Bonaventure

In his own words on Habakkuk

• Habakkuk 2:4

  It should be noted that the Church was placed in paradise, like the first man, "to till it," in such a way that no one would say "that anything he possessed" was "his own." For it began in a state of great perfection that is observed today in the religious life, for the love of Christ was still recent, and in those days "a large number also of the priests accepted the faith." This Church, meaning the one that began with the Jews, because they were converted at one time by the three thousand, and at another, by the five thousand, possessed the "tree of life," that is, faith, because "My just one lives by faith." It also had the "tree of knowledge," that is, the Law, which remained with them for seeing and reading, and not for eating. Much more: for "the day you eat of it, you must die." And so you may see the tree of knowledge, but not eat of it, or else you would destroy what Christ had done; and death would necessarily come in, for "the letter kills." Hence Paul says: "I, Paul, tell you that if you be circumcised, Christ will be of no advantage to you."

  Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 16

• Habakkuk 3:2

  And so Christ is the center of the two animating spirits, as is the heart. Hence Habakkuk: "In the midst of the two animals Thou shalt make it known." And according to a different translation, "in the midst of the years," as is the Sun: for the sum total of time runs on according to the ten steps in the dial of Achaz. According to the Septuagint, Christ was in between the animated beings that preceded Him and those that followed Him.

  Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 1

• Habakkuk 3:2

  The third origin of the fear of the Lord is from the consideration of the severity of divine vengeance. Whence in Habakkuk: "Lord, I have heard your report and was afraid." He says: "I have heard your report and was afraid," namely, that report when it shall be said: "Depart, you cursed, into eternal fire." Not only in the day of tribulation or severity of the last judgment, but of any other judgment whatsoever, because the judgments of God are many.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2

• Habakkuk 3:4

  This fortitude is from God redeeming through the incarnation of the divine Word. By what is the soul redeemed? It is said in Habakkuk: "His splendor shall be as the light; horns are in his hands; there his fortitude is hidden." For "the weakness of God is stronger than men." The Son of God was made weak for our sake.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5

• Habakkuk 3:11

  The fourth anagogy is a reference to the Church Triumphant which is also signified by the sun, in a passage from Habacuc: "The sun and the moon stood still in their habitation," that is, when the soul and the body are glorified. "They go about in the brilliance of many arrows," because of the swiftness of what they do by the lightning-fast power of God.

  Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 13

• Habakkuk 3:11

  As indeed a cloud rises aloft in order that it may rain down, so does Christ ascend in order that He may grant His gifts. The sun has been lifted up, and the moon remained in its shelter. For at first He had given the Holy Spirit to the world in a secret way, but He did it manifestly after He had ascended on high, for this Holy Spirit was the cleansing, enlightening, and perfecting Hierarch, and the Holy Spirit came down into the heavenly and sub-heavenly hierarchies.

  Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 3

• Habakkuk 3:16

  The third origin of the fear of the Lord is from the consideration of the severity of divine vengeance. Whence in Habakkuk: "Lord, I have heard your report and was afraid. I heard, and my belly was troubled; at the voice my lips trembled. Let rottenness enter into my bones and swarm beneath me, that I may rest in the day of tribulation." He says: "Let rottenness enter into my bones, and let it swarm beneath me, that I may rest in the day of tribulation." Not only in the day of tribulation or severity of the last judgment, but of any other judgment whatsoever, because the judgments of God are many.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2

• Habakkuk 3:19

  "Upon the heights he will lead me, the conqueror, singing in psalms." Let us beseech our Lord Jesus Christ, that he through his mercy may deign so to lead and govern us in this mortal life, that we may obtain the gifts of the Holy Spirit and arrive at that ineffable joy.

  Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 5