ST. NICODEMUS
HE was by sect a Pharisee, and passed for a master
and doctor in Israel even when he was ignorant of the truths of
eternal life. He seems to have been a senator of Jerusalem; for he is
called a Jewish chief. The Pharisees were in general, by their pride,
the most opposite of all others to the humility of the gospel. St.
Nicodemus was an exception, and believed in Christ.1 At first,
something of a secret opinion of his own wisdom and learning, which
it is so hard and so rare a thing for men to be perfectly divested of
seems to have been an obstacle to his opening his heart perfectly to
the grace of his conversion. To humble him, Christ explained to him
the mystery of regeneration by baptism, which Saint Nicodemus did not
understand, though it was expressed in the prophets. Our merciful
Redeemer reproached him for his ignorance. St. Nicodemus, far from
being offended at the reproof, received it with such humility, and
was so confounded within himself, that perfecting these dispositions,
Christ conducted him into the paths of true virtue. He returned to
Jesus from time to time; defended him openly against the Pharisees,2
assisted at his burial, and embalmed his sacred body with rich
spices.3 Having been turned out of the synagogue by the Jews for
believing in Christ, he retired to St. Gamaliel at his country house,
and died there, as St. Austin4 and Photius testify from the Acts of
the Invention of St. Stephen’s relics.
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