"Accordingly, there are two books, one written within, and that is [inscribed by] God's eternal Art and Wisdom; the other written without, and that is the perceptible world"
— St. Bonaventure [born Giovanni di Fidanza] (1217-1274)
Work Title
Date
1257
Metaphor
"Accordingly, there are two books, one written within, and that is [inscribed by] God's eternal Art and Wisdom; the other written without, and that is the perceptible world"
Metaphor in Context
2. This should be understood as follows. The first Principle created this perceptible world as a means of self-revelation so that, like a mirror of God or a divine footprint, it might lead man to love and praise his Creator. Accordingly, there are two books, one written within, and that is [inscribed by] God's eternal Art and Wisdom; the other written without, and that is the perceptible world.
Now, there existed a creature, the angel, whose inner perception was fitted to the understanding of the inner book. There existed another, the brute animal, whose perception was entirely external. To complete creation it was suitable that there should be made yet another creature whose twofold perception would be fitted to the understanding of both the inner and the outer books: that of Wisdom, and that of its work. And since, in Christ, eternal Wisdom and its work coexist within a single Person, He is called the Book written within and without for the restoration of the world. To every faculty of perception, there corresponds a motion. Hence, man is moved in two ways: by a rational propensity in the mind, and by a sensual instinct in the flesh. If these are to be well ordered, the first must command and the second obey, otherwise the natural order is subverted and the soul falls from its position of authority.
(II.10.2)
Now, there existed a creature, the angel, whose inner perception was fitted to the understanding of the inner book. There existed another, the brute animal, whose perception was entirely external. To complete creation it was suitable that there should be made yet another creature whose twofold perception would be fitted to the understanding of both the inner and the outer books: that of Wisdom, and that of its work. And since, in Christ, eternal Wisdom and its work coexist within a single Person, He is called the Book written within and without for the restoration of the world. To every faculty of perception, there corresponds a motion. Hence, man is moved in two ways: by a rational propensity in the mind, and by a sensual instinct in the flesh. If these are to be well ordered, the first must command and the second obey, otherwise the natural order is subverted and the soul falls from its position of authority.
(II.10.2)
Categories
Provenance
Reading Curtius European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages (321)
Citation
St. Bonaventure, The Breviloquium (Paterson, NJ) <Link to http://www.catholic.uz/>
Date of Entry
04/24/2005
Date of Review
01/13/2011
