The next category of contemplative vision is beholding. 2 Corinthians 3:18
which was occasionally connected with the examples of looking at Jesus now
becomes foundational for beholding. Both this text and the principle of beholding
Christ were highly significant for Bernard as well, though Ambrose does not quote
him directly in this regard.^214 Thomas White likewise defines contemplation as
“beholding of the face of God.”^215 Ambrose also believes that “contemplative faith
behold[s] Christ.”^216 He combines the themes of imitation and beholding when he
asserts “we must fix our eyes on Jesus for our imitation ... We are changed by
beholding ... how should this but stirre up my soule to be like Jesus Christ?”^217 Again
the importance of the transforming sight of Jesus’ glory becomes evident as Ambrose
refers to 2 Corinthians 3:18 and asserts, “[t]he very beholding of Christ hath a mighty
conforming and assimilating vertue to leave the impressions of glory upon our
spirits.”^218 Once again in one of the conforming sections Ambrose invites his readers
to focus their “spiritual eyes” on Jesus so that they might be transformed into his
image:
Let us look fixedly on Jesus Christ, let us keep our spiritual eyes still on the
patterne, untill we feel our selves conforming to it.... Indeed the manner of
this working may be secret, and insensible, yet if we follow on, we shall feele
it in the issue; the beholding of Christ is a powerful beholding; there is a
changing, transforming vertue goes of Christ... Sight works upon the
imagination in bruit creatures... and imagination work[s] a real change in
nature.^219
This reinforces the general principle that people are changed by beholding the object
upon which they contemplate. Christ’s glory, the glory of heaven is so radiant and
(^214) See for example Bernard, (^) SCC (^) 12.11; 24.5; 25.5; 36.6; 57.11; 62.5, 7; 67.8; 69.7.
(^215) White, Method of Divine Meditation, 4.
(^216) Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 23.
(^217) Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 121. cf. McGee, “Conversion and Imitation of
Christ,” 28 218 - 33 for the Puritan understanding of imitation of Christ.
219 Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 815-6.^
example of “mystical” beholding. “Puritan Meditative Tradition,” 198 Ambrose, Looking Unto Jesus, 526. Chan describes this specific passage as an -9.