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at least three. the first subdivision opens with the subtheme “Honora
patrem tuum et matrem tuam ut sis longevus super terram” (Ex 20:12).28
as a theme on its own, this is most common for the third Wednesday in
Lent.29 furthermore, the first subtheme ends with a body of scriptural
and patristic quotations and has a rather unfinished, almost abandoned air
to it. there is no summarising sentence of the kind found in both of the
other subdivisions. It is also vague with regard to how far the theme of the
spiritual father applies to the saint, as this is not explicitly mentioned. the
subdivision could, therefore, have been taken from another sermon that
was not even intended for a saint’s feast.
the second subdivision develops the subtheme “honora medicum prop-
ter instantem necessitatem” (Sir 38:1).30 a number of saints’ sermons
(most of which are for St Luke the evangelist) use this quotation as a
theme in its own right.31 the content of the subdivision fully applies to
a saint, and there is both a reference to the saint’s legend (although it is
rather unspecific) and Þorlákr’s name as an insertion. By and large, there
are fewer quotations than in the preceding part, and they are connected by
longer explanatory sentences.
the subtheme “Sede, doce nos, quia dedit tibi Dominus honorem
senectutis” (Dn 13:50) is developed in the third subdivision.32 As a sermon
theme, this is a rather rare choice, only found elsewhere in one sermon
for St nicholas.33 there are no references to a saint in this subdivision. In
fact, only Jesus Christ is mentioned as a teacher here. there are a number
of quotations, and they are well merged into the argumentation. What is
different, however, is the rhetorical “heu”, which structures the paragraph.
It sets the third subdivision apart from the rest, especially from the first
subdivision, which is a mere agglomeration of references.
28 “Honour your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the
Lord your God is giving you.”
29 E.g. Johannes de Castello no. 623, Schneyer, Repertorium, vol. 3, 420. also nicolas de
Gorran no. 317, ibid., vol. 4, 275. this sermon is not contained in uppsala uB C 301.
30 “Honour the physician for the need.”
31 Schneyer, Repertorium, vol. 5, 327; vol. 8, 178; vol. 3, 715; vol. 2, 239; vol. 3, 429. There are
also sermons for St Silvester and one sermon for SS Cosmas and Damian.
32 “Come, sit among us and inform us, for God has given you the standing of an elder.”
33 Schneyer, Repertorium, vol. 4, 281.
FORGOTTEN PREACHING