Chapter VI — The Eager Desires that Divine Wisdom Has to Give Herself to Men

64. There is so great a bond of friendship between Eternal Wisdom and man that it is incomprehensible. Wisdom is for man, and man is for Wisdom. Thesaurus infinitus hominibus: she is an infinite treasure for men, and not for the angels or for other creatures.

This friendship of Wisdom for man comes from the fact that, in his creation, he is the epitome of her marvels, her little and her great world, her living image, and her lieutenant on earth. And since, through the excess of love she bore him, she made herself like him by becoming man and delivered herself up to death to save him, she loves him as her brother, her friend, her disciple, her pupil, the price of her blood, and the co-heir of her kingdom; so that an infinite violence is done to her when the heart of a man is refused or torn from her.

1. The Love Letter of Eternal Wisdom

65. This eternal and supremely lovable beauty has so great a desire for the friendship of men that she has written a book expressly to win it, revealing to him her perfections and the desires she has for him. This book is like a letter from a lover to her beloved, to win his affection. The desires she expresses therein for the heart of man are so eager, the overtures she makes for his friendship are so tender, her invitations and her wishes are so loving, that to hear her speak you would say that she is not the Sovereign of heaven and earth and that she needs man to be happy.

66. Now, to find man, she runs along the highways; now she climbs to the summit of the highest mountains; now she comes to the gates of the cities; now she enters even the public squares, into the midst of assemblies, crying as loudly as she can: "O viri, ad vos clamito, et vox mea ad filios hominum: O men! O children of men! it is to you that I have been crying out for so long; it is to you that my voice is addressed; it is you that I desire; it is you that I seek; it is you that I call upon. Listen, come to me; I wish to make you happy."

And, to draw them powerfully, she says to them: "It is through me and through my grace that kings reign, that princes command, and that potentates and monarchs bear the scepter and the crown. It is I who inspire legislators with the knowledge to draft good laws for governing states, and who give magistrates the strength to exercise justice equitably and without fear.

67. I love those who love me, and whoever seeks me diligently will find me, and, finding me, will find an abundance of all goods. For riches, glory, honors, dignities, solid pleasures, and true virtues are with me; and it is incomparably better for a man to possess me than to possess all the gold and silver in the world, all the gems and all the goods of the whole universe. I lead those who come to me by the ways of justice and prudence, and I enrich them with the possession of true goods, to the full measure of their desires. And be assured that my sweetest pleasures and my dearest delights are to converse and to dwell with the children of men. [cf. Prov 8:31]

68. Now therefore, my children, listen to me. Blessed are those who keep my ways. Hear my instructions, be wise, and do not reject them. Happy is the one who listens to me, who watches every day at the entrance of my house and who stands at my door.

He who finds me will find life, and he will draw salvation from the goodness of the Lord. But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All those who hate me love death. [Prov 8:32-36]

69. After all these most tender and engaging words to attract the friendship of men, she still fears that because of her marvelous radiance and her sovereign majesty they may not dare, out of respect, to approach her.

That is why she has them told that she is easy to approach; that she lets herself be seen readily by those who love her; that she anticipates those who desire her; that she shows herself to them first, and that he who rises early in the morning to seek her will have little trouble finding her, for he will find her seated at his door, waiting for him. [Wis 6:13b-15]

2. The Incarnation, Death, and the Eucharist

70. Finally, Eternal Wisdom, to draw closer to men and to show them her love more palpably, went so far as to become man, to become a child, to become poor, and to die for them upon the cross.

How many times she cried out when she lived on earth: "Come to me, come all of you to me; it is I, do not fear; why are you afraid? I am like you; I love you. Is it because you are sinners? Why, it is sinners I seek; I am the friend of sinners. Is it because you have strayed from the fold through your own fault? Why, I am the Good Shepherd. Is it because you are laden with sins, covered with filth, overcome with sadness? Why, that is precisely why you should come to me; for I will relieve you, I will cleanse you, I will console you."

71. Wishing on the one hand to show his love for man by dying in his place in order to save him, and on the other hand unable to bring himself to leave man, he finds an admirable secret for dying and living at the same time, and for remaining with man until the end of the ages: it is the loving invention of the Eucharist; and to succeed in satisfying his love in this mystery, he does not hesitate to change and overturn all of nature.

He does not hide himself beneath the brilliance of a diamond or other precious stone, because he does not wish merely to dwell outwardly with man; but he hides himself beneath the appearance of a little piece of bread, which is the proper food of man, so that, being eaten by man, he might enter even into his heart to take his delight there: Ardenter amantium hoc est. "O Eternal Wisdom," says a saint, "O God truly prodigal of himself out of his desire for man!"

3. The Ingratitude of Those Who Refuse

72. If we are not moved by the eager desires, the loving overtures, and the tokens of friendship of this lovable Wisdom, how great is our hardness and our ingratitude?

But if, instead of listening to her, we close our ears; if, instead of seeking her, we flee from her; if, instead of honoring and loving her, we despise and offend her, how great is our cruelty, and what will our punishment be, even in this world! "Those," says the Holy Spirit, "who did not trouble themselves to acquire Wisdom not only fell into ignorance of good, but also left to men a record of their folly, so that their faults could not remain hidden: Sapientiam enim praetereuntes, non tantum in hoc lapsi sunt ut ignorarent bona, sed et insipientiae suae reliquerunt hominibus memoriam, ut in his quae peccaverunt, nec latere potuissent." Wis 10. [Wis 10:8]

Three misfortunes, during this life, await those who do not trouble themselves to acquire Wisdom; they fall: 1. into ignorance and blindness; 2. into folly; 3. into scandal and sin.

But what is their misfortune at death, when, against their will, they hear Wisdom reproach them: "I called, and you refused. I reached out my arms to you all the day long, and you despised me; I waited for you, seated at your door, and you did not come to me. Ego quoque in interitu vestro ridebo et subsannabo vos: And I in turn will mock you; I have no more ears to hear your cries, nor eyes to see your tears, nor a heart to be touched by your sobs, nor hands to give you help."

But what will their misfortune be in hell! Read what the Holy Spirit himself has said of the misfortunes, the laments, the regrets, and the despair of the foolish in hell, who recognize too late their folly and their misery for having despised the Wisdom of God. Talia dixerunt in inferno. Wis 5:14: They begin to speak wisely, but it is in hell.

4. Conclusion

73. Let us therefore desire and seek divine Wisdom alone. Cuncta quae desiderantur, huic et non valent comparari; and in another place: Omne desiderabile ei non potest comparari, Prov 8: Nothing that can be desired compares with Wisdom. Thus, whatever gifts of God, whatever heavenly treasures you may desire, if you do not desire Wisdom, you desire something less than she.

Ah! if we knew what this infinite treasure of Wisdom made for man really is — for I confess that I have said nothing of it — we would sigh for her day and night: we would fly with speed to the ends of the earth, and we would pass with joy through fires and over razor blades, if need be, to merit her.

But we must take care not to be deceived in our choice of wisdom, for there are several kinds.