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| Cistercian Fathers Book 23 |
MARY the City of God: on
Alan of Lille
"Of
you are told glorious things, O City of God”.
In order that the image
of His Trinity might be found in all things, the King of Kings who rules the wind
and sea and whose city is the true pole of the earth, has built for himself a three-fold
city. The world is the first part, the Church is the second, and Mary, the Virgin
of virgins is the third.
In a very fitting manner
is the world termed a city. Any city-state is the organised assembly of various
elements, among which some are in authority, others fulfil their tasks, and others
are obedient. And so in the world, as in a great city, there is God who controls,
angels who carry out his word, and man who is obedient. It is fitting, likewise,
that the Church should be called a city for it has its hierarchy of authority.
The wall of this city is the foundation of Christian faith, the mortar as the blood
of the martyrs, the ramparts are the example of the saints, the fullness of charity
forms its squares, while true humility is the fortification around it.
With very good reason
is Mary the Virgin of all virgins spoken of as a city, for in her, reason gave commands
which were put into practice by the senses and to which the flesh was obedient.
In her as a city, steadfastness was the wall, self-control was the mortar, courage
the rampart, and prudence the surrounding fortification. Faith formed the eastern
gate through which the Sun of Justice shone on her; the southern gate was true love,
open to the Holy Spirit who increased her love. Virginity was the northern gate,
kecp.i.ng under control all desires; and the western gate was humility, rejecting
all worldly pleasures. The river of God's grace flows so abundantly in Mary's heart
and strengthens this city that it has no fear of hostile invasion. Truly can be
applied to her the text, 'The waters of a river give joy to God's city.'
Within this city there
is an enclosed and sealed garden, a garden well-watered, planted with trees and
radiant with flowers: this is the heart of the Blessed Virgin. Here as in a garden
of paradise, true virtue produces the fruit of good works; God-filled desires increase
the ardour of a loving heart, and good deeds are the perfume of mutual encouragement.
Here, in this three-fold
city, and in the heart of Mary, the King of Kings has made his dwelling place among
the sons of men.
PL.210; col.200B - 201B
From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
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| Alanus_de_Insulis_(Alain_de_Lille). Woodcut._Wellcome |
Alanus ab Insulis (Alain de
Lille).
Alain de Lille (or Alanus
ab Insulis) (c. 1128 –
1202/1203) was a French theologian and poet. He was
born in Lille, some
time before 1128. His exact date of death remains unclear as well, with most
research pointing toward it being between April 14, 1202, and April 5, 1203.[1]
Alan of Lille, A Concise Explanation
of the Song of Songs in Praise of the Virgin Mary, trans Denys Turner, in
Denys Turner, Eros and Allegory: Medieval Exegesis of the Song of Songs,
(Kalamazoo, MI: Cistercian Publications, 1995), 291–308
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