781 discourse iii: the scourging of the sinner Church] Gregory of Nazianzus28 did not hesitate to compare this gushing Blood to the four rivers of Paradise: “The blood flowed,” he said, “and from this paradise, rivers of heavenly blood sprung forth” (Sermon on Christ Suffering).29 Hereafter, the mellifluent Teacher converted this Blood of Christ into oil, which is a symbol of mercy, to show that it flowed from His infinite charity as propitiation of our sins. “O Jews” (St. Bernard30 uttered with a loud cry against the enemies of the most innocent Savior), “you are the rocks, but you are striking the meeker rock! From whom resounds the ringing of forgiveness, and pours forth the oil of mercy!” (Sermon 4).31 Surely, how great is the loyalty of the Son of God to us, miserable ones, that we were not most deservedly scourged for our crimes. He desired so ardently, so clemently, so mercifully to be most unjustly scourged for these same people, in order that His most sacred Blood (being converted into the oil of mercy), which gushed forth from His mangled body in the form of rivers, might be reckoned as most suitable for healing the wounds of our souls. Bound to the marble pillar, Jesus was inundated with deep red liquid, being most cruelly cut to pieces for every sin of every sinner, so that any sinner whosoever might “suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock” (Dt 32:13). As you see, the most bitter scourging of our Lord is transformed for us into the sweetest honey, and the most sacred Blood becomes like the oil of mercy. In order that I may explain more in depth, I have recourse to three miraculous founts, which even today are seen in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome.32 When I tasted the water 28 Cf. Cataudella, Quintino, Gregorio Nazianzeno, Doctor of the Church († 389/390), ECat VI, 1088-1096. 29 The sermon here quoted was not able to be found among the works of St. Gregory. 30 This is St. Bernard of Clairvaux. 31 Bernardus, Sermo Feria Quarta Hebdomadae Poenosae, De Passione Domini, in Sancti Bernardi Claraevallenis Abbatis Primi Opera Omnia, Parisiis 1615, col. 142. 32 In reality these three founts are not inside the Basilica, but are about 2.4 km away from it.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==