§17Sic uidua illa in tertio Regnorum libro cum in siccitate et fame consumptis omnibus de modico farre et oleo quod superfuerat fecisset cinericium panem quo absumpto moritura cum liberis esset, superuenit Helias et petit sibi prius ad edendum dari, tunc quod superfuisset inde illam cum filiis suis uesci.
Thus that widow in the third book of Kings, when in the drought and famine, all things being consumed, she had made of the little meal and oil that remained a cake baked in the ashes, which being eaten she was to die with her children, Elijah came upon her and asked that there should be given to him first to eat, and then she with her sons should eat of what remained.
nec obtemperare illa dubitauit aut Heliae filios mater in fame et egestate praeposuit.
Nor did she hesitate to obey, nor did the mother prefer her children to Elijah in famine and want.
fit immo in conspectu Dei quod Deo placeat, prompte ac libenter quod petebatur obfertur nec de abundantia portio sed de modico totum datur, et esurientibus liberis alter prius pascitur, neque in penuria et fame cibus ante quam misericordia cogitatur, ut dum in opere salutari carnaliter uita contemnitur spiritaliter anima seruetur.
Nay, rather, that was done in the sight of God which pleased God: what was asked was promptly and willingly offered, not a portion from abundance but the whole from a little was given, and while her children were hungry, another was fed first, nor in scarcity and famine was food thought of before mercy, so that while in the salutary work life was physically despised, the soul was spiritually preserved.
Helias itaque typum Christi gerens et quod ille pro misericordia uicem singulis reddat ostendens respondit et dixit: haec dicit Dominus: fidelia farris non deficiet et capsaces olei non minuet usque in diem quo dabit Dominus imbrem super terram. secundum diuinae pollicitationis fidem multiplicata sunt uiduae et cumulata quae praestitit et operibus iustis ac misericordiae meritis augmenta et incrementa sumentibus farris et olei uasa conpleta sunt.
Elijah therefore, bearing a type of Christ and showing that He returns a recompense to each one for mercy, answered and said: "Thus saith the Lord: The jar of meal shall not fail, and the jug of oil shall not diminish, until the day that the Lord giveth rain upon the earth." According to the faithfulness of the divine promise, the things which the widow provided were multiplied and accumulated, and as her righteous works and merits of mercy received increase and growth, the vessels of meal and oil were filled.
nec filiis abstulit mater quod Heliae dedit, sed magis contulit filiis quod benigne et pie fecit.
Nor did the mother take away from her children what she gave to Elijah, but rather she conferred upon her children what she did kindly and piously.
et illa nondum Christum sciebat, nondum praecepta eius audierat, non cruce et passione eius redempta cibum et potum pro sanguine rependebat, ut ex hoc appareat quantum in ecclesia peccet qui se et filios Christo anteponens diuitias suas seruat nec patrimonium copiosum cum indigentium paupertate communicat.
And she did not yet know Christ, she had not yet heard His precepts, she was not redeemed by His cross and passion, nor was she repaying food and drink for His blood; so that from this it may appear how much he sins in the church who, preferring himself and his children to Christ, keeps his riches, and does not share his abundant patrimony with the poverty of the needy.
§18Sed enim multi sunt in domo liberi et retardat te numerositas filiorum quominus largiter bonis operibus insistas.
But indeed there are many children in your house, and the number of your children restrains you from insisting abundantly on good works.
adqui hoc ipso operari amplius debes, quo multorum pignorum pater es.
Yet by this very thing you ought to work the more, in that you are the father of many pledges.
plures sunt pro quibus Dominum depreceris, multorum delicta redimenda sunt, multorum purgandae conscientiae, multorum animae liberandae.
There are more for whom you must deprecate the Lord, the sins of many are to be redeemed, the consciences of many to be purged, the souls of many to be delivered.
ut in hac uita saeculari alendis sustinendisque pignoribus quo maior est numerus hoc maior et sumptus est, ita et in uita spiritali adque caelesti quo amplior fuerit pignorum copia esse et operum debet maior inpensa.
As in this worldly life, for the nourishing and sustaining of pledges, the greater the number, the greater also is the expense, so also in the spiritual and heavenly life, the more abundant the abundance of pledges is, the greater also ought to be the outlay of works.
sic Iob sacrificia numerosa pro liberis obferebat, quantusque erat in domo pignorum numerus tantus dabatur Deo et numerus hostiarum.
Thus Job offered numerous sacrifices for his children, and as great as was the number of pledges in his house, so great also was the number of victims given to God.
et quoniam cotidie deesse non potest quod peccetur in conspectu Dei, sacrificia cotidiana non deerant quibus possent peccata tergi.
And because there cannot fail to be daily sin in the sight of God, daily sacrifices were not lacking by which sins might be wiped away.
probat scriptura dicens: Iob homo uerus et iustus habuit filios septem et filias tres et emundabat illos offerens pro eis hostias Deo secundum numerum illorum et pro peccatis eorum uitulum unum. si ergo. uere filios tuos diligis, si eis exhibes plenam et paternam dulcedinem caritatis, operari magis debes ut filios tuos Deo iusta operatione commendes.
Scripture proves this, saying: "Job, a true and upright man, had seven sons and three daughters, and he cleansed them, offering for them victims to God according to their number, and for their sins one calf." If therefore you truly love your children, if you show them the full and paternal sweetness of charity, you ought to work the more, so that you may commend your children to God by righteous working.
§19Nec eum liberis tuis cogites patrem qui et temporarius et infirmus est, sed illum pares qui aeternus et firmus filiorum spiritalium pater est.
Nor should you think that one to be a father to your children who is both temporary and weak, but prepare Him who is the eternal and steadfast Father of spiritual children.
illi adsigna facultates tuas quas heredibus seruas: ille sit liberis tuis tutor, ille curator, ille contra omnes iniurias saeculares diuina maiestate protector.
Assign to Him your wealth which you keep for your heirs; let Him be the guardian, Him the curator for your children, Him the protector by His divine majesty against all worldly injuries.
patrimonium Deo creditum nec respublica eripit nec fiscus inuadit nec calumnia aliqua forensis euertit. in tuto hereditas ponitur quae Deo custode seruatur.
A patrimony committed to God neither the state snatches away, nor the treasury invades, nor any forensic calumny overturns. In safety is that inheritance placed which is preserved under the guardianship of God.
hoc est caris pignoribus in posterum prouidere, hoc est futuris heredibus paterna pietate consulere secundum fidem scripturae sanctae dicentis: iuuenior fui et senui et non uidi iustum derelictum neque semen eius quaerens panem.
This is to provide for your dear pledges for the future, this is to consult with paternal piety for your future heirs, according to the faith of the Holy Scripture which says: "I have been young and now am old, and I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
tota die miseretur et faenerat et semen eius in benedictione erit. etiterum:qui conuersatur sine uituperatione in iustitia beatos filios relinquet. praeuaricator itaque et proditor pater es, nisi filiis tuis fideliter consulas, nisi conseruandis eis religiosa et uera pietate prospicias.
All the day long he is merciful and lendeth, and his seed shall be in blessing." And again: "He who walketh without blame in righteousness shall leave blessed children." Therefore you are a prevaricating and traitorous father, unless you faithfully consult for your children, unless you look forward to preserve them with religious and true piety.
quid studes terreno magis quam caelesti patrimonio, filios tuos diabolo mauis commendare quam Christo? bis delinquis et geminum ac duplex crimen admittis et quod non praeparas filiis tuis Dei patris auxilium et quod doces filios patrimonium plus amare quam Christum.
Why do you study earthly rather than heavenly patrimony? Do you prefer to commend your children to the devil rather than to Christ? You sin twice, and commit a double and twofold crime, both in that you do not prepare for your children the aid of God the Father, and in that you teach your children to love patrimony more than Christ.