Tuesday, October 9, 2007

On the Fate of Origen

From Jean Leclercq's The Love of Learning and the Desire for God: A Study of Monastic Culture (pp 95-6):
A curious document reveals the anxiety which was felt over not only the orthodoxy of Origen's doctrine but for his personal salvation as well. The nun Elizabeth of Schonau (+1164) tells us that one Christmas night, during a vision, she asked the Virgin Mary about this, at the instigation of her brother Egbert of Schonau, a Benedictine.
In accordance with the counsel I received from my brother who at that very moment was celebrating the office at our convent, I addressed her in this fashion: "My Lady, I beg of you, kindly reveal to me something concering the great doctor of the Church, Origen, who in so many places in his works has sung your praises so magnificently. Is he saved or not? For the Catholic Church condemns him because of the many heresies found in his writings." To which she answered in these words: "It is not the Lord's intention that muchg be revealed to you at this point. Know only that Origen's error did not come from bad will; it came from the excess of fervour with which he plunged into the depths of the Holy Scriptures he loved, and the divine mysteries which he was wont to scrutinize to an excessive degree. For this reason, the punishment he is undergoing is not severe. And because of the glory his writings have given me, he is illuminated by a very special light on each feast commemorating me. As for what will happen to him on the last day, that must not be revealed to you, but must remain hidden among the divine secrets.

2 comments:

Ann Murray said...

This is interesting indeed. Egbert was obviously dismayed that the Church felt moved to condemn as heresies the writings of Origen, whom he looked up to. Egbert's concern for Origen's salvation is touching and his sister's love for him is clearly declared by her asking for answers on his behalf from none other than Our Lady. I think Our Lady's response is very consoling and yet at the same time it contains a gentle rebuke, tempered with love. The description of the happenings on feastdays is quite fascinating.

Boeciana said...

spoooky, I have that book out of the library right now...