Simplex Sigillum Veri

In S. Peter’s Church in Leyden, Holland, there is a monument in black-and-white marble to Herman Boerhaave, who died in Leyden in 1738. He was an internationally distinguished botanist and physician, and is regarded as the founder of modern clinical teaching.

His monument bears a medallion showing his likeness, and his motto Simplex sigillum veri.

I’m sure that there are those who would disagree with those words; but the more I think about them, the more I believe that they are a good starting point for our spiritual lives – ‘simplicity is the sign of truth’.

God’s truth is simple : and the more complex discussion and explanation of it gets, the more scope there is for confusion and error . . . as recent years (and perhaps particularly the consderation of discussion of the teachings of Vatican II) have so amply shown.

I offer you M. Boerhaave’s motto for consideration.