoc seculo.
expectantes beatam spem. que ut vides eos non confundit.'
Et addidit. 'Proficiscamur.'
Scripture echoes
- ↩1Pet.2.11 — Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the fleshly desires that wage war against the soul.
Notes
- 1 ↩organizantes is a rare/medieval form; rendered as 'making music' to capture the sense of musical performance.
Visions of Tondal (Les Visions du chevalier Tondal) companion
Tondal came back and changed how he lived daily. That's the whole point.
Chosen Portion builds the daily practice Tondal's vision demanded: a morning reading that keeps eternity in view.
The Visio was written 'for the edification of many' as a spur to daily amendment of life, and Chosen Portion supplies that daily spur with a morning reading and evening examen.
- A daily portion from historic texts on living well and dying well
- The complete 27-chapter Visions of Tondal in modern readable English
- A built-in daily examen prompt — 2 minutes at day's end