Since in the Laurentian manuscripts just praised, and in the Göttweig codex, this sermon is adorned with the name of Saint Maximus, but on the contrary in those same codices of Saint Peter, of the Vallicellani, of the Lateran, and of Monte Cassino (no. 115, p. 185) it is ascribed to Saint Augustine; and since it is placed by the Maurists in the appendix to the Sermons of Saint Augustine (no. 231), and in the Bibliotheca Maxima Patrum (vol. VI, p. 675, ed. 1677) it is attributed to Eusebius, bishop of Gaul; let it be permitted us to place it in the appendix. Rightly do they keep the feasts of the Church who acknowledge themselves to be sons of the Church. For she is the mother of all believers, who regenerates those born unto death for salvation, through whom Christ restores more into grace than was lost in nature.
And from God she took up into the adoption of divine fatherhood the degenerate offspring of the transgressor, and makes those disinherited of heaven again heirs. This is she who was called after the Synagogue, yet promised before the Synagogue. For she was already prefigured in the first man. For as Eve was fashioned from the side of Adam, so from the body and wound of Christ the redeemed Church grew. She, preserved within the ark while the flood overflowed, prefigured the benefit of the cross and the mystery of baptism. She, as Sarah barren and despaired of, foreknew herself made fruitful in old age by a single pledge. For the Church brought forth an only, that is, a most beloved people of God when the age was already growing old. This is that queen of whom it is said by David:
'The queen stood at thy right hand in gilded clothing, surrounded with variety' (Ps. 44); that is, encompassed with the precious adornment of diverse virtues. This is that queen who came from the regions of Ethiopia to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Behold, she gathered not so much from one region as from all parts of the world, coming to seek kings. As the Evangelist also records (Matt. 12): 'The Queen of the South came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.' The Church came to her Redeemer and instructor, that from the folly of error she might receive the doctrine of truth, of which, as we have heard, the history of Kings writes more fully, saying:
'And the queen of Sheba entered Jerusalem with a great retinue and with riches, with camels carrying spices, and gold exceedingly beyond measure, and precious stones' (1 Kings 10). She came to Solomon and spoke to him all that she had in her heart. Therefore in the figure of that queen the Church came from among the nations from the ends of the earth, putting an end to earthly desires and vices, to hear the wisdom of Solomon, that is, of the peaceful man, our Lord Jesus Christ, who made both one, dissolving the enmities between Him and man in His flesh. She came, after her old and profane superstitions, to hear and learn concerning the illumination of faith, the judgment to come, the immortality of the soul, the hope of reward and glory.
She came therefore into Jerusalem with a great retinue, that is, not now with only one nation of the Jews, as before the Synagogue had only the Hebrews, but with the nations and diverse peoples of the whole world. She came therefore bringing gifts worthy of Christ, gold and precious stones, and this on camels carrying them, that is, coming from the gentile people, who before had been twisted by the foulness of vices, and deformed by the burdens of evils and the depravity of sins. With these, as with gifts, this queen enters in to the peaceful king Christ, bringing with her the gold of faith, the incense of purity, the splendors of precious stones, namely the distinguished ornaments of the virtues.
And she spoke to him all that she had in her heart, that is, she opened her heart to him, made manifest to him the secrets of her conscience in the confession and repentance of former sins. Let us see what this queen does. Seeing, I say, the Queen of Sheba all the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built, and the food of his table, and the holocausts which he offered in the house of the Lord, she had no more spirit in her (1 Kings 10). What reason was there that so powerful a queen should so greatly marvel at the house, the expenses, and the royal foods? Therefore in this place we ought to inquire after something greater.
The Church, therefore, gathered from the nations, sees the wisdom of Christ, that is, after the carnal ordinances of the gentiles, after the human and animal doctrine of the philosophers, she received the understanding of salvation, and beheld the way of spiritual goods for life. She acknowledged the true maker of heaven and earth, the most mighty founder of the human race, of whose wisdom it is said: 'Thou hast ordered all things in measure, and weight, and number' (Wis. 11). She saw also the house that he had built, that is, the incarnation of the man assumed, of whom the Apostle says: 'In whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily' (Col. 2). She saw also the foods of Solomon, that is, such as those of which he was speaking:
'My food is to do the will of the Father who sent me' (John 4). Christ's food is our salvation. He is refreshed by heavenly feasts, by our progress. We are His food, when we, acquired to the Church, pass over into His members, His body; or His saving food is the heavenly sacraments, of which it is said: 'He gave them the bread of heaven, man ate the bread of angels' (Ps. 77). She saw also his holocausts, that is, without doubt the ministries of prayers and supplications, and she was astounded when she saw the inestimable riches of her lord; and she said to the king:
'True is the word which I heard in my own land concerning thy words and concerning thy wisdom, and I did not believe those who told me until I myself came and saw with my own eyes, and I proved that not the half had been told me; thy wisdom and thy works are greater than the report which I heard' (1 Kings 10). When therefore this queen, whether the Church, or any purified soul, shall have arrived at the eternal Jerusalem, that is, the vision of peace, and shall have entered into the blessed rest and glory of the heavenly promises, she shall behold far more and more magnificent things than were announced to her on this earth through the sacred words, through the prophets and apostles.
For now we see as through a mirror and in an enigma, but then she shall see with her own eyes, that is, face to face. When, I say, each faithful and holy soul, in that garment filled with the fruits of good works, shall have been presented to the divine gaze, offering herself as an example, bringing to her God things worthy of heaven.
and about to prevail heaven, bringing manifold gifts, gems of mercy, pearls of justice, the merits of divers fragrances, that is, the spices of compunction and the sweet-smelling balsams of chastity, bringing, as I said, gold exceedingly beyond measure, that is, restoring to the Redeemer whole within herself, at an inestimable and holy price, by the spiritual offerings of heart and body—pleasing to Him, that she may, being fit to be inserted among the heavenly wonders, take up the voice of prophetic exultation: 'I will go into thy house with holocausts' (Ps. 65). Then the blessed and illustrious soul, beholding within the stupendous rewards which she sees appointed for the living, will be able to use to God the ineffable words of this queen, saying:
'True is the word which I heard in my own land concerning thy words; thy works are greater than the report which I heard.' This is to say: O Lord, concerning thy rewards I presumed indeed to hope for great things, but I have received greater; the multitude of thy sweetness manifestly surpasses, more than I perceive, the greatness of my thought. The effect surpasses the expectation of my sense, and truly that which God prepares for those who love Him is not comprehended by faith, not attained by hope, not grasped by charity, and transcends desires and prayers. It can be acquired; it cannot be estimated. Man shall see his merits grow with the inseparable bounty of the rewards. He shall have fruit from the receiving; he shall not have loathing from the satiety.