Last rites declaration of Ioannes Paulus PP. II (Karol Wojtyla)
2nd April 2005
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seeing it, and interpret it without understanding it, what
must we think but that here is a cipher with a double meaning, and the more
so if we find obvious contradictions in the literal meaning? The prophets
have clearly said that Israel would be always loved by God and that the law
would be eternal; and they have said that their meaning would not be
understood and that it was veiled.
How greatly, then, ought we to value those who interpret the cipher and
teach us to understand the hidden meaning, especially if the principles
which they educe are perfectly clear and natural! This is what Jesus Christ
did, and the Apostles. They broke the seal; He rent the veil, and revealed
the spirit. They have taught us through this that the enemies of man are his
passions; that the Redeemer would be spiritual, and His reign spiritual;
that there would be two advents, one in lowliness to humble the proud, the
other in glory to exalt the humble; that Jesus Christ would be both God and
man.
679. Types.--Jesus Christ opened their mind to understand the Scriptures.
Two great revelations are these. (1) All things happened to them in types:
vere Israelitae, vere liberi, true bread from Heaven. (2) A God humbled to
the Cross. It was necessary that Christ should suffer in order to enter into
glory, "that He should destroy death through death." Two advents.
680. Types.--When once this secret is disclosed, it is impossible not to see
it. Let us read the Old Testament in this light, and let us see if the
sacrifices were real; if the fatherhood of Abraham was the true cause of the
friendship of God; and if the promised land was the true place of rest. No.
They are therefore types. Let us in the same way examine all those ordained
ceremonies, all those commandments which are not of charity, and w