Chapter VIII.
The change of the moon teaches the instability of things: but it is shamefully expressed in our morals. It represents the mystery of Christ and the Church: which those who believe can be taken from the sky by magical chants, are to be ridiculed.
31. So if you wonder how the moon can undergo changes, even though it has such a powerful capacity for transformation, consider this great mystery: by her example you come to know, O man, that there is nothing of human and worldly nature, nothing in the entire created order, that does not at some point dissolve. For even the moon, to whom the Lord entrusted the duty of illuminating the world, waxes and wanes. For everything that has come into existence from nothing and has attained perfection will ultimately diminish once more. Heaven and earth will pass away. Why then do we not adopt moderation, so as not to lose heart in adversity? For the One who made everything out of nothing is also capable of easily raising you to the highest and most perfect state. Likewise, let us not become arrogant in prosperity, nor boast in any power or wealth, nor take pride in physical strength or beauty, for they are susceptible to corruption and frequent change. Let us instead seek to maintain the grace of the soul, which endures into the future. For if the setting of the moon saddens you, which always repairs and transforms itself; much more should it sadden you if your soul, having been filled with the progress of virtue, afterwards frequently changes its pursuits due to the fickleness of the mind and negligence, which is foolishness and ignorance. Hence the Scripture says: 'A fool is changed like the moon' (Ecclesiasticus 27:12). And therefore the wise man is not changed like the moon; but he will remain like the sun. Where the moon is not a partaker of folly; for the moon does not change like a fool, but the fool changes like the moon. Indeed, the seed of the righteous remains perfect like the eternal moon, and is a faithful witness in the sky. For it is one thing to serve by duty, another to be carried by talent, and to not have a fixed opinion due to the weakness of the senses. The moon labors for you, and is subject to the will of God. For vanity, the creature is subject not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it in hope. Therefore, she is not changed willingly: you are changed willingly. She groans and endures in her own change: you do not understand, and you often rejoice. She frequently awaits your redemption, so that she may be freed from the common servitude of all creation: you bring hindrance to both your redemption and her liberty. Therefore, it is your, not her, foolishness that while you wait and do not convert, she is still changing.
32. Therefore, do not estimate the moon with the eye of your body, but with the vivacity of your mind. The moon diminishes in order to fill the elements. This is truly a great mystery. It was given to him who has given grace to all. He emptied it in order to fill the one who also emptied himself, in order to fill all. For he emptied himself in order to descend to us; he descended to us in order to ascend to all. For, as it is written, 'He ascended above all heavens in order to fill all things' (Ephesians 4:10). Therefore, he who came in emptiness filled the apostles with his fullness. Hence one of them says: For from his fullness we have all received (John 1:16). Therefore, the moon announced the mystery of Christ. Not insignificant is the sign that he placed: not insignificant is the symbol that the beloved Church possesses, which the Prophet signifies when he says: righteousness and abundance of peace will arise in his days, until the moon is taken away (Psalm 72:7). And in the Song of Songs, the Lord says of his bride: Who is she that looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun (Song of Songs 6:9)? And fittingly is the Church fair as the moon, which has shone forth in the whole world, and, illuminating the darkness of this age, says: The night has gone, the day has come near (Romans 13:12). Well does he say, Looking forth, as if looking down upon his own from on high, as you have: The Lord looked down from heaven on the sons of men (Psalm 14:2). Therefore, looking at the Church, just as the moon has frequent waxings and wanings: but it has grown through its defects, and has deserved to be enlarged by them, while it is diminished by persecutions and crowned by the martyrdoms of confessors. This is the true moon, which borrows perpetual light of eternal life and grace from the light of its brother. For the Church shines not by its own, but by the light of Christ; and it draws its splendor from the sun of righteousness, so that it may say: I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). Truly blessed are you, who have deserved such a great honor! I would call you blessed not because of your own merits, but because of the Church's designation. For in those servants, you are loved; in this, you are cherished.
33. How ridiculous it is, however, that people mostly believe that you can be led by magic spells! Those are old women's tales and popular beliefs. For who would think that the work of God can be tested by Chaldean superstitions? It is a mistake for someone to transform themselves into an angel of light and be led by their own will, not by the power of spells. Certainly, you also seem to think that you can be led away from your place and station as if you were the Church. The Church is multi-tentacled: but the spells of sorcery cannot harm it. The enchanters are powerless where the song of Christ is sung daily. It has its own enchanter, the Lord Jesus, through whom he has disarmed the enchanting spells of the magicians and expelled the venom of the serpents. And just as the exalted serpent devours the serpents of the Egyptians, so the deadly spell, though it may mutter, is rendered powerless in the name of Christ. Thus Paul not only blinded the magician Elymas with the infirmity of his sorcery, but also deprived him of sight. Thus Peter, by a high flight of magic, brought down and overthrew Simon seeking the heights of heaven, his power of incantations being dissolved.