Introduction
“Tempus istud quadragesimale et thema dant mihi motivum de quadam materia predicandi multi utili et necessaria persone que stat in peccato mortali et mala vita quo poterit exire peccatum per gratiam dei” (f. s6r).
On the word surge and the story of Elijah, first a litteral interpretation and then “iuxta intellectum tropologicum vel moralem” (moral interpretation): land of Israel = the condition of sin. Ferrer explains the dynamic of retribution. The good works done in mortal sin have no merit but are useful, with an earthly reward and may contribute to return in the state of grace (“si continuaveris bonum opus retrahet te de peccato nec permittet te mori in mortali”). Yet, even after conversion, they will remain without eternal reward (this is true also for saints, such as Paul and Mary Magdalene, whose good works done before conversion were unremunerated). Key biblical text John 15: “quia sine me nihil potetis facerer”.
Sarepta = penance, which allow to raise from mortal sin: “Iuxta intellectum spiritualem modo videamus quomodo surget persona que diu dormit in peccato mortali”; list of biblical passages on surge/surgite.
Division
On rising from sin by tmeans divine grace, explained with the simile of getting out of bed in eight actions (see above). The sermon is structured around these eight actions.
Main part
1) Opening the eyes = recognize sin, through grace - each one according to his/her state of life (exempla from religious life). Reference to David and Psalm 50 (Miserere).
2) Sitting up on the bed = contrition (with distinction from attrition). Example - giving voice to direct discourse - of a friar and a sentenced to death. True contrition: matter = pain of sins; form = awarness of having offended God.
3) Getting up, not naked but with a shirt = good resolution to amend, will to wear the new man (not yet effective, but it functions as a martyr's desire: it is already meritorious). The sermons dwells on the example of the loss of virginity and the impossibility of recovering it.
4) Go away from bed = abandon bad company (poet's quote: "Que nocitura tenes quamvis sint cara relique"; Distica Catonis?). Utmost clearly Christ: if a member is a scandal to you, cut it. It must be understood in a figurative sense (it recals the theme of the hand as an "organum organorum"), cut off dangerous relationships (servants, procurator, confessor, teachers...).
5) To spit abundantly (“spuit non solum materiam parvam sed grossam”) = confession
6) Put on the shoes = forget past offenses and renounce to revenge: “Beatus qui potest dicere non habeo odium in corde”.
7) Put n the belt = repaying debts, fixing damages, and living soberly (“minuendo excessum et ornamenta vana”).
8) Wash hands (and face) = almsgiving. Sevral practical practical advice [already encountered in the Lenten sermon colletion]: a) divide the cash box in two ("in capsa"), so as not to mix badly acquired money with others - so that seeing them may arouse remorse and push one to return them; b) don't put the leftover food back in the pantry and don't give it to the dogs - it must be given to the poor.
... on the shoes = forget past offenses and renounce to
revenge
: “Beatus qui potest dicere non habeo odium in corde”....
3/6/3
T18/6 Friday after Cinerum
Vicent Ferrer
Introduction
Justice means here penance. One needs fasting against the body; prayer against bad thought and interior or hidden sin; almsgiving against thefts, misappropriations, usury.
Division On the basis of the whole Gospel pericope (see above)
Fasting not only in front of the people (corporal fasting) but also before God, who reads the hearts (i.e. intention and aims). One needs to fast from what corrupts the heart (bad thoughts, rancour, desire of revenge) following what is said in Matthew 5, namely the commandment to love the enemies and the persecutors to be similar to God. Here the sermon refers also to the epistle of the day (Isaiah 58), with its reference to the fasting acceptable to God, that is eliminating the injustice and divisions.
Almsgiving not as rabbis and Pharisees, i.e. looking for your own glory and recognition. Christ provides the rule: «do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing» (Matthew 6.3), which has a triple explanation. The hand symbolize the richness, since as it is the organ able to do everything (Aristotle), so it is richness: «sicut manibus faciamus omnia opera. Unde dicit philosophus quod manus est organum organorum, ita cum diviciis homo facit omnia negocia». The right hand are the richness that are acquired honestly, while the left hand dishonestly. They must not be mixed, since the first are for almsgiving , the second for restitution. Practical and mnemonic suggestion: have a divided coin pouch: «Ideo do vobis utile consilium quod in taxia vestra sive bursa faciatis medium et pecunia de bono iusto ponatur in una parte et de malo iusto ponatur in alia parte, quia quando simul ponitur restitutio oblivioni traditur et per illud medium reducitur ad memoriam, et tunc scietis de qua manu facietis elemosinam et de qua restitutionem» (fol. p1r). Left and right are also the intentions that move one to give alms (for love and salvation vs for vainglory) and the way one does it, suggesting to go to the church already prepared to do almsgiving «nota practicam: quando vadit aliquis ad ecclesiam ut portet in manu quod proposuit dare amore dei».
About prayer, the sermon emphasis the interior dimention, yet also in the public prayer, in the church, which is not in contrast with the command to «go into your room and shut the door» (Matthew 6.6).
Ferrer solves a possible doubt, namely how to conciliate this Gospel pericope with the Gospel text that asks not to hide the lamp but to put it in a visible place (Matthew 5.15). The first indication (i.e. Matthew 6) addresses the imperfect believers (imperfecti), while the other the perfect ones (perfecti), since the wind of the human praises would blow out a weak flame but instead invigorates a strong one, without extinguishing it.
... corrupts the heart (bad thoughts, rancour, desire of
revenge
) following what is said in Matthew 5, namely the commandment...