Llorar tras el parto: el primer sermón del predicador real Jerónimo de Florencia a las honras de la reina Margarita

Abstract

The Royal Preacher Jeronimo de Florencia (1565-1633) delivered two sermons as part of the funeral honors celebrating the decease of the Queen, the first one in San Jeronimo el Real on November 18th, 1611, and the second one in Santa Maria on December 19th, in the same year. In both of them, the figure of Queen Margarita, who died during the confinement, is glossed over. In these sermons, Margarita de Austria is presented through what it could called the “official truth”, as is appropriate in texts of this kind of nature. She is lauded as a sacred being: to such an extent that she is presented as sweet company for the King; as a loving mother to her children; as a pious queen for her lieges and, last but not least, as a solid pillar of the Church, among other aspects highlighted by this important royal preacher from his privileged vantage point of power. In this article we study the first of these sermons.