Tibi dixit. The work of the 'third day' in the third feria.

Published byClaudio CampesatoPublished in: Without category
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Originally, the introit of this Second Sunday of Lent was sung at the third feria of the Second Week of Lent (Tuesday). The theologian's eye did not fail to notice the insistence on the number πŸ‘ that appeared in almost the entire celebration: on the liturgical day (III feria), in the triads of words (π‘£π‘’π‘™π‘‘π‘’π‘š/π‘“π‘Žπ‘π‘–π‘’π‘š), in the Reading(de tercio regnum, today 1 Sam 17, 14), in the modality (III mode of the Introit) and even in the neumatic figures (tristrofe). For William of Auxerre there is an explanation:

"π‘‡π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘π‘–π‘Ž π‘“π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘Ž 𝑒𝑠𝑑 𝑑𝑒 π‘œπ‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘’ π‘‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘π‘–π‘’ 𝑑𝑖𝑒𝑖"

(The Tuesday of the second week of Lent narrates the work of the third day)

That is, when "God said, 'Let the waters that are under the heavens gather together in one place and let the dry appear. [...] "Let the earth bring forth shoots, herbs that produce seed, and fruit trees that bear fruit on the earth with seed, each according to its kind. [And it was evening and it was morning, the third day" (Gen 1:9-13).

But when does the land bear fruit? Again William writes:

"π»π‘œπ‘ 𝑓𝑖𝑑, π‘žπ‘’π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘œ β„Žπ‘œπ‘šπ‘œ π‘›π‘œπ‘› π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘‘ 𝑑𝑒 π‘£π‘œπ‘™π‘’π‘π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘π‘’π‘  π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘›π‘–π‘  𝑒𝑑 π‘–π‘’π‘–π‘’π‘›π‘Žπ‘‘"

(The earth bears fruit when man does not focus his concerns on the pleasures of the flesh and fasts)

Man is invited to a detachment from earthly foods, the gifts of the fruitful earth, through that authentic fasting which is only possible by diligently (loving) God through the exercise of charity. Indeed: "per caritatem fit ieiunium laudabile" (it is through charity that fasting can be worthy of praise).

𝐄 π₯'𝐒𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐒𝐭𝐨 Tibi dixit?

This is the image of the correct direction to take in the time of Lent, when we are invited to genuine penance. The heart rises up from earthly realities to seek God alone, the only remedy that frees us from suffocating worries. Moreover, the Gospel of that third feria proclaimed: "nolite solliciti esse (Lk 12, 11)". (do not worry) and our William commented:

"π‘ π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘–π‘π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘’ 𝑠𝑐𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑒ffπ‘œπ‘π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘π‘’. 𝑆𝑒𝑑 π‘ π‘œπ‘™π‘™π‘–π‘π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘’ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘£π‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘–π‘’ π‘π‘œπ‘ π‘ π‘’π‘šπ‘’π‘  𝑒𝑑 π‘‘π‘’π‘π‘’π‘šπ‘’π‘ 

(Worry is stifling but we can and must prefer providence instead).

And he concludes by saying:

"πΌπ‘‘π‘’π‘œ π‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘  𝑒𝑠𝑑: '𝑑𝑖𝑏𝑖 𝑑𝑖π‘₯𝑖𝑑 π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘šπ‘’π‘’π‘š'"

(That is why the introit is: To you my heart said).


Only by seeking the face of God in living charity and trusting in providence, then, can man overcome the anxieties that suffocate him and find in Him the only life-giving breath.

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