Works › Sermons on the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist
Volume 13 · pp. 674–677
Sermon II. On the First Cause of Institution, Namely, on the Memory of the Lord, and Preparation for Judgment
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### Sermo II
### De prima causa institutionis, scilicet, de memoria Domini, et praeparatione ad judicium
Venite, comedite panem meum, et bibite vinum quod miscui vobis, etc. Proverb. ix, 5.
His verbis Dominus nos invitat ad salutare convivium, in quo praeparavit pretiosum cibum et potum, corpus et sanguinem suum.
Causam tuam tracta, etc., ut in primo sermone.
Prima causa institutionis sacramenti Domini corporis est memoria Salvatoris, ut sicut per amorem iniquitatis a Domino recessimus, sic per memoriale pietatis redeamus. Circa memoriam Salvatoris tria possunt inquiri.
I. Quid mali sequatur si fuerit relicta Salvatoris memoria?
II. De quibus sit habenda Domini memoria?
III. Ad quid valeat habita ista memoria?
I.
Primo quaeritur, Quid mali sequatur si memoria Domini fuerit relicta? Et dicendum, quod triplex, scilicet, 1. Amissio divinae gratiae, 2. Subjectio potestati diabolicae, 3. Magna deformitas culpae.
1. De primo, Deut. xxxii, 18 et 20: Deum qui te genuit dereliquisti, et oblitus es Domini creatoris tui... Et ait: Abscondam faciem meam ab eis, id est, subtraham gratiam: ubi autem fons perit, rivus arescit. Isa. xvii, 9 et 10: Eris deserta, quia oblita es Dei salvatoris tui. Eccli. xx, 13: Gratiae fatuorum effundentur.
2. De secundo, I Reg. xii, 9: Obliti sunt Domini Dei sui, et tradidit eos in manu Sisarae, id est, in potestate diaboli. Tob. vi, 17: Qui conjugium ita suscipiunt, ut Deum a se, et a sua mente excludant: habet potestatem daemonium super eos.
De tertio, ad Rom. i, 28: Sicut non probaverunt, id est, noluerunt, Deum habere in notitia: tradidit illos Deus in reprobum sensum: ut faciant ea, quae non conveniunt. Et, heu! hoc saepe fit usque ad mortem. Psal. ix, 5: Non est Deus in conspectu ejus, inquinatae sunt viae illius in omni tempore, Joel. i, 17: Computruerunt jumenta in stercore suo, id est, in luxuria et in aliis vitiis finiunt.
II.
Secundo quaeritur, De quibus memoria Domini sit habenda? Et dicendum de tribus. 1. De praeterito, 2. De praesenti, et 3. De futuro.
1. De praeterito, ut nostri Redemptoris qui per nimiam charitatem a morte mala, morte sua nos liberavit.
2. De praesenti, ut omnium inspectoris qui per occultam praesentiam omnia nostra semper cernit.
3. De futuro, ut justi judicis qui per omnipotentiam suam omne pravum incorrectum districte judicabit:
### Sermon II
### On the First Cause of Institution, Namely, on the Memory of the Lord, and Preparation for Judgment
Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mixed for you, etc. Proverbs 9:5.
By these words the Lord invites us to the saving banquet, in which he has prepared precious food and drink, his body and blood.
Treat your cause, etc., as in the first sermon.
The first cause of the institution of the sacrament of the Lord's body is the memory of the Savior, so that just as through love of iniquity we withdrew from the Lord, so through a memorial of piety we may return. Concerning the memory of the Savior three things can be asked.
I. What evil follows if the memory of the Savior has been abandoned?
II. Concerning what things should the memory of the Lord be held?
III. For what is this memory, once held, of value?
I.
First it is asked: What evil follows if the memory of the Lord has been abandoned? And one must say that it is threefold, namely, 1. Loss of divine grace, 2. Subjection to the diabolical power, 3. Great deformity of fault.
1. Concerning the first, Deuteronomy 32:18 and 20: You abandoned the God who begot you, and you have forgotten the Lord your creator... And he said: I will hide my face from them, that is, I will withdraw grace; but where the fountain perishes, the stream dries up. Isaiah 17:9 and 10: You will be deserted, because you have forgotten God your savior. Ecclesiasticus 20:13: The favors of fools will be poured out.
2. Concerning the second, 1 Kings 12:9: They forgot the Lord their God, and he handed them over into the hand of Sisera, that is, into the power of the devil. Tobit 6:17: Those who so undertake marriage that they exclude God from themselves and from their mind: the demon has power over them.
Concerning the third, to Romans 1:28: As they did not approve, that is, did not wish, to have God in knowledge, God handed them over into a reprobate sense, so that they might do things which are not fitting. And, alas! this often happens even unto death. Psalm 9:5: God is not in his sight; his ways are polluted at every time. Joel 1:17: The beasts have rotted in their dung, that is, they end in luxury and in other vices.
II.
Secondly it is asked: Concerning what things should the memory of the Lord be held? And one must say, concerning three. 1. Concerning the past, 2. Concerning the present, and 3. Concerning the future.
1. Concerning the past, as of our Redeemer, who through too great charity liberated us from evil death by his death.
2. Concerning the present, as of the inspector of all things, who through hidden presence always beholds all our things.
3. Concerning the future, as of the just judge, who through his omnipotence will strictly judge every uncorrected wicked thing:
1. De primo, Thren. iii, 19: Recordare paupertatis, et transgressionis meae, id est, maximae humiliationis, absynthii, et fellis, id est, amarae passionis. Ezech. ix, 4: Signa thau super frontes virorum gementium, et dolentium super cunctis abominationibus, quae fiunt in medio civitatis hujus. Thau figuram crucis, id est, Passionis Domini, quae semper est bonis in mente ferenda, signat.
2. De secundo, Psal. xcix, 2: Scitote quoniam Dominus ipse est Deus. Quasi dicat: Mementote quia Dominus est Deus, omnia implens, ubique praesens, omnia videns. Hinc ait: Providebam Dominum in conspectu meo semper1. Eccli. xxxix, 24: Opera omnis carnis coram Domino, et non est quidquam absconditum ab oculi ejus. Cant. ii, 9: En ipse stat post parietem nostrum, id est, indutus parietem carnis nostrae, respiciens per cancellos: quia licet intus degens, occultus a nobis videri non possit, tamen omnia nostra respicit.
3. De tertio, Isaiae, xxx, 27: Ecce nomen Domini venit de longinquo, ardens furor ejus, et gravis ad portandum. Ecce venit, id est, attendite, quia cito veniet ad districtum judicium. Matth. xxiv, 42: Vigilate, quia nescitis qua hora Dominus vester venturus sit. Apoc. xx, 11 et 12: Vidi thronum magnum candidum, et sedentem super eum, id est, semper ante oculos mentis habui Dominum ut cito venientem ad districtum judicium, a cujus conspectu fugit terra, et caelum, etc., et vidi mortuos id est, peccatores, magnos et pusillos, stantes in conspectu throni, et libri aperti sunt: et judicati sunt mortui ex his, quae scripta erant in libris secundum opera ipsorum. Ideo sive comedam sive bibo, sive aliquid, etc.2.
De omnibus tribus simul, Psalm. cx, 4 et 5: Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum, misericors et miserator Dominus: escam dedit timentibus se. Dominus dedit nobis escam, scilicet, seipsum ad memoriam mirabilium, praeteritorum, quod nos redemit: praesentium, quod omnia nostra respicit: futurorum, quod districte tandem judicabit.
III.
Tertio quaeritur, Ad quid valeat habita memoria Salvatoris? Et dicendum ad tria. Primae enim rei memoria, scilicet Dominicae Passionis, valet ad cor nostrum amore Christi inflammandum. Secundae rei, scilicet ejus continuae inspectionis, valet ad nos a peccato custodiendum. Tertiae rei memoria, scilicet districti judicis, valet ad excitandum nos ut praeparemur contra futurum judicium. Primum facit nos bonum diligere, secundum malum odire, tertium periculum imminens praecavere.
1. Concerning the first, Lamentations 3:19: Remember my poverty and my transgression, that is, the greatest humiliation, the wormwood and the gall, that is, the bitter Passion. Ezekiel 9:4: Mark thau upon the foreheads of the men groaning and sorrowing over all the abominations which are being done in the midst of this city. Thau signifies the figure of the cross, that is, of the Passion of the Lord, which must always be borne in mind by the good.
2. Concerning the second, Psalm 99:2: Know that the Lord himself is God. As if he were saying: Remember that the Lord is God, filling all things, present everywhere, seeing all things. Hence he says: I set the Lord always in my sight1. Ecclesiasticus 39:24: The works of all flesh are before the Lord, and nothing is hidden from his eye. Song of Songs 2:9: Behold, he stands behind our wall, that is, having put on the wall of our flesh, looking through the lattices; because although dwelling within, hidden from us, he cannot be seen, nevertheless he looks upon all our things.
3. Concerning the third, Isaiah 30:27: Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar, his fury burning and heavy to bear. Behold, he comes, that is, attend, because he will quickly come to strict judgment. Matthew 24:42: Watch, because you do not know at what hour your Lord is going to come. Apocalypse 20:11 and 12: I saw a great white throne, and the one sitting upon it, that is, I always had before the eyes of my mind the Lord as quickly coming to strict judgment, from whose sight earth and heaven fled, etc.; and I saw the dead, that is, sinners, great and small, standing in the sight of the throne, and the books were opened; and the dead were judged from the things which had been written in the books according to their works. Therefore, whether I eat or drink, or anything, etc.2.
Concerning all three together, Psalm 110:4 and 5: The merciful and compassionate Lord has made a memory of his wonders; he has given food to those fearing him. The Lord has given us food, namely himself, for the memory of wonders: of past things, that he redeemed us; of present things, that he looks upon all our things; of future things, that at last he will judge strictly.
III.
Thirdly it is asked: For what is the memory of the Savior, once held, of value? And one must say, for three things. For the memory of the first thing, namely of the Lord's Passion, is of value for inflaming our heart with love of Christ. The memory of the second thing, namely of his continual inspection, is of value for guarding us from sin. The memory of the third thing, namely of the strict judge, is of value for rousing us so that we may prepare for the future judgment. The first makes us love the good, the second hate evil, the third beware the imminent danger.
1. De primo, Lucae, xii, 49: Ignem veni mittere in terram, etc., id est, causam amoris misit Dominus in mundum beneficio Passionis, quae si pie recogitata fuerit, amore magno cor accendit. Psalm. xxxviii, 4: Concaluit cor meum intra me, etc. Bernardus: « Super omnia te reddit amabilem, mi Jesu bone, calix quem bibisti, opus redemptionis nostrae. » Idem: « Quanto pro me Dominus factus est vilior, tanto mihi factus est charior. »
2. De secundo, Prov. vi, 13: Timor Domini odit malum. Timor, inquam, quo mens semper Deum praesentem et omnia videntem attendit, a peccato custodit. Hinc etiam dicitur, Eccli. xxiii, 25 et seq.: Omnis homo dicens: Quis me videt? tenebrae circumdant me... Non intelligit quoniam omnia videt oculus Domini, quoniam expellit a se timorem Dei. Ezech. viii, 12: Certe vides fili hominis quae seniores domus Israel faciunt in tenebris: dicunt enim: Non videt Dominus nos. Glossa: « Si Dominum praesentem et omnia videntem et vindicantem semper cogitaremus, aut vix, aut numquam peccaremus. » Boetius: « Magna nobis indicta est necessitas bene vivendi, cum agamus omnia ante oculos judicis cuncta cernentis. »
3. De tertio, Exod. xix, 10 et 11: Vade ad populum, sanctifica illos hodie, et cras, et sint parati in diem tertium: in die enim tertia descendet Dominus coram omni plebe. Quasi diceret: Mementote quia Dominus terribiliter descendet ad districtum judicium: et ideo estote parati in diem tertium. Primus dies est nostrae nativitatis, secundus nostrae conversationis, tertius dies mortis vel adventus districti judicis. Luc. xii, 40: Estote parati, quia qua hora non putatis, Filius hominis veniet.
### Praeparatio contra judicium Domini
In praeparatione contra judicium Domini debent tria notari, scilicet modus, providentia, lucrum. Modus praeparationis est poenitentiam de peccatis agere, providentia praeparatorum poenam evadere, lucrum tandem praeparatis vitam aeternam possidere.
1. De primo, Eccli. xviii, 19: Ante judicium para justitiam tibi, scilicet poenitentiam agendo. Matth. iii, 17: Poenitentiam agite: appropinquavit enim regnum caelorum, id est, regni coelestis justum judicium. Joel. ii, 11 et 12: Magnus dies Domini, et terribilis valde: et quis sustinebit eum? Nunc ergo dicit Dominus: Convertimini ad me in toto corde vestro. Quasi diceret: Praeparate vos ad diem Domini, poenitentiam agendo.
1. Concerning the first, Luke 12:49: I came to send fire upon the earth, etc., that is, the Lord sent into the world a cause of love by the benefit of the Passion; if it has been devoutly thought over again, it kindles the heart with great love. Psalm 38:4: My heart grew hot within me, etc. Bernard: "Above all things, good Jesus, the cup which you drank, the work of our redemption, renders you lovable to me." The same: "The more lowly the Lord was made for me, so much the dearer he was made to me."
2. Concerning the second, Proverbs 6:13: The fear of the Lord hates evil. Fear, I say, by which the mind always attends to God present and seeing all things, guards from sin. Hence it is also said, Ecclesiasticus 23:25 and following: Every man saying, Who sees me? darkness surrounds me... He does not understand that the eye of the Lord sees all things, because he casts away from himself the fear of God. Ezekiel 8:12: Surely you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel do in the darkness; for they say: The Lord does not see us. Gloss: "If we always thought of the Lord as present and seeing all things and avenging, either scarcely or never would we sin." Boethius: "A great necessity of living well has been enjoined on us, since we do all things before the eyes of the judge who beholds all things."
3. Concerning the third, Exodus 19:10 and 11: Go to the people; sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them be ready for the third day; for on the third day the Lord will descend before all the people. As if he were saying: Remember that the Lord will terribly descend to strict judgment; and therefore be ready for the third day. The first day is the day of our birth, the second of our manner of life, the third the day of death or the advent of the strict judge. Luke 12:40: Be ready, because at the hour when you do not think, the Son of man will come.
### Preparation Against the Judgment of the Lord
In preparation against the judgment of the Lord three things ought to be noted, namely the mode, providence, and gain. The mode of preparation is to do penance concerning sins; the providence of those prepared is to escape punishment; the gain finally is for those prepared to possess eternal life.
1. Concerning the first, Ecclesiasticus 18:19: Before judgment prepare justice for yourself, namely by doing penance. Matthew 3:17: Do penance; for the kingdom of heaven has drawn near, that is, the just judgment of the heavenly kingdom. Joel 2:11 and 12: The day of the Lord is great and exceedingly terrible; and who will endure it? Now therefore the Lord says: Be converted to me with your whole heart. As if he were saying: Prepare yourselves for the day of the Lord by doing penance.
2. De secundo, Apoc. xvi, 4: Exite de illa populus meus: ut ne participes sitis delictorum ejus, et de plagis ejus non accipiatis. Exite de Babylone, etc., id est, praeparate vos ad judicium, poenitentiam agendo, et peccata mundi non faciendo, et per talem providentiam evadetis ejus poenam. Luc. xi, 39: Si sciret paterfamilias qua hora fur veniret, vigilaret utique, et non sineret perfodi domum suam. Glossa: « Nesciente patrefamilias, domum fur perfodit: quia dum a sui custodia spiritus dormit, improvisa mors carnis habitaculum irrumpit, et animam ad supplicia trahit. Furi autem resisteret, si vigilaret: quia adventum judicis occulte venientem praecavens, judici poenitendo occurreret, et sic utique dormientium, id est, non praeparatorum poenam evaderet. »
3. De tertio, Matth. xxv, 10: Dum fatuae virgines irent emere, venit sponsus, etc. Cum fatuae animae non paratae irent emere ad forum diaboli cum Eva, vel cum Dina, ubi pro modica re dant multa bona, quae paratae erant, intraverunt cum sponso ad nuptias.
Ecce triplex lucrum praeparationis ad judicium, scilicet possessio coelestis regni, societas amabilis sponsi, deliciae totius boni. Primum notatur ibi, Intraverunt. Secundum ibi, Cum eo. Tertium ibi, Ad nuptias.
1. De primo, Matth. xxv, 34: Venite benedicti Patris mei, possidete paratum vobis regnum a constitutione mundi.
2. De secundo, I ad Thessal. iv, 17: Semper cum Domino erimus: sine quo nulli bene, et cum quo nulli male esse poterit. Joan. xvii, 24: Pater, quos dedisti mihi, volo ut ubi sum ego, et illi sint mecum: ut videant claritatem meam, quam dedisti mihi.
3. De tertio, Isa. lxvi, 10 et 11: Gaudete cum ea gaudio universi, qui lugetis super eam, id est, cum bonorum omnium pacifica et jucunda societate, ut sugatis, et repleamini ab ubere consolationis ejus: ut mulgeatis, et deliciis affluatis ab omnimoda gloria ejus. Amen.
2. Concerning the second, Apocalypse 16:4: Go out from her, my people, so that you may not be partakers of her offenses, and may not receive from her plagues. Go out from Babylon, etc., that is, prepare yourselves for judgment by doing penance and by not doing the sins of the world, and through such providence you will escape its punishment. Luke 11:39: If the householder knew at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch and would not allow his house to be dug through. Gloss: "While the householder does not know it, the thief digs through the house; because while the spirit sleeps from the custody of itself, unforeseen death breaks into the dwelling of the flesh and drags the soul to punishments. But he would resist the thief if he watched, because by foreseeing the advent of the judge coming secretly, he would meet the judge by repenting, and thus indeed he would escape the punishment of those sleeping, that is, of those not prepared."
3. Concerning the third, Matthew 25:10: While the foolish virgins went to buy, the bridegroom came, etc. When foolish souls, not prepared, went to buy at the market of the devil with Eve, or with Dinah, where for a small thing they give many good things, those which were prepared entered with the bridegroom to the wedding.
Behold the threefold gain of preparation for judgment, namely the possession of the heavenly kingdom, the lovable society of the bridegroom, the delights of every good. The first is noted there, They entered. The second there, With him. The third there, To the wedding.
1. Concerning the first, Matthew 25:34: Come, blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
2. Concerning the second, 1 Thessalonians 4:17: We will always be with the Lord; without whom no one can be well, and with whom no one can be badly. John 17:24: Father, those whom you have given me, I will that where I am, they also may be with me, that they may see my brightness, which you have given me.
3. Concerning the third, Isaiah 66:10 and 11: Rejoice with her with joy, all you who mourn over her, that is, with the peaceful and pleasant society of all good things, that you may suck and be filled from the breast of her consolation, that you may milk out and flow with delights from her glory of every kind. Amen.
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