The most secure way to condemn somebody to hell was to deny him the prayers of intercession for his soul and above all to deny him access to the sacraments. And so a constant undercurrent in the history of executions in Christian countries was the attempt to extend to eternal life the sentence pronounced in the here and now – sometimes a barely perceptible theme and other times clear and distinct.200 the execution and its message The ground Prosperi uses for this interesting and quite convincing argument is primarily the need for the church to iterate prohibitions of denying sacraments. Some more direct evidence of this line of thought would be needed. He, however, strengthens his reasoning by pointing to how, at least in France, there was a conflict between the priorities of the sacraments, and especially the confession and Absolution, and the wish of the state for an additional confession at the site of execution.201 Pastoral care in the catholic environment was much about consolation at the execution. Pierre de Besse, a priest in Paris, published in his huge La practique chrestienne pour consoler les malades et assister les Criminels qui sont condamnes au supplice an exhortation seeking to instil courage into the condemned just ahead of the execution. One main theme is that there is no solitude, no loneliness, God is always at hand, and the saints are present, and the execution and death is only a short step on the route to paradise. There is, however, no absolute certainty concerning the salvation of the individual, only the very strong hope founded on Jesus Christ, who has, though innocent, suffered even more.202 Pain and suffering, both of Christ and the Christians have been seen as a major theme of the spirituality and devotion of the Counter-Reformation and in the influential 200 Prosperi 2008 p 110 sq. 201 Prosperi 2008 p 113. 202 Besse 1624 p 476 sqq. De Besse starts ”Monsieur, mon frere, ou mon amy, Courage, c’est à ceste heure qu’il faut mourir vaillament: leuez les yeux en haut & donner tout vostre cœur à Dieu; c’est la fin qui couronne l’œuure, de ce moment depend l’eternité: de ce dernier souspir deuez – vous esperer le Paradis & la beatitude. Voila le Ciel desia qui s’entrouure, & vous rit d’ayse, tous les Anges cueillent des roses, & des lys pour couronner votre patience. C’est pour vous que tout le Ciel est maintenant en feste & en attendant de vous embrasser, & voudriez vous vous amuser cependant à trembler de frayeur & reculer de vostre bon heur? il faut mourir allegrement, & faire comme le Cygne, ie veu dire mourir en chantant, & donnant à Dieu, benedictions & loüanges.” (Quotation p 476 sq.) 75
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