Sheep And Shepherd

Christus prius ovis fuit, postea pastor factus est. Ovis animal est mansuetum et mundam. In mansuetudine humilitas, in munditia castias significatur. Humilitas duplex est: prima, qua praesse non appetas; secunda qua subesse diligas. Multi enim sunt, qui praesse nolunt, fugientes laborem, non honorem; qui tamen subesse dedignantur, qui, quando in praecepto obedientiae murmurant, quasi ad passionem ducti, recalcitrant. Hi profecto oves non sunt nec imitatores illius, qui sicut ovis ad occisionem ductus est et non aperuit os suum. Similiter castitas duplex est. Alia foris per munditiam corporis, alia intus per munditiam cordis. Munditia A præpararentur ut, dum vinum novum funderetur in corporis est abstinere a malo opere; munditia cordis, sincerum esse a mala delectatione. Qui ergo munditiam et mansuetudinem habet, ovis est. Et qui ovis bona est, sic tandem pastor fieri potest, qui prius in sua subjectione didicit, quomodo aliis præesse possit. Quidam enim sunt pastores, quidam mercenarii, quidam lupi. Pastores sunt qui oves diligunt; mercenarii, qui lanam et lac accipiunt; lupi, qui carnes comedunt. Pastores custodiunt in prosperitate, et defendunt in adversitate. Mercenarii custodiunt in prosperitate, sed non defendunt in adversitate. Lupi non custodiunt in prosperitate, et occidunt in adversitate. Pastores salutem quærunt, mercenarii lucrum appetunt. Lupi, peccati materiam vel licentiam ovibus dantes, occidunt. Primi sunt diligentes, secundi negligentes, tertii pestilentes. Hugo De Sancte Victore, Miscellanea, Liber I, Titulus CI Source: Migne PL 177.532d-533b

First Christ was a sheep, after He was the shepherd. A sheep is animal that is meek and clean. In meekness is humility, cleanliness signifies chastity. Humility is twofold: first, there is no desire to lead, secondly a love of following. Many there are who not wishing to lead, flee labour, but not honour, however they who scorn to follow, revolt when they murmur against the command of obedience, as if led to suffering. Certainly they are not sheep, nor imitators of Him, who 'was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and did not open His mouth.' 1 Similarly chastity is twofold. Some have an exterior cleanliness of the body, others an interior cleanliness of the heart. Cleanliness of body is a withdrawal from evil works, cleanliness of heart is to be pure of pleasure in evil. Therefore he who has cleanliness and meekness, is a sheep. And he who is a good sheep, he will be able to become a good shepherd, he who first has learnt in subjection, shall be able to lead others. Now they are certain men who are shepherds, and certain ones who are hirelings, and certain ones who are wolves. 2 The shepherds are those who love the sheep, hirelings are those who work for wool and milk, wolves devour the flesh. Shepherds watch over in prosperity and defend in adversity. Hirelings watch over in prosperity but do not defend in adversity. Wolves do not watch over in prosperity and they kill in adversity. Shepherds seek salvation, hirelings desire profit. Wolves, in the supplying of the ways and permissions of sin to the sheep, kill them. The first are lovers, the second negligent, the third are a bane. Hugh Of Saint Victor, Miscellanea, Book 1, Chapter 101 1 Isaiah 53.7 2 Jn 10.11-13