Contemptus Mundi (Contempt of the World)
The deliberate rejection of worldly wealth, honors, and comforts in favor of devotion to God. Van der Burch's father did not increase the family fortune though he held the highest offices; Thomas More did not increase his income despite fifty years in public life; Basil declared radical indifference to worldly goods; Lapide was roused "to contempt for human things and desire for heavenly things."
Preliminaries
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TO THE MOST REVEREND AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD HENRY FRANCIS VAN DER BURCH, ARCHBISHOP AND DUKE OF CAMBRAI, PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, COUNT OF CAMBRAI.
— Van der Burch's father, though holding the highest offices for many years, "did not increase the family fortune, always intent on the public good."
"though he discharged these very great honors and offices for many years, in the course of which he might have amassed immense wealth, he did not increase the family fortune, always intent on the public good"
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TO THE MOST REVEREND AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD HENRY FRANCIS VAN DER BURCH, ARCHBISHOP AND DUKE OF CAMBRAI, PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, COUNT OF CAMBRAI.
— Thomas More spent fifty years in public life holding the highest offices yet did not increase his income to seventy gold pieces.
"that illustrious Chancellor of England and martyr, Blessed Thomas More, who, having spent fifty years in public life and holding the highest offices, yet did not increase his annual income to seventy gold pieces"
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TO THE MOST REVEREND AND MOST ILLUSTRIOUS LORD HENRY FRANCIS VAN DER BURCH, ARCHBISHOP AND DUKE OF CAMBRAI, PRINCE OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE, COUNT OF CAMBRAI.
— Basil's radical indifference to worldly goods in his confrontation with the Prefect.
"a man who has nothing is not subject to confiscation of goods — unless perhaps you need these tattered and worn-out rags of mine, and these few books, in which all my wealth and resources consist"
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THE LIFE OF CORNELIUS A LAPIDE.
— Lapide was roused "to contempt for human things and desire for heavenly things" by contemplation of eternity.
"by the unceasing contemplation of blessed eternity, he was so roused to contempt for human things and desire for heavenly things, that from that time forward he aimed at nothing other than the enduring will, praise, and glory of Christ"
Preface and Praise of Sacred Scripture
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Chapter I: On the Excellence, Necessity, and Fruit of Sacred Scripture
— Whose mind would not leap at the reading of heavenly goods in the Scriptures, so as to scorn and disdain these lowly goods?
"Whose mind would not leap at the reading of heavenly goods in the Scriptures, so as to scorn and disdain these lowly goods?"
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I. The Old Testament Establishes Faith
— From the hope of heavenly things one may trample all earthly things underfoot; "I walk on air and look down upon the sun."
"I ascend to the heavens; I despise this earth, nay heaven itself and the sun. I am enrolled as heir and lord not of earth, but of heaven"
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Chapter II: On the Object and Breadth of Sacred Scripture
— Bernard: these words persuaded the whole world to contempt of the world and voluntary poverty.
"These are the words that persuaded the whole world to contempt of the world and voluntary poverty"
Chapter I (The Six Days of Creation)
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Verse 16: And God Made Two Great Lights
— From the immense heavens, the earth is but a point; who for a particle of gold would sell the vast palaces of the stars? Spur to endure poverty, illness, and persecution for the sake of heaven.
"If then we were standing on some star, and much more if in the empyrean heaven, and looked down upon this little globe of earth, would we not exclaim: This is the point over which the sons of Adam gape, like ants"
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Verse 16: And God Made Two Great Lights
— St. Symphorian's mother encourages her son going to martyrdom: "Remember eternal life, look up to heaven; life is not taken from you, but changed for the better."
"My son, my son, remember eternal life, look up to heaven, and behold Him who reigns there: for life is not taken from you, but changed for the better."
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Verse 16: And God Made Two Great Lights
— St. Vincent raised his mind to heaven, conquering and laughing at all torments: "You tire yourself in vain, Dacian."
"You tire yourself in vain, Dacian: you cannot devise torments so horrible that I am not prepared to endure them. Prison, claws, red-hot plates, and death itself are sport and play for Christians, not torment"
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Verse 14: Let There Be Lights in the Firmament
— Temporal things are loved more before possessed but become cheap on arrival; eternal things are loved more ardently when attained than when desired.
"Between temporal and eternal things there is this difference, that temporal things are loved more before they are possessed, but become cheap when they arrive"