Volume Iii Part 71 (1/2)
Abbreviatum igitur aeterni patris verb.u.m Hocce in angulo c.u.m angelis adora; Silet hic et loquaci silentio: Beatae quippe virginis matris sinus.
Cathedra docentis est.
Audi verb.u.m absconditum, et quid sibi velit attende.
Venerare domum filii hominis, Scholam Christi, Cunabula Verbi. [Footnote 70]
[Footnote 70: ”Stand in awe, ye who have come hither from afar to admire the Lorettan house of the Mother of G.o.d. The whole is but narrow and strait: however, the whole Christian world is but narrow in which the G.o.d made man suffered straitness. Wherefore, adore with the angels the straitened word of the Eternal Father. He is silent here, but with an eloquent silence. For the bosom of the Blessed Virgin Mother is the seat of Wisdom. Hear the Hidden Word, and listen attentively to what he wills of thee. Venerate the house of the Son of Man, the school of Christ, the cradle of the Word.”]
The door on the right leads into the sacristy, where the priest puts on his vestments. On the panel of this door you read:
”Sanctificamini omnes ministri altaris.
Munda sint omnia.” [Footnote 71]
[Footnote 71: ”Be ye holy, all ye ministers of the altar. Let all things be pure and clean.”]
On the wall over the door is this inscription around a heart:
”Quid volo nisi ut ardeat?--S. Luc. xii 49.” [Footnote 72]
[Footnote 72: ”What will I but that it burn?”]
Opposite the sacristy door is the door of the chapel, but I wish you to read the other inscriptions on these walls before you enter there.
There are two more in this entry-way:
”Ilic Maria, Patris Sponsa, de Spiritu Sancto concepit.” [Footnote 73]
[Footnote 73: ”Here Mary, the spouse of the Father, conceived of the Holy Ghost.” ]
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”Sile; Huc enim, dum omnia silerent, Omnipotens sermo de regalibus sedibus advenit; Vel aeternum aeterni Patris Verb.u.m Siluit; Vel otioso Deum adorat silentio.” [Footnote 74]
[Footnote 74: ”Keep silence: for hither, while all things were in silence, the Almighty Word leapt down from heaven from his royal throne. Here the Eternal Word of the Eternal Father became silent, and adores G.o.d in tranquil silence.”]
In an adjoining room are several others, among which I think the following are worthy of your notice:
”Signum magnum apparuit in terra.
Amabile commercium, admirabile mysterium, JESUS VIVENS IN MARIA.
VENITE, VIDETE, ADORATE.
VENITE Ad templum Domini, ad incarnationis verbi cubiculum, Ad sanctuarium ad quo habitat Dominus.
Et de quo, ut sponsus, procedit de thalamo suo.
VIDETE Ancillam, Patris sponsam, Virginem Dei matrem, Adae fillam, Spiritus Sancti sacellum, Mariam totius Trinitatis domiciliam, Angelo nuntiante effectam.
ADORATE Jesum habitantem in Matre, Ut imperatorem in regno, ut pontificem in templo, Ut sponsum in thalamo.
Ilic requies, hic gloria, hic summa laus conditoris: Hic habitabo quoniam elegi eam.” [Footnote 75]
[Footnote 75: ”A great sign appeared on the earth, a lovely union, a wondrous mystery, Jesus living in Mary. Come, see, adore. Come to the temple of the Lord, to the cradle of the incarnate Word, to the sanctuary in which the Lord dwelleth. From which he goeth forth as a spouse from his bridal chamber. See, by the annunciation of the angel, a handmaiden made spouse of the Father, a virgin the Mother of G.o.d, a daughter of Adam the shrine of the Holy Ghost, Mary, the resting-place of the whole Trinity. Adore Jesus dwelling in his mother, as an emperor on his throne, as a priest in the temple, as a spouse in his chamber. Here is the rest, here the glory, here the supreme praise of the Creator. Here will I dwell, because I have chosen her.”]