Commentary Par XXXII 76-84

Making clear what was latent in lines 40-48, Bernard now details the 'history of grace' for babies, at first their parents' love for Christ to come, then circumcision, and finally (in the age of Christ) baptism.

For the first two of these, see St. Thomas (ST III, q. 70, a. 4), cited by Bosco/Reggio (DDP Bosco.Par.XXXII.76-78): 'Ante institutionem circumcisionis fides Christi futuri iustificabat tam pueros quam adultos' (Before the institution of circumcision, faith in Christ to come justified both little children and adults).  Bosco/Reggio go on to point out that Thomas (ST III, q. 70, a. 2) also holds that Original Sin is passed along through males alone (though it affects all, since our race cannot rely on matrilineal parthenogenesis), which accounts for the emphasis on male circumcision in the second tercet of this passage.  However, the rules became more stringent once Christ came, with baptism now mandatory for the salvation of the innocent.