Meditation 41
The Eastern Quarter of the Tetramorph
The eastern quarter of the Tetramorph is
under the protection of the watchful eyes of the archangel Michael. The
name of Michael means “Who is like God.” He carries the cross as his
insignia – the instrument of the passion. He lets his trumpet sound in
the eastern quarter as the Israelites did when they went to war,
Michael is always in the front line in the warfare against the masters of darkness and in the mystical theology the almond tree is the tree of Michael. After her struggle and spiritual warfare with the evil spirits in the air in the prayer of inner recollection at the bronze laver, God leads the soul into the first stage of the infused prayer when she scrutinize the mystery of the Second veil of the Sanctuary. Thus she is raised above the turbulent sea of the senses in order to fly into the Holy on the two wings of love, these two wings exposed on the gateway into the courtyard (Med. 24). Or by the words of the ancient fathers of the Icelandic church,
The Lion is the standard of arms in this eastern quarter and it is known both for its strength and watchfulness against approaching danger. The watchfulness itself is a clear indication of the fact that the spiritual senses have become activated in the live of grace and the almond tree proclaims the watchfulness,
The Hebrews named the almond tree “The Watchful Tree” or sheqed and it was the announcer of spring as it bloomed first of all trees in spring. Thus it became also the symbol of the watchful eyes of God, “The Watchful One” or shoqet, His watchfulness over the Promised land.
The Holy spirit infuses the virtue of sobriety into the soul's heart here in order to make her able to discern the growth of the eternal Word within to enkindle her love still further. But He gives the soul also sobriety and watchfulness against Satan and his demons who tries by all the power of their cunnings to deceive her, because if the soul in question continues to walk this Sacred Way to glory she will become a real danger to them as a true soldier in the spiritual warfare.
The church fathers choose thus the almond as a symbol of the Blessed Virgin. Just as the seed of the almond grows within the almond, the Blessed Virgin carried the Son of God in her womb. It is here were the soul can rest in the shadow of the almond tree in the prayer of rest after her struggle in the courtyard, just as the bride in the Song of Songs (Sg 2. 3 ) as the almond tree is the Tree of life, the Cross.
It was the tribe of Judah which walked under the standard of the lion and thus the soul is secure as she attains some strength from God in this stage of the prayer as well as consolations. Later she will suffer much in her nature when the burning rays of grace become stronger and begin to bake her in the Seven days sun in the prayer of union.
But it is also here where she begins to learn to hide her track in the live of grace by learning from the wisdom of the lion which hides its track in the desert by sweeping the sand with its tail. Thus the backbiters in the spiritual world – the evil sprits in the air – find it not so easy as before to attack her from their hiding places in the caves of human presumptuousness.
The eastern quarter of the Tetramorph referred to the camp of Moses in the Divine Order of March in the Old Covenant (Med. 14) and it was Moses who lead his people out from the slavery of the Egyptians eastward: to the capital heading of life under the guidance of the ark. Moses lead his people thus to the freedom of the Promised land and here the soul halts in the prayer of rest in the live of grace as the priests did formerly in mid Jordan in order to scrutinize the twelve jewels of eternal life as exposed on the curtain of the Second entrance. In the New Covenant it is the Blessed Virgin who replaces the ark as the First Living ark of the New Covenant as discussed above (Med. 18). And just as the ark protected the Hebrews she revealed her protective role in the Militant Church on earth to the Aztec Juan Diego on the Tepeyac hill in Mexico on December 9th, 1531,
And she comes never alone to earth, but accompanied by her heavenly court and it is the Archangel Michael who is their leader. Thus we can recite with Pope Leo XIII,
When in your country you go to war against
the enemy who is oppressing you, you will sound trumpets with a battle
cry, and Yahweh your God will remember you, and you will be delivered
from your enemies (Nb 10. 9).
Michael is always in the front line in the warfare against the masters of darkness and in the mystical theology the almond tree is the tree of Michael. After her struggle and spiritual warfare with the evil spirits in the air in the prayer of inner recollection at the bronze laver, God leads the soul into the first stage of the infused prayer when she scrutinize the mystery of the Second veil of the Sanctuary. Thus she is raised above the turbulent sea of the senses in order to fly into the Holy on the two wings of love, these two wings exposed on the gateway into the courtyard (Med. 24). Or by the words of the ancient fathers of the Icelandic church,
Let us make two wings on our return home to
God. Let us love Him more than ourselves. The second wing is our love
for each other. No man can fly high above the earth on one wing. Thus
we shall both love God and men. Kindness and peace among us purifies
the mind and body, enkindles tranquility, perseverance and humbleness
and alertness against sins end all evil doings, repentance and
confession of sins, that is, everything which is worthy of heavenly
beatitude. [1]
The Lion is the standard of arms in this eastern quarter and it is known both for its strength and watchfulness against approaching danger. The watchfulness itself is a clear indication of the fact that the spiritual senses have become activated in the live of grace and the almond tree proclaims the watchfulness,
The word of Yahweh came to me, asking,
“Jeremiah, what do you see?” I answered, “I see the branch of the
Watchful tree [the almond tree].” Then Yahweh said, “Well seen, for I
am watching over my word to perform it” (Jer 1. 11, 12).
The Hebrews named the almond tree “The Watchful Tree” or sheqed and it was the announcer of spring as it bloomed first of all trees in spring. Thus it became also the symbol of the watchful eyes of God, “The Watchful One” or shoqet, His watchfulness over the Promised land.
The Holy spirit infuses the virtue of sobriety into the soul's heart here in order to make her able to discern the growth of the eternal Word within to enkindle her love still further. But He gives the soul also sobriety and watchfulness against Satan and his demons who tries by all the power of their cunnings to deceive her, because if the soul in question continues to walk this Sacred Way to glory she will become a real danger to them as a true soldier in the spiritual warfare.
The church fathers choose thus the almond as a symbol of the Blessed Virgin. Just as the seed of the almond grows within the almond, the Blessed Virgin carried the Son of God in her womb. It is here were the soul can rest in the shadow of the almond tree in the prayer of rest after her struggle in the courtyard, just as the bride in the Song of Songs (Sg 2. 3 ) as the almond tree is the Tree of life, the Cross.
It was the tribe of Judah which walked under the standard of the lion and thus the soul is secure as she attains some strength from God in this stage of the prayer as well as consolations. Later she will suffer much in her nature when the burning rays of grace become stronger and begin to bake her in the Seven days sun in the prayer of union.
But it is also here where she begins to learn to hide her track in the live of grace by learning from the wisdom of the lion which hides its track in the desert by sweeping the sand with its tail. Thus the backbiters in the spiritual world – the evil sprits in the air – find it not so easy as before to attack her from their hiding places in the caves of human presumptuousness.
The eastern quarter of the Tetramorph referred to the camp of Moses in the Divine Order of March in the Old Covenant (Med. 14) and it was Moses who lead his people out from the slavery of the Egyptians eastward: to the capital heading of life under the guidance of the ark. Moses lead his people thus to the freedom of the Promised land and here the soul halts in the prayer of rest in the live of grace as the priests did formerly in mid Jordan in order to scrutinize the twelve jewels of eternal life as exposed on the curtain of the Second entrance. In the New Covenant it is the Blessed Virgin who replaces the ark as the First Living ark of the New Covenant as discussed above (Med. 18). And just as the ark protected the Hebrews she revealed her protective role in the Militant Church on earth to the Aztec Juan Diego on the Tepeyac hill in Mexico on December 9th, 1531,
Dear little son, I love you. Know for
certain that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the
True God . . . Listen and let it penetrate your heart . . . Do not be
troubled or weighted down with grief. Do not fear any vexation, anxiety
or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow
and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the
folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else
you need. [2]
And she comes never alone to earth, but accompanied by her heavenly court and it is the Archangel Michael who is their leader. Thus we can recite with Pope Leo XIII,
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us
in battle; be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the
devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the
heavenly host, by the power of God, trust into hell Satan and the other
evil spirits who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.
[1]. The Book of
Homilies, pp. 26-27.
[2]. Words the Blessed Virgin spoke to Juan Diego on the 9th and 12th December 1531. The Wonder of Guadeloupe, p. 1.
[2]. Words the Blessed Virgin spoke to Juan Diego on the 9th and 12th December 1531. The Wonder of Guadeloupe, p. 1.
