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Translated by Bl. Jackson.
St Basil the Great Resources Online and in Print
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80 Pages (Homilies: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
Page 57
10. See again another evident proof of its greatness. Although the heaven may be full of stars without number, the light contributed by them all could not disperse the gloom of night. The sun alone, from the time that it appeared on the horizon, while it was still expected and had not yet risen completely above the earth, dispersed the darkness, outshone the stars, dissolved and diffused the air, which was hitherto thick and condensed over our heads, and produced thus the morning breeze and the dew which in fine weather streams over the earth. Could the earth with such a wide extent be lighted up entirely in one moment if an immense disc were not pouring forth its light over it? Recognise here the wisdom of the Artificer. See how He made the heat of the sun proportionate to this distance. Its heat is so regulated that it neither consumes the earth by excess, nor lets it grow cold and sterile by defect.
To all this the properties of the moon are near akin; she, too, has an immense body, whose splendour only yields to that of the sun. Our eyes, however, do not always see her in her full size. Now she presents a perfectly rounded disc, now when diminished and lessened she shows a deficiency on one side. When waxing she is shadowed on one side, and when she is waning another side is hidden. Now it is not without a secret reason of the divine Maker of the universe, that the moon appears from time to time under such different forms. It presents a striking example of our nature. Nothing is stable in man; here from nothingness he raises himself to perfection; there after having hasted to put forth his strength to attain his full greatness he suddenly is subject to gradual deterioration, and is destroyed by diminution. Thus, the sight of the moon, making us think of the rapid vicissitudes of human things, ought to teach us not to pride ourselves on the good things of this life, and not to glory in our power, not to be carried away by uncertain riches, to despise our flesh which is subject to change, and to take care of the soul, for its good is unmoved. If you cannot behold without sadness the moon losing its splendour by gradual and imperceptible decrease, how much more distressed should you be at the sight of a soul, who, after having possessed virtue, loses its beauty by neglect, and does not remain constant to its affections, but is agitated and constantly changes because its purposes are unstable. What Scripture says is very true, "As for a fool he changeth as the moon." [1597]
I believe also that the variations of the moon do not take place without exerting great influence upon the organization of animals and of all living things. This is because bodies are differently disposed at its waxing and waning. When she wanes they lose their density and become void. When she waxes and is approaching her fulness they appear to fill themselves at the same time with her, thanks to an imperceptible moisture that she emits mixed with heat, which penetrates everywhere. [1598] For proof, see how those who sleep under the moon feel abundant moisture filling their heads; [1599] see how fresh meat is quickly turned under the action of the moon; [1600] see the brain of animals, the moistest part of marine animals, the pith of trees. Evidently the moon must be, as Scripture says, of enormous size and power to make all nature thus participate in her changes.
[1597] Ecclus. xxvii. 11.
[1598] cf. Alcman (ap. Plut., Sympos. iii. 10) who calls the dew Dios thugater kai Selanas; and Plutarch himself in loc. Virg., Georg. iii. 337, "Roscida Luna," and Statius, Theb. i. 336: "Iamque per emeriti surgens confinia Phoebi Titanis, late mundo subvecta silenti Rorifera gelidum tenuaverat aera biga."
[1599] The baleful influence of "iracunda Diana" (Hor., De Art. Poet. 454) is an early belief, not yet extinct. cf. the term seleniasmos for epilepsy, and "lunaticus" for the "moonstruck" madman. Vide Cass., Quaest. Med. xxv. 1. Perowne on Ps. cxxi. 6 notes, "De Wette refers to Andersen's Eastern Travels in proof that this opinion is commonly entertained. Delitzsch mentions having heard from Texas that the consequence of sleeping in the open air, when the moon was shining, was mental aberration, dizziness, and even death." "Dass auch der Mond in heller Nacht dem ohne gehoerigen Schutz Schlafenden schaden koenne ist allgemeine Meinung des Orients und der koehlen Naechte wegen leicht moeglich. Vgl. Carne Leben und Sitten im Morgenl.'" Ewald, Dichter des A.B. ii. 266.
[1600] A fact, however explained. Plutarch (Sympos. Prob. iii. 10) discusses the question Dia ti ta krea sepetai mallon hupo ten selenen e ton helion, and refers the decomposition to the moistening influence of the moon. "Air, moisture, and a certain degree of warmth, are necessary to the decay of animal bodies...where moisture continues present--even though warmth and air be in a great measure excluded--decay still slowly takes place." J. F. W. Johnston, Chemistry of Common Life, ii. 273.
Reference address : https://www.elpenor.org/basil/hexaemeron.asp?pg=57
