Dum Rome comburerentur campane ecclesie Sancti Petri, Christus dicit sponse, quod non miretur, quia aliquando elementa ostendunt signa euentuum futurorum. Sic ille campane ostendunt propinquam mortem cuiusdam pontificis, cui graue instat iudicium, nisi cito ad Deum conuertatur.
Signs in the Elements
Christ explains to the bride that the burning of the church bells is a divine sign reflecting the gravity of future events.
Shortly before the death of a certain pope, the bells of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome were burned in a remarkable incident. When she heard this, the bride was stunned and began to pray. And then Christ appeared to her, saying: Truly, daughter, this is a significant sign. For it is written that all the elements suffered with me at my death, when they withdrew their splendor and their usual effects.✦ Elements and creatures sometimes fight and judge on God's behalf, showing in their own courses the wrath of God and signs of future events. But now the church bells are burning, and they all seem to cry out:
The Vanity of the Shepherd
The burning bells symbolize the rejection of a worldly pontiff who led through pride rather than spiritual guidance.
"The master is dead; the master pontiff has passed away!" "May this day be blessed, but not this master!" How astonishing! For where everyone ought to be shouting, 'Long live this master, and may he live happily!' there they shout and say with joy: "Let him come down and never rise again!" It’s no wonder. For he himself, who should have been crying out, 'Come, and you'll find the salvation of your souls!' he himself was crying out: "Come and see me in more pomp and ambition than Solomon!" "Come to my court and empty your purses, and you'll find the ruin of your souls!" For that is how he was calling out, through his example and his deeds.
The Call to Repentance
Despite the severity of the impending judgment, God offers mercy to the pontiff if he chooses to return.
And so the time to go is already drawing near, and I will judge him as one who has scattered Peter's flock. Oh, what a judgment hangs over him! Yet, if he is still willing to turn back to me, I will meet him halfway like a loving father.
Read the original Latin
Paulo ante mortem cuiusdam pontificis mirabili casu comburebantur campane ecclesie Sancti Petri in Roma. Que audiens sponsa stupefacta orabat. Et tunc apparuit ei Christus dicens:
"Vere, filia, magnum signum est istud. Nam scriptum est, quod elementa omnia quasi compaciebantur michi in morte, quando splendorem et solitum effectum suum retraxerunt.
Sic elementa et creature quandoque pugnant et iudicant pro Deo et ostendunt in cursibus suis iram Dei et signa euentuum futurorum. Sed nunc ecclesie comburuntur campane et quasi clamant omnes:
'Dominus mortuus est, dominus pontifex recessit! Sit dies ista benedicta, sed non dominus iste!' O mirabiliter! Vbi enim omnes clamare deberent: 'Viuat diu et viuat feliciter iste dominus!' , ibi clamant et gaudenter dicunt:
'Descendat et non consurgat!' Nec mirum. Nam ipse, qui clamare debuerat: 'Venite, et inuenietis salutem animarum vestrarum!' , ipse clamabat:
'Venite et videte me in pompa et ambicione plus quam Salomonem! Venite ad curiam meam et exhaurite bursas vestras, et inuenietis perdicionem animarum vestrarum!' Sic enim clamabat exemplo et facto.
Et ideo iam appropinquat tempus ire, et iudicabo eum sicut dissipatorem gregis Petri. O o, quale iudicium instat ei! Verumptamen, si adhuc voluerit conuerti ad me, ego occurram ei in media via sicut pius pater."
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.27.45 — Now from the sixth hour darkness came over all the land until the ninth hour.
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