NANT of the LORD INTO HIS PLACE, INTO THE ORACLE OF THE HOUSE, TO THE MOST HOLY PLACE, EVEN UNDER THE WINGS OF THE CHERUBIMS. FOR THE CHERUBIMS SPREAD FORTH THEIR TWO WINGS OVER THE PLACE WERE OF THE ARK, And the CheruBIMS COVERED THE ÅRK AND THE STAVES THEREOF ABOVE. AND KING SOLOMON, AND ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL THAT ASSEMBLED UNTO HIM, MARCHED WITH HIM BEFORE THE ARK. 32 In remembrance of this event, the prelates, great men, and people of the province meet together, even at this day, for the Dedication of churches, and follow in procession him that consecrateth: and reliques are solemnly carried by priests under a pavilion or canopy. Afterwards the Bishop, before he entereth the church with these, addresseth the people. For Solomon also, after the ark had been carried, TURNED HIS FACE ABOUT AND BLESSED ALL THE CONGREGATion of Israel, and prayed for such as should pray in the church. FOR ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL STOOD, AND SOLOMON SAID, BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, &c. as is read in the same place. 39 25. But the reliques of Saints are enclosed in a case together with three grains of frankincense, because we ought to retain in our recollection the examples of the Saints together with faith in the TRINITY, that is, in the FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST. For we ought to believe one God, one Faith, one Baptism, because THE JUST LIVETH BY FAITH,84 without which, as the Apostle hath said, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD. 35 There is placed upon and fitted to the sepulchre itself a certain 32 1 KINGS viii, 2, 6, 7. * The Venice Edition of 1609 reads Apostoli here. 33 1 KINGS, Ibid. 34 ROMANS i, 17. 35 HEBREWS xi, 6, board fortified by the sign of the Cross made with chrism.36 For by chrism is understood the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT, with which this board, that is charity, is anointed; because our heart is fortified by the grace of the HOLY SPIRIT to observance of the heavenly mysteries. The board therefore fortified by this sign is placed over the reliques, because by the example of the Saints is inflamed charity, WHICH COVERETH A MULTITUDE OF SINS, 97 just as also the board covereth the reliques. Whence saith the Apostle; THE LOVE OF GOD IS SPREAD ABROAD IN OUR HEARTS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH IS GIVEN UNTO US. 38 But this slab or stone containeth, or is called, the seal of the sepulchre; as saith Pope Alexander III. 37 After this however the stone, which is called the Table of the Altar, is fitted to the top of the Altar; by which we may understand the perfection and solidity of the knowledge of GOD; and it ought to be of stone not because of the hardness but the solidity of Faith. Just as the LORD said unto Peter, THOU ART PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK—that is, upon this firmness of faith-I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.39 26. For as this table is the completion and finishing of the Altar, so is the knowledge of GOD the confirmation and perfection of all good gifts. Whence in the book of Wisdom it is said unto the LORD, FOR TO KNOW THEE IS PERFECT WISDOM, AND TO KNOW THY JUSTICE AND THY VIRTUE IS THE ROOT OF IMMOR- GLORIETH GLORY IN THIS, THAT HE UNDERSTANDETH 27. Or, again, by this stone itself is understood CHRIST, of Whom the Apostle saith, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF BEING THE CHIEF CORNER STONE. 42 By the stone indeed the Humanity of CHRIST is denoted. Concerning which we read in Daniel that a stone was cut out of the rock without hands, because CHRIST was born of the Blessed Virgin, (who for the excellency of her virtues is called a Mountain,) without human agency;-and, becoming a huge mountain, filled the whole earth. Concerning which it is said also by the Psalmist, THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REFUSED HATH BECOME THE HEAD STONE OF THE CORNER: 43 since CHRIST,-Whom the builders, that is the Jews, refused, saying WE WILL NOT HAVE THIS MAN TO REIGN OVER US, 44-hath been made the head of the corner. Because as saith the Apostle, GOD HATH EXALTED HIM, AND GIVEN HIM, &c.45 Or else by this stone, which ought to be great and wide, charity is understood, as was stated before; since the command of charity is wide, extending even unto our enemies; according to that precept of our LORD, LOVE YOUR 47 28. Altars therefore, unless they be of stone, are not anointed, because CHRIST signified by the Altar is the Stone growing into a mountain: as it is said, The mountain itself is fat, BEING ANOINTED WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS, ABOVE HIS FELLOWS. Nevertheless we read in Exodus that the LORD ordered the Altars to be made of Shittim wood, which does not decay; 48 and the Lateran Altar is of wood. Solomon also made an Altar of gold, as we read in the viii chapter of the 3rd Book of 42 EPHESIANS ii, 20. 43 PSALM CXviii, (Confitemini Domino,) 22. 45 PHILIPPIANS ii, 10. 44 S. LUKE xix, 14, 46 S. MATTHEW V, 44. 47 PSALM xlv, (Eructavit cor meum,) 8. 48 EXODUS Xxvii, 1, &c. Kings: but these things were done for a type.* And in the county of Provence, in the Castle of S. Mary by the Sea, there is also an Altar of earth, which Mary Magdalene, and Martha and Mary the mother of James, and Mary the mother of Salome, made there.49 After this the Altar having been sprinkled and baptized with water it remaineth for it to be anointed with oil and chrism. The Bishop then poureth over it oil and chrism, and chanteth, JACOB SET UP THE STONE FOR A MEMORIAL, AND POURED OIL UPON IT. For that church hath been the memorial of other churches; FOR THE LAW HATH GONE OUT FROM ZION, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD FROM JERUSALEM, 51 50 29. But first he maketh upon it the five crosses, with the oil of the sick, according to the Roman Order; but according to the use of some other Churches, with both sorts of oil; one cross in the middle, and four at the corners: afterwards he maketh the same number of crosses in the same way with chrism. By the oil assuredly is understood the grace of the HOLY GHOST, of which saith Esaias the Prophet, THE YOKE SHALL BE * The saine examples are briefly adduced in the notes to the Decretal. Ciampini describes the wooden Altar of the Lateran, and mentions its numerous escapes from fire. It was made of firewood, because......abies non cedit vermibus unquam, Nec putret facile. See also Stephen Durantus, De Rit. Ecc. Cathol. Lib. I., xxv, 3, quoting from De Turrecremata, about the Lateran Altar, and generally about the subject of this chapter.. 49 According to the Golden Legend S. Mary Magdalene, with other Saints, amongst whom was S. Lazarns, were placed by the Jews in a ship which was borne by the sea to Marseilles. The country was converted and S. Lazarus became the first Bishop. The people of Vezelay, in Burgundy, also claimed the honour of possessing the reliques of S. Mary Magdalene. Durandus, a native of Provence, gives it to the latter country. This curious passage of our author seems to have been overlooked by some who have attempted to adjust the dispute. 51 ISAIAH ii, 3. 50 GENESIS Xxviii, 18. DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THE ANOINTING.52 For as the Bishop poureth oil upon the Altar, so CHRIST who is the Chief High Priest poureth His grace upon our Altar, which is our heart: for He is the distributor of all graces through the HOLY GHOST, as saith the Apostle, To ONE IS GIVEN THE WORD OF WISDOM, то ANOTHER THE Word of knowledge, to ANOTHER FAITH, TO ANOTHER THE GIFT OF HEALING, &c.53 And just as the Bishop by means of oil cleanseth the table of the Altar, so also doth the HOLY GHOST purify our heart from all vices and sins. 30. CHRIST also was anointed with oil, not with visible oil indeed, but with invisible; that is with the grace of the HOLY GHOST. Whence David, THE LORD THY GOD HATH ANOINTED THEE WITH THE OIL OF GLADNESS ABOVE THY FELLOWS; 54 that is above all the Saints who have been partakers of His Grace, that is, CHRIST. Whence unction more expressly agreeth with CHRIST, (THE ANOINTED ONE,) than with others, because God hath anointed Him above all others to have the fulness of good things, and therefore His name is interpreted "The Anointed." Unction also with oil signifieth mercy, according to that saying of the Evangelist, ANOINT THY HEAD WITH OIL, AND WASH THY FACE:55 because as oil is among fluids so is mercy superior among good works. For whatever liquid you pour upon oil, yet it always swimmeth at the top. Of mercy it is written, THE LORD IS LOVING UNTO EVERY MAN AND HIS MERCY IS OVER ALL HIS WORKS,56 and MERCY REJOICETH AGAINST JUDGMENT. * With this oil, therefore, is the Altar of our 52 ISAIAH X, 27. 55 S. MATTHEW vi, 17. 36 PSALM cxlv, (Exaltabo te Deus,) 9. |