For what concerns the prosecution and exposition of the Gospel, just as the Church prevented the going to hell yesterday by uttering threats, today she presents a way of righteousness which leads to heaven. And there are three parts:
In the first there is a discussion on the good of justice and righteousness, as will be observed in the beginning [of the Gospel].
In the second the danger of vanity is made clear, so that it is avoided. There it says: all their works.
In the third the humility of the plants is praised, so that the kingdom of heaven is gained. There it says: but you etc.
3/6/3
T18/6 Friday after Cinerum
Vicent Ferrer
Christ shows how one must avoid that penitential justice would be done in front of the people, and he clarifies it in the Gospel of today, which has three parts […].
The first concerns the material body.
The second the temporal abundance.
The third the rational soul.
Sermons that use this tag in their [Summary]
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1/2/7
T19/3 Tuesday after Invocavit
Johannes Gritsch [Conrad Grütsch]
Introduction
As Aristotle says, wonder is the beginning of philosophy («Quia homines propter admirari inceperunt philosophari»; 5T), the same happens to the Jews during the exodus in front of the manna and to the citizens of Jerusalem at the arrival of Jesus (cfr. thema).
Which is the most astonishing visible thing done by God? Three possible answers: creation; mercy towards sinners, which let them live and repent in this world; incarnation. The latter is clearly the answer chosen by the sermon and it is developed by quoting and commenting upon the first verses of Dante’s prayer to the Virgin Mary (Commedia, Paradiso, 33,1-9 – in Latin) [Dante is not mentioned but presented as «quidam sapiens» and «poeta» - poets]. The admired contemplation of the prodigy of the incarnation must move to love God so to reply to the question of the thema with the profession of faith.
Division
[Its introduction concerns only the second of the three parts]
First part
In the entrance to Jerusalem, Jesus is revealed as saviour of the humanity (connection with the singing of the Hosanna). Direct prayer directed towards Jesus, who is acknowledged as:
«potens es ad liberandum
promptus es ad adiuvandum
clemens es ad indulgendum» (6A).
1.1. Doctrine of the redemption («solus Iesus»), according to Anselm (Cur deus homo). It is introduced the story of Codrus, king of Athens, which is interpreted as an allegory of Christ’s voluntary incarnation and sacrifice for the salvation of the militant Church. [All the section depends on Robert Holcot]
1.2. The affirmation that Christ was ready to help the humanity prompts the explanation of why the incarnation did not occur earlier.
1.3. Christ’s mercy asks to discuss whether God wants to save everybody and what does it mean exactly. The sermon relies on Nicholas of Lyra triple explanation of 1 Timothy 2.3 and argues for a balance between mercy and justice. This leads to the quaestio whether the damned are more then the saved. The reply is built again on Augustine and Anselm - with the addition of Franciscan theologians, namely François de Meyronnes and Bonaventure. Interesting the remark on the salvation of non-Christian, which is imagined through the grace of a sudden and complete repentance at the moment of their death («Volunt etiam multi doctores quod deus multis gentilibus virtutes excellentibus hanc faciat gratiam ut unum gemitum emittant et malorum actuum recognitionem et quod sic eorum extremam penitentiam acceptet»; 6F). Yet, it remains that the damned are more than the saved.
Second part
The expulsion of the merchants and money changers from the temple, highlight that opposite things cannot coexist. The scene is symbol of the expulsion of the «nogotiatores de ecclesia». The discourse turns to the actual merchants and their sins, which open with a quite radical opening sentence («Mercator nunquam potet placere deo»), since they are usually fraudulent in in their work, particularly in three ways:
«Species diversas comiscendo
Pondera et mensura variando.
Defectus et rerum fracturas celando» (6H).
The sermon presents a series of situations and frauds common at the marketplace (including also frauds committed by buyers). Noteworthy: a positive reference to alchemy; description of adulterations of wine, with terminology given in German [macaronic / vernacular]; Beda’s description of a vision of saint Fursey, who sees three symbolic fires that represents the inextinguishable corruption prompted by merchants to all the world: falsity, greed, impiety. [Use of a quite old source to discuss about economic ethics - yet it is readapted to target the merchants].
Third part
Jesus teaches to separate oneself from the evil people, this must be done – on a moral level – through three transitions:
«De rebellione ad reconciliationem
De dissolutione ad religionem
De peregrinatione ad quietationem» (6N).
The first is the transition from sin to grace through penance, since Christ welcomes in his kingdom those who come back. Second, the entrance in the religious life, which is reserved to the most promising (image of the plants that are put in the viridarium so that they can produce more fruit) – the sermon discusses the simile between religious life and the vineyard, yet underlining that the transition must be complete, i.e. the roots must be planted there and not left in the world. It follows a brief quaestio on the superiority of the religious life on the secular life (again a reference to Anselm, to point out that the difference is between giving a fruit or giving the entire tree). The third transition is from this world to heaven, answering why God does not call people there while they are still completely innocent, i.e. as kids.
The end of the sermon emphasise that God is ready to kindle the fire of charity and penance, as said by Revelation 3.15 and shown by Peter’s conversion.
... Timothy 2.3 and argues for a balance between mercy and
justice
. This leads to the quaestio whether the damned are...
9/0/1
T18/4 Ash Wednesday
Johannes Nigri (Schwarz)
IncipitQui videt in abscondito reddet tibi. Mt 6. Quoniam ut dixit apostolus: Omnes vos manifestare oportet ante tribunal Christi [2 Cor 5.10], ideo pro tribunali hodie hic sedet Iesus, unde (?) uno venit ex latere iusticia ad accusandum peccatores et ex altero venit misericordia ad defensandum; ut ergo accusationes istas evadere possumus, recurramus ad fontem gratie etc. Qui videt in abscondito reddet tibi etc. ubi supra.
Hodie ante tribunal Christi cum suis fustibus et latronibus currit Iusticia adducens peccatorem vinctum et clamat per Ioel prophete: Canite tubam in Syon et congregate populum et adunate senes et parvulos, quia miserum peccatorem accusare volo”, et vertens se ait: “O serenissime Iudex..."
In front of Christ, justice accuses a sinner and asks for his condemnation, while the intervention of mercy convince the judge to postpone the verdict, saying that she will teach the sinner to change life. Focus of the sermon is on the need to conversion, without any further delay.
Justice accuses the sinner of two main sins: inordinate love of himself («ex amore suo inordinato»); and ambitious inflated soul, i.e. presumption («ex ambitiosa anima elata»). Justice points out that these were the same sins of Lucifer so the human being will deserve the same condemnation, which the judge has to sentence without waiting. The gravity of the two sins is presented through a series of quotations from patristic and theological authors, who are presented as doctores (a term that acquire a legal connotation in this context).
The sinner in tears pleads for mercy in front of Christ, and in his support steps up Mercy, who first points out that the case of Lucifer and the man are different, since the first was fully aware of what he did – so cannot convert – while the man did it out of ignorance («ex ignorantia»), and his tears shows it. Misericordia asks the judge to have mercy and to allow her to teach and correct the sinner («Ideo, o benigne iudex, aspice peccatorem iam plorantem, concede eum misericordiam et eum per doctrinam ewangelii se reconoscere faciam et crastina die de accusatis iustum reddam»). Christ as judge allows it, and Mercy takes the sinner on her side, where she exhorts them [note the passage to the plural] for conversion, insisting on two topics: to convert by means of contrition and by escaping the behaviour of the hypocrites [link with the Gospel of the day]; to convert by means of the maceration of the body, i.e. by means of fasting. It follows an exhortation marked by the repetition of the sentence «O peccatores convertimini…», where the two topics are explored on the basis of a series of auctoritates, which serves to comment some point of the Gospel of the day.
... ait: “O serenissime Iudex..." In front of Christ,
justice
accuses a sinner and asks for his condemnation, while...
3/6/18
T19/Sab Saturday after Invocavit
Vicent Ferrer
Ferrer begins by saying that he will follow the emperors’ style (“In isto sermone cogitavi tenere modum imperatorum etc”) – not clear what he means with it exactly. Yet, there is no main division. The sermon first comments on and dramatizes the Gospel pericope and then it discusses seven point derived from it.
The postils and dramatization of the story of the transfiguration expand on elements present also in the previous sermon (see 3/6/17). It explain better the couples for the three tents: John with Moses as contemplatives and visioners; James with Elijah as champions of penance; Peter with Jesus since he chooses the better part (cf. Luke 10.42). The semi-dramatic section is livelier than in the previous sermon when it depicts the return of Moses in the limbo and of Elijah to Eden. The reason of their choice – i.e. the fasting during Lent - is developed in the fourth point of the sermon.
Seven questions are presented without annuncing them and actually, they follow the narrative of the Gospel pericope (some points occur also in the previous sermon):
1. Transfiguration and shining of Jesus
2. The mountain symbolizes penance and it is associated with Lent, since it separates people from the world: “Unde et tempus quadragesimale est mons altus et desertus”. The good christians go up it, leaving behind the wordly pleasures. Penitence has the power to transform/transfigure Christ from the image of the inflexible justice to that of generous mercy: “In monte quadragesimali Christus transfiguratur de figura iusticie rigorose in figura misericordie copiose propter nostram penitentiam” (f. r5v).
3. Symbol of the three disciples: Peter symbolizes bishops and prelates who must know the Bible; John the virgins; James the martyrs. Otherwise: John the innocent people; Peter the obedient and James the penitents.
4. The choice of Elijah and Moses indicates all those – alive and death – who performed Lent correctly, with a parenetic address to the audience about their fasting: “Quis vestrum poterit dicere quod de toto tempore vite sue ieiunavit nam quadragesimam integram et perfecte? Credo quod pauci sunt”. The sermon recalls some common excuses of the people. Next it points out that the difference between the strain of Lent and the suffering in Hell (i,e. the destiny of those who dismiss penitence) is the same between wearing a delicate shirt and a burning armour. In hell fasting is perennial as it is attested by the rich man of Luke 16 (“modo MCCCC anni sunt et ultra…”; commonplace in sermons). Brief mention of the different way to fast of Jesus, Moises and Elijah (see previous sermon).
5. The two witnesses talked with Jesus about the extreme suffering of his Passion. This is presented in a semi-dramatic form (“Iam videamus practicam…”), with Elijah and Moses who mention different moments of the Passion constantly arguing that it would be enough much less for the salvation/redemption of humanity. Other parenetic address to the audience: the listeners are called to resist against sin, presenting the paradox of thoseready to face a bear or to go to war and yet afraid of fasting during Lent.
6. Three tents symbolize the celestial hierarchies and are symbol of the future home of the saved people: penitentes (penitent with Elijah; the religious and political rulers (presidentes) with Moses; those who are excellentes who live an apostolic life will stay with Jesus.
7. The three apostles must not reveal what happened, to help the other disciles (see previous sermon) and to avoid vainglory.
... transform/transfigure Christ from the image of the inflexible
justice
to that of generous mercy : “In monte quadragesimali...
1/2/18
T20/Sab Saturday after Reminiscere
Johannes Gritsch [Conrad Grütsch]
Introduction
The sermon opens by presenting the duty that parents have towards their children and exposing the cases in which a father can legitimately disinherit his son. The detailed list of seven cases is a vademecum on matters of inheritance (e.g. filial violence against his father, sexual intercourse with his mother or his father’s concubine, attempts to prevent the father from making a testament; do not care to set his father free from prison) serves to point out that the initial request of the prodigal son was legitimate.
The sermon next presents three quaestiones that revolve around the restoration of the sinner after penance, with specific attention to the issue «whether the deeds that were alive through charity and mortified by sin will live again through penance» («Queritur tercio an opera per caritatem viva et mortificata ex peccato per penitentiam reviviscant»; 16R), underlining also the positive effects of the good works that one does in the condition of mortal sin. Drawing on Bonaventure, the sermon insists on the importance that one – even in mortal sin – should not desist from doing good because God will find the right way to remunerate him/her with his grace.
Main division (see above)
First part
Far from God, the human being cannot have rest (reference to the Confessiones of Augustine: «my heart is restless until it would come to you, God» (Inquietum est cor meum donec veniat ad te; 16V). Hence, the sinner must return to the house of the Father (God), i.e. the church, where he will find also his mother, i.e. the Virgin Mary: “Through penitence, the sinner must return to the house of God the Father, which is the holy Church, where he will be safe from all his enemies. There he will find a graceful father and a mother, who is the glorious and clement Virgin May, because she welcomes those who seek refuge in the womb of her mercy, she protects them from all enemies, and she nourishes them with the milk of grace” («Debet ergo peccator redire ad domum dei patris, scilicet sanctam ecclesiam, in qua securatur ab omnibus adversariis, et hoc per penitentiam, et inveniet patrem graciosum, matrem scilicet virginem gloriosam clementem, que refugientes ad gremium sue misericordie suscipit et ab hostibus defendit et lacte gracie nutrit»; 16X). It follows a long digression on the Virgin who, as a mother, fosters the return of the sinners (the texts build upon several quotations of Anselm and Bernard of Clairvaux).
Second part
The fruitful return of the penitent to the state of grace («fructuosa reversio penitentisa ad statum gracie»; 17B). Sinners are invited to identify with the prodigal son: «the sinner is far away and separated from God and, in the same way of this prodigus, he must come to himself and think of his actual extreme misery and the great mercy of God the Father; he must lament and not rest until he will come to the father of mercy, God of full consolation» («Moraliter peccator, longe a deo divisus et separatus, debet instar huius prodigi per conversionem in se reverti, pensare propriam miseriam et inopiam et dei patris maximam pietatem, dolere et non quiescere donec ad eum veniat, qui est pater misericordiam et deus totius consolationis»). This exhortation to imitate the prodigal son is reiterated, in a process that involves heart, mouth and action («Ad hunc patrem pium et benignum debet peccator ad instar filii prodigi: in corde recurrere ad eius benignitatem; in ore proponere propriam iniquitatem; in opere intendere satisfactionis humilitatem»; 17C). This threefold division is connected with the three parts of penitence: contrition, confession, and satisfaction.
The first point puts on the forefront not the memory of the sins but of the benefits received from God. This positive memory of God’s mercy is the starting point for the conversion, yet, mercy cannot be separated from justice. The listeners have to recall that God will punish those who do not convert from their sin, even though this goes against his merciful nature (17D).
Dealing with confession, the sermon provides the listeners with a formulary to start an oral confession. Next, it considers the relationship between contrition and confession. Why is outward confession necessary? Is «contrition and confession of the heart» not sufficient? Per se, the contrition joined with the intention to confess and provide satisfaction as soon as possible already purifies the sinner. Later on, if he/she does not confess and satisfy, the previous sin cannot return. However, in that event he/she commits a new mortal sin by breaking the Church commandments (17E). Yet, if through contrition God already cancels the sin, what effect has confession? The sermon states that – since each sin is «against both God and the Church» – there is an ecclesiastical/social dimension of sin that, consequently, needs an ecclesiastical reconciliation «through confession, imposed satisfaction and the priest’s absolution» (Dum enim peccator peccat mortaliter, peccat contra deum et ecclesiam. […] peccat contra ecclesiam quam contemnit et scandalisat, et ligatur altero vinculo, quod solum per confessionem et satisfactionem iniunctam et absolucionem presbiteri ydonei relaxatus»; 17.F). Moreover, aural confession is necessary to tackle the problem of rightly establishing the measure of satisfaction: to solve it, God appointed the priest as arbiter and gave him the power to evaluate and impose penances (potentia arbitrandi et taxandi).
Third part
The final part deals with the amorosa receptio patris. It opens with a complex exemplum taken from the Gesta Romanorum (the story of the son of Alexander the Great, who revolted against his father – a story whose moral interpretation was already based on the parable of the prodigal son). The reaction of the father of the parable points out that God goes to the penitent rapidly (velociter), embraces him sweetly (dulciter), and dresses him nobly (nobiliter). Here, the sermon discusses prevenient grace and its accord with the human responsibility in the process of conversion. Grace is compared with the sun that shines but illuminates only those who open the doors, or with the indulgence that the pope offers to everybody but that are acquired only by those who go to Rome (17N). In the text, remains some tension between the free gift of God and human initiative, whose importance is clearly outlined by emphasising the importance of the first step taken by the prodigal son: «The father would not have come to the prodigal son along the way, if the son had not said before: I will rise and go to the father» («Non enim pater prodigo venisset obviam penitenti, si non prius dixisset: Surgam et ibo ad patrem»; 17N). Still, the sermon clarifies that it is not the penitent’s action that provokes and obtains grace, which remains a gift that is given «after this disposition but not because of this disposition» («post quam [contritionem] non propter quam deus vult dare gratiam»; 17N).
Next, it turns to the spiritual theme of the love relationship between God and the soul [spiritual marriage]. The kissing of the father is connected with the kisses mentioned in the Song of Songs and opens the way for a first person discourse of the beloved soul: «The embrace and the kisses are signs of peace and love. […] The soul, bride of Christ, habitually longs for this greatly blessed and mostly beloved kiss; she longs with great desire and frequent sighs and repeats with the Song of Songs: Let him kiss me with kisses of his mouth (1,1), so that she could rejoice and be delighted. As if the soul would say: ‘My mostly beloved groom Jesus, for whose love I am languishing, might give me those grace and mercy that I am longing for with the whole depths of my heart, and might comfort me with the sweetness of his piety and of his divine benediction, so that I could return to life’» («Nam amplexus and oscula sunt signa pacis et amoris. […] Isto osculo superbenedicto et amantissimo magno desiderio et frequenti suspirio anima sponsa Christi appetere solet, et ut iocundetur et letetur dicere illud Cantico 1: Osculetur me osculo oris sui, quasi dicat: ‘Amantissimus sponsus meus Iesus, in cuius amore langueo, immittat mihi gratiam et misercordiam quam totis visceribus cordis desidero et confortet me dulcedine sue pietatis et divine benedictionis et reviviscam’»; 17O).
Playing on the contrast between the two brothers within the parable, the sermon then introduces a final question: whether God loves more the sinner who does penitence than the righteous person who has always been so («queritur an deus plus diligit peccatorem penitentem quam iustum semper benefacientem»; 17R). The discriminating factor is the fervour, so a penitent can surpass a righteous person (examples are Mary Magdalene and Paul). The elder brother of the parable symbolises those who are righteous but tepid (cf. Revelation 3,15). Still, this is not the rule. The sentence of the Gospel that «there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance» (Luke 15,7) applies only to few special cases, while the supreme joy of heaven is indeed reserved for those who did not need to convert, first of all the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist.
... the conversion, yet, mercy cannot be separated from
justice
. The listeners have to recall that God will punish...
9/0/2
T18/5 Thursday after Cinerum
Johannes Nigri (Schwarz)
Dynamic is the same of the previous sermon.
justice brings a sinner and accuses of two types of infidelity, for the lack of faith in God and to be ungreatful for the earhtly goods he receives by considering them more important than God and by misusing them (reference also to the poor). The sinner in tears addresses God, recalling that God prefers the conversion of a sinner instead of his death and proclaming the intention to convert. So, mercy states that the accusation of justice are true, yet recalls Jesus his incarnation and death for the sinners, asking to allow her to make him just by means of the words of the Gospel. The judge says that this arguments win on him and allows mercy to take care fo the sinners. Her exhortations focuses on two points, i.e. to dispose his home (i.e. the conscience) by means of humility and humble confidence in God.
...Dynamic is the same of the previous sermon.
justice
brings a sinner and accuses of two types of infidelity...
9/0/3
T18/6 Friday after Cinerum
Johannes Nigri (Schwarz)
Justice accuses the sinner of two things: cruelty and hate ("primo de perversa crudelitate, secundo de mortali odiositate"; f. 30r). In her claim, justice points out that today mercy, her sister, shall not defend the sinner, since crudelity is against her too: "Iudex hodie misericorida, soror mea, non debet pro peccatore advocare...". The second point connects with the lack in the love the enemies. As in the previous sermons, the sinner asks for mercy (on the basis of a Biblical quotation), and mercy advocates for him, recalling Jesus of the pains of the Passion suffered for the salvation of the sinners. The judge accept the proposal and mercy starts her exhortation...
... secundo de mortali odiositate"; f. 30r). In her claim,
justice
points out that today mercy , her sister, shall not...
9/0/4
T18/Sab Saturday after Cinerum
Johannes Nigri (Schwarz)
In front of Christ's tribunal, justice's two accusations of the sinner are: for the blindness of his heart ("primo de perversa cordis excecatione"); for the bad (?) defense for his sins ("de maligna peccatorum defensione"). The sinner in tears ask for clemency. Once again mercy pleads the judge to give her the possibility to correct the sinner (it does so repeating to Jesus the words he said to God on the cross: forgive them for their ignorance; f. 31r). Next, she exhorts the sinner, first of all to break free from the chain of sin (thanks to virtuous behaviours) and by accepting the light of God that shows his sins.
...In front of Christ's tribunal,
justice
's two accusations of the sinner are: for the blindness...
9/0/6
T19/2 Monday after Invocavit
Johannes Nigri (Schwarz)
The initial accusation by justice: "O serene iudex ego accuso hodie istum nequam de duobus; primo de impavida audacia; secundo de occultata nequitia" (f. 32v)
...The initial accusation by
justice
: "O serene iudex ego accuso hodie istum nequam de...
9/0/16
T20/5 Thursday after Reminiscere
Johannes Nigri (Schwarz)
In front of the tribunal, justice accuses the sinner of two sins (both connected with the Rich Man of the pericope): the vanity of clothes and the luxury of food ("primo de ambiciosa vanitate vestimentorum, secundo de lasciviosa gulositate ciborum"; f. 41r)
Once the sinner asks for mercy, Misericordia addresses Jesus by saying: "O fons pietatis pietatem negare non potes, ecce iam contritus est et cor contritus et humiliatum deus
...In front of the tribunal,
justice
accuses the sinner of two sins (both connected with...
9/0/40
T24 Palm Sunday
Johannes Nigri (Schwarz)
This time justice complains for the behaviour along Lent of the judge (i.e. Jesus), who did not condem the sinner. Hence, she refuses his sentence and appeals to God the father [check]. The debate involves now not only justice and mercy but also peace and truth (i.e. the four 'sisters' mentioned in Psalm 84, quoted at the beginning of the sermon - still, it does not introduce the reconciliation among them)
In front of the tribunal of Jesus, justice complains by saying that she is the foundation of any law and order and without her all cities and kingdoms would be destroied by crimes; however, the sinner was never given to her during the Lent and the judge let always mercy prevails. Therefore, if also on that day Jesus does not listen to her, she will appeal to God the father and refuse to comply with Jesus’ orders.
Supported by the intervention of truth, justice seems to win the day and the judge ready to condemn the man, yet the prompt intervention of mercy and peace once again overturns the judgement, that is: peace suggests that the judge (i.e. Jesus) could pay instead of the sinner by appearing as culprit in front of a different tribunal, that chaired by Justice. Jesus turns to God the Father and declares his readiness to redeem in this way the sinner, who is therefore freed from his sins.
...This time
justice
complains for the behaviour along Lent of the judge...
... the father [check]. The debate involves now not only
justice
and mercy but also peace and truth (i.e. the four 'sisters'...
9/0/41
T24/2 Monday after Palm Sunday
Johannes Nigri (Schwarz)
The scene changes: the tribunal of justice, where the Pharisees and the Scribes bring Jesus and asks for his condemnation. Immediately also the three sisters of justice (mercy, truth, peace) arrive, yet she is prompt to issue her verdict: «Ego iudico eum reus mortis» (f. 62v). A quarrel between the four sisters follows, and serves to highlight the redemptive meaning of the Passion.
...The scene changes: the tribunal of
justice
, where the Pharisees and the Scribes bring Jesus and...
5/1/19
T18/5 Thursday after Cinerum
Osvât Laskai (Osvaldus de Lasko)
Introduction
Peter received this name after his confession of faith in Christ, which made him the foundation of the Church. The Church will not be wrong on faith and moral teaching necessary for salvation, yet it can be wrong on other things: "In aliis autem non pertinentibus ad fidem et falli et errare potet" (f. k4v).
Three types of ecclesia: 1) the ecclesia malignantium (Psalm 1); 2) the militant Church, i.e. catholic, "non sicut latibula hereticorum"; 3) the triumphant Church. The sermon will deal with the second one.
Division
-
First part
The unity of the Church is proved in five ways: auctoritates; rationes; similitudines; revelationes; confutationes. The main emphasis is on the key concept that there is no salvation outside the Church (extra ecclesia nulla salus). Talking of the rationes, to explain the principle of non-contradiction, the sermon compares the different positions among religions (Jews and Islam - or rather: mahumetici and saracini), which cannot be both true. Only one is the true faith. And it points out that it is normal to persecute the religious dissent more than normal crime: “immo plus persequitur dissentientes quam fures et latrones” (f. k5v). As main simile, the sermon refers to the mystical body, with references to key passages of the apostle Paul. Interesting annotation on the fact that the body of the Church is in three places (world, purgatory, heaven), connecting them with the division of the host in three parts during the mass: the part put in the chalice symbolizes the soul already inebriated in heaven: “Sic christi corpus seu ecclesia est in triplici loco, scilicet in hoc mundo, in purgaotrio, et in celo. Ad quod significandum sacerdos in missa dividit corpus chirsti in tres partes. Per illam enim quam mittit in calice significat eos qui sunt in celo inebriati ab ubertate domus dei” (f. k5v). As revelation, the sermon briefly refers to an episode of the legend of saint Cecilia.
-
Key subsection
With a new subdivision, the confutationes form the real body of the sermon, occupying half of the text. The confutation of mistakes is evidently crucial for this preacher.
“Nam contra unitatem ecclesie sancte tres errores insurgunt:
primus error est naturalium philosoforum;
secundus est superborum et malorum christianorum;
tertius est fere omnium paganorum” (f. k6r)
Particularly developed is the confutation of the position of natural philosophers on the divine mercy that would save people in any religion/confession: “probare contendunt quod deus omnes homines ex sua bonitate salvat existentes in diversis ritibus et sectis”. The rebuttal insists on the necessary balance in God between mercy and justice.
The third mistake contrasted is that not only of pagans but also of the most simple Christians, who are puzzled by the fact that God would save only those in one faith and condemn all the other nations: “Tertius error contra contra ecclesie sacre unitatem fere omnium paganorum et etiam simplicium christianorum dicitur error admirationis dicentium: ‘O quammirum esset si deus solummodo sub una fide existentes salvaret alias omnes nationes dannaret’” (f. k7r). The reply is based on the Gospel passages on the few who are saved (“multi sunt vocati, puaci vero electi”; Matthew 22:14) and the narrow and difficult road to the eternal life (Matthew 7:14) and that the people outside the Church have no excuses and one will get according to his/her merit.
The final observation that half of the world is occupied by infidels introduces a long digression on the other half, occupied by ten groups (nationes) of Christians, yet only nominally: “Nam fere media hominum pars est infidelis. Sub nomine autem christiani quasi alia media pars est qua dividitur in decem nationes, scilicet Latinos, Grecos, Indios, Iacobitas, Nestorianos, Maronitas, Armenos, Georgianos, Surianos, Mozarabes” (f. k7rv). It follows a sort of geopolitics of faith, with a brief description of each groups, noting some characteristics of them – and generally condemning the non-Latin Christians all as heretics. Saying, for instance, that the Greeks are only nominally Christians, now under the political control of Turks - list of their three key theological errors: procession of the Holy Spirit; refuse of church of Rome as chief; purgatory. The Indians are those most numerous, and somehow favourably described (mentioning the practice of carrying two crosses in front of them when they go into battle). About the Jacobites, it is mentioned their practice of the circumcision and the impression of the sign of the cross on their front and body (“qui circunciduntur et baptizantur, cum ferro ignito caracterem crucis imprimunt in fronte et aliis partibus corporis ut in pectore vel brachiis"). After mentioning the Maronites (who are placed in Libya) and the Armenians (on the latter, notations on the singing of liturgy in their own language and , about the Georgians it is said that they are a strong people, in which also women are fighters (“et eorum femine utuntur armis sicut viri” – reference to Amazons?). The Syrians have the same positions of the Greeks against Latins. On the Mozarabs interesting notations on their liturgy: “Decima natio Mozarabes dicuntur quia modos christianorum de Arabia tenentur in multis et utuntur lingua latina in officiis divinis et obediunt ecclesie Rhomane, sed in multis discrepant, quia habent horas valde prolixas et faciunt tot horas divini officii quot sunt hore naturales diei cum hymnis et psalmis; et [est?] natio valde devota: in matrimonio non coniungunt nisi nationi sue gentis, inter quos femina amisso marito primo nunquam coniungit alteri” (f. k7v). While the description of the different nations of Christians reveals different degrees of sympathy, the final evaluation is extremely harsh: “Et isti omnes similiter cum infidelibus damnantur”.
Taking the cue from the description of the different type of Christians, the sermon introduces a digression on their presence at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, where – a part the Observant Franciscans who have the proper custodia of the Sepulchre – there are eight type of heretics in a sort of Babylon of languages (“sunt octo diversa genera hereticorum diversas linguas habentium adeo quod nullus intelligit alium”).
The section ends with a sorrowful address to the Church: “O igitur sancta ecclesia unica sponsa Christi! O Sancti Spiritus congregatio gratiosa/ [...] O quam multi sunt in te solo nomine et extra te ipsa re [...] Ergo hi ibunt in infernum, ubi nullus ordo est sed sempiternus horror inhabitat ubi cruciabuntur in secula seculorum” (f. k8r).
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Second part
The power of the Church (potestas) is connected with the image of the keys, which rapidly becomes a discourse on the potestas ordinis of the priesthood, since priests have the following powers: to forgivesin; to change the pains (from those of purgatory to satisfaction); to consecrate the Eucharist; excommunication; holy orders; indulgence (this only the pope) – which however require to be ready to receive it. This section ends again with an address to the Church and a treat agains sinners: “O potestas ecclesie spiritualis quam magna es...” (f. k8r)
... insists on the necessary balance in God between mercy and
justice
. The third mistake contrasted is that not only of...
Collections that use this tag in their [Notes]
Idno
Title
Date
Place
Notes
9
Quadragesimale 'ante tribunal Christi'
1466
Nuremberg
Each day a sinner is brought in front of the tribunal of Christ, where justice accuses him and mercy defends him (yet, with the agreement that he must learn from her and radically change his life). Final twist, in the last three sermons: the conflict between the two virtues (which involves also pax and veritas / peace and truth), Christ is brought in front of the tribunal of Justice, since his sacrifice will atone for the sins of the humanity.
Description of the sermons is based on CLM 8825
The date of the collection is based on CLM 26834 (it is the manuscript followed by Schneyer 1350-1500).
The attribution to Johannes Schwarz needs to be confirmed (he may be just the copyst...)