Sermones dominicales super evangelia et epistolas (1483) - Page 19

¶ The Sunday sermons on the gospels and epistles for the whole year begin: edited by Brother Hugo of Prato of the Order of Preachers. Prologue.

Large ornate decorative initial 'E' in blue with elaborate red and white penwork flourishing and scrollwork.

Behold, he will give to his voice a voice of power. Psalm 67. Although sermons may be compiled in many ways by many people and may merit the grace of men—just as faithful farmers laboring faithfully in the vineyard of the Lord are finally to receive the daily penny faithfully—nevertheless, I, the latest, have kept watch. And it seemed good to me to labor equally in the vineyard of the Lord, so that I might obtain grace and merit with them, and being about to receive in the same way the penny of eternal happiness, God granting. Therefore, through the virtue of him who holds the key of speech and knowledge, who shuts and no one opens, opens and no one shuts, who opens the mouths of the mute and makes the tongues of infants eloquent, who gives to the preacher the voice of his power, I have compiled Sunday sermons on the gospels and epistles for the whole year for the honor of God, the salvation of the faithful, and the benefit of preachers, according as divine grace has granted me, written by me, Hugo of Prato Florido, the least of the Order of Preachers, gathering flowers and bringing them to suitable places so that the said sermons might be more fragrant. But dividing and expounding the whole gospel and epistle, I interspersed moral points for each part and the sayings of the saints that pertain to the salvation of the soul, as the material allowed. Therefore, let no one abhor or reject the sermons because of their multitude, for if the preacher has much to preach, he will take from them one part or two, or expound only the letter of the text, as he shall judge it better to be done. To whom, however, it is incumbent to preach multiple times, they will be able to preach the individual parts on different occasions, refreshing the souls of various people with different foods and bringing therefrom eternal life and fruit, etc.

¶ The first Sunday of the Advent of the Lord, on the gospel. First Sermon.

Decorative red initial 'D' with interior penwork flourish.

Tell the daughter of Zion: Behold, your king comes to you, meek. Matthew 21. This time is called the Advent of the Lord because the holy mother Church recalls four Advents of our Savior according to the four Sundays it contains: namely, the Advent of Christ into the world or into the flesh, and this happens on the first Sunday, for which it is said: A ¶ Behold, your king comes to you, meek. The Advent of Christ to judge, and this occurs on the second Sunday, for which it is said: Then you will see the Son of Man coming. The Advent of the Son of God which he makes to men in death, and this happens on the third Sunday, in which it treats of the Advent of the Son of God to limbo, for whom his Advent in the death of man is designated, for which it is said: Are you he who is to come, or do we expect another? The Advent of Christ to our minds, and this happens on the fourth Sunday, for which it is said: The Lord is near. For then especially the Son of God is expected to come into the minds of all the faithful through the grace of the Holy Spirit, just as he then came bodily and was born in the world; because he who perfectly believes that he was born for human salvation, and prepares and disposes himself worthily for such a solemnity, there is no doubt that the Son of God, through grace, will dwell and rest in their minds. John 14: We will come to him and will make our abode with him. B ¶ In the present Sunday, however, the holy mother Church recalls humbly and devoutly the Advent of Christ into the world or into the flesh, when he deigned to take on flesh and be born of a glorious virgin. This Advent was desired by all creatures. For it was desired by all superior creatures, namely by the angels, so that they might be restored, because through the incarnation of the Son of God the seats of the fallen demons were filled. It was also desired by inferior ones, namely the saints in limbo, so that they might be drawn out from there who were held captive there, who were liberated through the Advent of the Son of God. Zechariah 9: You also, by the blood of your testament, have sent forth your prisoners out of the pit wherein there was no water. It was desired by the predecessors, namely...