Wisdom 9:15 Douay-Rheims

For the corruptible body is a load upon the soul, and the earthly habitation presseth down the mind that museth upon many things.

Leo the Great

c. A.D. 400–461 Patristic

Then the Lord says, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." The earth has been promised to the gentle and the meek, the humble and the modest, those willing to put up with every kind of injury. And one should not think that this inheritance is small or to be disdained, as if it were something distinct from our heavenly dwelling, given that it is not said that anyone else will enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, the earth promised to the meek, and as a possession to the gentle, is the flesh of the saints, which will be transformed by a joyous resurrection on account of their humility and clothed with the glory of immortality. And it will no longer be opposed to the spirit in anything, finding the harmony of a perfect unity with the will of the soul. Then the exterior person will be the tranquil and uncontested possession of the interior. Then the mind that seeks to see God will no longer be impeded by human weakness. And it will no longer be necessary to say, "A corruptible body weighs down the soul, and the earthy tent burdens the mind with many thoughts," since the earth will no longer oppose itself to its inhabitant, nor will it try to do anything not under the control of the one who governs it. "The meek will inherit it" with an endless peace, and their title will never in any way fail, since "this corruptible body will be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body will be clothed with immortality." What was a danger will be changed into a reward, and what was a burden will become an honor.

Source details
A.D. 461 · on Wis 9:15 (SERMONS 95:5)

Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.

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