Souls Like Sparrows

Anima nostra sicut passer erepta est de laqueo venantium; laqueus contritus est, et nos liberati sumus... Totus hic versiculus, imo totus hic psalmus est gratiarum actio et vox laudis. Sancti enim quorum solemnitas hodie agitur, olim similes nobis passibiles habitaverunt domos luteas, et in corpore mortis hujus tentationis laqueos, et inimici malitias graviter sunt experti. Nunc autem, quia eduxit Dominus eorum animas de periculis hujus vitae, loquitur Propheta in persona eorum et dicit: Anima nostra sicut passer, etc. Huic verbo concinit et concordat quod Joannes in Apocalypsi ait: Sub altari Dei audivi vocem occisorum dicentium: Vindica, Domine, sanguinem servorum tuorum qui effusus est. Nec est vox ista exspectantium ultionem, sed desiderantium sui corporis glorificationem. Nam sub altari Dei constitutae sunt animae quae de corporibus exierunt, et in tranquilla quiete stolam secundam, id est glorificationem corporis gaudentes expectant. Altare Dei sancti Patres intelligunt corpus Christi glorificatum: in cujus visione sunt ad tempus deliciae animarum, donec impleatur numerus fratrum suorum. Hae sunt aquilae, quae congregantur ad corpus. Sicut scriptum est: Ubicunque fuerit corpus, ibi congregabuntur et aquilae. Delectantur ergo in aspectu glorificatae carnis in Christo, qui eis stolam animae nunc tribuit, et tandem glorificationem corporis tribuet, atque in hac requie gloriam perfectae glorificationis expectant. Hinc est vox quae dicit: me exspectant justi, donec retribuas mihi. Sane illi qui glorificationem corporis exspectabant, divinum acceperunt responsum, quod eis in Apocalypsi dictum est: Susinete modicum tempus, donec impleatur numerus fratrum vestorum. Petrus Blenensis, Sermo XLI, In Festo Ominum Sanctorum Source: Migne PL 207.685a-c

Our souls like the sparrow have been seized from the trap of the hunters. The trap was broken and we were freed... 1 The whole of this passage, and indeed the whole of this Psalm, is an act of thanks and a voice of praise. For the saints of this solemnity that is held today once like us suffered and dwelt in habitations of clay and in this body of death amid the snares of trials, and experienced the grave wickedness of the enemy. But now, because the Lord has led their souls from the perils of this life, it is said of them in the person of the Prophet: 'Our souls like the sparrow...' With this what John says in the Apocalypse sings together and harmonises: 'Beneath the altar of God I heard the voice of those slain, saying: O Lord, vindicate the blood of your servants which was poured out.' 2 This cry is not in hope of some vengeance but because of a desire for the glorification of the body, since the souls which have gone out of their bodies are placed beneath the altar of God and in tranquil rest they hope for the second robe, that is, they hope to rejoice in the glorification of the body. The Holy Fathers understood the altar of God to be the glorified body of Christ, in which for a time the souls had sight of their delight, until the number of their brethren was complete. These are the eagles which gather at the body. So it is written, 'Where the body is, there the eagles shall gather.' 3 They delight, therefore, in the sight of the glorified flesh in Christ, He who has already given them the robe for the soul, and finally shall give to them the glorification of the body, in which rest, then, they hope for the glory of perfect glorification. Hence the voice which says: 'The righteous hope in me, until I shall reward them.' 4 Indeed those who have hoped for the glorification of the body, they received the Divine response which was said to those in the Apocalypse: 'Endure for a little while, until the numbers of your brethren is complete.' 5 Peter of Blois, from Sermon 41, On The Feast Of All Saints 1 Ps 123.7 2 Apoc 6.9-10 3 Mt 24.28, Lk 17.37 4 Ps 141.8 5 Apoc 6.11