Charity and Knowledge

Et mensus est latitudinem aedificii calamo uno, altitudinem quoque calamo uno. Omnipotens Deus, qui nec in magnis tenditur, nec in minimis angustatur, sic de tota simul Ecclesia loquitur ac si de una anima loquatur. Et saepe quod ab eo de una anima dicitur nil obstat si de tota simul Ecclesia intelligatur. Latitudo itaque aedificii ad charitatem pertinet, de qua Psalmista dicit: Latum mandatum tuum nimis. Nil enim latius quam omnes in sinu amoris recipere, et nullas odii angustias sustinere. Sic quippe lata est charitas, ut in amplitudine dilectionis suae capere etiam inimicos possit. Unde et praecipitur: Diligite inimicos vestros, benefacite iis qui oderunt vos. Considerandum quoque nobis est quia latitudo in aequalitate, altitudo vero in sublimitate tenditur. Latitudo ergo pertinet ad charitatem proximi, altitudo ad intelligentiam conditoris. Sed latitudo et altitudo aedificii uno calamo mensuratur, quia videlicet unaquaeque anima quantum lata fuerit in amore proximi, tantum et alta erit in cognitione Dei. Dum enim se per amorem juxta dilatat, per cognitionem se superius exaltat; et tantum super semetipsam excelsa fit, quantum se juxta se in proximi amorem tendit. Et quia aedificium quod inhabitat Deus ex angelica simul et humana natura perficitur, per hoc quod angelica creatura sursum est, et humana adhuc deorsum, potest per latitudinem atque altitudinem aedificii utraque haec creatura significari, quia ista adhuc in imis degit, illa vero in sublimibus permanet. Sed uno calamo mensuratur utraque, quia humilitas hominum quandoque ad aequalitatem perducitur angelorum. Unde scriptum est: Neque nubent, neque nubentur, sed erunt sicut angeli Dei in coelo. Et unde per Joannem dicitur: Mensura hominis quae est angeli. Quia usque ad illam altitudinem gloriae homo perducitur, in qua solidatos se angeli laetantur. Latitudo ergo aedificii tanta est, quanta et altitudo, quia electi quique qui modo in imis laborant, quandoque illis beatissimis spiritibus non erunt inaequales. Sed nos inter haec redeamus ad mentem, ac totis medullis cordis Deum diligamus et proximum. Dilatemur in affectu charitatis, ut exaltemur in gloria celsitudinis. Compatiamur per amorem proximo, ut conjungamur per cognitionem Deo. Condescendamus fratribus minimis in terra, ut coaequemur angelis in coelo, quia vir qui sua imagine Redemptorem signat, mensus est latitudinem aedificii calamo uno, altitudinem quoque calamo uno. Nunc igitur metitur mores, pensat opera, cogitationes considerat. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, In Ezechielem Prophetam, Liber Secundus, Homilia II

And the measure in breadth of the building was one rod and the height was also one rod. 1 Almighty God, who neither in great things is stretched nor in little things limited, so at the same time He speaks about the whole Church He may be speaking about one soul, and often when He speaks about one soul, there is nothing to prevent it being understood as pertaining to the Church at the same time. The breadth, then, of the building pertains to charity, concerning which the Psalmist says, 'Broad are all your commandments.' 2 For nothing is more broad than to receive everyone into the lap of love, nothing more hateful than to suffer anguish. So certainly charity is broad, that in its great love it is able to include even enemies. Whence He commands: 'Love your enemies and bless those who hate you.' 3 We must also consider that the measurement of breadth is equal to the height extending upward. Broadness therefore concerns love of neighbour, and height understanding of the Creator. But the breadth and the height of the building is measured as one rod, because certainly each soul shall be as broad in love to his neighbour as much as he has knowledge of the heights of God. For while through love he loves the one next to him, through knowledge of what is high he praises, and as much as he is lifted up in himself, so much he holds in himself love of his neighbour. And because the building which God inhabits is finished by the angelic and human nature, it is lifted up by that which is angelic creation and yet it goes down on account of human nature, and the building by the broadness and height of the building thus signifies both these creations, because one yet lives below, and one remains on high. But with one rod both are measured, because the humility of men leads to equality with the angels. Whence it is written, 'Neither marrying, nor giving in marriage, but they are like the angels of God in heaven.' 4 And by John it is said, 'The measure of man which is of the angel. 5 Because even to that height of glory man is led, in which company the angels rejoice. Broad therefore is the building as much as it is high, because the elect who yet labour in the lower places, shall not be unequal to those blessed spirits. But amid these things let us return to our own minds, and with all our hearts, let us love God and neighbour. Let us make broad our charity that we may be exalted in celestial glory. Let us suffer in love for our neighbour that we be joined by knowledge with God. Let us attend to the least of our brothers on earth, that we shall be equal to the angels in heaven, because he who is marked with the image of his Saviour, is a measure of broadness of the building of one rod, and also a height of one rod. Now then let us measure our own conduct, let us consider out works, let us consider our thoughts. Saint Gregory the Great, On the Prophet Ezekiel, Book 2, from Homily 2 1 Ez 40.5? 2 Ps 118.96 3 Lk 6.27 4 Mt 22.30 5 Apoc 21.17