The Delights of Scripture

I came across this piece recently and thought it was well worth publishing in my own translation of the Latin.

(Book 16, Chapter 19)

To overflow in delights before the Almighty is to be filled at the banquet of love for Holy Scripture. For in these words we find as many delights as we receive different insights for our spiritual growth. At one time the plain historical narrative nourishes us; at another, beneath the covering of the letter, the hidden marrow of the moral allegory refreshes us; at another, contemplation lifts us to higher things, amid the darkness of this present life it twinkles before us with the light of eternity.

It should also be understood that whoever abounds in delights is released into a certain relaxation of spirit and, as though weary from labour, is loosened from the pursuit of toil. For when the soul begins to overflow with inward delights, it no longer consents to occupy itself with earthly works. Captured by love of its Creator - and by that very captivity now made free - it longs, even to the point of failing, to contemplate his beauty. It grows stronger even while seeming to grow weary for, since it is no longer able to carry the squalid burdens of this world, it hastens through the rest that lies ahead to him whom it already loves within.

Hence it is also written, in admiration of the Bride: “Who is this that comes up overflowing with delights?” Indeed, unless the holy Church overflowed with the delights of the words of God, she could not ascend from the desert of this present life to the things above. She overflows with delights, therefore, and she ascends; because, while she is nourished by mystical understanding, she is raised day by day to contemplate heavenly realities.

Thus the Psalmist also says: “The night is my illumination amid my delights.” For when the studious mind is refreshed through mystical understanding, even the darkness of this present life is illuminated by the radiance of the coming day. Thus, even amid the darkness of this corrupted world, the power of that future light breaks forth into the understanding. Nourished by the delights of God’s words, the soul learns, by tasting beforehand, for what food from the pasture of truth it ought to hunger.

The beginning of Luke’s Gospel

Here’s the Latin text for those who would like to read it:

Ex libris Morálium sancti Gregórii Magni papæ (Lib. 16, 19 : SC 221, 172-174)

Super Omnipoténtem delíciis afflúere est in amore illius Scriptúræ sacræ épulis satiári. In cuius nimírum verbie tot delícias invenímus, quot ad proféctum nostrum intellegéntiæ diversitátes accípimus, ut modo nuda nos pascat história, modo sub textu litteræ veláta medúllitus nos reficiat morális allegória, modo ad altióra suspéndat contemplátio, in præséntis vitæ ténebris iam de lúmine æternitátis intérmicans

Et sciéndum quod quisquis delíciis áffluit, in quadam sui remissióne sólvitur, atque a labóris stúdio quasi ex lassitudine relaxátur, quia nimírum ánima cum intérnis delíciis abundáre cœperit, terrénis iam opéribus incubáre mínime conséntit; sed amóre conditóris capta, et sua captivitáte iam libera, ad contemplándam eius spéciem deficiéndo suspírat, et quasi lassescéndo convaléscit, quia dum sórdida ónera portáre iam non valet, ad illum per quiétem próperat, quem intus amat.

Hinc étiam in admiratióne sponsæ scriptum est : Quæ est ista quæ ascéndit delíciis áffluens? Quia nimírum sancta Ecclésia nisi verbórum Dei delíciis afflúeret, de desérto vitæ præséntis ascéndere ad superióra non posset. Delíciis ergo áffluit et ascéndit, quia, dum mýsticis intellegéntiis páscitur, ad supérna cotídie contemplánda sublevátur. Hinc étiam Psalmísta ait: Et nox illuminátio mea in delíciis meis, quia, dum per intelléctum mýsticum studiósa mens refícitur, iam in ea vitæ præséntis obscúritas fulgóre diéi subsequéntis illuminátur, ut étiam in huius corruptiónis caligine in intelléctum illíus vis futúri lúminis erúmpat, et verbórum delíciis pasta prægustándo discat quid de pábulo veritátis esúriat.

If you don’t want to sign up to a paid subscription, do consider buying me a coffee by leaving a contribution in my tip jar!

Tip Jar

Have you seen my publication - my translation of Shepherd’s Prayer by St Aelred of Rievaulx? Available now via Amazon around the world, the isbn is: 979-8344184814.