Jerome the holy priest wrote an epistle on the decease of the blessed MARY,
the mother of God, to a holy maiden, whose name was Eustochium, and to her
mother Paula, who was a hallowed widow. To these two women the same Jerome
wrote several treatises; for they were persons of holy life, and very
diligent in book-studies. This Jerome was a holy priest, and instructed in
the Hebrew tongue, and in Greek and Latin perfectly; and he turned our
library of Hebrew books into the Latin speech. He is the first interpreter
betwixt the Hebrews, and Greeks, and Latins. Seventy-two books of the old
and of the new law he turned into Latin, to one 'Bibliotheca,' besides many
other treatises which he profoundly devised with diligent understanding.
Then at last he composed this epistle to the holy widow Paula, and to the
maiden of God, Eustochium, her daughter, and to all the maidenly company
who were living with them, thus saying:
Verily ye compel me to relate to you how the blessed Mary, on this present
day was taken to the heavenly dwelling, that your maidenly society may have
this gift in the Latin speech, how this great festival, in the course of
every year, is passed with heavenly praise, and celebrated with ghostly
bliss, lest the false account should come to your {439} hand which has been
widely disseminated by heretics, and ye then receive the feigned leasing
for a true narrative.
Verily from the beginning of the holy gospel ye have learned how the
archangel Gabriel declared to the blessed Mary the birth of the Heavenly
Prince, and the miracles of Jesus, and the ministry of the blessed mother
of God and the deeds of her life ye have manifestly known from the four
evangelical books. John the Evangelist wrote that, at Christ's passion, he
himself and Mary stood with sorrowing mind opposite the holy rood, on which
Jesus was fastened. Then said he to his own mother, "Thou woman, behold,
here is thy son." Again he said to John, "Look now, here standeth thy
mother." Afterwards, from that day, the Evangelist John had charge of the
holy Mary, and with careful ministry obeyed her as his mother.
The Lord, through his piety, committed the blessed maiden his mother to the
chaste man John, who had ever lived in pure virginity; and on that account
he was especially dear to the Lord, so much so that he would commit to him
that precious treasure, the queen of the whole world: no doubt, that her
most pure virginity might be associated with that chaste man with grateful
fellowship in pleasant converse. In them both was one virtue of unbroken
chastity, but a second attribute in Mary; in her is fruitful virginity, so
as in no other. In no other person is there virginity, if there be
fruitfulness; nor fruitfulness, if there be perfect virginity. Therefore
now are hallowed both the virginity of Mary and her fruitfulness through
the divine birth; and she excels all others in virginity and in
fruitfulness. Nevertheless, though she was especially committed to the care
of John, yet she lived in common, after Christ's ascension, with the
apostolic company, going in and going out among them, and they all with
great piety and love ministered to her, and she fully {441} informed them
of all things touching Christ's humanity; for she had from the beginning
accurately learned them through the Holy Ghost, and seen them with her own
sight; though the apostles understood all things through the same Ghost,
and were instructed in all truth. The archangel Gabriel held her
uncorrupted, and she continued in the care of John and of all the apostles,
in the heavenly company, meditating on God's law, until God, on this day,
took her to the heavenly throne, and exalted her above the hosts of angels.
There is not read in any book any more manifest information of her end, but
that she on this day gloriously departed from the body. Her sepulchre is
visible to all beholders to this present day, in the midst of the valley of
Jehosaphat. The valley is between Mount Sion and the mount of Olives, and
the sepulchre appears open and empty, and thereupon is raised, in her
honour, a large church, with wondrous stone-work. To no mortal man is it
known how, or at what time her holy body was brought from thence, or
whither it be borne, or whether she arose from death: though some doctors
say, that her Son, who on the third day mightily from death arose, that he
also raised his mother's body from death, and placed it with immortal glory
in the kingdom of heaven. In like manner very many doctors have set in
their books concerning the requickened men who arose from death with
Christ, that they are raised for ever. They profess verily that those
raised men would not have been true witnesses of Christ's resurrection,
unless they had been raised for ever. Nor do we deny the eternal
resurrection of the blessed Mary, though for caution, preserving our
belief, it befits us that we rather hope it, than rashly assert what is
unknown without any danger.
We read here and there in books, that very often angels came at the
departure of good men, and with ghostly hymns led their souls to heaven.
And, what is yet more certain, {443} men, at their departure, have heard
the song of men and women, with a great light and sweet odour: by which is
known that those holy men who through good deserts come to God's kingdom,
that they, at the departure of other men, receive their souls, and with
great joy lead them to rest. Now if Jesus has often showed such honour at
the death of his saints, and has commanded their souls to be conducted to
him with heavenly hymn, how much rather thinkest thou he would now to-day
send the heavenly host to meet his own mother, that they with light
immense, and unutterable hymns might lead her to the throne which was
prepared for her from the beginning of the world.
There is no doubt that all the heavenly host then with unspeakable bliss
would rejoice in her advent. Verily we also believe that the Lord himself
came to meet her, and benignly with delight placed her by him on his
throne: for he would fulfil in himself what he had in his law enjoined,
thus saying, "Honour thy father and thy mother." He is his own witness that
he honoured his Father, as he said to the Jews, "I honour my Father, and ye
dishonour me." In his human state he honoured his mother, when he was, as
the holy gospel says, subjected to her in his youth. Much more is it to be
believed that he honoured his mother with unspeakable veneration in his
kingdom, when he would, according to human nature, obey her in this life.
This festival excels incomparably all other saints' mass-days, as much as
this holy maiden, the mother of God, is incomparable with all other
maidens. This feast-day to us is yearly, but to heaven's inmates it is
perpetual. At the ascension of this heavenly queen the Holy Ghost in hymns
uttered his wonder, thus inquiring, "What is this that here ascends like
the rising dew of morn, as beauteous as the moon, as choice as the sun, and
as terrible as a martial band?" The Holy Ghost wondered, for he caused all
{445} heaven's inmates to wonder at the ascension of this woman. Mary is
more beauteous than the moon, for she shines without decrease of her
brightness. She is choice as the sun with beams of holy virtues, for the
Lord, who is the sun of righteousness, chose her for his mother. Her course
is compared to a martial band, for she was surrounded with heavenly powers
and with companies of angels.
Of this heavenly queen it is yet said by the same Spirit of God, "I saw the
beauteous one as a dove mounting above the streaming rills, and an
ineffable fragrance exhaled from her garments; and, so as in the
spring-tide, blossoms of roses and lilies encircled her." The blossoms of
roses betoken by their redness martyrdom, and the lilies by their whiteness
betoken the shining purity of inviolate maidenhood. All the chosen who have
thriven to God through martyrdom or through chastity, they all journeyed
with the blessed queen; for she is herself both martyr and maiden. She is
as beauteous as a dove, for she loved meekness, which the Holy Ghost
betokened, when he appeared in likeness of a dove over Christ at his
baptism. Other martyrs suffered martyrdom in their bodies for Christ's
faith, but the blessed Mary was not bodily martyred, but her soul was
sorely afflicted with great suffering, when she stood sad before Christ's
rood, and saw her dear child fastened with iron nails on the hard tree.
Therefore is she more than a martyr, for she suffered that martyrdom in her
soul which other martyrs suffered in their bodies. She loved Christ above
all other men, and, therefore, was her pain also for him greater than other
men's, and she made his death as her own death, for his suffering pierced
her soul as a sword.
She is void of no holy virtue, nor any beauty, nor any brightness; and
therefore was she encircled with roses and lilies, that her virtues might
be supported by virtues, and her {447} fairness increased by the beauty of
chastity. God's chosen shine in heavenly glory, each according to his
merits; it is therefore credible that the blessed] queen with so much glory
and brightness excels others, as much as her merits are incomparable with
those of the other saints.
The Lord said before his ascension, that in his Father's house are many
dwellings: therefore we believe that he now to-day gave to his mother the
most pleasant dwelling. The glory of God's chosen is measured by their
deserts, and yet there is no murmuring nor envy in any of them, but they
all dwell in true love and profound peace, and each rejoices in another's
honours as in his own.
I pray you, rejoice in this festival: verily now to-day that glorious
maiden ascended to heaven, that she, ineffably exalted with Christ, may for
ever reign. The heavenly queen was to-day snatched from this wicked world.
Again I say, rejoice that she, void of sorrow, is gone to the heavenly
mansion. Let all earth be glad, for now to-day, through her deserts,
happiness is increased to us all. Through our old mother Eve the gate of
heaven's kingdom was closed against us, and again, through Mary it is
opened to us, by which she herself has this day gloriously entered.
God has commanded us through his prophets, that we should praise and
magnify him in his saints, in whom he is wonderful: much more fitting is it
that we, on this great festival of his blessed mother, should worship him
with hymns and honourable praises; for undoubtedly all honour to her is
praise of God. Let us now, therefore, with all the devotion of our mind
honour this great festival, for the way of our salvation is in hymns to our
Lord. Let those who continue in maidenhood rejoice, for they have attained
to be that which they praise: let them have care that they be such that
they may praise worthily. Let those who are in pure widowhood praise and
honour her, for it is manifest that they cannot be pure but through grace
of Christ, which was {449} perfect in Mary whom they praise. Let those also
who are in wedlock praise and honour her, for thence flow mercy and grace
to all that they may praise her. If any one be sinful, let him confess, and
not the less praise, though praise be not beautiful in the mouth of the
sinful; yet let him not cease from praise, for thence is promised to him
forgiveness.
This epistle is very complex for us to expound, and very deep for you to
hear. It does not now seem good to us to speak more concerning it, but we
will relate for your bettering some other edifying matter of the great
mother of God. Verily Mary is the greatest comfort and support of christian
men, which is very often manifested, as we read in books.
Some man was so deluded by magic that he denied Christ, and wrote his
chirograph to the accursed devil, and entered into a compact with him. His
name was Theophilus. He afterwards bethought himself, and revolved in his
mind the torment of hell; and went then to a church that was hallowed to
the praise of the blessed Mary, and therein so long with weeping and fasts
prayed for her aid and intercession, till she herself with great glory came
to him, and said, that she had interceded for him with the Heavenly Judge,
her own Son.
We will also relate to you concerning the end of the impious adversary of
God, Julian.
There was a certain bishop named Basilius, who had learned in a school
together with this same Julian. It so happened that Basilius was chosen to
be bishop of a place called Cappadocia, and Julian to be emperor, though he
earlier had been shorn for a priest. Julian then began to love idolatry,
and renounced his christianity, and with all his mind cultivated
heathenism, and compelled his people to the same. Then at a certain time he
went on an expedition against the Persian nation, and met the bishop, and
said to him, "O thou Basilius, I have now excelled thee in philosophy." The
bishop answered, "God has granted to you to cultivate philosophy:" {451}
and with that word he offered him such a gift as he himself partook of,
that was three barley loaves, for a blessing. Then the apostate commanded
the loaves to be received, and grass to be given to the bishop in return,
and said, "He has offered us the food of beasts, let him receive grass in
reward." Basilius received the grass, thus saying, "O thou emperor, verily
we have offered to thee what we ourselves partake of, and thou hast given
us in reward the sustenance of irrational beasts, not as food for us but as
insult." The adversary of God then became angry, and said, "When I return
from the expedition I will overthrow this city, and level it, and turn it
to arable land, so that it shall be cornbearing rather than manbearing. Thy
audacity and that of these citizens is not unknown to me, who at thy
instigation brake and cast down the image which I had raised and prayed
to." And with these words he went to the Persian territory.
Hereupon Basilius made known to his fellow-citizens the cruel emperor's
threat, and was a most excellent counsellor to them, thus saying, "My
brothers, bring your treasures, and let us endeavour, if we can, to gladden
the cruel apostate on his return." They then with glad mind brought to him
of gold, and silver, and precious gems an immense heap. Thereupon the
bishop received the treasures, and commanded his priests and all the people
to offer their gifts within the temple that was hallowed to the honour of
the blessed Mary, and bade them therein abide, with a fast of three days,
that the Almighty Ruler, through his mother's intercession, might turn to
naught the resolve of the unrighteous emperor. Then on the third night of
the fast the bishop saw a great heavenly host on each side of the temple,
and in the midst of the host sat the heavenly queen Mary, and said to her
attendants, "Bring to me the martyr Mercurius, that he may go against the
impious apostate Julian, and slay him, who with inflated mind despises God
my Son." The holy martyr Mercurius {453} came armed speedily, and went by
her command. The bishop then went into the other church, in which the
martyr lay, and asked the churchward, where the weapons of the saint were?
He swore that he certainly saw them at his head in the evening. And he
straightways returned to St. Mary's temple, and made known to the people
what he had seen, and the destruction of the tyrant. He then went again to
the holy martyr's sepulchre, and found his spear standing stained with
blood.
Then after three days came one of the emperor's officers called Libanius,
and sought the bishop's feet, praying for baptism, and informed him and all
the citizens of the death of the impious Julian: he said that the army was
encamped on the river Euphrates, and seven watches watched over the
emperor. Then came there walking an unknown warrior, and violently pierced
him through, and straightways vanished from their sight; and Julian then
with a horrible cry expired. So were the citizens saved through St. Mary
from the adversary of God. Then the bishop offered their treasures to the
citizens, but they said, that they would give those gifts to the Immortal
King, who had so powerfully saved them, much rather than to the mortal
murderer. The bishop, nevertheless, compelled the people to receive a third
part of the money, and with the two parts endowed the monastery.
If any one ask how this happened, we say, that this martyr had spent his
life in a lay condition, when, through the persecution of heathen men, for
belief in Christ, he was martyred; and christian men afterwards honourably
deposited his holy body within the temple, together with his weapons.
Afterwards, when the holy queen sent him, as we have said a little before,
his spirit swiftly went, and with a bodily weapon stabbed the foe of God,
while his guards were looking on.
My dearest brothers, let us call with constant prayers to the holy mother
of God, that she may intercede for us in {455} our necessities with her
Son. It is very credible that he will grant much to her, who vouchsafed
through her to be born a human being for the redemption of the world, who
is ever God without beginning, and now exists, in one person, true man and
true God, ever to eternity. So as every man exists in soul and body one
man, so is Christ, God and man, one Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with
the Father and the Holy Ghost for ever and ever. Amen.
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