Man With The Animals

Similitudo autem vultus eorum, facies hominis, et facies leonis a dextris ipsorum quatuor; facies autem bovis a sinistris ipsorum quatuor; et facies aquilae desuper ipsorum quatuor. Omnis etenim electus atque in via Dei perfectus, et homo, et vitulus, et leo simul et aquila est. Homo enim rationale est animal. Vitulus autem in sacrificio mactari solet. Leo fortis est bestia, sicut scriptum est: Leo vero fortissimus bestiarum, ad nullius pavebit occursum. Aquila ad sublimia evolat, et irreverberatis oculis solis radiis intendit. Omnis itaque qui in ratione perfectus est, homo est. Et quoniam semetipsum ab hujus mundi voluptate mortificat, vitulus est. Quia vero ipsa sua spontanea mortificatione contra adversa omnia fortitudinem securitatis habet, unde scriptum est: Justus autem quasi leo confidens absque terrore erit, leo est. Quia vero sublimiter contemplatur ea quae coelestia atque aeterna sunt, aquila est. Igitur quoniam justus quisque per rationem homo, per sacrificium mortificationis suae vitulus, per fortitudinem securitas leo, per contemplationem vero efficitur aquila, recte per haec sancta animalia signari unusquisque perfectus potest. Sanctus Gregorius Magnus, In Ezechielem Prophetam, Liber Primus, Homilia IV Source: Migne PL 76 815c-816a

For the appearance of their faces was the face of a man, yet each of the four looked like a lion seen from the right, like an ox seen from the left, like an eagle seen from above. 1 Indeed every elect one perfected in the way of God is at the same time a man and a ox and a lion and an eagle. Man is a rational animal. The ox is accustomed to be slain in sacrifice. The lion is a strong creature, as it is written: 'Truly the lion is mightiest of the beasts, and shall not fear the approach of any.' 2 The eagle flies to the heights, and with untroubled eyes gazes at the rays of the sun. Thus everyone who has been perfected in reason is a man. And because he has mortified himself to the pleasure of this world he is an ox. And because of his own will mortified he has secure power against everything, whence it is written: 'The righteous one shall be as a lion confident against every fear.' 3 And so he is a lion. And because he contemplates high things which are heavenly and eternal, he is an eagle. Therefore because the righteous one is by reason a man, by the sacrifice of his mortification an ox, by the security of his power a lion, and by contemplation an eagle, rightly by these holy animals is signified anyone who is perfect. Saint Gregory the Great, On the Prophet Ezekiel, Book 1, from Homily 4 1 Ezekiel 1.10 2 Prov 30.30 3 Prov 28.1