Salesian Literature

Part II:  Salesian Commentary

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B. Inspired Narratives

::   First Narrative   ::   Second Narrative   ::   Third Narrative   ::   Fourth Narrative   ::   Fifth Narrative

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First Narrative

 

2:5,6 Sustain my heart… comfort it…

      otherwise it falls swooned…

 

Let us employ a parable, since this method has been so agreeable to the Sovereign Master of the love which we teach.

 

A very great and brave king, having espoused a most amiable young princess and having one day led her to a very secluded room in order to entertain himself with her more easily[1], after some discourse saw her fall swooned before him, by some unexpected accident.

 

Alas, that astonished him extremely and he was himself on the point of fainting and falling of at her side.[2]

 

Nevertheless, the same love which gave him this great attack of sorrow gave him equally the strength to sustain it, and he put it in action in order to remedy, with an unparalleled promptitude, the sickness of the dear companion of his life.  Hence, opening quickly a buffet which was there, he took an infinitely precious water cordial, and having filled his mouth, he opened by force the lips and clenched teeth of this beloved princess.  Then, blowing and casting this precious liquid, which he held in his mouth, into that of his poor swooned (one) and sprinkling the rest of the phial around her nose, on her temples, and on the place of her heart, he made her return to herself and regain her senses.  Then he lifted her up again gently, and by (the) strength of remedies, he reinvigorated and revived her in such (a) way that she began to get up on her feet and walk all beautifully with him, but not, however, without his aid, for he continued raising and sustaining her by his arm.  Finally, he put on the place of her heart an epithem (tropical remedy) of so great and precious virtue that then, sensing herself entirely restored to her former health, she marched all alone, her dear bridegroom no longer sustaining her so strongly but only holding her gently, his right hand between hers and his arms folded on her bosom and on her chest.[3]

 

He continued entreating her thus, and he made in this four most agreeable services: 1) he testified to her (of) his loving, solicitous heart for her; 2) he always continued comforting her a little; 3) if some feeling of her past faintness should have returned, he would have sustained her; 4) if she should have met some step or some rough and difficult place, he would have held her again and would have supported her, (and) on the steps or when she wished to go a little faster, he powerfully sustained and supported her.

 

Therefore, he remained close to her with this care until the night, and he wanted still to assist her when she was placed in her royal bed.

 

The soul is espoused to Our Lord when it is just, and because it is not at all just unless it is in charity, likewise it is not at all espoused unless it is led “into the room” of those delicious perfumes of which it is spoken in the Canticle…

 

Nevertheless, although by means of charity poured forth into our hearts (Rom. 5:5) we could march in the presence of God and make progress in the way of salvation, so it is that the divine Goodness assists the soul to which he has given his love, holding it continually by his holy hand.[4]

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[1] Oeuvres, Tome 26, p. 18. The Mystical Exposition of the Canticle of Canticles, Discourse I.4.

[2] Oeuvres, Tome 26, p. 18. The Mystical Exposition, Discourse 4.9.

[3] Oeuvres, Tome 26, p. 18. The Mystical Exposition, Discourse 2.6; Discourse 8.3

[4] Oeuvres, Tome 4, p. 174. Treatise on the Love of God, Book 3, Chapter 3.

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