Vigils Reading – Bl Ogier of Locedio

THE CONTAINER

OF ALL VIRTUES

From a sermon by Blessed Ogier of Locedio

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For a long time I have been impelled by a work of love: it was the desire to

create a work on the Word of God. I realize that I am thoroughly unworthy of

this, and yet I find that I am filled with the sweetness of the heavenly honey

which the heavens dropped down from the face of God on Sinai. And behold in

order to be able to fulfill my desires, I am presented with this exquisite vase, this

container of all virtues, this vessel of election, wherein the fullness of the

divinity came to dwell. Yes, this is the golden vessel, the solid vessel, adorned

with all precious jewels, charged with life, with eternal blessedness, filled with

myrrh, aloes and balm and every possible scent; a vessel adorned with ivory and

gems of sapphire, containing Him Who is both the Alpha and the Omega, the

Beginning and the End.

I wish to speak of that beautiful Virgin who gave to the world its Creator.

She is worthy of being praised by every mouth even though they are not worthy

to praise her. But I must acknowledge to all who may take up my writings that I

am not worthy to praise her, and even unworthy to pronounce her name.

Nevertheless even this realization does not stop me, for the ardor of heart

springs forth to compensate and it neither can nor should restrain from praising

her whom the angels and archangels and all the heavenly choirs praise as being

the one who gave to the world its Creator, the author of all things, by becoming

His mother.

For charity draws me to this, love finds satiety, and the benefit which will

come to myself impels me. Let my tongue cleave to my pallet if I do not

remember her; if I do not place her immediately after her Son as the source of

my joy; in order that she may be mindful of me on the day of Jerusalem, that she

may become my repose in the time of tribulation, and that I may be borne to the

people in those arms which held her own Son. For this reason with praise I am

going to praise her all the days of my life; I am going to sing her praises as long

as I live. May my words be pleasing to her and in her I will take my delight.

May He enable me to accomplish this which He has inspired in me, Jesus

Christ her Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy

Spirit through all ages.