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]
... papa constitutus”); James the future first martyr ;
John
was elected to take care of the Virgin and the beloved...
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.
... It explain better the couples for the three tents:
John
with Moses as contemplatives and visioners; James with...
...symbolizes bishops and prelates who must know the Bible ;
John
the virgins ; James the martyrs . Otherwise: John the...
20/1/37
T23/5 Thursday after Judica
Roberto Caracciolo
Introduction -
Divisio (see above)
1) First part: souls are careful not to do evil out of a reverential fear of God, i.e. to avoid offending God, «from whose face every creature trembles away» (exempla: John's reaction when he sees God [Revelation 1, 17]; reaction of the disciples on Mount Tabor when they see the face of Christ [Matthew 17, 6]; John the Baptist's reverence when preparing to baptise Christ [Matthew 3, 14]; the reverence of the prostitute Taisis after being converted to God [reference to the story narrated in Vite dei santi Padri]).
2) Second part: sometimes human beings are converted to God by thinking of God's generosity (i.e. the granting of abundant temporal goods) towards them; at other times, some human beings continue to sin despite God's generosity.
3) Third part: through the teaching of doctrine «most sinners are converted, because they hear virtue praised and vice blamed, and so they leave vice and approach virtue»; importance of the role of preachers («Guai al mondo se non fusseron gli predicatori …»), referred to as “trombette di Dio” (Clama, ne cesses, et quasi tuba exalta vocem tuam et anuncia populo meo scelera eorum, quote from Isaiah 58, 1).
4) Fourth part: some human beings are converted after witnessing a miracle; exempla: conversion of Nicodemus (reference to John 3, 2); conversion of the Centurion (reference to Mark 15, 39); conversion of the crowd after the miracle of the five loaves and two fishes (reference to John 6, 1-14).
Conclusion
In the conclusion of the sermon, Caracciolo continued his discourse on miracles, arguing that in the present day there is no longer a need for so many miracles because faith is stronger and more solid; many human beings, however, continue not to convert despite the fact that every day in the world it is possible to see numerous miracles, such as «plagues, famine, wars and other adversities, things that God allows so that sinners, seeing these extraordinary things, will convert».
... whose face every creature trembles away» (_exempla_:
John
's reaction when he sees God [Revelation 1, 17]; reaction...
21/1/15
T19/4 Wednesday after Invocavit
Anonymous
Introduction -
Divisio
First part: utilities of penance:
1) The first utility of penance is the recovery of grace, often even greater than that lost by sin (references to Job, Joel, Luke and Cyprian).
2) The second utility is that penance repairs and comforts nature (references to Book of Judith and John the Bishop[?]).
3) The third utility is that penance restores glory (references to Matthew, Revelation and Augustine).
4) The fourth utility is that penance loosens punishment (references to Jeremy, Psalms and Ambrose (Saint)).
Second part: things that made penance praiseworthy:
1) Firstly, penance must be humble and divout (concerning humility, references to Job, John and Bernard of Clairvaux; concerning tearfulness and devotion, references to Book of Judith and Augustine).
2) Secondly, penance must be general and intact, i.e. one must not repent of one sin, but of all (references to Ezekiel); one must also repent isto tempore, because God wants to reserve salvation and consolation for the repentant (reference to Isidore of Seville [the quotation, however, seems to be spurious]).
3) Thirdly, penance must be discreet, i.e. commensurate with the extent of the sin (references to Matthew, Jerome and Gregory the Great).
4) Fourthly, penance must be done with good intention, i.e. not for ostentation and worldly glory, as the Pharisee did (reference to Luke 18), but following the example of Manasseh, who repented coram deo patruum suorum et non coram mundo (reference to 2Chronicles 33).
... and divout (concerning humility , references to Job ,
John
and Bernard of Clairvaux ; concerning tearfulness and...
21/1/17
T19/5 Thursday after Invocavit
Anonymous
Introduction -
Divisio
First part: evils that sin produces in the lives of human beings:
1) Sin deprives the human being of spiritual goods (i.e. virtutes et divitie et gratiarum actio; references to Jeremy and Basil) and temporal goods (reference to Amos).
2) Sin fills and torments the human beings with spiritual and bodily ills: in fact, it blinds the sense and intellect so that human beings are unable to see (reference to Zephaniah, Sirach, Gregory the Great); it corrupts the state of mind; it afflicts the heart, not only spiritually, but also materially (references to Psalms, 1Maccabees, John , Gregory the Great).
3) Sin moves God to wrath (references to Sirach, Psalms); God hates exceedingly those who sin without fear, for sins offend him in Heaven more than the Jews did while he was among human beings (references to Sirach and Gregory the Great).
4) Sin deprives the human being of the community of the good (references to Book of Tobit, Psalms, Gregory the Great).
Second part: damage that sin does to human beings in death:
1) Because of sin, human being is struck down and dies shamefully (references to Proverbs, Jeremy, Gregory the Great, Bernard of Clairvaux).
2) Because of sin, human being is seized by the devil (references to Psalms, Ester, Augustine, 1Peter).
3) The sinner is tortured and led to the flames of Hell (references to Sirach and Psalms).
4) The sinner is separated forever from the vision of God (references to John Chrysostom, Isaiah, Augustine).
... also materially (references to Psalms , 1Maccabees ,
John
, Gregory the Great ). 3) Sin moves God to wrath (references...