Chapter VIII.

Of the mystical feast of the altar of the Lord. Lest any should think lightly of it, St. Ambrose shows that it is of higher antiquity than the sacred rites of the Jews, since it was foreshadowed in the sacrifice of Melchisedech, and far better than the manna, as being the Body of Christ.

43. The cleansed people, rich with these adornments, hastens to the altar of Christ, saying: “I will go to the altar of God, to God Who maketh glad my youth;”56    Ps. xliii. [xlii.] 4. for having laid aside the slough of ancient error, renewed with an eagle’s youth, it hastens to approach that heavenly feast. It comes, and seeing the holy altar arranged, cries out: “Thou hast prepared a table in my sight.” David introduces the people as speaking, where he says: “The Lord feedeth me, and nothing shall be wanting to me, in a place of good pasture hath He placed me. He hath led me forth by the water of refreshment.” And later: “For though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death, I will fear no evils, for Thou art with me. Thy rod and Thy staff have comforted me. Thou hast prepared in my sight a table against them that trouble me. Thou hast anointed my head with oil, and Thy inebriating cup, how excellent it is!”57    Ps. xxiii. [xxii.] 1–5. After being baptized and confirmed in the baptistery, which was detached from the church, the newly “enlightened” were led in solemn procession into the church to be present at the celebration of the Mysteries, and to receive their first communion.

44. We must now pay attention, lest perchance any one seeing that what is visible (for things which are invisible cannot be seen nor comprehended by human eyes), should say, “God rained down manna and rained down quails upon the Jews,”58    Ex. xvi. 13. but for the Church beloved of Him the things which He has prepared are those of which it is said: “That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love Him.”59    1 Cor. ii. 9. So, lest any one should say this, we will take great pains to prove that the sacraments of the Church are both more ancient than those of the synagogue, and more excellent than the manna.

45. The lesson of Genesis just read shows that they are more ancient, for the synagogue took its origin from the law of Moses. But Abraham was far earlier, who, after conquering the enemy, and recovering his own nephew, as he was enjoying his victory, was met by Melchisedech, who brought forth those things which Abraham reverently received. It was not Abraham who brought them forth, but Melchisedech, who is introduced without father, without mother, having neither beginning of days, nor ending, but like the Son of God, of Whom Paul says to the Hebrews: “that He remaineth a priest for ever,” Who in the Latin version is called King of righteousness and King of peace.

46. Do you recognize Who that is? Can a man be king of righteousness, when himself he can hardly be righteous? Can he be king of peace, when he can hardly be peaceable? He it is Who is without mother according to His Godhead, for He was begotten of God the Father, of one substance with the Father; without a father according to His Incarnation, for He was born of a Virgin; having neither beginning nor end, for He is the beginning and end of all things, the first and the last. The sacrament, then, which you received is the gift not of man but of God, brought forth by Him Who blessed Abraham the father of faith, whose grace and deeds we admire.

47. We have proved the sacraments of the Church to be the more ancient, now recognize that they are superior. In very truth it is a marvellous thing that God rained manna on the fathers, and fed them with daily food from heaven; so that it is said, “So man did eat angels’ food.”60    Ps. lxxxviii. [lxxxvii.] 25. But yet all those who ate that food died in the wilderness, but that food which you receive, that living Bread which came down from heaven, furnishes the substance of eternal life; and whosoever shall eat of this Bread shall never die, and it is the Body of Christ.

49. Now consider whether the bread of angels be more excellent or the Flesh of Christ, which is indeed the body of life. That manna came from heaven, this is above the heavens; that was of heaven, this is of the Lord of the heavens; that was liable to corruption, if kept a second day, this is far from all corruption, for whosoever shall taste it holily shall not be able to feel corruption. For them water flowed from the rock, for you Blood flowed from Christ; water satisfied them for a time, the Blood satiates you for eternity. The Jew drinks and thirsts again, you after drinking will be beyond the power of thirsting; that was in a shadow, this is in truth.

49. If that which you so wonder at is but shadow, how great must that be whose very shadow you wonder at. See now what happened in the case of the fathers was shadow: “They drank, it is said, of that Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were done in a figure concerning us.”61    1 Cor. x. 4. You recognize now which are the more excellent, for light is better than shadow, truth than a figure, the Body of its Giver than the manna from heaven.

CAPUT VIII.

De mystico Dominici altaris convivio: quod ne quispiam minoris faciat, ostenditur Synagogae sacris antiquius esse; cum in sacrificio Melchisedech expressum fuerit: ipso autem manna longe praestantius, cum sit corpus Christi; ac inter utrumque perelegans comparatio instituitur.

0403B 43. His abluta plebs dives insignibus, ad Christi contendit altaria, dicens: Et introibo ad altare Dei, ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam (Psal. XLII, 4); depositis enim inveterati erroris exuviis, renovata in aquilae juventute, coeleste illud festinat adire convivium. Venit igitur, et videns sacrosanctum altare compositum, exclamans ait: Parasti in conspectu meo mensam. Hanc loquentem inducit David dicens: Dominus pascit me, et nihil mihi deerit: in loco pascuae ibi me collocavit. Super aquam refectionis educavit me (Psal. XXII, 1, 2). Et infra: Nam etsi ambulem in medio umbrae mortis, non timebo mala; quoniam tu mecum es. Virga tua et baculus tuus, ipsa me consolata sunt. Parasti in conspectu meo mensam 337 adversus eos qui tribulant me. Impinguasti in oleo caput 0403C meum, et poculum tuum inebrians quam praeclarum est!

44. Nunc illud consideremus, ne quis forte visibilia videns (quoniam quae sunt invisibilia, non videntur, nec possunt humanis oculis comprehendi) dicat forte: Judaeis Deus manna pluit, pluit coturnices (Exod. XVI, 13): Ecclesiae autem illi dilectae haec sunt quae praeparavit; de quibus dictum est: Quod oculus non vidit, nec auris audivit, nec in cor hominis ascendit, quae praeparavit Deus diligentibus eum 0404A (I Cor. II, 9). Ergo ne quis hoc dicat, summo studio volumus comprobare quod et antiquiora sunt sacramenta Ecclesiae quam Synagogae, et praestantiora quam manna est.

45. Antiquiora docet lectio Genesis quae decursa est (Gen. XIV, 18); Synagoga enim ex lege Moysi principium sumpsit (Exod. XXXIV, 1 et seq.): Abraham vero longe anterior, qui victis hostibus, et nepote proprio recepto. cum potiretur victoria; tunc illi occurrit Melchisedech, et protulit ea quae Abraham veneratus accepit. Non Abraham protulit, sed Melchisedech; qui inducitur sine patre, sine matre, neque initium dierum, neque finem habens, similis autem Filio Dei: de quo ait Paulus ad Hebraeos: Quia manet sacerdos in perpetuum (Hebr. VII et seq.); 0404B qui interpretatione Latina dicitur rex justitiae, rex pacis.

46. Non agnoscis quis iste sit? Potest homo esse rex justitiae, cum ipse vix justus sit? Potest esse rex pacis, cum vix possit esse pacificus? Sine matre secundum divinitatem; quia ex Patre Deo genitus est, unius substantiae cum Patre: sine patre secundum incarnationem, qui natus ex Virgine est: initium et finem non habens, quia ipse est initium et finis omnium, primus et novissimus. Non igitur humani, sed divini est muneris sacramentum quod accepisti, ab eo prolatum qui benedixit fidei patrem Abraham, illum cujus gratiam et gesta miraris.

47. Probatum est antiquiora esse Ecclesiae sacramenta, nunc cognosce potiora. Revera (De Consec. 0404C dist. 2, c. Revera) mirabile est quod manna Deus pluerit patribus, et quotidiano coeli pascebantur alimento. Unde dictum est: Panem angelorum manducavit homo (Psal. LXXVII, 25). Sed tamen panem illum qui manducaverunt, omnes in deserto mortui sunt: ista autem esca quam accipis, iste panis vivus qui descendit de coelo, vitae aeternae substantiam subministrat; et quicumque hunc manducaverit, non morietur in aeternum: et est corpus Christi.

48. Considera nunc (De Consec. dist. 2, c. Revera, 0405A § Considera) utrum praestantior sit panis angelorum, an caro Christi, quae utique corpus est vitae. Manna illud e coelo, hoc supra coelum; illud coeli, hoc Domini coelorum: illud corruptioni obnoxium, si in diem alterum servaretur; hoc alienum ab omni corruptione, 338 quod quicumque religiose gustaverit, corruptionem sentire non poterit. Illis aqua de petra fluxit (Exod. XVII, 6), tibi sanguis e Christo (Joan. VI, 55 et seq.): illos ad horam satiavit aqua, te sanguis diluit in aeternum. Judaeus bibit, et sitit: tu cum biberis, sitire non poteris: et illud in umbra, hoc in veritate.

49. Si illud quod miraris, umbra est; quantum istud est, cujus et umbram miraris! Audi quia umbra est quae apud patres facta est: Bibebant, inquit, 0405B de consequenti eos petra: petra autem erat Christus. Sed non in pluribus eorum complacitum est Deo; nam prostrati sunt in deserto (I Cor. X, 4, 5). Haec autem in figura facta sunt nostra. Cognovisti praestantiora; potior est enim lux quam umbra, veritas quam figura, corpus auctoris quam manna de coelo.