they found not the body but they did feele a most sweete sauour and found onlie the linnen in in which the body was wrapped which they did kisse for deuotion And that the blessed virgin was raised vp the third daie and in soule body assumpted into heauen many holy fathers doe tel vs. b Oratio de Assup S. Damascenus doth write that the virgin as the daughter of the old Adam was subiect to the old lawe of â—eaâ—â—â— but in as much as she was the mother of the liuing god she was from the sepulchre conioined to him c In entonio de dor nit virg 〈◊〉 Part. 3 â—nnal â—d Alip 〈◊〉 Serm. de â—it lormit â—irg Canis â—ib 5. ca. 4.5 〈◊〉 Andreas Bisshop of Candia doth say in this sort She that brought forth the author of life being raised vp againe findeth her selfe now there where is present the perpetual fountaine of life Michael Glycas doth report that the virgin Marie died according to the lawes of nature but by grace she was raised againe as her sonne Metaphrastes also doth auouche that the most blessed body of the virgin was by god translated into the diuine and celestial tabernacles Points for Meditation 1 Contemplate in what manner the blessed body of the virgin Marie laide in the sepulchre was not onlie voide of corruption but also did cast from it selfe a most sweete sauour 2 Contemplate how God ordained that the third daie the soule of the blessed virgin Marie should descend from heauen to earth to be reunited to the bodie her faithful companion of which she receaued no smal ioie and contentment 3 Contemplate how that glorious soule came from heauen accompanied with squadrons of Angels and so was reunited to the bodie in somuch that the virgin being raised the third daie went into heauen with greate triumph Documents 1 If thou desire that thie bodie giue a sweete sauour to God after thou art dead endeauour to keepe it chast whilest thou art aliue 2 If thou procure that thie bodie be a dwelling place for god heere on earth he wil honour and exalt it in heauen 3 If thou wilt mount vp to heauen triumphaÌ„t as oure Ladie did be humble heere on earth and suffer not thie self to be ouercome of thie passions OF THE VIRGIN Maries entring into heauen 27 EPiphanius doth plainlie confesse Sermo le Laudi 〈◊〉 virg that no tongue of men or Angels is sufficient to expresse the glorie and triumph that the virgin Marie had in heauen and concluding he saith that next vnder god she is Superiour to al. b Sermo 〈◊〉 de asâ—up virg S. Bernard also writeth that none can thinke with what glorie the Queene of the world did enter into heauen with what affect of deuotion the celestial legions did behould her with what cheerful countenance diuine embracings she was receaued of Iesus and exalted aboue al other creatures c Sermo le assump â—urg Sophronius doth tel in particular how in the Assumption of the virgin those celestial Citizens went to meete her with al solemnitie and so enuironed with heauenlie brightnes she was conducted by them with musicke to the throne which was prepared for her and how the feast of the Assumption which we celebrate but once a yeare is perpetual to al that heaueÌ„lie Ierusalem and to those blessed spirites d In euaÌ„g de sanc deipa Athanasius doth set downe the praises which each Ierarchie did sing to the virgin Marie And e Lib. de excil virg ca. 8. Canis lib. 5. ca. 4. Anselmus doth saie moreouer that God exalted the virgin Marie his mother aboue al the heaueÌ„s and placed her in a throne of glorie making her the Soueraigne ouer al creatures The like doe say al those holie fathers that write of the virgin or of her Assumption Points for Meditation 1 CoÌ„template how the virgin Marie entring into heauen the celestial coorte went to meete her by which she was receaued with vniuersal ioie as the mother of god and Queene of heauen 2 Contemplate how ascending to the place prepared for her before the creation of the world aboue al the quiars of Angels euery Ierarchie of those blessed spirites did sing theire praise to the most sacred virgin 3 CoÌ„template how the virgin being placed in her seate next to the throne of the most blessed Trinitie at the right hand of her sonne al the court of heauen did encline them selues and doe reuerence to their Queene Documents 1 If thou desire to be receaued in heauen with honour as the virgin Marie was receaue Christ on earth with loue and humilitie 2 They shal be praised of the Angels in heauen which haue eschewed the praises of men vppon earth 3 The more that thou shalt a base thy self in this life for the loue of god the more thou shalt be exalted in heauen OF THE VIRGIN Maries protection in heauen of her deuoutes 28. THe coÌ„tents of this last historie is so manifest and cleere that we neede not quote anie other authors then our selues forsomuch as we al doe see that in euerie kingdome in euerie prouince and in euerie cittie though it be neuer so litle there is to be found some image of our Ladie that doth worke miracles to which deuoute persons haue particular recourse to obtaine graces and fauours of God by meanes of the virgin Marie And this hath bene an ordinarie thing since the beginning of the primitiue Churche of Christ Now who is he that wil say that this is not to be ascribed to the particular protection which the virgin hath in heauen of her deuoutes heere on earth who wil say that she is not fauoured of that infinite maine sea of al good nes seeing that she doth obtaine of him for vs so manie great graces and fauours who is so beside him selfe that he wil not doe honour and reuerence to so diligent and louing an aduocatrice a Lib de excellen virg ca. 8. S. Anselmus saith that the virgin hath ben exalted to such greatnes for vs to the end she might easelie obtaine whatsoeuer good we needed for our sowle And b S. Augustin teacheth that she doth help vs more Serm. theÌ„ al the other Saincts â—â—e Asâ—â—mptio 〈◊〉 In Canâ—â—ic lib. 7. 〈◊〉 fine Canis lib. 〈◊〉 ca. 8. 17. So that c Rupertus calleth her the mountaine of mountaines from whence cometh to vs al succour obtained of our supreame Lord and maker of al things Points for Meditation 1 Contemplate how the glorie and greatnes of the virgin Marie in heauen do not make her to be vngetful of her clients in earth for whome she praieth so much the more how much her charitie is greater she neerer to the fountaine of al grace 2 Contemplate how the virgin is so greatlie beloued and fauoured of god that she doth not onlie obtaine what she demaundeth for vs but god also taketh pleasure in shewing vs fauour by her meanes 3
de Christâ— patiente Nazianzenus saith that no creature can be compared with the virgin Marie who surmounteth al in grace and perfection An other conception was temporal in the wombe of her mother S. Anne in the yeare after the creation of the world according to b In cap. 2. Matth questio 91 Abulensis three thousand nine hundred fourtie six Ioachim was her father and both her parents were noble no lesse of linage then vertue 〈◊〉 contrar Colyr haer 70. Niceâ—ho li. 1 â—ist cap 7. Nissen de humana Christi generatione who as Epiphanius and others do recount albeit they were old liued manie yeares in wedlocke without yssue yet because they had great hope in god had also vowed to consecrate vnto him the child they were to haue they did not cease to demaund the same of our Lord continuallie with praiers fastings and almes For so we read in d Tomo 4. de natiuitate B. virginis S. Hieroms works that yearelie they deuided their substance into three partes giuing one to the Temple and ministers thereof an other to poore folkes and pilgrimes and reseruing the third part for them selues r Beda in martyrolo Finallie after twentie yeares past they obtained the desired fauour for the eight of December S. Anne conceaued our euer B. virgin Marie Points for Meditation 1 Consider how god choosing the virgin Marie for the mother of his onlie begotten sonne did adorne her with great perfection his custome being to bestow grace and habilitie vpon eache one according to the office and dignitie he doth giue him 2 Consider how the virgin Marie was also preserued from original sinne for so much as god was able to doe it and that he should doe so it was not onlie conuenient but likewise did redounde to the honour of Christ to haue a mother that nether should be enimy to god nor subiect to the diuel as al those are that be conceaued in original sinne 3 Consider how S. Anne which was great with childe did feele maruelous effects because the grace of the virgin Marie was so passing excelleÌ„t plenteous that it redounded also to her mother Documents 1 Thrust not thy selfe into offices dignities for god doth giue grace to those whome he hath elected chosen to preeminencie 2 If original sinne doe make a man subiect to the diuel and an enimie to god what wil actual sinne doe flie it therfore more then death 3. If thou also hast a desire to feele straunge effects haue the virgin Marie alwaies in thy hart OF THE VIRGIN Maries Natiuitie 2. a Epiph citato EPIPHANIVS and b Germa Sermo de oblatione Mariae S. Brigida lib. 1. reuelat ca. 9 Germanus Patriarchs of Constantinople doe recorde that the virgin Maries parents retyring them selues Ioachim into a mountaine of the desert where he fasted fourtie daies Anne into a garden of hers there to praye God that he would vowchsafe to deliuer them from the ignominie of barronnes an Angel reuealed to Ioachim that he should haue a childe that Anne had now conceaued And so when Herod the Idumean raigned in Iewrie who by force and vniust dealing tooke the roial sceptre from the tribe of Iuda was the first forren king of the Iews in which time according to the c Gen. 49. prophecie of Iacob the Messias was to come euen then the virgin Marie was borne to wit d AbuleÌ„â— citat three thousand nine hundred fourtie seuen yeares after the creation of the world the eight daie of September and this not without mysterie for that in the same moneth as the Iewish tradition doth make mention Eue was created by God in the terrestrial paradise e in ca. 1â— Ioan. Theophilactus and Euthiminius doe write that Marie was the onlie daughter of Anne who neuer had anie other husband than Ioachim nether had one or the other any more children than Marie So that when S. f cap 19 Iohn doth cal Marie of Cleophas sister of oure Marie the virgin it is to be vnderstoode that she was her kinswomaÌ„ like as Sara said she was Abrahams sister that is allied to him Points for Meditation 1 Consider the ioy the virgin Marie brought to her parents by her natiuitie who as we may thinke did with great deuotion offer her vp to God as soone as she was borne 2 Contemplate how this celestial heauenlie dawning with her birth giuing ioy to heauen earth doth end the obscure night of damnation and begin the happie day of saluation 3 Behould how Marie is that house in vvhich the king of eternal glorie was to repose builded by god for his owne vse who wanting nether wisdome to dispose the same in the best maÌ„ner nor power to adorne it we ought to beleue that she had al perfection possible Documents 1 If thou acknowledge whatsoeuer good thou hast to come from god besides that the same shal be alwaies blessed more perfected in thee by him thou shalt also receaue much more 2 If thou through sinne shalt become blind or through passion feeble in the eyes of thy vnderstanding thou shalt not enioie the dawning much lesse the sonne that is to say thou shalt be depriued of the virgin Maries fauoure of the grace of Christ her sonne 3 Thou maist also be the reposing place of god if yet nether sinne nor vanitie of the world doe dwel in thee which both be odious to him OF THE VIRGIN Maries Presentation in the Temple 3. VVHen the virgin Marie was three yeares old Ioachim and Anne according as they had vowed did present her to the Priests of the Temple who as a Euod sua epis Ecclesia ca Euodius and b N pho li. cap. 7. Nicephorus doe affirme receaued her as a pretious gift consecrated to god to bring her vp with the virgins of the TeÌ„ple c De hiâ— Christi genera Nyssenê° writeth that in the Temple there was a separated place where al thos virgins were trained vp that were dedicated to god that Marie remained there into which place no weomen entred that had bene maried But d Orig tract 2 in Ma Origenes e Cyril aduersâ— Anth. morp 〈◊〉 Cyrillus AlexaÌ„drinus doe say that Marie after she had brought forth Christ entred there also as a virgin a thing which the Iewes reprehended but Zacharie father to Iohn Baptist defended the same who knew the mysterie of the virgins childbirth f Euod cit Marie dwelt in the Temple twelue yeares and g Cedren in coÌ„pend histor Cedrenus saieth that she went not forth from thence except it were for some necessitie to her cosen Elizabeth which did make her aboade neere the Temple moreouer h Nicom homil de oblat virg Georgius Nicomediensis doth saie and i Ambros lib. 2 de â—irg S. Ambrose confirmeth it that the virgin Marie was in that place often visited by the Angel
a De excel Mar. ca. 7. Meâ—aphrat in â—rat de dor mit Deiparae S. Anselmus doth write that the virgin vnderstanding more profoundlie those verities which the holie Ghost had reuealed did teach and declare manie things also to the Apostles with whome she alwaies liued familiarlie leading with them an Apostolical life b Tragae de Christe patiente Nazianzenus saith that after the Ascension of Christ she did foretel the Iewes of the destruction of Ierusalem for the sinne coÌ„mitted against the Messias c Serm. de Assumptione Sophronius also doth report that oftentimes she visited the mount Caluarie the holie sepulchre and with great deuotion did kisse the footsteps of Christ which he leâ—t printed in the mounte Oliuet d Canisius lib. 5 ca. 1. Some be of opinion that she did liue of the common almes with which the widowes of the primitiue Church were wont to be maintained e Lib. reuel cit S. Briget writeth that the virgin did not onlie fortifie and confirme those new Christians in their faith but also conuert manie Iewes and Gentiles to the knowledge of Christ and that for this cause God did conserue her aliue after Christ his Ascension Points for Meditation 1 CoÌ„template how after the Ascension of Christ the virgin Marie remained as a mistresse and giude of the faithful wherfore in al theire doubts and trauails they had recourse to her 2 Contemplate how the virgin did receaue euerie one verie kindlie comfort the afflicted pacifie those that were at discord and instruct them al in the lawe faith of Christ in which good woorkes she could not but endure manie incommodities 3 Contemplate how the virgin at her times appointed did giue her self also to the conteÌ„plation of celestial things and to visit the holy places leauing in al her actions rare examples of vertue and excellent perfection Documents 1 For so much as the virgin Marie was left vs for our mistresse and guide thou art vnwise if thou goe not after her folowing her vertues 2 If Christ and his mother did suffer manie incommodities to help their neighbours it is a signe that whosoeuer wil help others must also endure some discommodite and not seeke his owne contentment 3 If thou wilt haue affection to heauenlie thinges thinke vppon them often as the virgin did and consider that god did create and make thee for them and not for these things vppon the earth OF THE VIRGIN Marie requesting fauour to die 22. VVHen the primitiue church through the labours of the virgin Marie was for the space of fifteene yeares meetelie wel established and encreased by persecutions the virgin demaunded of our Lord to end her Pilgrimage and passe to an other life there to be more vnited with her soÌ„ne And the time being now come which God had appointed for this purpose a Lib 2. hist ca. 21. Metaphras in orat de vita morte virginis Canis lib 5. ca. 2. 3. Nicephorus doth report that our Lord sent her an Angel which brought her the ioiful newes of her departure from this banishement to heauen and giuing her a braunche of a palme tree foretold her the daie of her decease This tidings was to the virgin Marie of exceeding â—oie and so deare that she could not be satiated to thanke God but al ful of ioie she did communicate to her frinds and deuoute persons the reuelation which she had receaued from the Angel and shewed theÌ„ the braunche of palme which the same Angel brought her She caused certaine poore garments that she had to be giuen to two poore widowes her neighbours Nichephorus doth moreouer adde that to the house where she was there came a greate multitude of Christians which with teares did lament seeing them selues to be shortlie bereft of such a mistresse and the onlie comfort that they had but the virgin Marie did exhort them rather to be glad then to mourne and lament Points for Meditation 1 Consider how the virgin Marie was inflamed with the loue of her sonne Iesus in somuch that she often demauÌ„ded of our Lord to depart out of this life to goe to him and enioie him in heauen remitting her selfe neuertheles to his holie wil pleasure 2 Contemplate how the Angel sent by God did reueale to the virgin that now was the time in which she must passe to a better life to enioie euerlastinglie her dearelie beloued sonne and the fruite of her woorkes 3 Contemplate the greate iubilie which the virgin did feele of so happie newes forsomuch as in this pilgri mage she did nether desire nor thinke vppon anie other thing Documents 1 Because thou knowest not what is best for thee thou must euen in those things that seeme verie holie good resigne thy self as the virgin Marie did to the good pleasure of almightie god 2 God is woont to graunt his fauours at the time by him appointed and therfore lament not if thou doe not sodenlie obtaine what thou demaundest 3 If thou desire that the tidings of death be ioiful to thee with draw thy thoughts from earth lie things and affect thy selfe to heauenlie things OF THE VIRGIN Marie being neere to die 23 THe time approaching neere in which the virgin Marie was to depart out of his life to the celestial Ierusalem God did not cease to shew her new fauours for he would that al the Apostles should find them selues present at her death as a Metaphras orat de uita morib B. virg Nicepho lib. 2. hist ca. 3. Damasce orat de dormit assum virg manie writers do affirme And setting a part the testimonie of b Dion Areop de dui nomi ca. 2. Dionysius Areopagita who was there present I wil heere laye downe that which c Inuenalis apua Euthim in vet hist S. Iuuenalis Bisshop of Ierusalem did aunswere to Marcianus Emperour being demaunded of him touching the death of the virgin Marie Albeit saith he holy scripture doth not speake of the death of the virgin Marie yet we haue by an auncient and most true tradition that at the time of her glorious parting out of this life the Apostles that were in diuers parts of the world in a moment were lifted vp into the aire and came togeather in Ierusalem and were present at the death of the virgin Marie Besides this S. d Ansel de excelleÌ„tia virg ca 8. Anselmus and e Nicepho citat ca. 21. Nicephorus doe saie that Christ also came from heauen in companie of manie Angels to be present him selfe in parson at the death of his most deare mother and to receaue her soule The like long before these men did write f Vbi supra Canis lib. 5. ca. 3. Damascenus setting downe the discourse and speeche which past at that time betwixt the mother the sonne as heereafter shal be declared Points for Meditation 1 Contemplate how as soone as the time of the virgin Maries happie departure was come