THEOSISGregory the Great
He has stripped me of my honor and taken the crown from my head Job 19:9. ALLEGORICAL INTERPRETATION. It is evident that this pertains directly to the holy spouse amid suffering; yet, while the historical context of the words is straightforward and needs no clarification, their deeper spiritual significance must be examined. Observe, he states, You have taken away my honor. The honor of a man is his righteousness. Just as a garment safeguards one from the cold, righteousness also shields from death; therefore, it is fitting to liken righteousness to a garment, as expressed by the prophet: Your priests will be adorned with righteousness Psalms 131:9.
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However, in times of trial for the Holy Church, these garments of righteousness, which protect her before God, are often lost by those members who falter. Thus, it can accurately be asserted, I have removed my honor, meaning righteousness has departed from the weak. Righteousness, however, could never truly be lost if it had taken root in their hearts; it could only be removed if it was merely an external covering. This raises the question: how can those who lose their perceived adherence to righteousness still be regarded as members of the Holy Church? It is essential to recognize that often, righteousness may be temporarily withdrawn from feeble members, but upon their return to repentance and confession, they are restored to the very righteousness they had forfeited, and with a strength greater than before the loss. Additionally, He has taken the crown from my head. The head represents the source of all the body's parts, and the inner person's leading aspect is embodied in the mind. The crown signifies the reward of victory, given from Above, so that the established may be recognized and supported. Many within the Holy Church, under the strain of hardship, fail to endure, resulting in the loss of the ‘crown from the head.’ The crown signifies the reward of the mind bestowed from Above; many, overwhelmed by trials, fail to grasp the promise of future rewards and thus cannot attain the fulfillment of victory. In those who have had ‘the crown taken from their head,’ the heavenly spiritual reward is forfeited by losing sight of the mind’s purpose. They cease to be humble and abandon the eternal rewards that once resided in their hearts. Alternatively, the ‘head’ of believers may rightly refer to the priests, as they serve as the foundation for the Church's members. Hence the prophet designates them as ‘head and tail,’ where ‘head’ refers to the priests and ‘tail’ to the forsaken. Consequently, ‘the crown is taken from the head’ when the heavenly reward is withheld from those who appeared to lead in the Church. It is common, especially when leaders stumble, that their followers suffer the gravest consequences. Therefore, following a description of the calamities faced by leaders and the significant afflictions endured by the Church, the text continues: