Christ Chasing the Moneylenders from the Temple
Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione
1645-55
Oil on canvas, 100 x 124 cm
Musée du Louvre, Paris
Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)
From: Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
The Spring in the Temple
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[1] Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. [2] Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me round on the outside to the outer gate, that faces toward the east; and the water was coming out on the south side.
[8] And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah; and when it enters the stagnant waters of the sea, the water will become fresh [9] And wherever the rivers goes every living creature which swarms will live, and there will be very many fish; for this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes.
[12] And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”
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Commentary:
47:1-12. The vision of the spring flowing from the southern end of the temple and ending up in the Dead Sea revitalizing everything it meets on its way, is one of the most striking images in the book. Its content is reminiscent of the Vision of the bones (37:1-14): there, it was the Spirit that gave life to the dry bones; here, the water refreshes the dead waters The image of the river reminds one of how in paradise (Gen 2:10-14) the four branches of the river make the whole garden beautiful; here, a single river actually gives life. Although the vision contains references to actual places, such as the oasis of En-gedi (v. 10), the Dead Sea or the Arabah, it is symbolic and what it shows is that the renewal of the temple and its worship will bring all sorts of advantages to the whole people.
There is an echo of this vision in the New Testament in the words of Jesus recorded by St John: “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water” (Jn 7:37). Early Christian tradition links this text of St John with Ezekiel’s vision, seeing in the spring in the temple the waters of Baptism that flow from Christ who is life, or from Christ’s side on the altar of the cross: We go down to the water’s edge steeped in our sins and impurity, and we walk out of the water, our hearts filled with grace, fear of the Lord and hope in Jesus” ("Epistula Barnabae" 11, 10).
St. Benignus is said not only to have assisted in compiling the great Irish code of Laws, but also that he contributed materials for the “Psalter of Cashel”, and the “Book of Rights”. He was present at the synod, which passed the canon recognizing the “See of the Apostle Peter” as the final court of appeal in difficult cases; this canon is to be found in the Book of Armagh.
In Cavan, he established a monastery in today’s Drumbannon, and also in today’s Kilbonane. In Easter of 433, St. Patrick clashed with King Laoghaire at Tara over Religion, and legend has it that a trial by fire was proposed. A Pagan and St. Benignus were tied inside a burning timber building; the Pagan was reduced to ash while St. Benignus was untouched. At this point, Christian teaching was established throughout the region. St. Benignus resigned his coadjutorship in 467, and died at the end of that same year.
St. Benignus was a close friend and disciple of St. Patrick. He was his coadjutor Bishop, and helped him to catechize the region. He assisted in compiling the great Irish code of Laws, and was present at the synod, which passed the canon recognizing the “See of the Apostle Peter”. His loyalty to our Church was unwavering, even going through a “Trial by Fire” where he and a pagan were tied inside a burning timber building; the pagan perished and he was untouched. This won for him the honor to prove that religion was the right way to go for their country, and he and St. Patrick converted the entire region.