The Last Judgement in Medieval Preaching (Medieval Church Studies) (Medieval Church Studies)

In the Middle Ages, the sermon was a powerful and versatile means of bringing the Word of God to the people. In fact, in the oral culture of that period, it was the primary medium for Christian clergy to convey religious education to lay audiences. Moreover, the sermon played an important role in the liturgy and life of the religious orders. With the growth of lay literacy the sermon collection also developed into a vernacular literary genre of its own. Two aspects of Christian piety, hopeful expectation on the one hand, and fearful anticipation on the other, were decisive factors for the shaping of religious life and practical pastoral care. Both these aspects were often brought to the fore in sermons on the Last Judgement as part of a recurrent argument against a life too much oriented towards the world. The preachers dwell on both the Particular Judgement occurring immediately after death and the General Judgement over the whole of creation at the end of times. This volume brings together scholars from several European countries with the purpose to present their research on the theme of the Last Judgement in medieval sermons. The scope of scholars is broadened to incorporate not only specialists in sermon studies, but also historians, theologians, and literary historians to encourage research along new, multi-perspectival lines. Front Matter ("Editorial Board", "Title Page", "Copyright Page", "Contents", "Acknowledgements"), p. i Free Access Introduction: The Last Judgement in Medieval Sermons, p. ix Michael Mecklenburg, Thom Mertens https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100502 The Last Judgement in Medieval Latin Model Sermons, p. 1 Stephan Borgehammar https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100503 The Last Judgement in Medieval English Prose Sermons: An Overview, p. 19 Veronica O’Mara https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100504 The Last Judgement in Middle Dutch Sermons on the Sunday Gospel, p. 43 Thom Mertens https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100505 The Last Judgement in Old Swedish Sermons: A Popular Affair, p. 67 Roger Andersson https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100506 The Last Judgement in Middle Dutch Sermons and its Role in the Dutch Translation of the Homilies of Gregory the Great, p. 79 Maria Sherwood-Smith https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100507 The Advent of Christ as Judge: A Sermon Composed by the Augustinian Hermit Johannes von Paltz in 1487, p. 101 Christoph Burger https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100508 Catastrophe Sermons and Apocalyptic Expectations: Eudes de Châteauroux and the Earthquake of 1269 in Viterbo, p. 117 Jussi Hanska https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100509 The ‘Last Things’ as Represented in a Series of Sermons on Revelation 22. 14–15 by Johannes Nider op, p. 135 Carola Redzich https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100510 How to Represent the Future: Narratological Aspects of Preaching and Performing the Last Judgement, p. 163 Michael Mecklenburg https://doi.org/10.1484/M.SERMO-EB.1.100511 Back Matter ("Index of Manuscripts", "Index of Names", "Titles in Series"), p. 181 "Two aspects of Christian piety, hopeful expectation on the one hand, and fearful anticipation on the other, were decisive factors for the shaping of religious life and practical pastoral care. Both these aspects were often brought to the fore in sermons on the Last Judgement as part of a recurrent argument against a life too much oriented towards the world. The preachers dwell on both the Particular Judgement occurring immediately after death and the General Judgement over the whole of creation at the end of times. Th is volume brings together scholars from several European countries with the purpose to present their research on the theme of the Last Judgement in medieval sermons. The scope of scholars is broadened to incorporate not only specialists in sermon studies, but also historians, theologians, and literary historians to encourage research along new, multi-perspectival lines."--Back cover