Christ manifests four utmost marvels about himself, namely:
First, his temporal human nature;
Second, his eternal divine nature [divinity of Christ];
Third, his authority to judge;
Fourth, his universal mercy.
The faith rests on this fundation. And the thema speaks about the last one, since he wantes to humble himself in front of the Father's will.
Sermons that use this tag in their [Summary]
Code
Liturgical day
Authors
Context: Summary
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.
... condemnation, while the intervention of mercy convince the
judge
to postpone the verdict, saying that she will teach...
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.
...justice complains for the behaviour along Lent of the
judge
(i.e. Jesus), who did not condem the sinner. Hence,...
Collections that use this tag in their [Notes]
Idno
Title
Date
Place
Notes
12
Quadragesimale de strepitu iuris
-
The title is indicated in the manuscript.
The introduction explains the parallel between penance and trial. It introduces also the main charachters, namely: the accused is the sinner; the accuser (actor) is the devil; the witnesses is the conscience; the lawyer (advocatus) is mercy and the judge God.
Lenten sermon collection to be compared with the Quadragesimale ante tribunal Christi