Introduction
Based on the thema, the simile between listening the word of God and a tent: “In sacra scriptura doctrine evangelice devote audite et auscultare tabernacula vocantur”. Soldiers build the tends for three reasons: “Et prima ratio est pre ardore solis et hoc causa refrigerandi. Secunda contra venti impetum pro securitate. Tertia contra pluvium protegendo” (f. r3v). Similarly, the doctrine of the Gospel, when listened carefully, protects from the ardent carnal passions (lust and greed), from the wind of temptations; from the deluge of worldly sin. Based of the discussion is Isaiah 4.6.
Division based on the Gospel pericope
Firts part
Brief explanation of the pericope. It underlines how Elijah was not dead but was in Eden waiting for the time of his preaching against the Antichrist. It recalls that, according to Luke, Jesus discussed with him and Moses about his Passion and how it is determined by God’s overabundant mercy. Two secrets (secreta): why the transfiguration; why there are these three disciples and two saints from the Old Testament. In general, a valid number of witnesses was required. In specific, the three apostles were the closest to Jesus: Peter was already the pope (“erat iam papa constitutus”); James the future first martyr; John was elected to take care of the Virgin and the beloved disciple. Why Moses between the patriarchs, and why Elijah and not Enoch? “Questio est insoluta […] doctrinas varias”. Among the various opinions, Ferrer takes the one in which they were those who did 40 days of fasting, so the Christians (we) need to fast during Lent so to experience the transfiguration on Easter by means of holy communion (eucharist): “In quo clare patet quantum placet deo sacrum hoc ieiunium quadragesime. Ideo debemus ieiunare quadragesimam, et in die Pasche erimus in transfiguratione, scilicet communicando et poterimus dicere cum apostolo Paulo: Nos autem omnes revelata facie gloriam dei, speculantes in eadem imaginem transformamur a claritate in claritatem tanquam a domini spiritu (2 Cor 3). Nota hic quomodo Christus Moyses et Helyas ieiunaverunt quadragesimam”. Jesus did a Lent in prayer; Moses in listening (applied to mass and preaching): and Elijah walking (applied to go to church and to acquire indulgence). They set a clear example: “Sic nos ad instar Christi debemus vacare orantionibus […] Secundo ad instar Moysi audire missas, sermones […] Tercio ad instar Helye ambulare et ieiunare itinerado […] hoc est visitando ecclesias, quia in omnibus sunt multe indulgentie, et post ire ad vesperas et in posterum in pascha eritis digni habere gloriam paradisi” (f. r4rv).
Second part
The placid acceptance (placida acceptio) – implies of the Passion – since he already foretasted heaven. Peter suggested three tents thinking of coupling the people in this way: Moses and John; Elijah and James, Jesus and Peter. A quite developed semi-dramatic section that imagines Moses back to the limbo where he announces what has happen (and so, the upcoming liberation), while Elijah goes back to Eden and speaks with Enoch, who ask also why he was not invited, with the answer that insists again on fasting: “O, cur ego non ivi? O, cur ego non fui?”. Tunc potuisset respondere: Quia non ieiunasti”.
Spiritual interpretation of why Jesus did not answer to Peter's request. If the Glossa says that it was an irrational question, Ferrer suggests a deeper meaning, namely that Peter was asking to enter into glory and what happens next indicates the five necessary stages of this journey: cloud = penance; voice of God = obedience; fall to the ground = fear; the approaching of Christ = the day of the final judgment (for this reason Christ tells them: "Surgite"); seeing Christ alone = only God is in full glory.
Third part (extremely brief)
Christ did not want the transfiguration to be revealed to the other apostles and disciples to avoid them to be even more scandalized by the sufferings of his Passion. However, Ferrer suggests that (“credo tamen...”) John was allowed to tell the Virgin about it [which source? Check the Meditationes Vitae Christi]
... during Lent so to experience the transfiguration on
Easter
by means of holy communion ( eucharist ): “In quo...
4/1/64
T23/4 Wednesday after Judica
Cherubino da Spoleto, Serafino da Mantova
Necessity of an attentive and scrupolous preparation to the confession (i.e. exam of conscience), so that the confessio will be fruitful. The sermon presents the rationes, auctoritates et exempla.
f. 326rv Dialogue (in the vernacular) between the penitent who did not prepare carefuly for the Easter confession and the priest
... between the penitent who did not prepare carefuly for the
Easter
confession and the priest ...
3/6/7
T19 Sunday Invocavit
Vicent Ferrer
No introduction.
The sermon is immediately divided in four parts derived from the Gospel pericope (see divisio above).
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Most part of the sermon deals with the theme of the spiritual battle (see bibliography).
In the last section (f. p6r) there is a description of the angels who serve Jesus, once he won over the devil’s temptations in the desert; they provide him with food since he is now hungry. The sermon follows what is found in the Meditationes vitae Christi (and perhaps other source) by saying: “Dicunt hic aliqui devoti contemplativi…”. It describes the angels who go to the Virgin Mary, taking her humble meal and food (“caules vel brodium vel spinargia et forte sardineta”) to bring it to Jesus, while she asks to bring her back at least the leftovers. It follows a moral interpretation about the condition of the faithful during Lent, as period of spiritual fight: “nam sumus in campo clauso, scilicet in quadragesima”, if one will resist until the end and win over temptations, there will be also for him/her the spiritual banquet, on Easter, when one is invited to have the Eucharist, i.e. the body of Christ that the Holy Spirit cooked “in coquina uteri virginalis” and that now is hidden under the veil of the Eucharist, “ideo dicit Christus: Vincenti dabo manna absconditum, quod nemo scit nisi qui accipit, Apoc. 2” (possible word play with Ferrer own name?)
... will be also for him/her the spiritual banquet, on
Easter
, when one is invited to have the Eucharist , i.e....