[Rationale divinorum officiorum]

from obstructing those who are outside, or from closing the exit. A valve original: "Valua" is said to be from rolling Latin: "voluendo". A gate original: "Porta" is from carrying Latin: "portando", because whatever is offered is carried through it. The columns of the church are the bishops and doctors, who spiritually support the temple of God through doctrine, just as the evangelists support the throne of God. Indeed, for the sonority of the divine eloquence, they are called silver columns, according to that in the Song of Songs: "He made silver columns." Whence also Moses, at the entrance of the tabernacle, placed five columns, and before the oracle, that is, the holy of holies, four, which will be explained in the sixth part under the title on the time of Advent. Although there may be many columns, they are said to be seven, according to that: "Wisdom has built herself a house and has hewn out seven columns," because bishops ought to be filled with the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit. For James and John, as the Apostle says, seemed to be columns. The bases of the columns are the apostolic bishops, supporting the structure of the universal church. The capitals of the columns are the minds of the bishops and doctors; for just as the head directs the members, so their mind directs our words and works. The capitals original: "Capitella" are also the words of Holy Scripture, to whose mediation and observance we are subjected. The pavement of the church is the foundation of our faith. In the spiritual church, however, the pavement is the poor of Christ, namely, the poor in spirit, who humble themselves in all things; wherefore, because of their humility, they are likened to the pavement. Again, the pavement which is trodden by the feet is the common people, by whose labors the church is sustained. The beams which join the house are the princes or priests of the world, who fortify the unity of the church. Those are made by these words. The reclineries original: "Reclinatoria" in the church signify the contemplatives in whom God rests without offense, who, because they contemplate the supreme divinity and the clarity of eternal life, are compared to gold. Whence in the Song of Songs: "He made a golden reclinery." The rafters original: "Tigna" in the church are the preachers who spiritually lift it up. The ceilings original: "Laquearia" are the preachers, because they adorn or strengthen it; of them, because they do not rot through vices, the bride boasts in the same Song of Songs, saying, "The rafters of our houses are cedar, our ceilings are cypress." For God built the church for Himself from living stones and incorruptible woods, according to that: "King Solomon made a litter for himself from the woods of Lebanon," that is, Christ from saints white with chastity. Concerning this, it will be said otherwise under the title on paintings. The chancel, that is, the head of the church, is lower than the rest of the body of the church; it mystifies how much humility there should be in the clergy or a prelate, according to that: "The greater you are, the more you humble yourself in all things." The chancels, however, by which the altar is divided from the choir, signify the separation of celestial things from earthly ones. Concerning the chancel or the railing surrounding the choir, it will be said under the title on paintings. The stall for sitting in the choir designates that the body must be refreshed at times, because that which lacks alternate rest is not durable. The pulpit in the church is the life of the perfect; and because it is as if public, or established in a public place. Indeed, it is read in 2 Chronicles 7 that Solomon made a bronze base, placing it in the

middle of the basilica, and he stood upon it and, extending his hand, spoke to the people of God. He also made a wooden step for speaking, in which, standing, he was prominent above the whole people. It is also called an analogion a reading desk because the word of God is read and announced in it; for logos is said in Greek for word or reason. It is also called an ambo a pulpit from ambiendo surrounding, because it surrounds and encloses the one speaking; concerning this, it will be said in the fourth part under the title on the Gospel. The clock, through which the hours are read, that is, collected, signifies the diligence that priests ought to have in saying the canonical hours at the due time, according to that: "Seven times in the day I have said praise to thee." The roof tiles, which repel rain from the house, are the soldiers who protect the church from pagans and enemies. The spirals original: "Coclee", the model of which is taken from Solomon's temple, are the ways winding secretly through the wall, through which we secretly receive the knowledge of individuals, which only those who know the grade of celestial things perceive. Concerning the steps through which one ascends to the altar, it will be said in its own title. The sacristy, or the place in which sacred things are stored, or in which the priest puts on sacred vestments, signifies the womb of the most sacred Mary, in which Christ clothed Himself in the sacred vestment of flesh. The priest proceeds from the place in which he puts on his vestments to the public, just as Christ, proceeding from the womb of the Virgin, came into the world. The place of the bishop's throne is higher than the church, as will be said in the second part under the treatise on the bishop. Near the altar, which signifies Christ, there is also placed a pool or laver, that is, the mercy of Christ, in which hands are washed, to note that in baptism and penance, which are signified by that, we are washed from the filth of sins; which is drawn from the Old Testament. For it is read in Exodus 30 and 40 that Moses made a bronze laver with its base in the tabernacle, in which the priest Aaron and his sons would wash, about to approach the altar to offer incense in it. The light which is kindled in the church signifies Christ, according to that: "I am the light of the world," and John: "He was the true light," etc. Or the luminaries of the church signify the apostles and other doctors, by whose doctrine the church shines like the sun and the moon, concerning whom the Lord says: "You are the light of the world," that is, examples of good works. Whence, admonishing them, He says: "Let your light shine before men." But the church is illuminated at the command of the Lord. Whence it is read in Exodus 27: "Command the sons of Aaron that they offer the purest oil of olive trees, so that the lamp may burn always in the tabernacle of the testimony," concerning which it will be said in the following part on the acolyte. Moses also made seven lamps, which are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, which illuminate the darkness of our blindness in the night of this world; they are placed upon candlesticks because the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and fortitude, the spirit of knowledge and piety, and the spirit of the fear of the Lord rested upon Christ, through whom He preached indulgence to captives. The plurality of lamps in the church designates the plurality of graces in the faithful. The triumphal cross is placed in many places in the middle of the church, to note that we love our Redeemer from the middle of our heart, who, according to Solomon, constructed His body in the middle...