§6Nec hoc, fratres dilectissimi, Iesus Christus Dominus et Deus noster tantum uerbis docuit, sed impleuit et factis.
Nor did Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, teach this by words alone, beloved brethren, but He fulfilled it also by deeds.
et qui ad hoc descendisse se dixerat ut uoluntatem patris faceret inter cetera mirabilia uirtutum quibus indicia diuinae maiestatis expressit paternam quoque patientiam tolerantiae tenore seruauit.
And He who had said that He descended for this purpose, to do the will of the Father, maintained also the Father's patience by the continuous course of His endurance, amid the other miracles of powers by which He expressed the proofs of His divine majesty.
omnis denique actus eius ab ipso statim aduentu patientia comite signatur, quod primum de [illa] sublimitate caelesti ad terrena descendens non aspernatur Dei filius carnem hominis induere et cum peccator ipse non esset aliena peccata portare.
In short, His every act, from His very arrival, is signed with patience as His companion: first, that descending from [that] heavenly sublimity to earthly things, the Son of God did not disdain to put on the flesh of man, and, while He Himself was not a sinner, to bear the sins of others.
inmortalitate interim posita fieri se mortalem patitur ut innocens pro nocentium salute perimatur.
Having laid aside His immortality for a time, He suffered Himself to become mortal, so that, innocent as He was, He might be put to death for the salvation of the guilty.
Dominus baptizatur a seruo et remissam peccatorum daturus ipse non dedignatur lauacro regenerationis corpus abluere.
The Lord is baptized by His servant, and though about to give the remission of sins, He Himself did not disdain to wash His body in the bath of regeneration.
diebus quadraginta ieiunat per quem ceteri saginantur: esurit et famem sensit ut qui in fame sermonis et gratiae fuerant caelesti pane saturarentur.
He fasts for forty days, He by whom others are fed; He hungers and felt hunger, so that those who had been in hunger for the word and grace might be saturated with heavenly bread.
cum diabolo temptante congreditur et inimicum tantum uicisse contentus nihil ultra uerba conatur.
He engages in conflict with the tempting devil, and, content only to have overcome the enemy, He attempts nothing beyond words.
discipulis non ut semis dominica potestate praefuit, sed benignus et mitis fraterna eos caritate dilexit, dignatus etiam pedes apostolorum lauare, ut dum circa seruos talis est dominus, exemplo suo doceret qualis circa conpares et aequales debeat esse conseruus.
He did not rule over His disciples as a lord with lordly power, but kind and gentle, He loved them with a brotherly charity, deigning even to wash the feet of the apostles, so that while the Lord is such toward His servants, He might teach by His own example what kind of fellow-servant one ought to be toward his companions and equals.
nec mirandum quod circa obaudientes talis extiterit qui ludam potuit usque ad extremum longa patientia sustinere, cibum cum inimico capere, hostem domesticum scire nec palam ostendere, traditoris osculum non recusare.
Nor is it to be wondered at that He showed Himself such toward the obedient, since He was able to endure Judas with long patience even to the end, to take food with His enemy, to know His domestic foe and not to expose him openly, and not to refuse the kiss of the betrayer.
in Iudaeis uero tolerandis aequanimitas quanta et quanta patientia incredulos ad fidem suadendo flectere, obsequio ingratos fouere, contradicentibus respondere leniter, superbos sustinere clementer, humiliter persequentibus cedere, prophetarum interfectores et aduersus Deum semper rebelles usque ad crucis et passionis horam uelle colligere.
But in tolerating the Jews, what great equanimity and what great patience there was, in turning the incredulous to faith by persuasion, in cherishing the ungrateful with kindness, in answering those who contradicted gently, in enduring the proud clementely, in yielding humbly to those who persecuted, in wishing to gather the murderers of the prophets and those always rebellious against God, even up to the hour of His cross and passion!
§7Sub ipsa autem passione et cruce, priusquam ad crudelitatem necis et effusionem sanguinis ueniretur, quae conuiciorum probra patienter audita, quae contumeliarum tolerata ludibria, ut insultantium sputamina exciperet qui sputo suo caeci oculos paulo ante formasset et cuius nomine a semis eius nunc diabolus cum angelis suis flagellatur flagella ipse pateretur, coronaretur spinis qui martyras floribus coronat aeternis, palmis in faciem uerberaretur qui palmas ueras uincentibus tribuit, spoliaretur ueste terrena qui indumento inmortalitatis ceteros uestit, cibaretur felle qui cibum caelestem dedit, aceto potaretur qui salubri poculo propinauit.
But under the passion and the cross itself, before coming to the cruelty of death and the shedding of blood, what reproaches of insults were patiently heard, what mocks of contumelies were endured! So that He might receive the spittings of those who insulted, He who a little before had formed the eyes of a blind man with His own spit; and that He Himself might suffer scourges, by whose name the devil with his angels is now scourged by His servants; that He might be crowned with thorns, who crowns martyrs with eternal flowers; that He might be beaten on the face with palms, who bestows true palms upon the victors; that He might be despoiled of His earthly garment, who clothes others with the garment of immortality; that He might be fed with gall, who gave heavenly food; that He might be given vinegar to drink, who proffered the cup of salvation.
ille innocens, ille iustus, immo innocentia ipse et ipse iustitia inter facinorosos deputatur et testimoniis falsis ueritas premitur, iudicatur iudicaturus et Dei sermo ad crucem tacens ducitur.
That innocent One, that righteous One, nay, Innocence itself and Righteousness itself, is numbered among the criminals, and by false testimonies truth is oppressed; He who is to judge is judged, and the Word of God is led to the cross in silence.
et cum ad crucem Domini confundantur sidera, elementa turbentur, contremescat terra, nox diem cludat, sol ne Iudaeorum facinus aspicere cogatur et radios et oculos suos subtrahat, ille non loquitur nec mouetur nec maiestatem suam sub ipsa saltim passione profitetur: usque ad finem perseueranter ac iugiter tolerantur omnia ut consummetur in Christo plena et perfecta patientia.
And when at the cross of the Lord the stars are confounded, the elements are disturbed, the earth trembles, night shuts out the day, and the sun, lest it be compelled to look upon the crime of the Jews, withdraws its rays and its eyes, He does not speak, nor is He moved, nor does He declare His majesty at least under the passion itself: until the end, perseveringly and constantly, all things are endured, so that full and perfect patience may be consummated in Christ.
§8Et post ista adhuc interfectores suos, si conuersi ad eum uenerint, suscipit et patientia salutari ad conseruandum benignus ecclesiam suam nemini cludit.
And after these things, He still receives His murderers, if they come to Him converted, and kind in preserving His Church with salutary patience, He closes it to no one.
illos aduersarios, illos blasphemos, illos nominis sui semper inimicos, si paenitentiam delicti agant, si admissum facinus agnoscant, non solum ad indulgentiam criminis sed ad praemium regni caelestis admittit.
Those adversaries, those blasphemers, those constant enemies of His name, if they perform repentance for their transgression, if they acknowledge the crime committed, He admits not only to the indulgence of the crime but also to the reward of the heavenly kingdom.
quid potest patientius, quid benignius dici? uiuificatur Christi sanguine etiam qui fudit sanguinem Christi.
What can be said more patient, what more kind? Even he who shed the blood of Christ is quickened by the blood of Christ.
talis est Christi ac tanta patientia: quae nisi talis et tanta existeret, Paulum quoque apostolum ecclesia non haberet.
Such and so great is the patience of Christ; which, unless it had been such and so great, the Church would not possess the apostle Paul either.