Transfiguration And Resurrection

Assumpsit Iesus Petrum et Iacobum et Ioannem fratrem eius, et duxit illos in montem excelsum, et transfiguratum est ante eos. Quia mysterium Dominicae resurrectionis, quae est exemplum nostrae glorificationis inter omnia opera restraurationis plus habet ammirationis et difficultatis ad credendum: ideo Dominus noster Iesus Christus ad manuducendum Apostolos, et in eis ceteros Christianos, ut levius crederent miraculosum opus suae resurrectionis. cum iam completum esset: voluit coram tribus idoneis, et praeordinatis a Deo testibus, quibus totus mundus crederet divina dispensatione transfigurari, ut eis gloriam, quam habiturus erat in resurrectione, praeostenderet. Et quoniam impossibile est aliquem figere aciem sui oculi ad gloriam divinae maiestatis, nisi fit purus, et a divina gratia praeelectus et praeuentus: deinde sua diligentia fit paratus, atque summo desiderio, vel studio amoris elevatus: ideo in verbo proposito valde ordinate, et recto ordine proceditur. Nam primo notatur divina dignatio mysticae assumptionis. Secundo notatur devota dispesativa ostensio futurae glorificationis. Primo ergo notatur divina dignatio mysticae assumptionis, cum dicit: Assumpsit Iesus Petrum, et Iacobum, et Ioannem. Secundo notatur devota praeparatio affectuosae elevationis, cum subdit: Et duxit illos in montem excelsum. Glossa transfiguratus in montem ascendit, ut innuat, ut qui resurrectionem expectant, in excelsum debent elevati, et continuis precibus insistere. Tertio notatur dispensativa ostensio futurae glorificationis, cum subinfert: Transfiguratus est ante eos. Dicit ergo Assumptit Iesus Petrum et Iacobum et Ioannem. Ubi notatur divina dignatio mysticae assumptionis. Dicitur autem mystica illa assumptio eo quod assumptione istorum trium mysticatur, et figuratur assumptio triplicis status militiatis Eccleisiae, scilicet praelationis, et actionis et contemplationis. Nam status praelationis per Petrum designatur: quia primus futurus erat in regimine Ecclesiae per officium praelationis. Status actionis per Iacobum signatur, qui primus futurus erat in amaritudine poenitentiae, per tormentum passionis: quia primus inter Apostolos passus fuit. Status contemplationis per Ioannem designatur, qui primus futurus erat in plentiduine gratiae, per augmentum dilectionis. Primo ergo assumpsit Petrum, et in Petro ceteros de statu praelationis, ad praesidentiam virtualis protectionis in regimine Ecclesiae. Secundo assumpsit Iacobum, et in Iacobo ceteros de statu actionis ad abstinetniam carnalis delectationis, in amaritudine poentientiae. Tertio assumpsit Ioannem, et in Ioanne omnes de statu contemplationis, ad affluentuam spiritualis consolationis, in plenitudine gratiae. Sanctus Bonaventura, Sermo IV, Sermones de Tempore ac de Sanctis Source: Here,76a-e

And Jesus took Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain, and He was transfigured before them. 1 Because the mystery of the Lord's resurrection, which is an example of our glorification among all the the works of renewal, is such a wonder that it is difficult to believe, therefore our Lord Jesus Christ led by the hand the Apostles, and by them other Christians, that they might easily believe the miraculous work of their resurrection. As if now it were completed, He wished to be transfigured before these three suitable ones, preordained by God to be witnesses, through which the whole world might believe in the Divine dispensation, foreshowing the glory to them which shall be in the resurrection. And because it is impossible to fix with any sharpness the eye on His Divine majesty unless it be pure, their was prior selection and anticipation by Divine grace, and then what care prepared, great desire, or zeal of love elevated. Therefore as in the order of the passage given, even with right order it progressed. First let the Divine dignity of this mystical assumption be noted. Secondly the holy arrangement for the showing of future glory. First, then, the Divine dignity of the mystical assumption is noted, when it says: 'And Jesus took Peter and James and John.' Second note the Divine devotion of preparation for love's elevation, when it continues: 'And He led them up a high mountain.' The Gloss: For the transfiguration on the mountain He went up so that it be known that those who hope for the resurrection should be elevated on high and seek it with endless prayers. Thirdly let the arrangement of the revelation of future glorificaton be noted, when he adds: 'And He was transfigured before them.' Now it says, 'Jesus took up Peter and James and John.' Where should be noted the dignity of the mystical assumption. For it is said with this mystical assumption that the assumption of these three has a mystical meaning, that the assumption is a figure of the threefold state of the Church militant, that is, prelature, action and contemplation. The state of the prelate is designated by Peter, who would be first in the ruling of the Church by the office of prelate. And the state of action is signified by James, who was to be first in the bitterness of penance, by the torment of passion, because he was the first Apostle to suffer. The state of contemplation is designated by John, who was to be the first in plenitude of grace, by the growth of love. Therefore He first took Peter, and in Peter others by the state of prelate, for preeminence in courageous protection in the ruling of the Church. Second He took up James, and in James others who by action abstain from carnal pleasures, in the bitterness of penance. Third he took up John, and in John all who are contemplatives, with the flood of spiritual consolation, in the fullness of grace. Saint Bonaventura, from Sermon 4, Sermons from the Year and the Saints 1 Mt 17.1-2