Chapter I
BOOK I Chapter I Concerning contemplation and its excellence If the One with the key of knowledge allows,
I wish through a gift of His inspiration to unlock somewhat the mystical ark of Moses, by presenting the results of our nightly work. And if in this hidden place of divine secrets and distant storehouse of knowledge there is something hidden, which our humble self can draw out for the benefit of others, we will hesitate neither to explain it publicly nor to offer it for common use. While much has been profitably said on this topic, much still remains. The mystical meaning of the ark in the allegorical sense, that is, as it represents Christ, has been articulated by learned persons and investigated by more penetrating minds before. Despite this, we do not presume to be guilty of carelessness by now saying something about it in the moral sense.
However, so that our zealous concern for it be made sweeter, and our sense of wonder at it be made stronger, let us consider the opinion of that finest Prophet, who calls it the ark of sanctification.
He says, "Rise up Lord to your resting place; you and the ark of your sanctification"
(Ps.
131:8). "Ark of sanctification": Do we think that which is called the ark of sanctification received its name from its reality? Let us pay careful attention and profoundly recall that, whatever it is, it is called an ark of sanctification for you, whom our learned teacher taught saying: "You will be holy just as I also am holy" (Lev.
11:44). Therefore, you being sanctified today, tomorrow and on the third day, do not fail to pay attention to what it means iovyou, that it is called the ark of sanctification. If Moses is correctly to be believed, we know that whoever touches it is
RICHARD OF ST. VICTOR
sanctified (Exod. 29:37). If the power of sanctification does go forth from it, then all worthy people will seek to touch it. Would that someone be found among you, a man such as the one from Ramathaim, who having put on vestments of glory befitting a high priest, would thus be worthy to enter into the Holy of Holies and be cleansed from his impurities not only by seeing but by touching this thing called the ark of sanctification. But what will
I say about that one if perchance he was given the key of knowledge by Him who opens and no man closes, thus enabling him to see what this ark of sanctification contains? Indeed, I think something precious was placed in this ark.
I very much wish to know what this ark is, which can sanctify those who approach it, and thus which can worthily be called an ark of sanctification. However, concerning
Wisdom, I do not doubt that it is Wisdom herself who conquers malice (Wisd.
7:30). No less do I know that from the beginning whoever was restored to health was restored to it by Wisdom (Wisd.
9:19). But it also is sufficiently certain that no person can please God unless Wisdom is with him. Does anyone doubt that it pertains to sanctification for a person to be cleansed of all his impurities, and for the mind of anyone to be purified of all malice and wickedness? These are the things that pollute a person. However, he is purified by Wisdom when She, attacking more bravely, conquers malice, that is, reaching powerfully from one end of the earth to the other and setting all things in order pleasantly (Wisd.
8:1).
And I think to be purified in this way is to be sanctified. When the Lord began to teach Moses about the construction of the tabernacle.
He first instructed him about building the ark, in order to indicate from this that all other things were to be constructed for the benefit of the ark.
I think no one doubts that the ark is first and foremost among the holy places within the tabernacle of the covenant.
Therefore, a seeker, except one who doubts that Mary chose the better part, easily recognizes that this sacred structure signifies grace. But what is that best part which Mary chose (Luke
10:42) except to be free from preoccupations and to see how sweet the Lord is?
(Cf.
Ps.
33:9.) For as Scripture says, while Martha was solicitous, Mary, sitting at the feet of the Lord, heard His word.
And so by hearing she understood and by understanding she saw the highest Wisdom of God, which, since hidden in the flesh,