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E04449: Augustine of Hippo preaches in Latin a sermon on the feast of martyrs, in which he encourages his congregation to follow their example, explains that they are friends of God, but were human and so can be imitated. Sermon 335H, delivered in Hippo (North Africa) on an unspecified date c. 415/420.
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posted on 2017-12-11, 00:00 authored by robertAugustine of Hippo, Sermon 335H
[In die natali martyrum
'On the birthday of some martyrs']
1. Omnes sollemnitates beatissimorum martyrum admonent nos quantum sit contemnenda uita praesens, et quantum sit futura quaerenda.
'All the feasts of the most blessed martyrs remind us what little regard we should have for this present life, and how much we should set our hearts on the life to come.'
After a passage focusing on Christ, who is the 'chief of the martyrs' Augustine admonishes the congregation to follow their example.
2. Vos ergo, fratres, admoneo hortor atque obsecro, ut quomodo celebratis deuote sollemnitatem martyrum, sic ametis sanctos mores martyrum. Martyres sunt, sed homines fuerunt. Orationibus adiuuant nos, sed hoc erant quod nos. Nolite ergo desperare merita eorum. Qui enim donauit illis, potest donare et nobis. Non enim eos tamquam deos colimus, sed eos propter deum honoramus, eum uero deum colimus, qui et noster dominus est, et illorum. Illi gratia eius amici sunt eius, nos simus uel serui eius.
'So then, I'm admonishing you, brothers, urging and begging you, that just as you are celebrating the feast of the martyrs with great devotion, so you should love the holy conduct of the martyrs. They are martyrs, yes; but they were human beings. They help us with their prayers, but they were just what we are. So don't despair of equaling their merits. The one who endowed them can also endow us. You see, you are not worshipping them like gods, but honouring them on God's account, while the God we worship is the one who is both our Lord and theirs. They are his friends by grace, let us, at least, be his servants.'
Text: Patrologiae Latinae Supplementum, 830-831. Translation: Hill 1994, 246-247. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.
[In die natali martyrum
'On the birthday of some martyrs']
1. Omnes sollemnitates beatissimorum martyrum admonent nos quantum sit contemnenda uita praesens, et quantum sit futura quaerenda.
'All the feasts of the most blessed martyrs remind us what little regard we should have for this present life, and how much we should set our hearts on the life to come.'
After a passage focusing on Christ, who is the 'chief of the martyrs' Augustine admonishes the congregation to follow their example.
2. Vos ergo, fratres, admoneo hortor atque obsecro, ut quomodo celebratis deuote sollemnitatem martyrum, sic ametis sanctos mores martyrum. Martyres sunt, sed homines fuerunt. Orationibus adiuuant nos, sed hoc erant quod nos. Nolite ergo desperare merita eorum. Qui enim donauit illis, potest donare et nobis. Non enim eos tamquam deos colimus, sed eos propter deum honoramus, eum uero deum colimus, qui et noster dominus est, et illorum. Illi gratia eius amici sunt eius, nos simus uel serui eius.
'So then, I'm admonishing you, brothers, urging and begging you, that just as you are celebrating the feast of the martyrs with great devotion, so you should love the holy conduct of the martyrs. They are martyrs, yes; but they were human beings. They help us with their prayers, but they were just what we are. So don't despair of equaling their merits. The one who endowed them can also endow us. You see, you are not worshipping them like gods, but honouring them on God's account, while the God we worship is the one who is both our Lord and theirs. They are his friends by grace, let us, at least, be his servants.'
Text: Patrologiae Latinae Supplementum, 830-831. Translation: Hill 1994, 246-247. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.
History
Evidence ID
E04449Saint Name
Martyrs, unnamed or name lost : S00060Related Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - Sermons/HomiliesLanguage
- Latin
Evidence not before
400Evidence not after
430Activity not before
400Activity not after
430Place of Evidence - Region
Latin North AfricaPlace of Evidence - City, village, etc
Hippo RegiusPlace of evidence - City name in other Language(s)
Hippo Regius 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
