Criticism from the pulpit. The views of Werner of Friedberg, an Augustinian preacher, about the Antichrist in the light of the trial in Speyer and Heidelberg in 1405.
The paper presents one of the most interesting points (7th in order) of the accusation in the trial against Werner of Friedberg, a German lector and preacher of the Augustinian hermit monastery from Landau (Rhine Palatinate) in the Diocese of Spirene. The trial began in Speyer (Speyer) on January 31 and ended in Heidelberg on February 11, 1405. The proceedings were held before the commission of the Spirene bishop Rabanus of Helmstatt (1396-1438), on whose behalf John of Odendorf, episcopal vicar general "in spiritualibus" (1404-1414) presided. The basis of the accusation was initially a list of eight, and later nine errores. The report presents the 7th point of the accusation, most reflecting the atmosphere of the reform polemics of that time, with a social, religious and political background.
In the light of the 7th point of the accusation, in Werner's opinion, the Antichrist was to be born from a faithless nun and a faithless monk, when people completely weakened in faith. Therefore, we cannot reject the surprising possibility that this article was the only one that did not seem to be a clear offense in the eyes of the theologian, hence the critical comment in the trial materials could turn out to be unjustified and pointless. Unlike earlier times, in the late Middle Ages, chiliastic-apocalyptic visions once related only to supporters of heterodox religious views, and especially after Joachim of Fiore's speech to his followers at the end of the 12th century, were increasingly adopted by theologians and preachers who remained within the boundaries of orthodoxy.