De peregrinis et de edi/icacione castri et civitatis Colmensis.
The Call to the Cross
The preaching of the cross stirs German warriors to take up arms for a new crusade in Prussia, avenging the crucified Lord.
Since, then, the message of Christ's cross was spreading through every land of the kingdom of Germany, and a new war was being proclaimed — which the Lord chose in the land of Prussia — along with an indulgence and freedom for this new war, those whose hearts God had touched were stirred up: chosen and renowned warriors of Germany, fastening the cross to their shoulders, preparing themselves for battle, so that they might avenge the wrong done to the crucified Lord, setting aside from themselves anything that could delay their holy resolve.✦
Renouncing All for the Cross
Citing Jerome, the text exhorts pilgrims to forsake even the dearest family bonds and fly to the banner of the cross.
Paying attention to that saving word of Jerome's exhortation, where he says: If your father has stood on the threshold, and your brother has hung himself on your neck, and your mother has shown you the breasts that nursed you — go past the trampled father, go past the trampled mother, and fly to the banner of the cross.✦
The Pilgrims Arrive at Culm
The pilgrims arrive in 1230 and proceed to the site of the ancient castle of Culm.
With these pilgrims, while they were coming, Thodomini 1230. Two into that place where the ancient castle now stands.
Read the original Latin
Cum ergo sonus predicacionis crucis Cristi exiret in omnem terram regni Alemanie, et preconizaretur novum bellum, quod elegit dominus in terra Prussie, et novi belli indulgencia et libertas, commoti sunt illi, quorum deus tetigerat corda, electi scilicet et incliti bellatores Alemanie, et affigentes crucem humeris suis, preparant se ad arma, ut vindicent injuriam domini crucifixi, removentes a se quicquid eorum sanctum propositum poterat retardare. Attendentes ad illud Jeronimi salutifere verbum exhortacionis, ubi dicit: Si pater tuns in limine steterit, et frater tuns in collo tuoc se suspenderit, et mater tua ubera, que te lactaverunt, ostenderit, per calcatum perge patrem, per calcatam perge matrem, et ad vexillum crucis evola. Cum hiis peregrinis, dum venirent Thodomini mccxxx. ii in eum locum, ubi nunc situm est castrum antiquum.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Rom.10.18 — But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed, their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the inhabited world.
- ↩Luke.14.26 — If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters — yes, even his own life — he cannot be my disciple.
Chronicon Terrae Prussiae (Chronicle of the Prussian Land) companion
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