E02702: Augustine of Hippo (North Africa), preaches in Latin a sermon on the feast of the *Maccabean Martyrs (pre-Christian Jewish martyrs of Antioch, S00303), referring to the reading of their history and admonishing his audience to participate in the feast of the martyrs rather than in the theatrical shows. Sermon 301A, preached c. 399 in Bulla Regia (North Africa).
online resource
posted on 2017-04-13, 00:00 authored by robertAugustine of Hippo, Sermon 301A
[In solemnitate ss. Machabeorum
'For the feast of the holy Maccabees']
The first part of the sermon does not refer to the feast.
7. Modo spectauimus magnum certamen septem fratrum et matris illorum. Quale certamen, fratres mei, si nouerunt mentes nostrae spectare. Comparate huic sancto spectaculo uoluptates et delicias theatrorum. Ibi oculi inquinantur, hic corda mundantur: hic laudabilis est spectator, si fuerit imitator; ibi autem et spectator turpis est, et imitator infamis. Denique amo martyres, specto martyres: quando leguntur passiones martyrum, specto ... Opportune de spectaculo sanctorum Machabaeorum, quorum uictoriae memoriam hodie celebramus, de spectaculis theatricis admonenda uisa est mihi caritas uestra. O fratres Bullenses, circumquaque prope in omnibus ciuitatibus uicinis uestris lasciuia inpietatis obmutuit. Non erubescitis, quia apud uos solos remansit turpitudo uenalis?
'7. We have just now been spectators of the great contest of the seven brothers and their mother. What a contest, my brothers and sisters, if only our minds knew how to watch it! Compare with the holy spectacle the pleasures and delights of the theaters! There the eyes are defiled, here the heart is purified; here spectators are to be praised, if they become imitators; while there the spectator is base, and the imitator infamous. Well, anyway, I love the martyrs, I go and watch the martyrs; when the passions of the martyrs are read, I am a spectator, watching them ... The spectacle of the holy Maccabees, the memory of whose victory we are celebrating today, seemed to me to provide just the right opportunity for admonishing your graces about theatrical shows and spectacles. O my brothers of Bulla, all round about, in practically all your neighbouring towns, this kind of licentious impiety had fallen silent. Are you not ashamed that among you alone the obscenity has remained up for sale?'
In what follows Augustine preaches against theatrical shows.
Text: Morin 1930, 87. Translation: Hill 1994, 295-26. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.
[In solemnitate ss. Machabeorum
'For the feast of the holy Maccabees']
The first part of the sermon does not refer to the feast.
7. Modo spectauimus magnum certamen septem fratrum et matris illorum. Quale certamen, fratres mei, si nouerunt mentes nostrae spectare. Comparate huic sancto spectaculo uoluptates et delicias theatrorum. Ibi oculi inquinantur, hic corda mundantur: hic laudabilis est spectator, si fuerit imitator; ibi autem et spectator turpis est, et imitator infamis. Denique amo martyres, specto martyres: quando leguntur passiones martyrum, specto ... Opportune de spectaculo sanctorum Machabaeorum, quorum uictoriae memoriam hodie celebramus, de spectaculis theatricis admonenda uisa est mihi caritas uestra. O fratres Bullenses, circumquaque prope in omnibus ciuitatibus uicinis uestris lasciuia inpietatis obmutuit. Non erubescitis, quia apud uos solos remansit turpitudo uenalis?
'7. We have just now been spectators of the great contest of the seven brothers and their mother. What a contest, my brothers and sisters, if only our minds knew how to watch it! Compare with the holy spectacle the pleasures and delights of the theaters! There the eyes are defiled, here the heart is purified; here spectators are to be praised, if they become imitators; while there the spectator is base, and the imitator infamous. Well, anyway, I love the martyrs, I go and watch the martyrs; when the passions of the martyrs are read, I am a spectator, watching them ... The spectacle of the holy Maccabees, the memory of whose victory we are celebrating today, seemed to me to provide just the right opportunity for admonishing your graces about theatrical shows and spectacles. O my brothers of Bulla, all round about, in practically all your neighbouring towns, this kind of licentious impiety had fallen silent. Are you not ashamed that among you alone the obscenity has remained up for sale?'
In what follows Augustine preaches against theatrical shows.
Text: Morin 1930, 87. Translation: Hill 1994, 295-26. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.
History
Evidence ID
E02702Saint Name
Maccabean Brothers, 2nd-century BC Jewish martyrs in Antioch : S00303Saint Name in Source
MachabeiRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Sermons/HomiliesLanguage
- Latin
Evidence not before
397Evidence not after
430Activity not before
397Activity not after
430Place of Evidence - Region
Latin North Africa Latin North AfricaPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
Hippo Regius Bulla RegiaPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Hippo Regius Carthage Carthago Karthago قرطاج Qarṭāj Mçidfa Carthage Bulla Regia Carthage Carthago Karthago قرطاج Qarṭāj Mçidfa CarthageMajor author/Major anonymous work
Augustine of HippoCult activities - Liturgical Activity
- Service for the Saint
Cult activities - Festivals
- Saint’s feast
