Saints as Stars
The extended symbolic comparison of saints to stars. The firmament is the Holy Church; the sun is Christ, the moon is the Blessed Virgin, the fixed stars are the saints who receive their light from Christ. Saints are like stars: they dwell in heaven in mind, appear small through humility; the higher they are, the humbler. They shine always because they shine from God and for God alone. Bernard: "merely to shine is vain, merely to burn is little, to burn and to shine is perfect."
Chapter I (The Six Days of Creation)
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Verse 16: And God Made Two Great Lights
— The firmament is the Holy Church; the sun is Christ, the moon is the Blessed Virgin, the fixed stars are the saints who receive their light from Christ.
"the firmament is the Holy Church, which is the pillar and ground of truth, as the Apostle says, 1 Timothy 3:15, in which the sun is Christ, the moon is the Blessed Virgin, the fixed stars are the other Saints, who receive their light from Christ as from the sun."
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Verse 16: And God Made Two Great Lights
— Saints are like stars: they dwell in heaven in mind, appear small through humility; the higher they are, the humbler. Stars teach us patience (Augustine).
"the stars, although they are larger than the whole earth, nevertheless appear small because of their distance and loftiness; and the higher they are, the smaller they seem: so the Saints are humble, and the holier they are, the humbler they are."
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Verse 16: And God Made Two Great Lights
— Saints shine always like stars because they shine from God and for God alone; unlike candles fed by tallow (human motives), their light does not go out.
"the Saints shine always like the stars, because they shine from God, and for God Himself: for they strive to please God alone, and to spread God's honor."
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Verse 16: And God Made Two Great Lights
— The light of the stars gives warmth; so Saints inflame with charity. Bernard: "merely to shine is vain, merely to burn is little, to burn and to shine is perfect."
"to burn and to shine is perfect."
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Verse 16: And God Made Two Great Lights
— In heavenly glory saints will shine like stars (Dan 12:3); on earth they hide their virtues, showing only the light of their works while concealing their person.
"Those who are learned," he says, "will shine like the splendor of the firmament, and those who instruct many to justice, like stars for all eternity."