Christus ostendit sponse horribilem sentenciam dampnacionis anime vnius cardinalis defuncti, quia inique et in deliciis vixerat. Et comminatur prelatis et clero cum districta iusticia terribiliter, qui deuorantes consumunt indebite bona ecclesiastica fidelium benefactorum. Promittit tamen ipsis benefactoribus in gloria eterna remuneracionem optimam.
The Cardinal's Four Chambers
A deceased cardinal is shown passing through four chambers of judgment, each revealing the vanity of his earthly attachments.
The figure of a deceased cardinal appeared to be sitting on a wooden beam. Black Ethiopians were preparing four chambers for him, through which the soul of that man was required to pass. In the first chamber, however, were various garments that the soul had loved in life. In the second were gold and silver vessels and other various utensils in which the soul had taken delight in life. In the third chamber were various foods and scents, with which the soul used to refresh itself while in the body. In the fourth chamber were horses and other animals, which the soul used to advance its status while it was in the body. As the soul passed through the first chamber—the one for clothing—it was gripped by an unbearable cold and weighed down by a terrible burden, and crying out in anguish, it said:1 Woe to me, for I loved what is beautiful more than what is useful. I loved being exalted and praised. Therefore, it is fitting that I be crushed beneath the footstools of the devils. Passing through the second chamber, it felt a torrent of pitch and a flame spreading everywhere, and then the soul cried out: "Woe to me," the soul cried, "eternal woe, because I drank again and again, chasing worldly glitter and the things of earth; and so, I deserve to be drenched in the torrent of diabolical pleasure." When the soul had passed through the third chamber, it sensed a foul stench and fiery serpents, and then it cried out in horror, saying: "Oh, I loved the handmaid and spurned the mistress!" I loved what was sweet, and so I am worthy to taste what is bitter." Passing through the fourth chamber, however, she heard a sound as terrible as thunder, and she cried out miserably in fear: "Oh, how worthy is my reward!"
The Accounting of Stewardship
Christ warns the clergy of the strict judgment awaiting those who misuse the alms and goods of the Church.
After this, a voice was heard again, saying: "What is man thinking about on earth?" Could the Son of God be lying when He said that a person will have to give an account in judgment for even the smallest coin?✦ In fact, I tell you that it goes even further: a person will have to give an account for every single moment, every penny, every bit of food and drink, and every individual thought and word, unless they are washed clean by compunction and penance. Do the clergy, cardinals, and bishops really not believe that I will demand an accounting for my alms, which they don't consume with fear and devotion, but rather devour without any fruit? Do they really believe that the souls—those who once owned the goods they now boast about—aren't asking for justice in my sight? Truly, daughter, I will judge them, and I will carefully examine by what right they take my offerings; both men and angels will judge them. My friends and I have endowed my Church so that the clergy might serve me more peacefully. But now, the clergy don't live like friends, nor do they pray in a way that they might be heard. Therefore, I will provide for the souls of those whose goods these were, out of the table of my grace and passion, and I will have mercy on them.
Read the original Latin
Videbatur quasi persona vnius cardinalis defuncti sedere in vna trabe lignea. Cui per Ethiopes nigros quatuor camere preparabantur, per quas animam supradicti oportebat transire.
In prima autem camera erant vestes diuersorum generum, quas anima in vita dilexerat. In secunda erant vasa aurea et argentea et alia genera diuersorum vtensilium, in quibus anima delectabatur in vita.
In tercia camera erant cibaria et odoramenta diuersa, quibus anima cum corpore reficiebatur. In quarta camera erant equi et animalia, quibus anima, quando erat cum corpore, promouebatur.
Cum igitur anima transiret per cameram primam, scilicet vestium, intollerabili frigore constringebatur et onere horribili deprimebatur, et clamans flebiliter dixit:
"Ve michi, quia dilexi magis pulchrum quam vtile. Dilexi enim exaltari et laudari. Ideo dignum est, vt deprimar sub scabellis dyabolorum."
Transiens vero per secundam cameram sensit torrentem piceum et flammam diffundentem vndique, et tunc clamauit anima:
"Ve", inquit, "michi, ve eternum, quia bibi et rebibi, quesiui fulgencia et terrea et ideo torrente voluptatis dyabolice digna sum inebriari."
Cumque anima pertransisset per terciam cameram, sensit fetorem pessimum et ignitos serpentes, et tunc clamauit horribiliter dicens:
"O o, dilexi ancillam et spreui dominam! Dilexi suauia, ideo digna sum gustare hec amara." Transiens autem per quartam cameram audiuit sonum terribilem quasi tonitrui, et clamauit miserabiliter pre timore: "O, quam digna est remuneracio mea!"
Post hec autem iterum audiebatur vna vox dicens: "Quid cogitat homo in terra? An quod filius Dei mencietur, qui dixit, quod homo de minimo quadrante reddet racionem in iudicio?
Ymmo dico, quod plus est, quod eciam de quolibet momento et denario et de cibo et potu et de singulis cogitacionibus et locucionibus reddet homo racionem, nisi abluantur contricione et penitencia.
Aut numquid non credit clerus et cardinales et episcopi, quod de elemosinis meis, quas ipsi non cum timore et deuocione comedunt sed deuorant sine fructu, non exigo racionem?
Aut numquid credunt, quod anime, quarum erant illa bona, de quibus ipsi superbiunt, non petunt in conspectu meo vindictam? Vere, filia, iudicabo et diligenter scrutabor, qua racione leuant oblaciones meas, et homines et angeli iudicabunt eos.
Nam ego et amici mei dotauimus Ecclesiam meam, vt clerici quiecius seruirent michi. Sed nunc nec clerici viuunt vt amici, nec orant, vt audiantur. Ideo ego animabus illorum, quorum bona illa fuerunt, ex mensa gracie mee et passionis prouidebo et miserebor."
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.5.26 — Truly I tell you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last penny.
Notes
- 1 ↩The Latin 'vestium' refers to the chamber of garments, implying the soul is being stripped of its worldly finery or forced to confront the vanity of its former outward display.
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