De mendacio custodum
The Soldiers' Testimony and the Priests' Deceit
The guards of the tomb report the Resurrection to the chief priests, who attempt to suppress the truth.
After the women left the tomb to carry out the Lord's command, some of the soldiers guarding it—having seen what happened and heard the angel's words—went into Jerusalem that same day of the Resurrection. They reported everything to the chief priests who had stationed them there: the Resurrection of Christ, the terrifying appearance of the Angel, and the earthquake. And so, from what they had seen and heard, they became—whether they liked it or not—witnesses and preachers of the truth and of the Resurrection of the Lord, the conqueror of death; and this is, indeed, a powerful testimony, that the Jews should hear from the very enemies and crucifiers of Christ that He has risen. Therefore, according to Chrysostom, the Angel's miraculous appearance and the earthquake happened for the sake of the soldiers, so that they would be stunned and the testimony of the truth would be held by them; for truth shines more brightly when it is spread by its opponents. This is what happened when the aforementioned guards reported everything that had occurred to the chief priests. It should be noted here that those who wish to hinder divine providence end up promoting it against their own intentions, just as Joseph's brothers sold him so they wouldn't have to bow down to him, and by doing so, were compelled to bow down to him according to the order of divine providence. Thus, the chief priests of the Jews, wishing to hinder the fame of Christ's name, were very diligent in guarding the tomb, and through this, the fame of the truth of His Resurrection—and consequently of His name—was celebrated. Unlearned simplicity, therefore, confesses the truth, while the cunning duplicity of the powerful seeks a way to construct falsehood. Hence Rabanus says: 'Simple fairness of mind and the unlearned rusticity of men often manifest the truth of a matter without deceit; but, on the contrary, crafty malice struggles to commend falsehood as truth with plausible words.' So says Rabanus.
The Vanity of the Purchased Lie
The Jewish leaders bribe the soldiers to spread a false story, a deception that reveals their own greed and spiritual blindness.
The wickedness of the Jews didn't stop there; they met with the elders, took counsel, and gave the soldiers a large sum of money to distort the truth, instructing them to discredit the story of the Resurrection by saying, "His disciples came at night and stole him while we were asleep." What an obvious lie. Remigius says: "O foolish insanity! Sleeping witnesses? If they were asleep, how could they see a theft? And if they didn't see it, how can they be witnesses?" If even thieves saw them, why didn't they stop them? Chrysostom adds: "The lie they told was truly worthless." How could the disciples—poor, uneducated men who were afraid to even show their faces—have stolen him? They had fled while Christ was still alive; why wouldn't they have feared a whole company of soldiers? And could they have moved the stone from the tomb's entrance? It was a massive stone that would have required many hands. Wasn't there also a seal placed over it? Why, then, should the claims about the theft be considered believable? They try to obscure the Resurrection, and in doing so, they make it seem as if they are saying: because the disciples stole the body, they admit it isn't in the tomb. But as Chrysostom says, the guard of soldiers and the fear of the disciples expose the theft. By this, they also plotted the ruin of the disciples by charging them with the crime of theft. Spiritually, however, the disciples of Christ were thieves, because from the ungrateful... ...the writings of the New and Old Testament were taken away. They used to contribute them for the use of the Church, but they took away the Savior—who had been promised to them—while they were sleeping at night, sluggish in their unbelief, and handed Him over to be believed in by the Gentiles. And, as Severianus says, the soldiers lost Him, and the Jews destroyed Him; but the disciples took their Master, not by theft, but by virtue; not by fraud, but by grace. They were so consumed by their own greed that they would have extinguished the very light of truth; they spent nothing of their own for the sake of that blood, but instead used the common funds of their prodigy. Anyone who abuses the temple's resources—which are meant for the Church's needs—to satisfy their own desires is like the scribes and the priests who bought a lie with the price of the Savior's blood. They are guilty of silence and theft, for they prefer the honor of the world—found in money and greed—over the glory of Christ. So says Hilary. Those who labor with great effort and expense to suppress the truth are similar to these Jews. They are called deceitful teachers, along with those who lead others into this by any means necessary. Where they overcame the soldiers, they showed such malice toward the disciple that they made him out to be a traitor; for there is nothing hidden that won't be brought to light, as it is said: 'It is wicked to love money.' Hence, it is always to be detested by good souls.
The Persistence of Error
The false narrative of the stolen body continues to bind the Jews in error, while the faithful are called to spiritual vigilance.
This is the end of the matter. What is this unshakeable claim? You, you poured out the race of men; you cast the disciple who was Christ’s companion out of his apostleship; you, you captured and laid waste to the soldiers guarding Christ’s tomb! . Isn't it written: 'All things obey money'?✦ So says Rabanus. . ... ...and heirs. The Jews, and... the soldiers. in this. this. in their wickedness, and even among... the great and the powerful. They’ve abandoned those who are corrupted by money, and who corrupt others in turn. And acting wickedly for the sake of temporal and passing things, they believe nonetheless—though in vain—that it is so. May their souls rest in peace. And may they have a part with Christ in the resurrection. The guards, however, corrupted by the money they received, did as they were instructed and said: “His disciples came by night and stole his body while we were asleep.” But iniquity lied to itself, as did greed—just as Christ’s own disciple was deceived. This mockery, alas! is fitting today for many who are lazy and sluggish during that hour of the Lord's Resurrection. Hence, Petrus Damianus says: ... It is necessary, however, to stay awake, because... ... Let him agree. And. Especially near daybreak. So that. Specifically, at the time when sloth and spiritual apathy weigh down the soul, may it not find us. Occupied with duty, may it be absent. We should also be on guard against sleep or the lethargy of sloth at that very hour when it's certain our Redeemer rose, having destroyed the power of death. If we're asleep then, while the physical sun is rising, our inner self should still be waiting for the light that never sets. God forbid that the mockery of those who said, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep,' should seem to apply to us, as Peter Damian says. The Jews bought that lie from the soldiers at a high price, and it still holds them in error, from which it was spread abroad and that word remained: that Christ had been stolen. It wasn't that he hadn't risen, but they held it as truth, though it was false, and it remains among them to this very day. Even today, they don't see or understand their own error. Rabanus says: "The error of a purchased lie." By this, they deny the Resurrection. This truth persists among the Jews, so that they might not believe in Christ; and it binds them in their guilt forever. For a time, however, the lie prevailed.
The Witness of the Risen Saints
The resurrection of the saints serves as an irrefutable divine testimony against the falsehoods of the Jews.
For: in fact, against the fabricated lie of the Jews. an effective and irrefutable testimony of the dead who rose again shines forth, because many... the bodies of the saints who had slept the sleep of death rose again after His Resurrection as witnesses of His rising, and coming out of their tombs, they entered the holy city of Jerusalem, which is called holy because of the temple dedicated to divine worship and because of the Holy of Holies. . and on account of the distinction of other cities, in... by which they were cultivated; or according to the ancient name, just as Matthew is called a publican; they appeared to many, three times... [Text corrupt/unintelligible]. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. The announcement of the Lord's Resurrection. To these, it was permitted to see what they deserved. They accepted this, but not everyone did, because it wasn't the general resurrection that will eventually appear to everyone, both good and evil. And this was done divinely against the Jews and the soldiers, as a testimony that Christ the Lord truly rose from the dead as the firstfruits of those who sleep. Hence Chrysostom says: 'The graves were opened, and the dead rose, and they entered the holy city; so that they might leave it without excuse, and the Lord's Resurrection might be confirmed.' There were some, as mentioned earlier in the Epistle to the Hebrews, who desired to be buried in the holy land so that they might rise when the Lord rose. In the Gospel of the Nazarenes, it is also written that two holy men, who had died forty years earlier, came into the temple and wrote about how those in limbo rejoiced at the Lord's descent into hell, and how the demons were troubled.
Hope in the Resurrection
The resurrection of the saints provides hope for our own future resurrection, concluding with a prayer for truth and perseverance.
Pope Leo says: "Let those who were weighed down by the graves of mortality, having broken through the delay of obstacles, spring forth; let the signs of the future resurrection also appear now in the holy City, that is, the Church of God, and let what must be believed in our bodies come to pass in our hearts." So says Pope Leo. It was right that others rose at the time of the Lord's Resurrection, so that when a person might despair of attaining what God had shown in Himself, that person might presume that what they saw done in pure human beings could also come to pass in themselves. Gregory says: "To instruct our ignorance and strengthen our weakness, He willed that the example of His Resurrection should be enough for us; He alone died at that time, yet He was not the only one to rise." "For let no one say that a person shouldn't hope for themselves what the God-Man showed in His own flesh; look, we know that human beings have risen with God." So says Gregory. Consider here how great the wickedness of the Jews was toward the Lord Jesus—which didn't cease even after His death—and how great His goodness was toward those whose salvation He still cared for. By these examples, we too are moved to imitate His goodness toward those who injure us. PRAYER. Lord Jesus Christ, to tarnish the fame of Your Resurrection, the Jews gave the soldiers a large sum of money and corrupted them to pervert the truth. Grant that I may not be corrupted by money, nor corrupt others, nor act unjustly for the sake of temporal and transitory things; but may I always remain in the truth and be set free by it. Grant also that, just as those who rose after Your Resurrection were witnesses for You, I may deserve to testify to You in word and deed, and in the general resurrection have a part with You and Your elect, and with them rejoice before You in Your kingdom without end, through Your mercy. Amen. 695
Read the original Latin
Deinde cum mulieres abiissent a monumento, ad explendam jussionem Dominicam , ecce quidam de militibus , illud custodientibus , qui viderunt factum, et audierunt verbum angelicum, verierunt, ipsa die Resurrectionis, in civitatem, scilicet Jerusalem, ei pricipibus sacerdotum, a quibus positi erant ad custodiendum sepulcrum Christi, nuniiaverunt omnia , quce facta fuerant , scilicet Chrisli Resurrectionem, ct Angeli terribilem apparitionem ac terrae motum. Et sic ex his quae viderant et audierant facti sunt, vellent nollent, testes et praedicatores veritatis et Resurrectionis Domini triumphatoris mortis ; et hoc quippe est validum testimonium, quod ab inimicis et crucifixoribus Christi Judaei audiant ipsum surrexisse. Unde, secundum Chrysostomum^ mira Angeli apparitio et terrae motus, propter milites facta sunt, ut stupefierent, et ab eis heret testimonium veritatis; veritas enim a contrariis divulgata magis effulget. Quod et contigit, quando praedicti custodes nuntiaverunt principibus omnia , quce facia fuerant, Ubi notandum, quod volentes impedire divinam providentiam, contra suam intentionem promovent illam, sicut fratres Joseph vendiderunt ipsum ne adorarent eum, et per hoc compulsi sunt eum adorare, secundum providentiae divinae ordinem. Sic principes Judaeorum volentes impedire celebritatem nominis Christi, fuerunt valde dlligentes de custodia sepulchri, et per hoc celebrata est fama de veritate suae Resurrectionis, et per consequens sui nominis. Indocta igitur simplicitas fatetur veritatem, astuta vero duplicitas principum modum quaerit , quo astruat falsitatem. Unde Rabanus : « Simplex animi aequitas, et indocta hominum rusticitas sxpe veritatem rei sine fraude manifestat; at contra versuta malignitas falsitatem verisimilibus verbis pro vero cpmmendare decertat : » haec Rabanus.
Unde nequitia Judaeorum per hoc non quiescit, quia congregati cum senioribus, ad confingendum falsitatem , consiUo accepto , dederunt miliiibus pecuniam copiosam , ad pervertendum veritatem, injungentes eis ut ad denigrandam Resur-' rectlonis famam dicerent : Quia 6a» diseipuli ejus noete venerunt ctfurati sunt eum, nobis dormientibus. Eci;e aperlum mendacium. Unde Remigius : u O stulia insania, dormiuntes lestes Bdhibesl Si dormienjat, quomodo fiirtura videmot ; ai non viderunt, quomodo testeE sunt ? Quoii ai etiam 'fures viderunl, cur nos eos detinuerunti « Unde ct Chrysosiomus : u Vare fbnnaiti mendacii habebat quod dicebant. Qualiier enim furarentur discipuli homines pauperes, et idiotte et neque apparere audenles ; Si enim. adhuc ChriBtum vivuni videntes fugerunt, qualiter mortuo eo, non timuisseni lot railitum multitudinera f Nuroquid ostiura sepulchri polerant evertere t Lapis eroinebat magnus, multis indigeus manlbua. Kumquid etiam non erat sigilium supcrimpositum .' Quare non persuaEibilla sunt quz de furto dicla Bunt.
UndeperquieResurreetionem oburobrare conantur, per ha;c cam faciantc]arere,dicemes enira : Quia discipuli furati sunt, confitentur corpus uon esse in sepulch. ro ; furtum autem oatendit csse inendas, custodia militum, et discipulorum pavor : 11 htec Ckrysostomus. Pei" hoc etiam moliebantur discipulonim perditionem, iraponendo eis furci crimen. Spiritualiter aulem dificipuli Christi fures erant, quia ab ingratis J. udxis scriptaNovi et Veteris Testamenti ablata. in usum Ecdesiz conferebant, ec Salvatorem, qui eis promissus fijerat, illls nocte dormienlibus, hoc eat infidelitaie torpentibus, abstulerunt, Gentibua credendura tradentes. Et, ul dicit Severianus, atniserunt milites, pcrdiderunl Judeei ; sed dlsciputi Wagiairum suum non furto aed iide, virtute non fraudi Gustulerunt.
De lempli vero e copiosam, i stinguerent vilara prit emcrant ; d cujus sanguinem cl hujusmodi pecimia communi prodigi sui de proprio nil erogepropr» : diiigi rajrymus : Unde Hieu Custodes miractil» lli autem qui post tale teslimonium debuerant converli ad pcenitentiam, et Jesum qusrere resurgoiitom, perseverant in malitia, et pecuniam, quae ad usus terapli data fuerat, vertunl in redemptioncm mendacii, sicut et ante triginla argenteos JudK dederant proditori. Omnes igitur qui slipe templi, eS his qua: conFcrunlur ad asus Eoclv^x abutuntur in aJiis rebua, ite quibus auam explenl voIuntHtem-,slroiles sunl Scribarum et sacradO" luro, rediraeniium mendacium, a» sanguinem Salvatoris- ■> Unde- e* Hilarius : <i Emitur ergo Resurre? ctionis silentiuro, et furti meada>> cium argento, quia honore seculii qui in pecunia cst et cupiditace; Christi gloria denegatur -. n htee: Hilarius. Istis etiam Judreis similb* sunt, qui cura magnis sumpcibua alaboribus nem VErilatis ; cujusmodi sunt-»d'-. vocati dolosi, et doctores riosi, et illi qui eoa ad hoc- induoilnll quibuscunque modis. Ubi CArj'-ram militcs superaverunt, qute apud' discipulum tantam ostenderunt vir* lutem, ut fticerent eum Magimi* proditorem; nihil enim dftusunB vel occulium, quod non indagante, sit contrituro , quod dicitur : Nikil iniquiue-, amare pecuniam. « Unde et Hia : " pesiis raagna avantin; aemper bonis animis detestaDA<# Quid.
illicsura. quid irconcussum-dlmiClis; Tu, genus hi fudisti , tu discipulum comitem Christi ab apostolatu praecipitasti, tu milites custodientes Christi scrpulchru m capti vasti ! . Numqiiid' ber lie dictum est : Pecwtice obediunt omnia? haec Rabanus. . 0^c\\iOi. ^rcios et heredes.
Judaei et. milites. in ho. c. scelere, ©tiam apud. magnosL ot potentes,. reliquerunt,, qui pecunia corrumpunturi et corrumpunt , . ac pro temporalihus et transitoriis agpntes inique, credunt nihilominus, sed vane,,, quod sic.
aniinae eorum requiescant in pace. et parr tem habeant cum Christo ih resurrectione.
Custodes vero accepta pecunia corrupti , fecerunt sicut erant edocti et dixerunt : . iVoWs dormientibus, furati sunt discipuli Jesu corpus ejus ; sed mentita est iniquiias sibi, et avaritia ; sicut et Christi discipulus , sunt decepti. Haec autem irrisio , heu! multis hodie congruit pigris , illa hora Dominicae Resurrectionis torpentibus. Unde Petrus Damianus,:. <iC». TYfindum est autem n&somno quia^ Tel ad momentum quidem,. in-comr petentibus hori&.
assentiat,. et. maxime juxta diluculum. ; uttqua. w— delicet tempore gFavdus^ incumbiti accidia, canonicis nosinvoniat. occupatos ofificii&a AJbtsit. etiamt nos; tunc sopore vel ignaviae taedere, qua videlicet hora constat Redemptorem nostrum , destructo mortis imperio, surrexisse; ne si tunc dormiamus, quanto oriente sole corporeo, etiam interior noster homo lucem debeat inocciduam exspectrt re, quod absit, ut irrisio noBis videatur illa congruere : Discipuli ejus nocte venerunt, et, nobis dor^ mientibus, furati sunt eum : » haec Petrus Damianus, Istud autem mendacium militum Judaei emerunt care, quod adhuc eos tenet in errore, unde divulgatum est, et mansit verbum istud, scilicet quod Christus furatus fuisset, . non surrexisset , tanquam verum , quod tamen erant falsum , apudl Jh^ dceos usque modo,,et in hodiernum diem, et.
usque hodle suum non vident vel intellignnt errorcnr. Uhde Rabanus : « Error empti mendacii,. per quod Resurrectionis denegant. veritatem, perseverat ih Judacds, ne in Christum credant; et rjeatu eo& constrihgit perpetuo. » Adtempus autem mendacium prae=i valuit, .
Nam. cQntra fictmn mendacium Jiidaeorum, re. fulget efficax ex irrefragabile testimoriium resurgentium mortuorum : quia multa. corpora, Sanctorum qid dbrmierant somno mortis, surirexerunt postt Resurrectionem ejus, tanquam testes suae Resurrectibnis, et exeuntes de monumentis venerunt in sanctam civitatem Jerusalem, quae dicitur sancta : propter templum divino cultui deputatum, et propter sancta< sanctomm. , . et ob distinctlcrnem* alilEUttm: urhtvtm, in. quibus idirlacolebantur; vel pro antlqiiQ nomine,, uti Matthaws publicanu$ dicitiir ; eh apparuerunt, nmltis^, ter sdficantc»:dQuB. eEsairrficti.
one Doininai aK:tlicel7 idoneis ad.' dfidarationem BfisurEectioniai Domimcai. his^ acir licet qui videre merufia2unt,. ettn8S«cgentem susceperunt; sed non omnibus, quia non erat resurrectio generalis, quae apparebit omnibus et bonis et malis. El hoc divinitus factum est contra Judaeos et milites, im testimonium quod Christus Dominus primitice dormientium vere resurrexit a mortuis. Unde Chrysostomus : a Aperta sunt monumenta, et resurrexerunt mortui, et intraverunt in sanctam Civitatem ; ut inexcusabilem relinquerent eam, et Domini Resurrectio firmaretur : » haec Chrysostomus. FoTtehi fuerunt, de quibus supra epistolam ad Hebrseos legitur, quod multi affectaverunt sepeliri in terra sancta, ut ciim Domino resurgente resurgerent. In Evangelio etiam Nazaraeorum legitur, quod duoviri sancti mortui ante quadraginta annos, venerunt in templum , et scripserunt : quomodo illi qui erant in iimbo, exsultaverunt in descensu Domini ad inferos ; et daemonestristabantur.
Unde Leo Papa : « Qui mortalitatis gravabantur sepulchris, discussa obstaculorum mora prosiliant ; appareant quoque nunc in Civitate sancta, id est Ecclesia Dei futurae resurrectionis indicia, et quod credendum est in corporibus, fiat in cordibus : » haec Leo Papa. Recte autem in Resurrectionis Domini tempore alii surrexerunt, ut cum se percipere desperaret homo, quod in se ostenderat Deus; homo hoc in se fieri posse praesumeret, quod in puris hominibus factum cognosceret. Unde Gregorius : a Ad instruendam ergo igiiorantiam nostram, ad roborandam infirmitatem nostram, suae Resurrectionis exemplum nobis sufficere voluit; solus illo in tempore mortuus est, et tamen solus minime surrexit. Ne quis enim dicat, sperare de se non debet homo, quod in carne sua exhibuit Homo-Deus; ecce cum Deo homines resurrexisse cognoscimus : » haec Gregorius, Considera hic quam magna fuit nequitia Judaeorum circa Dominum Jesum, quae etiam post ejus mortem non cessavit; et quam magnabonitas circa illos, de quorum salute nihilominus curam habuit : quibus exemplis et nos provocamur , ut ejus bonitatem circa injuriantes imitemur. ORATIO. Domine Jesu Christe, ad cujus Resurrectionis famam denigrandam Judaei militibus pecuniam copiosam dederunt, et ad pervertendum veritatem eos corruperunt , da mihi ut pecunia non corrumpar, vel corrumpam, nec pro temporalibus et transitoriis inique agam ; sed semper in veritate permaneam, et liberer per eam. Da etiam mihi, ut sicut post Resurrectionem tuam surgentes testes exstiterunttibi, sicetego merear de te verbo et opere testificari, et in resurrectione generali, tecum etcum tuis electis partem habere, et cum eis coram te in regno tuo sine fine, te miserante, gaudere. Amen.
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