Gaudentius of Brescia preaches a sermon (Sermon 15) for the feast of the *Maccabean Martyrs (pre-Christian Jewish martyrs of Antioch, S00303). Delivered in Latin in Brescia (northern Italy), c. 400.
E05337
Literary - Sermons/Homilies
Gaudentius of Brescia
Gaudentius of Brescia, Sermon 15
Summary:
The tract is entitled: ‘Tract Fifteen on the Maccabean Martyrs on their Feast Day' (Tractatus Quintus Decimus de Machabaeis Martyribus. Die Natalis Eorum). Gaudentius opens by asking if any in his congregation are surprised that Jews are celebrated as holy martyrs. He tells them this is because they were living before the coming of Christ. He praises the nobility of the youths who suffered: they venerate God and the law. In particular they did not eat the flesh of pigs. This was because meat can nourish carnal lusts and pigs are unclean animals who are associated with demons. This exhortation to avoid a certain type of meat is likened to God’s command that Adam and Eve should not eat from one of the trees in Eden. The most important thing for the Maccabees is that they obeyed God in even small matters. Gaudentius then praises the brothers for withstanding tortures, which ranged from physical suffering to resistance to promises of riches. Their mother – who looked on their bodies with joy – also ought to be praised.
Summary: Frances Trzeciak.
Sermon/homily
FestivalsSaint’s feast
Rejection, Condemnation, SceptisismUncertainty/scepticism/rejection of a saint
Non Liturgical ActivityComposing and translating saint-related texts
Oral transmission of saint-related stories
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - bishops
Women
Relatives of the saint
Torturers/Executioners
Source
A sermon of Gaudentius of Brescia. Gaudentius was ordained bishop of Brescia by Ambrose of Milan at some time between 384 (the earliest possible date of the death of his predecessor, Philastrius) and 397 (the year of Ambrose’s death). He was bishop of Brescia for at least fourteen years. During this time, he authored several tracts, many of which were intended to be preached to his congregation in Brescia.Bibliography
Text:Glück, A., Tractatus XXI. Gaudentius Brixiensis (Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum 68; Vienna, 1936).
Translation:
Boehrer, S., Gaudentius of Brescia: Sermons and Letters (Studies in Sacred Theology Second Series: Doctoral Dissertation, 165; Washington D.C., 1965)
Further Reading:
Lizzi, R., "Ambrose’s Contemporaries and the Christianization of Northern Italy," Journal of Roman Studies 80 (1990) 156-173.
Truzzi, C., Zeno, Gaudenzio e Cromazio. Testi e contenuti della predicaione Cristiana per le chiese di Verona, Brescia e Aquileia (360 – 410 ca.) (Brescia: Paideia, 1985).
Frances Trzeciak
16/04/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00303 | Maccabean Martyrs, pre-Christian Jewish martyrs of Antioch | Machabaei | Certain |
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