Page:Ninety-nine homilies of S. Thomas Aquinas upon the epistles and gospels for forty-nine Sundays of the Christian year (IA ninetyninehomili00thom).pdf/38



THE same deep insight into the things of God which is seen in the other Homilies of S. Thomas can be abundantly recognized in the present series. In Homily I., " The Elements of Human Perfection," the creative archetype is pertinently asserted. "Erant enim in idea in mente divina, creata sunt in proprio esse." This sentence is perhaps the only direct expression of realism to be found throughout the Homilies, although in an indirect way it pervaded every thought of the great Schoolman. In Homily II., " The Seekers and the Sought," we find contrasted the contemplative with the active life, under the names of Mary and Joseph. Sometimes it occurs in Mary and Martha; at others in Rachel and Leah, which is so finely handled by Dante: -

" Sappia qualunque 'l mio nome dimanda Ch' io mi son Lia, e vp movendo 'ntoono Le belle maiii a fanni una ghirlanda.

Ma mia suora Rachel mai non si smaga Dal suo ammiraglio e siede tutto giorno." - Purg., c. xxvii.

In Homilies VII. and VIII., " The Mystical Ship," are traces of an early school of mystical interpretation very common in the Eastern Church; and in Homily X., " The Tares and the Wheat," we notice a remarkable interpretation of Ps. xxix. 7, as well as a mystical application of corn, and wine, and oil to symbolize the Three Persons of the Ever Blessed Trinity.

And now a consideration of "The Heavenly Stadium" sounds the first note of Lenten preparation. The Homily on the Septuagesima Gospel indicates strikingly our Blessed Lord's fourfold going out. " Labour and Toil" is treated of as being most intimately connected with sin, and various forms of sin are identified with several kinds of toil. " The Birds and the Seed" (Hom. XIV.) points out the evil work of the spirit of darkness. Quinquagesima brings its usual teaching upon "Charity," which S. Thomas identifies with the Highest Good; and its Gospel is illustrated by a minute comparison between the infirmities of the bodily sight, which symbolize the still greater infirmities of mental vision. How the Schoolmen loved and revered the Holy Scriptures S. Thomas shews by quoting Is. xxix. 18 as to the life-giving power of "The Words of the Book."

S. Peter, Mancroft, Norwich.

Feast of S. Matthew, 1867.