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 XXIIII. Meditation. Of the Purification of the B. VIRGIN: and of the Presentation of the Childe in the Temple.

The first Pointe.

THe olde Lawe commaunded, * 1.1 that a woman hauing conceiued by a man, if she brought forth a male childe, she should remaine forty dayes retired in her house, as vncleane: at the ende whereof, she should goe to the Temple to be purified, offering for her Sinne a Lambe, * 1.2 & a Turtle: & if she were poore, a paire of Turtles, or Pigeons, desiring the preiste to pray vnto God for her. This Lawe the B. VIRGIN accomplished with the exercize of admirable Vertues: especially she exercized sixe, like the sixe leaues of the whitest Lillye, for the which the speeche of the celestiall spouse is very fitting vnto her, * 1.3 As the Lillye among Thornes, so is my beloued among the Daughters.

The first Vertue was, [ 1] greate Loue to retired∣nesse, with such delight therein, that albeit the Lawe had not commaunded it, yet it would haue pleased her to continue those forty dayes in her secret Corner, attending only to contem∣plate the greatenesses of her Sonne, & to nourish him: wherewith she remained so full of con∣tentment, that in regarde of him, shee respected not the Companye of the whole worlde. The second Vertue was, greate Loue to puritye, [ 2] and cleane-nesse of Hearte, giuing good demonstra∣tions thereof, in that shee being most pure, de∣lighted to be more purified, obseruing the Lawe

of Purification, that her beloued might say of her: Thou art all faire my beloued, * 1.4 and there is no spot in thee. The third Vertue was, Heroicall Obedience, for albeit she knewe that she was not obliged to keepe this lawe, for that she had not conceiued by the worke of man, yet not∣withstanding as her Sonne fullfilled the Lawe of Circumcision, so she would entirely fullfill this Lawe, to conforme herselfe with other women, & to obserue the common Lawes of all, without hauing exemption, priuiledge, nor dis∣pensation, and without vsing therein Ambages, or Interpretations, euen in that wherein, she might lawfully haue vsed them. And so the forty dayes being fully ended, with greate puntuallitye, and readinesse, she set forward on her waye to Hie∣rusalem, with rare modestye, and Alacritye, rejoicing with her Sonne whome she bare in her armes, by whose example she learned this manner of Obedience.

The fourth Vertue was rare Humillitye, [ 4] in willing to be treated as one vncleane, and as one that stood in neede of being purifyed, as if she had not beene a VIRGIN, demonstrating heerein greate Loue to puritie, & Humilliation: by whose example I may be ashamed, to see my∣selfe so prowde, & so desirous to bee reputed as pure, and holy, being contrarily a sinner, & that so foule, & abhominable, that my righteousnesse (as saieth the Prophet Isaias) is like a cloth stained with menstrueous blood. [ 5] * 1.5 The fifth Ver∣tue was, greate Loue to Pouertye the sister of Humillitye: for though with the golde that these kings gaue her, she was able peraduenture to buye a Lambe, and to offer it, as riche, & noble Women vsed to doe; yet she would be

treated like a poore woman, and offer the Sa∣crifize that was assigned to the poore, which was a paire of turtles, or two young pigeons.

The sixth was the greate Deuotion, [ 6] and Re∣uerence wherewith she gaue this offering to the Preiste, requesting him with greate Humil∣litye to pray vnto God for her, shee herselfe being one that might haue prayed for all. For as the Lilly within her sixe leaues, containeth other sixe little sprigs with their buttons like golde: so the blessed VIRGIN to these sixe Vertues, conjoyned diuerse Affections of an intention purely, and directly for the glorye of God, inkindled with the fier of Charitye, and resplendent with the golde of caelestiall Wisdome.

O most sacred VIRGIN, * 1.6 I reioice to beholde thee so riche in Vertues, and so carefull, and dili∣gent in exercizing them; * 1.7 now I perceiue how excee∣ding true it is, that thou art as a Lilly among Thornes, for in comparison of thee, we are blacked, and besmeared with the thornes of our Sinnes, and thou art a most white, and pure Lilly with the sixe leaues of these soueraigne Vertues. VVell may we see, o soueraigne Queene, that thou diddest allwayes contemplate this king layed in his manger, and in thy lappe, seeing thy Spirit like spikenard gaue it accustomed odour to imitate him, * 1.8 sending out the most sweete odour of Puritye, Humillitye, and Obe∣dience, inkindled with the fier of Charitye: obtaine for me, o blessed LADYE, that I may beholde him, and thee with such a spirit, as may send forth the like odour. Amen.

The second Pointe.

THe Lawe likewise commaunded that all the first borne of the Hebrewes should be offered to God as holy, * 1.9 in acknowledgement of the fauour he did them, in bringing them out of Egipt, killing in a night all the first borne of the Egiptians. And for the accomplishment of this Lawe, our blessed LADYE the VIRGIN carried her Sonne to the Temple to offer him to the eternall Father.

Heere I am to consider first the Spirit, [ 1] and Deuotion, wherewith the blessed VIRGIN made this offering in her name, and in the name of all mankinde, saying to the eternall Father: Be∣holde heere, o eternall Father, thy only begotten Sonne as he is God, and my only first borne as he is man, he that was represented by all the first borne that hitherto haue beene offered vnto thee, and whose offe∣ring thou so much hast desired. I offer him with all my Hearte in thankesgiuing, for hauing giuen him mee, for I haue nothing more precious to offer vnto thee: thine he is, take him vnto thee, in whome he shallbe better employed then in mee. I likewise offer him vnto thee in the odour of sweetenesse for the saluation, and redemption of the whole worlde. Re∣ceiue, o my God, this offering more precious then that of Abel, more sweete then that of Noe, more holy then that of Abraham, and more excellent then all those that Moyses ordained: and by this I beseeche thee to pardon all mortall men, and to admitte them into thy grace, and freindship. O how well pleased might the eternall Father be with this oblation, aswell for the deuotion of the person that offered it, as for the Sanctitye of the offering that was presented him!

Secondly, [ 2] I will consider the Spirit where∣with this most blessed Childe offered himselfe in the Temple to his eternall Father. Beholde heere (might he say) o eternall Father, thy only begotten Sonne, who was made man to obey thee, and commeth into the Temple to honour thee; heere I present myselfe before thy maiestie, and I offer myselfe to thy seruice, and to the accomplishment of thy Will. * 1.10 And for that neither the Deathe of so many first borne as perished in Egipt, nor the offe∣ring of the first borne of Israel hath beene acce∣ptable vnto thee, for the saluation of men, I offer myselfe to dye for them, that my Deathe, and the sacrifize of my blood may appease thy wrathe, and deliuer thy people from the seruitude of sinne. In this sorte was fullfilled that speeche of S. Paul. Qui dilexit nos, * 1.11 & tradidit semetipsum hostiam, & oblationem Deo in odorem suauitatis. Who loued vs, and deliuered himselfe for vs, an oblation, and host to God in an odour of sweetenesse. And it is to bee beleeued, that this offering happened in the morning at such time as in the temple was offered the sacrifize of the Lambe, * 1.12 called the morning Lambe, that there might be a correspondence betweene the figure, and the figured. O how sweete was this offering to the eternall Father, & how content remained he therewith, as one that was desirous thereof, for that the offrings of all the other first-borne were of no value, but as they were represen∣tations of this!

Thirdly, I am to imagine, [ 3] that albeit our Sauiour Christ made this offering for all men, yet he made it likewise particularly for mee, holding me present in his memorye, & Hearte. And with this consideration in the Temple of

my Soule, I will present myselfe in spirit be∣fore the eternall Father, and in companye of the blessed VIRGIN, and of the Childe him∣selfe, I will offer him vnto him in Thankes∣giuing, for hauing giuen him to me for my Re∣deemer, and master, beseeching him to accept this offering, and for it to reconcile mee to himselfe, and to make me partaker of his giftes.

O soueraigne Father with all the affection of my Hearte, I offer vnto thee thy only begotten Sonne, * 1.13 and though it being I, that doe offer him, I deserue to be reiected, yet the offering being such as it is, I hope to be admitted, receiue it, o Lord, in an odour of sweetenesse, and for it graunte mee remission of my Sinnes, that with a pure Hearte I may appeare in thy presence in the Temple of thy glorye. Amen.

The third Pointe.

THe same Lawe likewise commaunded that these first-borne should be redeemed for fiue sicles, * 1.14 and so the blessed VIRGIN redeemed her Sonne, paying them to the Prieste, who tooke them, and retourned her Sonne vnto her. Vpon this passage I am to consider, who maketh this sale of the Childe; who it is that buyeth him; with what price; and for whome; and what benefits arize thereof.

First, [ 1] I will consider how the eternall Father, to whome this Childe offered himselfe, will not keepe to himselfe, that which was giuen him, but would a newe giue him to the Worlde, and to men, and sell him to them for their good, demonstrating heerein his infinite Libe∣rallitye,

and Bountye, which is so farre from repenting to haue giuen vs, what he once gaue vs, that he ratifieth the Donation, inuenting newe respectes to giue vs what he hath giuen vs. She that buyeth, [ 2] and redeemeth him is the blessed VIRGIN, to bring him vp as her Sonne: and yet she also will not detaine him to herselfe, but will nourish him for vs, and buy him that he may be employed for our good. The price is no more but fiue sicles. [ 3]

O eternall Father, * 1.15 how cheape doest thou sell a thing that is so precious? why doest thou equall this first∣borne in price with the rest? if the rest were redee∣med for fiue sicles, this was to be redeemed for many millions, for he is infinitely more worth then all the rest. But I now perceiue, o Lord, that this is to aduise me, that although the name of this ransome, soundeth sale, and price, yet he is giuen vs freely, and of meere grace, that I may incessantly thanke thee for this newe grace, for the which mayest thou be glorifyed, and praised by all thy Creatures worlde without ende. Amen.

I may also consider the Spirit that is inclu∣ded in the price of these fiue sicles, by the which is signified the price wherewith is bought the most precious golde of diuine Wisdome, which is Christ; * 1.16 in such sorte as it may be bought. This price is the mortification of the fiue senses, and the actes of the fiue Vertues which dispose vs to obtaine Grace, and the perfection thereof: that is to say: Liuely faithe, Feare of God, Dolour for Sinnes, Confidence in Gods mercye, and an effectuall Resolution to obey God, and wholely to accomplish his holy will.

Therefore, * 1.17 o my Soule, if thou desirest to haue

Christ to be thine, consider that he is not bought with golde, nor siluer, but with these fiue sicles of the Spirit, offer them to the eternall Father, and he will giue him vnto thee.

Fourthly, [ 4] I will ponder the ende where∣fore he is redeemed, and bought, which is, to be the Slaue, and Seruant of men, and to de∣liuer himselfe for them vnto Deathe.

O sweete IESVS, * 1.18 how willingly doest thou suffer thyselfe to be solde, and redeemed, to vndoe by thy sale, that which I by sinning did with my Soule, and to redeeme it with thy ransome, that it might bee perpetually thine? and yet thy Loue stoppeth not heere, for thou art readye to be solde againe by a false Disciple, and bought by thy enemies to take from thee thy life, making an ende of our redem∣ption with thy Deathe. Blessed be thy immense Cha∣ritye that is neuer satisfied, nor wearied in doing vs good. O my Soule reioice, that the blessed VIR∣GIN hath bought her Sonne for thee; be glad that IESVS is alreadye thine, seeing his Father hath giuen him thee for fiue sicles. O good IESVS thou art mine by this newe buying, but I yeilde myselfe to be thine, * 1.19 and with greate Confidence will say: My beloued to me, and I to him: bee it so, o Lord, that thou leaue not me, nor I neuer leaue thee. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Leui. 12 2 Luc. 2.12.
• * 1.2

  The he∣roical vertues of the B. Virgin.
• * 1.3

  Cantic. 2.2.
• * 1.4

  Cantic. 4.7.
• * 1.5

  Isa. 64.6.
• * 1.6

  Colloquie.
• * 1.7

  Cant. 2.2 Ex D. Ber. serm. in Cant.
• * 1.8

  Cant. 1.11
• * 1.9

  Exod. 13.2.
• * 1.10

  Psalm. 36.77.51.
• * 1.11

  Ephes. 5.2
• * 1.12

  Exod. 29.39. Num. 28.4.
• * 1.13

  Colloquie.
• * 1.14

  Exod. 13.13. Leuitic. 27.6.
• * 1.15

  Colloquie.
• * 1.16

  Apoc. 3.17 Isa. 55.1.
• * 1.17

  Colloquie.
• * 1.18

  Colloquie.
• * 1.19

  Cant. 2.16