THE GRANDMOTHER WHO NEGLECTED HER DEAD CHILD

For too long, I have neglected making known the life of Thomas of Cantimpré. Thomas was a noted theologian, renowned author and a fearless preacher on fallen human nature. He strove to show our sinful condition in all its murkiness and malcontents, even when it did not win him popularity, and a reason I've shied away in cowardly fashion from writing about him is that when you write about someone like him, you usually attract opprobrium from the type of people who would have been the object of his criticism. 

He held the pen and occupied the pulpit in the 13th century, but his words still have power to sting today. 

In 1201, Thomas was born in a hamlet near Brussels, and was born into privilege, his parents were high-born. Thomas lived to a ripe old age and died at 71. But his uncle died young, and his grandmother was inconsolable. Tears flowed on the face of this flemish femme. Her grief made her forget to pray for her son. While she possessed "barren tenderness", her boy was in the purgatorial flames, not quenched by the salt water falling from her eyes. 

But the Holy Spirit allowed her to see the following vision. She beheld a gloriously beautiful road and a cortege of people marching into the untold bliss of Heaven. Her eyes searched the crowd for her son, and not finding him, she saw him trudging far behind them, he looked exhausted and his clothes were saturated with her tears. She asked of him, "O, dear object of my grief, how is it that you remain behind that brilliant band? I should wish to see you at the head of your companions." Her son, however, rebuked her, "Mother, it is you, these tears which you shed over me that moisten and soil my garments, and retard my entrance into the glory of Heaven."

He instructed her, "Cease to abandon yourself to a blind and useless grief. Open your heat to more Christian sentiments. If you truly love me, relieve me in my sufferings, apply some indulgences to me, say prayers, give alms, obtain for me the fruits of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass."

Then her son promised her, "It is by this means that you will prove your love; for by so doing you will deliver me from prison where I languish and bring me forth to eternal life, which is far more desirable than the life terrestrial which you have given me."

The mother was convicted by his words, contrite, and she resolved to do all he had requested without further delay. Her grief, too, was lessened and she was cheered up, because she knew she could win his release from Purgatory, so that he could enjoy an infinitely better life than the one she had given him on earth.  

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This post was informed by Schouppe's Purgatory, which you may obtain here. The picture from De natura rerum, Thomas of Cantimpré's most known work is in the public domain. And yes, he decries cannibalism which is illustrated so unflinchingly.