Works › Sermons for the Seasons of the Year
Volume 13 · pp. 1–2
Sermons on the Season. Prologue
D. Alberti Magni, Ratisbonensis episcopi, ordinis Praedicatorum, doctrina toto orbe celeberrimi, Sermones de Tempore.
Prologus.
Quoniam Veritatis testimonio 1 servus inutilis, qui talentum Domini commendabilibus lucris non exposuit, sed terris infodit, vituperatur, talento privatur, et in exteriores tenebras, ubi fletus est et stridor dentium, relegatur: timens et ego, si idipsum per modicum talentum, quod a Domino recepi, ad fructum animarum non erogarem: quod videlicet propter hoc animadversioni divinae, tamquam malus et piger servus, cum verecundia subjacerem: quorumdam amicorum diuturnis precibus invitatus, quosdam Sermones de Tempore et festis Sanctorum per anni circulum compilavi, auctoritates sane obscuras et intricatas Bibliorum per industriam derelinquens: illas autem assumens, quae ad instructionem magis competerent simplicium laicorum.
Quocirca peto suppliciter, ne Scripturarum scientia divites, qui e magno cordis thesauro magna et pretiosa dona proferunt, et in Ecclesiae gazophylacium mittunt: ne, inquam, mihi indignentur pauperculo, si cum paupercula vidua duo minuta projiciam 2: praesertim cum Deo gratum sit et acceptum, ut in tabernaculo ejus offerat unusquisque, quod potest: alii aurum, et argentum, et lapides pretiosos: alii byssum, et purpuram, et coccum offerunt, et hyacinthum. Mecum bene agitur, si obtulerim pelles arietum, et pilos caprarum. Abundantes igitur et delicati, qui depuratum granum esuriunt, magnorum Doctorum scripta transcribunt: jumentis autem simplicibus hujus opusculi paleas in pace dimittant. Hi etiam, qui hoc opusculum sunt suscepturi, de sermonum prolixitate non conquerantur. Poterunt enim, si eis placuerit, una vice vel unum, vel duo membra populo pronuntiare, et caetera in tempus posterum reservare.
Of D. Albert the Great, bishop of Regensburg, of the Order of Preachers, by teaching most celebrated in the whole world, Sermons on the Season.
Prologue.
Since, by the testimony of Truth 1, the useless servant who did not expose the talent of the Lord to commendable profits, but buried it in the earth, is reproved, deprived of the talent, and banished into the outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth: I too was afraid that, if I did not expend unto the fruit of souls the small talent that I received from the Lord, I would for this reason, as a wicked and slothful servant, be subject with shame to divine punishment. Invited by the long-lasting prayers of certain friends, I have compiled certain Sermons on the Season and on the feasts of the Saints through the circle of the year, deliberately leaving aside the obscure and intricate authorities of the Scriptures, but taking up those that would be more suitable for the instruction of simple laypeople.
Therefore I ask suppliantly that those rich in the knowledge of the Scriptures, who bring forth great and precious gifts from the great treasure of the heart and put them into the treasury of the Church, should not, I say, be indignant at poor little me, if with the poor little widow I cast in two small coins 2, especially since it is pleasing and acceptable to God that in his tabernacle each one should offer what he can: some offer gold, and silver, and precious stones; others offer fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and hyacinth. It goes well with me if I have offered rams' skins and goats' hair. Therefore let the abundant and delicate, who hunger for purified grain, transcribe the writings of great Doctors; but let them leave in peace the chaff of this little work for simple beasts of burden. These also, who are about to receive this little work, should not complain about the prolixity of the sermons. For they will be able, if it pleases them, at one time to pronounce to the people either one member or two, and to reserve the rest for a later time.
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