Sermon Fragment, “Wisdom will Strengthen the Wise”
Opuscula IV - Sermons, Liturgical Works
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Sapientia confortabit sapientem
Wisdom Will Strengthen the Wise
SapientFratris Thomae de Aquino
Friar Thomas AquinasThe fragment here is the prothema (prologue) to the sermon; it is possibly authentic, but there remains some doubt on the question of its authenticity.
SapientEccl. 7, 20
Ecclesiastes 7:20
SapientSapientia confortabit sapientem.
Wisdom will strengthen the wise.
SapientVerbum istud scriptum est in Ecclesiastico.The Latin text is taken from “Trois exordes inédits de sermons de S. Thomas d'Aquin,” ed. A. Gardeil, in Revue thomiste 1.3 (July 1893): 380. Per quod intelligitur quod tam sapiens praedicator quam etiam auditor indiget sapientia. Unumquodque enim indiget vegetari per nutrimentum sibi conveniens.
That word is written in Ecclesiastes. Through it, it is to be understood that the wise preacher, just as much as the wise hearer, is in need of wisdom. For both the preacher and the hearer need to be refreshed by the sustenance that is fitting to each.
SapientNutrimentum autem ipsius animae est documentum Sacrae Scripturae. Oportet igitur confortari intellectum praedicatoris ad imprimendum cordibus auditorum documentum doctrinae fortiter.
But the sustenance of the soul itself is the instruction of Sacred Scripture. Therefore, the intellect of the preacher must be strengthened so that he may impress strongly the instruction of this teaching upon the hearts of those who hear him.
SapientEt oportet intellectum auditorum confortari ad audiendum et retinendum memoriter. Divina autem sapientia non est stabilis in corde hominis nisi fortiter imprimatur et bene retineatur.
Likewise, the intellect of those who hear must be strengthened so that they may hear and keep fast the teaching in their memory. Indeed, divine wisdom is not established in the heart of man unless it is impressed strongly and well kept.
SapientEgo, atutem, non sum idoneus ad imprimendum vobis istam sapientiam sicut decet, sed dicit beatus Iacobus: si quis indiget sapientia postulet eam a Domino qui dat omnibus affluenter et non improperat.
I myself, however, am incapable of impressing on you that wisdom as it ought to be, but the blessed James says, if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask for it of the Lord, who gives to all men abundantly and does not upbraid (Jas 1:5).
SapientUnde debemus invocare Dominum et rogare ipsum ut det mihi sapientiam suam quam possim exprimere et vobis imprimere et vobisLeonine: vos. eam retinere, ita quod cedat ad eius gloriam et honorem et ad salutem animarum nostrarum.
Hence, we ought to call upon the Lord and ask him that he may give to me his own wisdom, so that I can then express it and impress it in you and so that you can keep it. May it so come to pass, for his glory and honor and for the salvation of our souls.
Sapient