Meditations vppon the mysteries of our holy faith with the practise of mental praier touching the same composed in Spanish by the R.F. Luys de la Puente ... ; and translated into English by F. Rich. Gibbons ...

The twentieth Meditation. * 1.1 Of the Circumcision of our Sauiour, on the eigth daye.

The first Pointe.

FIrst, is to be considered how on the eigth day after the natiuitye, the blessed VIRGIN, and S. Ioseph determined to circumcize the childe in accomplishment of the Lawe, * 1.2 with Imposed vpon the Parents a precept thereof: vpon which I am to ponder. [ 1] First, the obedience of the VIRGIN, and of S. Ioseph, which was very puntuall, and prompt to accomplish this precept, though they knewe that the execution thereof would bee very dolorous, and painefull to the Childe, whome they so much loued: yet the will of God was to bee prefered before all: which the blessed VIRGIN esteemed so much, that if neede had beene, she herselfe like another Se hora, would haue taken the knife, * 1.3 and would haue circumcized the Childe: some say that she herselfe did circumcize him: some others that S. Ioseph did it: but howsoeuer, certaine it is, they were prepared to put in execution, what∣soeuer they should esteeme to be most agreable to the Will of almighty God.

Secondly I will ponder the Charitye, [ 2] and De∣uotion of the blessed VIRGIN, who doubtlesse would be present at this spectacle: both to cherishe her Sonne, & to cure him his Wounde, being one whome she so much loued: as also to gather vp the most precious bloud that he

there shed, and to keepe that litle peece of fleshe that was cut of: for she knewe it to be the blood of God, and to be of infinite value. O with what deuotion did she kisse it with her mouthe, and keepe it in her brest! O what Loue∣acts vsed she with that precious blood! and how did she beseeche the eternall Father that for it hee would pardon the Worlde, beseeching him, if it were possible, he would content himselfe with this alone it beeing so Infinitely worthe! She likewise directed her speeches to the holy Ghoste, whose spouse she was; saying vnto him, as Sephora saide to Moyses being in an Inne with her Sonne: * 1.4 O most holy Ghoste, though thou art to me a Spouse of blood, desiring that the blood of my Sonne should bee shed, bathing therewith his sacred feete, yet for all this, I will not leaue thee, as Sephora left Moyses, for I esteeme more thy Will, then my owne, though it were needefull to shed my owne blood to fullfill it. [ 3] On the other side the blessed VIRGIN was transperced with Com∣passion, and Dolour for the suffering of her Sonne: She wept with him to see him weepe, and for the cause for which he wept, saying: O ori∣ginall Sinne, how deare doest thou cost my Sonne! O Sinne of the terrestriall Adam, how bitter art thou to this caelestiall Adam!

O most B. * 1.5 VIRGIN, that I might accompanye thee in this Lamentation, bewailing my Sinnes, to obtaine the remedye of them, by the Vertue of the precious blood of thy Sonne.

The second Pointe.

SEcondly, I will consider the Heroicall Actes of Vertue, which our Sauiour Christ exer∣cized

in his Circumcision: which in him was not alone an exercize of suffering as in other Children, which want the vse of reason; but it was a worke of most excellent Vertue. [ 1] First, it was Obedience to the Lawe: for albeit that as he was God, and the supreame Law-giuer, he might haue dispensed with himselfe heerein, and had sufficient cause therefore, being not obliged by the rigour of the Lawe, for that he was not conceiued by the worke of man, nor with the debt of contracting Originall Sinne: yet for all this, he would of his owne will obey this painefull, and rigorous precept, protesting therewithall that he would ohserue all the olde Lawe: for (as S. * 1.6 Paul sayeth) euery man circum∣ciding himselfe is a debter, obliged to accom∣plish the whole lawe how burthensome soeuer it bee: and therefore this blessed Childe offered himselfe at that time to vndergoe this heauy burthen, * 1.7 setting this whole Lawe (as himselfe sayeth by the Prophet Dauid) in the middest of his hearte, to the ende to giue vnto vs a perfect patterne of obedience.

O my Soule, * 1.8 why doest not thou offer thyselfe to beare the burthen, and sweete yoke of the newe Lawe, when thy Sauiour offereth himselfe to beare for thee the most heauy burthen, and insupportable yoke of the olde Lawe? If he for thy example obeyeth in hard things whereunto he is not obliged: why doest thou denye to obey him in those easy things that he hath commaunded thee? Pardon, o Lord, my disobedience, and ayde me to followe the example which thou gauest me, obferuing thy Lawe in such sorte, as thou allwaies obseruedst it.

The second Vertue was Humillitye, [ 2] for albeit this our Lord could not accoumpt himselfe as a

Sinner, seeing he neither was, nor could be so; yet hee would be held so to be, subjecting him∣selfe to Circumcision, which was the signe of sinfull Children; so that such as sawe him cir∣cumcized, might haue saide that he was a Sinner: which he ordained for the confusion of vs, who being sinners will not seeme so to bee, but take vpon vs the maske of being righteous. There∣fore, o my Soule, seeing thou art humbled by Truthe, * 1.9 be humbled also by Charitye: & seeing thou knowest thyselfe to be worthy of Humil∣liation for thy Sinnes, desire with thy Lord, to be humbled, though thou were without Sinne.

The third Vertue was Patience, [ 3] for other Children wanting the vse of Reason, feare neither Circumcision, nor the knife, nor the Wounde, and till the blowe light vpon them, they feele it not: but this blessed Childe as a perfect man, knewe what was in hande, and naturally feared the blowe, and the Wounde, yet for all this, he was as quiet, without mouing himselfe, as if he had not knowne it. And though when he felt the Wounde, hee wept like a Childe, and greately lamented thorough the delicacye of his Complexion, yet in his Hearte he was merry, for shedding his blood with such dolour, delighting in this Affliction to accomplish the Will of his Father for our good.

The fourth Vertue was, most feruent Charitye, [ 4] shedding that litle blood with so greate Loue, that if neede had beene to shed all presently, he would haue effected it: and if it had beene conuenient to receiue forthwith many other, and much greater Woundes, he would haue offered himselfe for the Loue of his Father,

and for our good.

O Immense Charitye! o Inuincible Patience! * 1.10 o profounde Humillitye, and perfect Obedience of my Redeemer! * 1.11 O soueraigne Vertues wherewith is weaued the Preistlike garment of our high Preiste IESVS, much more precious then Graine, or Purple; then Hyacinthe, and wreathed Holland! O high Preiste that on this day didst clothe thyselfe with this garment, to offer this sacrifize of the morning, and didst after∣wardes againe put it on, on the Crosse, to offer the sacrifize of the euening: Inuest me with such another, that I may offer vp my bodye, * 1.12 and Soule a liuing Host, holy, and pleasing to thy soueraigne maiestie. I am ashamed, o Lord, * 1.13 to see myselfe so naked of these foure Vertues, let thy grace aide me, to Inuest me with them, and to couer my nakednesse. Amen.

The third Pointe.

THirdly, [ 1] I am to consider the spirituall Cir∣cumcision that our Lord Christe exacteth of me, with the example of this his corporall Circumcision, wherewith he moueth, & teacheth me to circumcize, and cut of all my Superfluities in Pampering, Honour, * 1.14 and commodities of the fleshe, mortifying my disordinate Vices, and Affections, to accomplish the Lawe of God, yea, if neede were, therefore to shed my blood: for in this manner is the true Spirit obtained. * 1.15 And in this sence saide an holy man (as S. Doro∣theus reporteth) Da sanguinem, & accipe Spiritum. Giue blood, and thou shalt receiue Spirit: for the perfection of the Spirit is not obtained but with the coste of blood, mortifying, and cir∣cumcizing all the affections of fleshe, & blood.

Besides this I am willingly to suffer others to circumcize me, and to ayde mee to take away these superfluities, whither they doe it with a good intention, or with an euill intention to to doe me disgrace: suffering them with Patience to circumcize, and cut of from me some of my Delicacye, my Honour, and Commoditye, although it be with the shedding of my blood: for (as S. * 1.16 Paul saide) It maketh not much who fighteth against sinne, when he commeth not to resist it vnto blood, as our Sauiour Christ did. Vnto whome I am to say, * 1.17 Sponsus sanguinis tu mihi es, My beloued, thou art to me a Spouse of blood, for for thy sake I will suffer with a good will, any Circumcision, or mortification that may happen, though it be to the shedding of my blood for thee.

To this ende, it will helpe me to consider, [ 3] that our Sauiour Christ shed his precious blood in three places, and by the handes of three sortes of persons. First, in Circumcision by the minister of God that did it to a holy ende. Secondly, in the Garden by himselfe with the consideration of the Afflictions of his Passion, which made him to sweate blood. Thirdly, in the house of Pilate, and on mount Caluary by the hande of the Tormentors, and ministers of Sathan, And all this that I may perswade myselfe, that I am likewise to be prepared to shed my blood, and to suffer in these three sortes. First, subjecting myselfe to what the ministers of God shall ordaine, although it be to the cutting of, and circumcizing what I most loue. Secondly, I being the Tormentor of myselfe, mouing myselfe with such Consideration to workes of Penance, and mortification, chastizing my fleshe, and depriuing

myselfe of whatsoeuer hindereth me in the Seruice of God, though it greiueth me neuer so much. Thirdly, suffering those Dolours, and Afflictions which happen vnto me by the handes of my enemies, though they doe it with a damnable intent.

O good IESVS, * 1.18 by that blood which thou shedst vpon these three occasions, I beseeche thee encourage my hearte, that if neede be, it may offer itselfe to shed it blood vpon the like occasions. And seeing it hath so much to circumcize, which selfe Loue de∣taineth it from doing; circumcize it, o Lord, by thy owne hande, and lay a plot that others may circum∣cize it, that there may remaine in it no superfluous thing that may be displeasing to thy diuine maiestie. Of this shedding of blood which happened in the Circumcision, there may be made another very deuoute meditation, in that forme that shall be set downe in the fourth parte, con∣cerning the blood that our Sauiour Christ shed in his passion.

Notes

• * 1.1

  D. Th. 3 p. q 37. ar. 1 Luc. 2.14
• * 1.2

  Leuit. 12.3
• * 1.3

  Exod. 4.25
• * 1.4

  Exod. 4.25
• * 1.5

  Colloquie.
• * 1.6

  Gal. 5.3.
• * 1.7

  Psal. 39.9
• * 1.8

  Colloquie.
• * 1.9

  Ex D. Ber. ser. 42. in Cant.
• * 1.10

  Colloquie.
• * 1.11

  Exo. 29.8 Exo. 39.1
• * 1.12

  Rom. 12.1
• * 1.13

  Apoc. 3.18
• * 1.14

  Rem. 2.28 Colos. 2.11
• * 1.15

  Serm. 10.
• * 1.16

  Heb. 12.1
• * 1.17

  Exo. 4.25.
• * 1.18

  Colloqui••.