Wounds And Healing

Qui sanat contritos corde, qui alligat contritiones eorum. Mirabile genus curationis edicitur, ut si restaurari volumus, nosmetipsos vivacissime conteramus. Sed ista contritio ad redintegrationem pertinet, ad soliditatem deducit; et quod supra omne bonum est, illum medicum introducit, qui aeternam tribuit sospitatem. Sequitur, qui alligat contritiones eorum. Metaphora ab artificibus medendi, qui ossa fracta atque contrita quando solidare cupiunt, linteorum illigatione constringunt, ut in soliditatem pristinam ad locum suum redeuntia membra coalescant. Sic coelestis medicus poenitentium corda gravi afflictione contrita, quasi quadam fascia pietatis suae superducta constringit atque consolidat, et ad firmissimam spem sanitatis adducit, sicut et in quinquagesimo psalmo dictum est: Cor contritum et humiliatum Deus non spernit. Nam et ille publicanus qui pectus suum assidua percussione tundebat, ipsam in se contritionem probatus est effecisse, quam reo pectori non desinebat ingerere. Cassiodorus, Expositio In Psalterium, Psalmus CXLII Source: Migne PL 70.1034d-1035a

He who heals the contrite of heart, who binds up their wounds. 1 He speaks of a wondrous type of healing, which will have us bruise ourselves if we wish to be healed. But this bruising is for our renewal, and leads to perfection, and because it is above every good, he introduces that physician who gives eternal preservation. It follows, 'He who binds up their wounds.' The metaphor is derived for the arts of healing, from those who when they desire to restore broken and damaged bones bind them with linen bandages so that they may heal members back to their state of original firmness. So with the strips of piety does the heavenly physician bind up and strengthen the heart gravely afflicted with the bruises of penance, even to bring it to the firm hope of healing, as it is has been said in the fiftieth Psalm, 'God does not spurn the contrite and humble heart.' 2 For even that tax collector who struck his own chest with sharp blows, did it to himself to prove himself contrite, rather than by neglect to be burdened with a guilty heart. 3 Cassiodorus, Commentary On The Psalms, from Psalm 146 1 Ps 146.3 2 Ps 50.19 3 Lk 18.13