[Wisdom] reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and she orders all things well.
I loved her and sought her from my youth; I desired to take her for my bride, and became enamoured of her beauty.She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, and the Lord of all loves her. For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God, and an associate in his works. If riches are a desirable possession in life, what is richer than wisdom, the active cause of all things? And if understanding is effective, who more than she is fashioner of what exists? And if anyone loves righteousness, her labours are virtues; for she teaches self-control and prudence, justice and courage; nothing in life is more profitable for mortals than these. And if anyone longs for wide experience, she knows the things of old, and infers the things to come; she understands turns of speech and the solutions of riddles; she has foreknowledge of signs and wonders and of the outcome of seasons and times.
Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she would give me good counsel and encouragement in cares and grief. Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes and honour in the presence of the elders, though I am young. I shall be found keen in judgement, and in the sight of rulers I shall be admired. When I am silent they will wait for me, and when I speak they will give heed; if I speak at greater length, they will put their hands on their mouths. Because of her I shall have immortality, and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me. I shall govern peoples, and nations will be subject to me; dread monarchs will be afraid of me when they hear of me; among the people I shall show myself capable, and courageous in war. When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her; for companionship with her has no bitterness, and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy. When I considered these things inwardly, and pondered in my heart that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality, and in friendship with her, pure delight, and in the labours of her hands, unfailing wealth, and in the experience of her company, understanding, and renown in sharing her words, I went about seeking how to get her for myself. As a child I was naturally gifted, and a good soul fell to my lot; or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body. But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me— and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was.
Commentary
It is to my crucified one that I turn. His cross is my glory: its mark is on my brow; it gives joy to my mind, direction to my life, love even for death itself. May they not despise me for this, O Lord, they who are worthy to behold you, seated as you are on your throne, the exaltation of your godhead, filling all the earth with your majesty. The mysteries of your dealings with men here and now fill the temple of every mind, great and small. May your holy angels have the honour that is their due in heaven: but may they sometimes also share their grace and favours with us here on earth. For he loves us to make progress in our lives: and their blessed perfection is sweet to him. As the Apostle says: God’s many-splendoured wisdom has been manifested to principalities and powers in heaven through his dealings with the Church. Wherefore may they pardon us, Lord, even if your love should sometimes so captivate us that we desire to see, with them, what with them we already love: with a full heart we felicitate them, as they behold what we are not yet worthy to behold. May they blissfully contemplate your divine majesty residing in your eternal wisdom: those things to be, seen before this our mortal wayfaring and after it, everything that is, past and future, enfolding it all within his eternal present: it reaches in its power and strength from one extremity to another. But our temporal passage, belonging to your dealings with men as a whole, he has strewn with his charity, disposing all things in sweetness, for the sake of the daughters of Jerusalem, the devout but as yet infirm souls. They who have not thus far their elevated gaze fixed on contemplating the sublime would fain undergo hardship for your servants and be transformed so as to belong among their fellows. Among these, O Lord, may my spirit some day be taught to adore you, spirit as you are, in spirit and in truth, flesh no longer desiring what is contrary to the spirit, nor yet holding it back. But now that for the moment you are kept from boldly taking possession of what is to be yours, make a proper disposition of what is his, with what grace and harmony you best can, as befits him, the true owner. I have not yet risen above the rough-hewn figures of my earthly imagination: but may you indulge and be gracious to my feeble spirit, as it expresses its true nature in letting its fancy play on your more humble creatures. Behold! the meagre enfolding the newly born, the holy child being adored; the footprints of the crucified one being licked, as he hangs on the cross; his feet being held and kissed now that he is risen; the hand, put in the place where the nails went; and then the exclamation – My Lord and my God!(William of St. Thierry)
Musical Selection
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodidisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem, fortiter suaviter disponensque omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence.
Collect
God of forgiveness, listen graciously to our prayers, so that, corrected by penance and formed by good works, we may faithfully observe your commandments and come without fault to the celebration of Easter. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.