Father Noel Alexandre's Literal and Moral Commentary on Romans Chapter 11

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Translated by Qwen.  At present this post only contains the literal commentary .   Rom 11:1. "I say then: Has God cast away His people?" The Apostle anticipates an objection. Has God, on account of the unbelief and obstinacy of the Jews foretold by the Prophets, rendered void the promises made to Abraham? Has He utterly rejected, despised, and cast aside His people, so previously beloved? Has He decreed that they should not be partakers in Christ of the promised blessings? By no means! Far be it! This does not follow from what Isaiah foretold and what we now see fulfilled. "For I also am an Israelite, not of proselytes added [to the nation], but of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin, the last and least of all; and yet I have not been cast away by God, but called to the grace of the Gospel and made a partaker of the promises, nay, even chosen by Christ for the apostleship and the preaching of the Gospel." Rom 11:2. "God has not cast away His people...
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Denis the Carthusian's Anagogical Commentary on Psalm 1

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EXPOSITION OF THE SAME FIRST PSALM ACCORDING TO AN ANAGOGICAL UNDERSTANDING

Moreover, this psalm can be interpreted anagogically, and so, it can be said that holy men or angels might be described as comprehenders or the Blessed in the homeland (heaven), so that we may know from the exposition of this psalm what we ought to hope for from them.

Therefore, Scripture says: "Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked." Here, "man" does not refer to gender but to the strength of the heart. Angels are said not to have walked in the counsel of the wicked because they did not consent to the counsel of Lucifer and the fallen angels. Likewise, none of the blessed humans followed the counsel of the wicked, remaining in it until the end, but they departed from this life in a good disposition.

Thus, "Blessed is the man" refers to every chosen one, strong in virtues, whether human or angelic, now happily enjoying God, who did not walk in the counsel of the wicked, that is, the fallen angels or the wicked humans. "Nor stood in the way of sinners" means that they did not sin with Lucifer and the other rebels against God, by pridefully striving against the Creator or presumptuously and rashly seeking His likeness. "Nor sat in the seat of pestilence" means that they did not lead others into sin, as Lucifer and the corrupters of their neighbors did.

"But his will is in the law of the Lord." This applies perfectly to all the Blessed in heaven because they fulfill the commandment of loving God perfectly and are wholly turned to Him with their entire affection and always cling to Him immovably. "And on His law, he meditates day and night" refers to the eternal state, which includes all time, as they continuously consider how to stand reverently before God, obey promptly, and maintain their order in all things.

"And he will be like a tree," etc. Every Blessed one, already enjoying God, is well compared to a tree planted beside streams of water, for they are inebriated by the torrent of divine delight and thus bear abundant fruit, because they are continually occupied with the most holy actions and never idle or barren, but eternally remain in the continuous contemplation and love of Divinity. "And his leaf will not wither," meaning the praise with which he honors God will never cease. "And everything he does will prosper," that is, everything is unfailingly ordered to the divine honor, and no adversity can befall them, but they are united to God in perpetual security.

"Not so the wicked, not so," refers to both fallen angels and unjust humans, meaning they are not blessed as the angels and holy humans mentioned before. Instead, "they are like chaff which the wind drives away from the face of the earth." For the evil angels were cast out of heaven immediately after they sinned, as the Savior said in the Gospel: "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven" (Luke 10:18). And Isaiah says: "How have you fallen, O Lucifer, who arose in the morning?" (Isaiah 14:12). Therefore, "the wicked will not rise in judgment," for demons do not repent and are obstinate in evil, as are all the damned. They do not rise from their wicked will in the judgment of discretion, reflecting on and correcting themselves.

"For the Lord knows the way of the just." All the actions of the Blessed in heaven are always most pleasing and acceptable to God. "But the way of the wicked will perish." The desire of the fallen angels was an inordinate striving to ascend to the likeness of God. But this path, or such pride, will perish, for they will never attain what they desired to achieve.

Moreover, we also hope to attain this blessedness of the elect in the homeland (heaven), if we do what they did as much as we can, namely by not walking in the counsel of the wicked, nor standing in the way of sinners, nor sitting in the seat of pestilence.

PREFACE

O God, the author of all good things, fill us, we beseech You, with Your grace, so that our will may always be directed by Your law. May we, inspired by You, meditate on it day and night, so that we may merit to receive the fruit of eternal happiness.

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