PODCAzT 05: Ambrose: De fuga saeculi

Here’s another podcast!

This podcast (see below for a popup link) focuses on the Patristic selection for the second reading in the Office of Readings for Saturday of the 2nd Week of Lent.  I read some of the Latin, but I provide all the English text and some comments.

Here are the texts.  Enjoy!

Ex Tractatu sancti Ambrosii episcopi De fuga saeculi

Ubi cor hominis, ibi et thesaurus eius est; non enim solet bonum datum deprecantibus Dominus denegare.

Ergo, quia bonus Dominus est et maxime sustinentibus se bonus est, ipsi adhaereamus, cum ipso simus tota anima nostra, toto corde, tota virtute, ut simus in lumine eius et videamus eius gloriam et delectationis supernae fruamur gratia; ad illud igitur bonum erigamus animos et in illo simus atque in ipso vivamus, ipsi adhaereamus, quod est supra omnem mentem et omnem considerationem et pace utitur perpetua ac tranquillitate; pax autem supra omnem mentem est et supra omnem sensum.

Hoc est bonum, quod penetrat omnia, et omnes in ipso vivimus atque ex ipso pendemus, ipsum autem nihil supra se habet, sed est divinum; nemo enim bonus nisi unus Deus, quod ergo bonum divinum et quod divinum bonum, et ideo dicitur: Aperiente te manum, implebuntur omnia bonitate; per bonitatem enim Dei, nobis universa tribuuntur merito bona, quibus nihil admixtum est mali.

Haec bona promittit Scriptura fidelibus dicens: Quae bona sunt terrae manducabitis.

Mortui sumus cum Christo; mortem Christi in corpore nostro circumferimus, ut et vita Christi in nobis manifestetur. Non ergo iam nostram illam vitam, sed Christi vitam vivimus, vitam innocentiae, vitam castimoniae, vitam simplicitatis omniumque virtutum. Cum Christo resurreximus, in ipso vivamus, in ipso ascendamus, ut serpens calcaneum nostrum quod vulneret in terris reperire non possit.

Fugiamus hinc. Potes animo fugere, etsi retineris corpore, potes et hic esse et adesse ad Dominum, si illi adhaereat anima tua, si post ipsum cogitationibus tuis ambules, si fide, non specie, vias eius sequaris, si ad ipsum confugias; est enim refugium et virtus, cui dicit David: Ad te confugi et non sum deceptus.

Ergo quia Deus refugium, Deus autem in caelo et supra caelos, utique hinc illo fugiendum est, ubi pax, ubi requies ab operibus, ubi epulemur sabbatum magnum, sicut dixit Moyses: Et erunt sabbata terrae vobis escae. Epulatorium enim et plenum iucunditatis et tranquillitatis est requiescere in Deo et eius delectationem videre.

Fugiamus sicut cervi ad fontes aquarum; quod sitiebat David, sitiat et nostra anima; quis est ille fons? Audi dicentem: Quoniam apud te est fons vitae; huic fonti dicat anima mea: Quando veniam et parebo ante faciem tuam? Fons enim Deus est.

From the treatise on Flight from the World by Saint Ambrose, bishop

Hold fast to God, the one true goodWhere a man’s heart is, there is his treasure also. God is not accustomed to refusing a good gift to those who ask for one. Since he is good, and especially to those who are faithful to him, let us hold fast to him with all our soul, our heart, our strength, and so enjoy his light and see his glory and possess the grace of supernatural joy. Let us reach out with our hearts to possess that good, let us exist in it and live in it, let us hold fast to it, that good which is beyond all we can know or see and is marked by perpetual peace and tranquillity, a peace which is beyond all we can know or understand.This is the good that permeates creation. In it we all live, on it we all depend. It has nothing above it; it is divine. No one is good but God alone. What is good is therefore divine, what is divine is therefore good. Scripture says: When you open your hand all things will be filled with goodness. It is through God’s goodness that all that is truly good is given us, and in it there is no admixture of evil.These good things are promised by Scripture to those who are faithful: The good things of the land will be your food.We have died with Christ. We carry about in our bodies the sign of his death, so that the living Christ may also be revealed in us. The life we live is not now our ordinary life but the life of Christ: a life of sinlessness, of chastity, of simplicity and every other virtue. We have risen with Christ. Let us live in Christ, let us ascend in Christ, so that the serpent may not have the power here below to wound us in the heel.Let us take refuge from this world. You can do this in spirit, even if you are kept here in the body. You can at the same time be here and present to the Lord. Your soul must hold fast to him, you must follow after him in your thoughts, you must tread his ways by faith, not in outward show. You must take refuge in him. He is your refuge and your strength. David addresses him in these words: I fled to you for refuge, and I was not disappointed.Since God is our refuge, God who is in heaven and above the heavens, we must take refuge from this world in that place where there is peace, where there is rest from toil, where we can celebrate the great sabbath, as Moses said: The sabbaths of the land will provide you with food. To rest in the Lord and to see his joy is like a banquet, and full of gladness and tranquillity.Let us take refuge like deer beside the fountain of waters. Let our soul thirst, as David thirsted, for the fountain. What is that fountain? Listen to David: With you is the fountain of life. Let my soul say to this fountain: When shall I come and see you face to face? For the fountain is God himself.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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2 Comments

  1. Raphaela says:

    Father, please, please, what is that marvellous vocal polyphony that’s playing in the background as you read this text? I want the CD…

  2. Patrick Ford says:

    B-B-B-B-B-Band Sound Podcast! Could it be that you topped yourself with this podcast? yes,it could be, and you DID! TheLatin merging with the English text … perfect! And a wonderful reading of a beautiful text. And you didn’t STRAY from the warmth of your day or the text. Thank you !

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