Introduction
As the sun in the house of the lion has its maximum strength in attracting water, so Christ in his right time will ascent to his throne and attract everybody either to weeping (the damned) or to the exaltation of love (caritas) – as it is presented in the Gospel pericope.
A quaestio: can the astrologers, prophets and philosophers discover when the end of the world will be? Reference to the predictions of Pseudo-Methodius, Eusebius, Beda, with several hypotesis between 1460 and 1560, and stating that the sermon is written in 1440 [See note below!]. Yet, the Gospel states that it is impossible to know it, since we must be watchful and look at the signs, since at any time the death can be upon us: «ut omni hora in ianuis mors appareat nos preparemus et vigilemus», as it is said with a detailed reference to the servants in the parable of the doorkeeper (Mark 13.33-37) (4Y).
Division
-
First part
As the bell or trumpets announce to the people the proclamation of a death sentence, so there will be signs announcing the final judgment. These signs will concern: first, celestial bodies (brief presentation of the mutation in the sun, moon and stars); second, humans (mention of the Antichrist who «inauditis enim tormentis christianos sibi resistentes trucidabit»); third, natural elements – this part develops into the presentation of the fifteen signs before the final judgment, according to Jerome, who would have find them «in annalibus hebreorum». It follows the moral interpretation (moraliter), which is developed in an ecclesiastical perspective, according to the theory of the church as lighted up by the pope (sun) and the emperor (moon), while the stars represent the other Christians. Note the occurrence of the key terms of the debate: «Ad firmamentum igitur celi, hoc est universalis ecclesie, fecit deus duo luminaria, id est duas instituit dignitates, que sunt pontificalis auctoritas et regalis potestas» (5B). Connecting the situation with the opening of the seventh seal, the sermon introduces a subdivision:
Papalis potestas obscurata
Imperialis maiestas detestata
Mundialis honestas deturpata
1.1. State of corruption of the pope and the clergy: «Sic ut de presenti cernimus papalis auctoritas et totus status ecclesiasticus est intm obtenebratus in cordibus hominum quod nihil curatur» (5C), since without sanctity it looses its dignity. List of needed virtues of the clergy. Presentation of the ascetic virtues of the pagan priests (Jerome referring to Plato) to present an a fortiori reasoning concerning the Christian clergy.
1.2. The authority of the emperor and his emissaries («et quilibet eius substitutus») receive the power from God (as the moon from the sun) but to be respected it must serve to obey and to make people obey God and the Church. References to Romans 13 (Omnis potestas a domino deo est), Augustine and the Policraticus of John of Salisbury.
1.3. The falling of the stars symbolizes the Christians who have fallen from faith and love (caritas). This section – which probably had a more direct appeal to the intended audience – develops through two detailed similes. First, the carp that put its head into the mud to escape from the fishermen (i.e. from the prelates who call for conversion). The net touches only its tail, i.e. only in the moment of death h one listens due to fear of damnation. Rebuking a fictional question, the sermon underlines that one cannot reply to be not aware of it. This is explained with the second simile,which builds on the biblical image of the two streets and the topos of the man at the crossroads:
A king built two cities, one is reached after a difficult and demanding journey and who arrive there is welcomed with all kind of pleasure and delights, the other leads through many pleasures but arrives to a city where one is sentenced to torture and death. Two companions, a fool man (stultus) and a wise man, arrive at the crossroads, where a statue is posed that clearly outline the two itineraries and the two outcomes. Yet, out of friendship, the wise person is convinced by the fool man to take the easy street, full of delights. He will not be able to avoid the death sentence by saying that he went there only to stay with his friend, «et sic ambo suspensi sunt». The fool and the wise are the body and soul. While the simile circulated widely [see Gesta Romanorum 67, with list], this version gives a (peculiar?) role to preachers, who are symbolized by the statue at the crossroads, which accomplishes its duty also without giving the example: «Statua igitur in medio ostendit viam regni esse meliorem scilicet prelatus, superius, predicator qui licet de se sit immobilis, nec vadat viam quam ostendit, veritatem tamen ostendit» (5H).
Second part
Description of the final judgment (cf. Matthew 25). The body of the saved resurrects in a perfect condition at the age of 33 (Christ), while those of the damned will be deformed. The book of the deeds of each person will be will be brought («O quam magnum cartularium tunc portabunt heretici, usurarii et alii malefacotres...»; 5I); at the right there will be sins that accuse and on the left the devils asking for just punishment of sinners. The moral interpretation (moraliter) focuses on (coscientia) by exhorting the listeners to do often the exam of conscience and to correct it, other it will accuse them publicly of their sins. There are three type of defect of the conscience:
Coscientiam dilatatam
Coscientiam infirmatam
Coscientiam cauteriatam
The first is a too loose conscience, which is as a net with to large holes, which does not filter small things. The second is the too scrupulous by considering as sin things that are not, with the risk of perplexity and even desperation. The last one focus on small details and does not care important things, like the Pharisees did, and it is compared to the spider’s net, which imprison only a fly but not major things. Final direct appeal, first person plural: «Istas cosciencias debemus rectificare, examinare, et purgare antquam veniamus ad iuditium, ubi nos accusabunt» (5K). Definition of the coscientia, with a list of titles that the good conscience deserves and its comparison with the mirror.
Third part
It focuses on the retribution and, after the description of Matthew 25, it underlines (moraliter) the benefit to contemplate hell in order to avoid it. The description of Hell is taken from Hugh of Saint Victor and it serves to introduce a series of clarification on the nature of hell and of its punishments (its fire). It clarifies that the souls can momentarily exit Purgatory and Hell only for a divine command, while the saved soul are free to move but do not do so unless this is a divine wish. Discussing about the suffrage for the souls, it is discussed the vision of Brandanus, who saw Judas resting from the torments on Sunday. The sermon clarify that this would not be due to suffrage, which cannot have effects on damned people, but out of a decision of God, who might decide to mitigate in some form the punishments, perhaps to repay something good done during the life («forte propter aliqua bona facta in vita»; 5S).
... about the suffrage for the souls, it is discussed the
vision
of Brandanus , who saw Judas resting from the torments...
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.
... macaronic / vernacular ]; Beda ’s description of a
vision
of saint Fursey , who sees three symbolic fires that...
1/2/8
T19/4 Wednesday after Invocavit
Johannes Gritsch [Conrad Grütsch]
Introduction
As poison is worse than a sword and a false friend worse than a false coin, so it was the falsity and simulation of the Pharisees who asked Jesus for a sign. This leads to two brief quaestiones: whether and how it is licit to praise other people; why the Pharisees sinned mortally by calling Jesus "master" – although he was it. The latter include a discussion on how action and intention need to be joined, since both need to follow the law of God.
Division
-
First part
Main theme is ingratitude, first presented by commenting the Gospel episode (postillatio) and then moraliter by considering the Christians who – having received more benefits than the Jews – must thank God (reference to moral teaching of Seneca and, on a spiritual level, in particular to the special gift of the eucharist). Three possible mistakes:
“De huius modi beneficiis et donis acceptis:
Quidam de deo non cogitant.
Quidam deum de beneficiis non honorant.
Quidam dei beneficia exasperant” (6V).
1.1. To forget the benefits that God gave connectes with the sensuality of the flesh (voluptas carni) – reference to Plato and the opposition between soul and body.
1.2. Ungrateful people who do not give thanks to God are like a pork, which eats acorns without looking at the tree, i.e. without raising its eyes. An exemplum from the Vitas patrum: in a vision an old monk sees part of his fellow monks eating white bread and honey, while the others eating shit (stercus). The first are those who «in timore et gratiarum actione sedent at mensam», while the other are those who «murmurant, detrahunt et male locuntur in mensa, nec gratias dicunt» (6X).
1.3. Ungrateful is also to ask continuously God for more, without realizing that in the Passion everything has already been given to us. Seneca’s exemplum (De beneficiis) of the condemnation of a soldier ungrateful with the one who saved him from shipwreck. Allegorical application to the Christians, saved from death (the shipwrek), welcomed at home (the church), nourished with the eucharist: they promise a lot and then maintain very little («multa promittimus et pauca solvimus»; 6Y [note the use of the first person plural]), so Christ – the saviour - will expose our fault in front of God the father, who will impress the marks (stigmata) of eternal damnation on them.
Second part
Interpretation of the parable of the return of the unclean spirit (parable): in the allegory (allegorice), the devil has left the gentile, who welcomed Christ with faith, and now inhabits the Jews («ideo recendente dyabolo a gentilibus ad iudeos est reversus, in quibus nunc per infidelitatem et obstinationem dicitur inhabitare»; 6Z). On a moral level (moraliter), the parable concerns the recidivist who returns to sin and the danger of his/her condition, since «per talem recidivationem sit:
Homo debilior ad resurgendum.
Dyabolus fortior ad invadendum.
Deus difficilior ad indulgendum».
2.1. By repeating a sin, a person gets less sensible to its relevance and more tied to it do to the habit. Image of the fish or bird in the net.
2.2. Moral interpretation of the parable. The devil is expelled by penance, yet it might come back – it has no power but it can knock at the door of the heart both using fantasies in the memory («movendo fantasmata malorum in memoria reservata incendendo per desiderium amoris»; 6Z) or using the seven vices (seven capital sins). A quaestio about how can be interpret the return of previous sins, if they were forgiven. Indeed, it is the new sin of ungratefulness for their forgiveness that is added to the new sins. Hence, one has to confess it without repeating the confession of all the previous sins (unclear reference: «ut dicit Lodovicus in summa sua») [note the pastoral outcome of this interpretation].
2.3. God is less ready to forgive those who repeatedly despised his mercy. Discussion whether the repetition of a sin makes it worst, with a detailed reference to the position of Bonaventure, who depicted four stages of sin: interior consent; action; habit; final absence of repentance. The last stage is final and cannot be forgiven, while the other three are connected with the three episodes of resurrections in the Gospel, which symbolically happen in three different places: at home, on the door of the city, in the tomb.
Third part
Jesus praises the grace given to those who perform good deeds. Explanation of the scene of the Gospel, when the Virgin Mary and the relatives of Jesus call him outside. It was an insidious request, since he would abandon his pastoral engagement showing human feelings. On a moral level, it teaches that one must choose by considering the utility and dignity of things, and this is true also at a spiritual level.
«Ideo quilibet debet ea [spiritualia] preeligere et preponere et hoc quo ad tria, scilicet:
Temporis prioritatem.
Intentionis principalitatem.
Ordinis dignitatem» (7E).
3.1. One must choose virtue while s/he is young, without waiting the old age – simile of the wax, flexible only when is hot. And exemplum of the miller who had a donkey, which he did not force when it was young, and that later on refused to work and kicked the miller, killing him. The donkey symbolizes the body: if it is not dominated when one is young, it would condemn him/her to the eternal death.
3.2. Centrality of the intention - and quaestio on how to interpret the command: «Omnia in gloriam dei facite» (1 Corinthians 10 ). The solution seems to be not that each act needs to be directly connected to the glory of God, but that it becomes an habit, as the direct exhortation sates: «Ad hoc enim debemus tendere et hoc desiderare, quod ad talem statum perveniamus quod omnes actiones nostras et affectiones principlai intentione ad deum referamus» (6I).
3.3. The necessity to put spiritual before worldly things is exemplified by saint Luis of Toulouse, quoting John XXII’s the bull of canonization («unde in bulla eius translatione scribit Iohnnis Papa XXII: Ludovicus ut sol refulgens in virtute ...»; 6K).
... its eyes. An exemplum from the Vitas patrum : in a
vision
an old monk sees part of his fellow monks eating white...
1/1/3
T18/6 Friday after Cinerum
Johannes Gritsch [Conrad Grütsch]
Introduction
Three quaestiones: Why it is more meritorious (merit) to love the enemies and how should be done (references to Peter Lombard and Thomas Aquinas). How one can do it (reference to Augustine). In which way one has to forgive the insults, namely by giving up on rancour and its signs, yet asking for the restitution of goods and reputation.
-
Division [Note references to previous days]
-
First part
Foundation of all is mutual love (caritas). “Debemos ergo nos invicem amare” in three ways:
Debitum persolvendum
Eternum premium conseguendum
Damnationis periculum evadendum
1.1. Forgive all debts, as requested in the Pater noster and quoting the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18:23-35).
1.2. Love is laborious but it yields an exrtraordinary eternal reward: “est grande labor in hoc seculo, sed grande premium in futuro”. The example is saint Stephen [2T].
1.3. Hatred is deathly dangerous, it must be avoided, since it is like an mortal wound hidden in the mind and darkening the soul: “qui enim odit habet in mente letale vulnus et gerit in corde tenebris peccatorum” [2V].
--
Second part
Actions are good or bad depending on intention, this idea is applied to fasting, prayer and almsgiving. This applies even to the crucifixion of Christ: it is undoubtedly a good work, since from it salvation derives, yet the Jews (indicated as perpetrators) did not receive any reward, since they did it out of envy [2X]. “Deus enim cor interrogat et non manum” – interior intention is crucial.
Superius elevata intentionis rectitudine
Interius coaptata incorruptionis pulcritudine
Inferius subiugata ex donationis celsitudine
2.1. Intention orients the actions to their final goal, which is God. Image of the crossbower who has to close one eye and open the other, which means: close the eye to the worldly seductions and keep the other fixed on Christ [2Z].
2.2. One needs first of all to purify the heart to avoid to maculate the good works. It is useless to worry to be sparkling clean outside (graphic description) while neglecting the purity of the heart. Reference to the hypocrites as whitewashed tombs (Matthew 23:27). Discussion on hypocrisy, simulated sanctity and desire to be noted (it can be only vanity or a lesser sin, yet can be also a mortal sin) [3B.]
2.3. one needs humility, do not inflate. One must think that all goods derive from grace (“ex gratia dei”) and consider to be a sinner. Even the saints still (rightly) considered themselves as sinners: example told by Bonaventure about the reaction of saint Francis when a friar told him that saw in a dream the celestial throne prepared for him [3D].
-
Third part
The way one performs almsgiving also matters. This is discussed on the basis of the biblical sentence: “Ante mortem benefac amico tuo et exporrigens da pauperi secundum vires tuas” (Sir 14.13) – which becomes a sort of thema of this section.
Conferentis celeritas
Accipientis propinquitas
Pacientis necessitas
3.1. Give alms quickly, willingly, without delay – since death is always close and one cannot delegate the relatives. An hermit had a vision: two tables, one full of food, the other empty, the latter symbolizes the good works delegated to others. Several quotations from the moral works of Seneca. Usual reference to the canon law on jesters (histriones) and prostitutes [3G]
3.2. When the need is similar, one first must help relatives and friends and then strangers. Issue: shall one make distinction between who has to receive alms? Discussion on the proverb: “Sudet elemosina in manu tua donec invenies iustum cui des” [3H], which dates to Augustine and Gregory the Great (not mentioned), and ultimately to the Didaché. First, alms must be given to preacher and prelate. Second, give without any distinction to those who need food. Next, if the need is similar, start from the neighbours.
3.3. Priority is to give to the poor that suffer the most. The sermon ends by commenting the epistle of the day: Frange esurienti panem tuum... (Isaiah 58:7), with a quite direct to treat the poor with respect: “induc in domo tuam, non in stabulum porcorum in locum despectum” [3I]. -
... one cannot delegate the relatives. An hermit had a
vision
: two tables, one full of food, the other empty, the...
5/1/33
T20/5 Thursday after Reminiscere
Osvât Laskai (Osvaldus de Lasko)
Introduction
Echoing the prophet (thema), the issue is why God allows a people so evil and unfaithful like the Turks to prosper and oppress the Christians: “Ex quo gentem infidelem, impiam et prevaricatricem thurcorum permittit prosperari et christianum populum opprimere?” (f. r5r). Several quotations from Job and Jeremiah. The duration of this oppression surprises the people, who don’t understand its causes; it causes also grumbling about God’s injustice.
“Quare licet thurci impii conculcaverunt tuos fideles, devorant, lacerant, et tandiu affligunt? Sunt iam fere anni 870 ab initio secte usque nunc, nec tamen apparet signum consumationis ipsius, de quo nedum multi mirantur tante durationis causam non invenientes, verumetiam plerique murmurant de dei providentia et quissimaiusticia” (f. r5r). It's not clear to what the 870 years exactely refer (if it is the Egira, it would refer to 1492 (it would be puzzling); yet later in the sermon, the origin of the Turks is indicated as 666, so it cannot be a reference to it).
Divisio (see above)
Persecution is just since it is a punishment: “Ista christianorum atrox persecutio mahumetica iuste nobis est inflicta propter nostram punitiuonem, quod probemus tripliciter” (f. r5r); the evidences are: a) prophecies, b) reasons, c) revelations.
1.1. Prophecies. In the Bible the prophets announced the persecution of the synagogue – ad fortiori, there are prophecies of the persecutions of the Church. The first and key reference (here and below) is the Pseudo-Methodius. There is first a long series of quotations, which contain vivid and dramatic description of the Muslim violence on Christians. The quotations already contain two key concepts: this is a punishment (castigatio) for the way Christians sinned against the divine law; the persecution will reveal the true faithful (fideles). Attention to geographic description, a sort of geopolitics of history (as in other sermons); see f. r5v.
The cause was a triple separation: from Christ, heresy; from the apostolic seat, disobedience; from Roman empire, rebellion (the reference here is to the Greeks). Interesting reference to the discourse of the Venice orator, Bernardo Giustiniani in front of the pope, as a way to chart (again) the Turkish expansion (in which, stand out the lost of two empires, those of Constantinople and Trebizond). Cyril’s letter [?], interpreted by Joachim of Fiore’s commentary to the Lamentations: the buck that eats the flash of the sheep symbolizes Muhammad that eats alive the Christians (the flash of Christ, the sheep) who join his sect (secta): “et dentibus suis carnis crudas agnorum dilacerabit, quia parvuli et adulti utriusque sexus relicta fide Chirsti sectam Mahumeti assument” (f. r6r).
Reference also to the prophecies of Hildegard of Bingen (with the date 1143) and of Birgitta of Sweden.
1.2. Reasons: justice and sins. With a pessimistic note: while at the time of the martyrs the persecution strengthened the faith, now it decreases it: “In presenti autem afflictione fides non tantum augmentatur, quantum diminuitur, ac maxima blasphemia deo et sanctis eius infertur” (f. b6v). The persecution is due to the crimes of the Christians, mainly three major sins (crimina): “Unde causam huiuscemodi persecutionis ex scripturis inveniemus tria horrenda crimina in ecclesia dei multiplicata sunt”: sodomy (peccatum contra naturam), with references to Letter to Romans and to previous castigations of sodomites: the deluge, the destruction of Sodom, and their death during Christmas night (source Jerome: “et ut dicit Hieronimus: in nocte nativitatis, anteque Christus nasceretur, in hoc peccato laborantes sunt extincti”; f. r7r); ignoble taking of the holy communion, which is labeled as “crimen maximum”, with reference to Thomas Aquinas, since it is “as if one kills Christ”; disobedience, in particular applied to schismatics.
1.3. Sure revelations. Interpretation of Apocalypse 16, the seven bowels (phialae) full of the wrath of God, which represents seven persecutions to the Church. The fifth are the Turks, since the throne of the beast is Constantinople – with a reference to “quodam tractatu disputato in capitulo generali fratrum predicatorum” (f. r7r). The sermon mentions also the vision of a Carthusian in the convent of Raromot (!) in Carniola: in an ecstasy he was brought in front of tribunal of Christ, who asks him why the Church prays so much while instead it has abandoned him. At the announcement of the tribulations that will soon hit the Church, the monk asks two things, which remains without reply: whether also Rome will be conquered by the Turks, and if the faithful will succumb in the spiritual battle: “Demum post modicum resumptis viribus frater de duobus petiit informari a Christo, scilicet: An Rhomana civitas esset a Thurcis capienda; et an in futuro bello, quod in spiritu cognoverat committendum, ipsi fideles succumberentur. Ad que respondit Christus quod non expediret hoc ipsum scire” (f. r7v)
Invective against vices, as a way to mention again the main sins.
The end of the Turks’ persecution is close [yet, not so close after all] and the sermon deals with two aspects: why it was so long; when it will end.
2.1. The domination was so long due to two reasons: first, as the Postilla of Peter of Burgos points out, they are not idolaters as previous persecutors, so God is less pressured to intervene. It started in the year 666 (symbolism of Revelations), yet “in ista secta mahumetica pessima est infidelitas sine idolatria”; second, they do not directly only to apostate the faith: “nec directe cogunt ad apostatandum a fide” – they just ask to pay a fee, and to pay it does not diminish the dignity of the Church: “Unde vivere abicere et sub iugo servitutis non minuit veritatem ecclesiastice dignitatis” (f. r8r) [a sort of realistic position]; third, they do not recognice the divinity of Christ, yet they appreciate his human qualities – so again God is less compelled to intervene.
2.2. When will it end? Ample quotation of the Pseudo-Methodius, from which it is derived the number of 56 years, yet without being sure where their start has to be put: “Nescimus tamen unde debent incipi, si a captione Costantinopolitane vel a dominio perfecto grecie” – counting from the fall of Constantinople it would be until 1509, yet it is mentioned – as other possible starting point – the Turkish conquest of Albania (i.e. 1478). Reference to an Islamic prophecy of their own defeat, mentioned by Scotus saying that it was found in a Muslim book in Damietta, which prophesizes that a Christian king will conquer and destroy Mecca and disperse the bons of Muhammad - this will fulfil the promise of the announced of the Gospel in all the word (Matthew 28) and will be end history [cfr. link with the prophecy of the last emperor]. The sermon mentions also the revelations of Hildegard of Bingen, Brigitta of Sweden and Catherine of Siena who praised preaching to convert the people. Further reference is to Nicholas of Lyra, who refers to the Liber Iudicum ordinariorum a Jewish book of prophesy, connected with the announcement of the raising son of the widow of Zarephath, which states that the world will last 6000 years: 2000 under vanity, 2000 under law, 2000 under the Messiah. Since the period under the Messiah is of 2000 years, and during it the Gospel will be announced to everyone, the end of the Muslim domination should be close [yet, it remains quite an ample margin!]. How it will happen? Again a reference to Pseudo-Methodius: when all seems lost, it will rise “rex christianorum et romanorum”...
3. There are two reasons why their domination cannot last [sic!]: Muslim usurped the power, conquering it only by means of their weapons; their origin is mean – this is true for Muhammad but even more for the Turks - here there is a long insertion on their history, taken from the Chronicon by Antoninus of Florence – remote link with the history of Troy, their entrance in Persia as people of herders, gradual affirmation, arriving until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 under Muhammed II.
Final invocation to God, asking his intervention soon – with a last mention of the prophecy of Pseudo-Methodius about the role of the king of Huns, i.e. now Hungary.
... predicatorum” (f. r7r). The sermon mentions also the
vision
of a Carthusian in the convent of Raromot (!) in Carniola:...
Collections that use this tag in their [Exempla]
Idno
Title
Date
Place
Exempla
7
Quadragesimale novum de filio prodigo
1494
Basel
Each sermon ends with an allegorical vision - some taken from the Bible.
Sermon 1 (Ash Wednesday): the vision refers clearly to Sebastian Brant's Ship of the Fools.
Sermon 34 (Passion Sunday) uses the story of Pyramus and Thisbe (Methamorphosis of Ovid), drawing on Bersuire interpretation (perhaps, mediated by Gritsch) - see on this Delcorno 2009.