Luciferum

This is part 3 of 3. Part 1 is here. Part 2 is here.

Completo vero tam nefandissimo scelere et candelis iterum reaccensis singulisque in suo ordine constitutis, de obscuro scholarum angulo, quo non carent perditissimi homines, quidam homo procedit a renibus sursum fulgens et sole clarior, sicut dicunt, et deorsum hispidus sicut gattus, cuius fulgor illuminat totum locum. tunc magister excerpens quid de veste novitii, fulgido illi dicit: ‘magister, hoc mihi datum tibi do’, illo fulgido respondente: ‘bene mihi servivisti; pluries et melius servies; tuae committo custodiae quod dedisti.’ et his dictis protinus evanescit. corpus etiam Domini singulis annis in Pascha de manu recipiunt sacerdotis, et illud ad domos suas ore portantes in latrinam proiciunt in contumeliam redemptoris. ad haec infelicissimi omnium miserorum gubernantem caelestia pollutis labiis blasphemantes, asserunt delirando, caelorum Dominum violenter, contra iustitiam, et dolose Luciferum in inferos detrusisse. in hunc etiam credunt miseri, et ipsum affirmant caelestium conditorem, et adhuc ad suam gloriam, praecipitato Domino, rediturum, per quem, cum eodem, et non ante ipsum se sperant aeternam beatitudinem habituros. omnia Deo placita non agenda fatentur, et potius agenda quae odit. proh dolor! quis umquam audivit talia?
(Gregory IX, Vox in Rama)

When these abnormal sins have been completed, the candles are lit again and each resumes his place. Then from a dark corner of the room a man comes forward. From the loins upward he shines brighter than the sun, as they say, but his lower part is shaggy like a cat. His brilliance illuminates the entire place. Then the master plucks off something from the novice’s clothing, and says to that radiant figure: “Master, this has been given to me; I in turn give it to you.” The shining one then answers: “You have served me well; and in the future you will often serve me again, and even better. I entrust to your care that which you have given me.” And with these words he vanishes instantly. They even receive the body of the Lord every year at Easter from the hand of the priest, and, carrying it home in their mouths, they throw it into the latrine in contempt of our Saviour. These most wretched of men, who blaspheme the divine ruler with their polluted lips, also claim in their madness that the lord of heavens has acted violently, unjustly and guilefully in casting Lucifer down into hell. These wretches even worship him, they declare that he is the creator of all heavenly bodies, and that after the downfall of God he will return to his former glory. Through him, and with him, and not before him they hope to reach eternal bliss. They profess that all deeds that are pleasing to God should not be done, and one should rather do what God hates. Lord have mercy, who has ever heard of such things? (tr. Alex October1625, adapted and expanded by David Bauwens)