Saturday, February 15 : Saint Bernard

Our ancestors possessed only shadows and images, whereas the truth itself shines on us by the grace of Christ present in the flesh, so also no one will deny that in relation to the world to come, we still live in the shadow of the truth, unless he wishes to deny what the apostle Paul asserts: “our knowledge is imperfect and our prophecy is imperfect;” (1Cor 13,9) or when he says: “I do not reckon myself to have got hold of it yet. ” (Phil 3,13). Why should there not be a distinction between him who walks by faith and him who walks by light? Hence the just man lives by faith (Hab 2,4; Rom 1,17) – the blessed rejoices in the vision; the holy person here below lives in the shadow of Christ… That the faith is shadowy is a blessing, it tempers light to the eye’s weakness and prepares the eye for the light for it is written: “God cleansed their hearts by faith.” (Acts 15,9). Faith, therefore, does not quench the light but protects it. What it may be that the angel sees, is preserved for me by the shadow of faith, stored up in its trusty breast, until it is revealed in due time. If you cannot yet grasp the naked truth is it not worthwhile to possess it wrapped in a veil? The Lord’s Mother herself lived in the shadow of faith, for she was told: “Blessed are you who believed,” (Lk 1,45). Even the body of Christ was a shadow for her, as implied in the words: “The power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow,” (Lk 1,35). That is no mean shadow which is formed by the power the Most High. Assuredly there was power in the flesh of Christ that overshadowed the Virgin, since by means of the envelope of his vivifying body she was able to bear his majestic presence, and endure the unapproachable light, something impossible to mortal woman. That was power indeed by which every opposing might was overcome. Both the power and the shadow put the demons to flight and became a shelter for men: an invigorating power surely, a shadow radiating coolness! We therefore who walk by faith live in the shadow of Christ; we are fed with his flesh as the source of our life.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team