LEO THE GREAT, LETTERS CXXIII TO CLXXIII
LETTER CXXIII.
TO EUDOCIA AUGUSTA(8), ABOUT THE MONKS OF PALESTINE(9).
Leo, the bishop, to Eudocia Augusta.
I. A request that she should use her influence with the monks of Palestine in
reducing them to order.
I do not doubt that your piety is aware how great is my devotion to the
catholic Faith, and with what care I am bound, GOD helping me, to guard against
the Gospel of truth being withstood at any time by ignorant or disloyal men.
And, therefore, after expressing to you my dutiful greetings which your clemency
is ever bound to receive at my hands, I entreat the LORD to gladden me with the
news of your safety, and to bring aid evermore and more by your means to the
maintenance of that article of the Faith over which the minds of certain monks
within the province of Palestine have been much disturbed; so that to the best of
your pious zeal all confidence in such heretical perversity may be destroyed.
For what but sheer destruction was to be feared by men who were not moved
either by the principles of GOD's mysteries(1), or by the authority of the
Scriptures, or by the evidence of the sacred places themselves(2). May it advantage then
the Churches, as by GOD'S favour it does advantage them, and may it advantage
the human race itself which the Word of GOD adopted at the Incarnation, that
you have conceived the wish to take up your abode in that country(3) where the
proofs of His wondrous acts and the signs of His sufferings speak to you of our
Loan Jesus Christ as not only true GOD but also true Man.
II. They are to be told that the catholic Faith rejects both the Eutychian and
the Nestorian extremes. He wishes to be informed how far she succeeds.
If then the aforesaid revere and love the name of "catholic," and wish to
be numbered among the members of the LORD'S body, let them reject the crooked
errors which in their rashness they have committed, and let them show
penitence(4) for their wicked blasphemies and deeds of bloodshed(5). For the salvation of
their souls let them yield to the synodal decrees which have been confirmed in
the city of Choicedon. And because nothing but true faith and quiet humility
attains to the understanding of the mystery of man's salvation, let them believe
what they read in the Gospel, what they confess in the Creed, and not mix
themselves up with unsound doctrines. For as the catholic Faith condemns Nestorius,
who dared to maintain two persons in our one LORD Jesus Christ, so does it
also condemn Eutyches and Dioscorus(6) who deny that the true human flesh was
assumed in the Virgin Mother's womb by the only-begotten Word of GOD.
If your exhortations have any success in convincing these persons, which
will win for you eternal glory, I beseech your clemency to inform me of it by
letter; that I may have the joy of knowing that you have reaped the fruit of your
good work, and that they through the LORD'S mercy have not perished. Dated the
15th of June, in the consulship of the illustrious Opilio (453).
LETTER CXXIV.
TO THE MONKS OF PALESTINE.
Leo, the bishop, to the whole body of monks settled throughout Palestine.
I. They have possibly been misled by a wrong translation of his letter on the
Incarnation to Flavian.
The anxious care, which I owe to the whole Church and to all its sons, has
ascertained from many sources that some offence has been given to your minds,
beloved, through my interpreters(7), who being either ignorant, as it appears,
or malicious, have made you take some of my statements in a different sense to
what I meant, not being capable of turning the Latin into Greek with proper
accuracy, although in the explanation of subtle and difficult matters, one who
undertakes to discuss them can scarcely satisfy himself even in his own tongue.
And yet this has so far been of advantage to me, that by your disapproving of
what the catholic Faith rejects, we know you are greater friends to the true than
to the false: and that you quite properly refuse to believe what I myself also
abhor, in accordance with ancient doctrine(8). For although my letter addressed
to bishop Flavian, of holy memory, is of itself sufficiently explicit, and
stands in no need either of correction or explanation, yet other of my writings
harmonize with that letter, and in them my position will be found similarly set
forth. For necessity was laid upon me to argue against the heretics who have
thrown many of Christ's peoples into confusion, both before our most merciful
princes and the holy synodal Council, and the church of Constantinople, and thus I
have laid down what we ought to think and feel on the Incarnation of the Word
according to the teaching of the Gospel and Apostles, and in nothing have I
departed from the creed of the holy Fathers: because the Faith is one, true,
unique, catholic, and to it nothing can be added, nothing taken away: though
Nestorius first, and now Eutyches, have endeavoured to assail it from an opposite
standpoint, but with similar disloyalty, and have tried to impose on the Church of
GOD two contradictory heresies, which has led to their both being deservedly
condemned by the disciples of the Truth; because the false view which they both
held in different ways was exceedingly mad and sacrilegious.
II. Eutyches, who confounds the persons, is as much to be rejected as
Nestorius, who separates them(9).
Nestorius, therefore, must be anathematized for believing the Blessed
Virgin Mary to be mother of His manhood only, whereby he made the person of His
flesh one thing, and that of His Godhead another, and did not recognize the one
Christ in the Word of GOD and in the flesh, but spoke of the Son of GOD as
separate and distinct from the son of man: although, without losing that unchangeable
essence which belongs to Him together with the Father and the Holy Spirit from
all eternity and without respect of time, the "Word became flesh" within the
Virgin's womb in such wise that by that one conception and one parturition she
was at the same time, in virtue of the union of the two substances, both
handmaid and mother of the LORD. This Elizabeth also knew, as Luke the evangelist
declares, when she said: "Whence is this to me that the mother of my LORD should
come to me(1)?" But Eutyches also must be stricken with the same anathema, who,
becoming entangled in the treacherous errors of the old heretics, has chosen the
third dogma of Apollinaris(2): so that he denies the reality of his human
flesh and Soul, and maintains the whole of our LORD Jesus Christ to be of one
nature, as if the Godhead of the Word had turned itself into flesh and soul: and as
if to be conceived and born, to be nursed and grow, to be crucified and die, to
be buried and rise again, and to ascend into heaven and to sit on the Father's
right hand, from whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead--as if
all those things belonged to that essence only which admits of none of them
without the reality of the flesh: seeing that the nature of the Only-begotten is
the nature of the Father, the nature of the Holy Spirit, and that the undivided
unity and consubstantial equality of the eternal Trinity is at once impassible
and unchangeable. But if(3) this heretic withdraws from the perverse views of
Apollinaris, lest he be proved to hold that the Godhead is passible(4) and
mortal: and yet dares to pronounce the nature of the Incarnate Word that is of the
Word made Flesh one, he undoubtedly crosses over into the mad view of
Manichaeus(5) and Marcion(6), and believes that the man Jesus Christ, the mediator
between GOD and men, did all things in an unreal way, and had not a human body, but
that a phantom-like apparition presented itself to the beholders' eyes.
III. The acknowledgment of our nature in Christ is necessary to orthodoxy.
As these iniquitous lies were once rejected by the catholic Faith, and
such men's blasphemies condemned by the unanimous votes of the blessed Fathers
throughout the world, whoever these are that are so blinded and strange to the
light of truth as to deny the presence of human, that is our, nature in the Word
of GOD from the time of the Incarnation, they must show on what ground they
claim the name of Christian, and in what way they harmonize with the true Gospel,
if the child-bearing of the blessed Virgin produced either the flesh without the
Godhead or the Godhead without the flesh. For as it cannot be denied that "the
Word became flesh and dwelt in us(7)," so it cannot be denied that "GOD was in
CHRIST, reconciling the world to Himself(8)." But what reconciliation can
there be, whereby GOD might be propitiated for the human race, unless the mediator
between GOD and man took up the cause of all? And in what way could He properly
fulfil His mediation, unless He who in the form of GOD was equal to the
Father, were a sharer of our nature also in the form of a slave: so that the one new
Man might effect a renewal of the old: and the bond of death fastened on us by
one man's wrong-doing(9) might be loosened by the death of the one Man who
alone owed nothing to death. For the pouring out of the blood of the righteous on
behalf of the unrighteous was so powerful in its effect(1), so rich a ransom
that, if the whole body of us prisoners only believed in their Redeemer, not one
would be held in the tyrant's bonds: since as the Apostle says, "where sin
abounded, grace also did much more abound(2)." And since we, who were born under the
imputation(3) of sin, have received the power of a new birth unto
righteousness, the gift of liberty has become stronger than the debt of slavery.
IV. They only benefit by the blood of Christ who truly share in His death and
resurrection.
What hope then do they, who deny the reality of the human person in our
Saviour's body, leave for themselves in the efficacy of this mystery? Let them
say by what sacrifice they have been reconciled, by what blood-shedding brought
back. Who is He "who gave Himself for us an offering and a victim to GOD for a
sweet smell(4):" or what sacrifice was ever more hallowed than that which the
true High priest placed upon the altar of the cross by the immolation of His own
flesh? For although in the sight of the LORD the death of many of His saints
has been precious(5), yet no innocent's death was the propitiation of the world.
The righteous have received, not given, crowns: and from the endurance of the
faithful have arisen examples of patience, not the gift of justification. For
their deaths affected themselves alone, and no one has paid off another's debt by
his own death(6): one alone among the sons of men, our Load Jesus Christ,
stands out as One in whom all are crucified, all dead, all buried, all raised
again. Of them He Himself said "when I am lifted from the earth, I will draw all
(things) unto Me(7)." True faith also, that justifies the transgressors and makes
them just, is drawn to Him who shared their human natures and wins salvation in
Him, in whom alone man finds himself not guilty; and thus is free to glory in
the power of Him who in the humiliation of our flesh engaged in conflict with
the haughty foe, and shared His victory with those in whose body He had
triumphed.
V. The actions of Christ's two natures must be kept distinct.
Although therefore in our one LORD Jesus Christ, the true Son of GOD and
man, the person of the Word and of the flesh is one, and both beings have their
actions in common(8): yet we must understand the character of the acts
themselves, and by the contemplation of sincere faith distinguish those to which the
humility of His weakness is brought from those to which His sublime power is
inclined: what it is that the flesh without the Word or the Word without the flesh
does not do. For instance, without the power of the Word the Virgin would not
have conceived nor brought forth: and without the reality of the flesh His
infancy would not have laid wrapt in swaddling clothes. Without the power of the
Word the Magi would not have adored the Child that a new star had pointed out to
them: and without the reality of the flesh that Child would not have been
ordered to be carried away into Egypt and withdrawn from Herod's persecution. Without
the power of the Word the Father's voice uttered from the sky would not have
said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased(9):" and without the
reality of the flesh John would not have been able to point to Him and say:
"Behold the Lamb of GOD, behold Him that beareth away the sins of the world(1)."
Without the power of the Word there would have been no restoring of the sick to
health, no raising of the dead to life: and without the reality of the flesh He
would not have hungered and needed food, nor grown weary and needed rest.
Lastly, without the power of the Word, the LORD would not have professed Himself
equal to the Father, and without the reality of the flesh He would not also have
said that the Father was greater than He: for the catholic Faith upholds and
defends both positions, believing the only Son of GOD to be both Man and the Word
according to the distinctive properties of His divine and human substance.
VI. There is no confusion of the two natures in Christ(2).
Although therefore from that beginning whereby in the Virgin's womb "the
Word became flesh," no sort of division ever arose between the Divine and the
human substance, and through all the growth and changes of His body, the actions
were of one Person the whole time, yet we do not by any mixing of them up
confound those very acts which were done inseparably: and from the character of the
acts we perceive what belonged to either form. For neither do His Divine acts
affect(3) His human, nor His human acts His Divine, since both concur in this
way and to this very end that in their operation His twofold qualities be not
absorbed the one by the other, nor His individuality doubled. Therefore let those
Christian phantom-mongers(4) tell us, what nature of the Saviour's it was that
was fastened to the wood of the Cross, that lay in the tomb, and that on the
third day rose in the flesh when the stone was rolled away from the grave: or
what kind of body Jesus presented to His disciples' eyes entering when the doors
were shut upon them: seeing that to drive away the beholders' disbelief, He
required them to inspect with their eyes and to handle with their hands the still
open prints of the nails and the flesh wound of His pierced side. But if in
spite of the truth being so clear, their persistence in heresy will not abandon
their position in the darkness, let them show whence they promise themselves the
hope of eternal life, which no one can attain to, save through the mediator
between GOD and man, the man Jesus Christ. For "there is not another name given to
men under heaven, in which they must be saved(5)." Neither is there any
ransoming of men from captivity, save in His blood, "who gave Himself a ransom for
all(6):" who, as the blessed apostle proclaims, "when He was in the form of GOD,
thought it not robbery that He was equal with GOD; but emptied Himself,
receiving the form of a slaves Icing made in the likeness of men, and being found in
fashion as a man He humbled Himself, being made obedient even unto death, the
death of the cross. For which reason GOD also exalted Him, and gave Him a name
which is above every name: that in the name of Jesus every knee may bow of things
in heaven, of things on the earth, and of things under the earth, and that
every tongue may confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of GOD the
Father(7)."
VII. It was as being "in form of a slave," not as Son of God that He was
exalted.
Although therefore the LORD Jesus Christ is one, and the true Godhead and
true Manhood in Him forms absolutely one and the same person, and the entirety
of this union cannot be separated by any division, yet the exaltation wherewith
"GOD exalted Him," and "gave Him a name which excels every name," we
understand to belong to that form which needed to be enriched by this increase of
glory(9). Of course "in the form of GOD" the Son was equal to the Father, and between
the Father and the Only-begotten there was no distinction in point of essence,
no diversity in point of majesty: nor through the mystery(1) of the
Incarnation had the Word been deprived of anything which should be restored Him by the
Father's gift. But "the form of a slave" by which the impassible Godhead
fulfilled a pledge of mighty loving-kindness(2), is human weakness which was lifted up
into the glory of the divine power, the Godhead and the manhood being right
from the Virgin's conception so completely united that without the manhood the
divine acts, and without the Godhead the human acts were not performed. For which
reason as the LORD of majesty is said to have been crucified, so He who from
eternity is equal with GOD is said to have been exalted. Nor does it matter by
which substance Christ is spoken of, since the unity of His person inseparably
remaining He is at once both wholly Son of man according to the flesh and wholly
Son of GOD according to His Godhead, which is one with the Father. Whatever
therefore Christ received in time, He received in virtue of His manhood, on which
are conferred whatsoever it had not. For according to the power of the Word,
"all things that the Father hath" the Son also hath indiscriminately, and what
"in the form of a slave" He received from the Father, He also Himself gave in the
form of the Father. He is in Himself at once both rich and poor; rich, because
"in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and GOD was the
Word. This was in the beginning with GOD. All things were made through Him, and
without Him was made nothing:" and poor because "the Word became flesh and dwelt
in us(3)." But what is that emptying of Himself, or that poverty except the
receiving of the form of a slave by which the majesty of the Word was veiled, and
the scheme for man's redemption carried out? For as the original chains of our
captivity could not be loosed, unless a man of our race and of our nature
appeared who was not under the prejudice of the old debt, and who with his untainted
blood might blot out the bond of death(4), as it had from the beginning been
divinely fore-ordained, so it came to pass in the fulness of the appointed time
that the promise which had been proclaimed in many ways might reach its long
expected fulfilment, and that thus, what had been frequently announced by one
testimony after another, might have all doubtfulness removed.
VIII. A protest against their faithlessness and inconsistency in this matter.
And so, as all these heresies have been destroyed, which through the holy
devotion of the presiding Fathers have been cut off from the body of the
catholic unity, and which deserved to be exiles from Christ, because they have made
the Incarnation of the Word, which is the one salvation of those who believe
aright, a stone of offence and a stumbling-block to themselves, I am surprised
that you, beloved, have any difficulty in discerning the light of the Truth. And
since it has been made clear by numerous explanations that the Christian Faith
was right in condemning both Nestorius and Eutyches with Dioscorus, and that a
man cannot be called a Christian who gives his assent to the blasphemous opinion
of either the one or the other, I am grieved that you are, as I hear, doing
despite to the teaching of the Gospel and the Apostles by stirring up the various
bodies of citizens with seditions, by disturbing the churches, and by
inflicting not only insults, but even death, upon priests and bishops, so that you lose
sight of your resolves and profession s through your fury and cruelty. Where
is your rule of meekness and quietness? where is the long-suffering of patience?
where the tranquillity of peace? where the firm foundation of love and courage
of endurance? what evil persuasion has carried you off, what persecution has
separated you from the gospel of Christ? or what strange craftiness of the
Deceiver has shown itself that, forgetting the prophets and apostles, forgetting the
health-giving creed and confession which you pronounced before many witnesses
when you received the sacrament of baptism you should give yourselves up to the
the Devil's deceits? what effect would "the Claws(6)" and other cruel tortures
have had on you if the empty comments of heretics have had so much weight in
taking the purity of your faith by storm? you think you are acting for the Faith
and yet you go against the Faith. You arm yourselves in the name of the Church
and yet fight against the Church. Is this what you have learnt from prophets,
evangelists, and apostles? to deny the true flesh of Christ, to subject the
,very essence of the Word to suffering and death, to make our nature different
from His who repaired it, and to reckon all that the cross uplifted, that the
spear pierced, that the stone on the tomb received and gave back, to be only the
work: of Divine power, and not also of human humility? It is in reference to this
humility that the Apostle says, "For I do not blush for the Gospel(7),"
inasmuch as he knew what a slur was cast upon Christians by their enemies. And,
therefore, the LORD also made proclamation, saying: "he that shall confess Me before
men him will I also confess before My Father(8)." For these will not be worthy
of the Son and the Father's acknowledgment in whom the flesh of Christ awakens
no respect: and they will prove themselves to have gained no virtue from the
sign of the cross(9) who blush to avow with their lips what they have consented
to bear upon their brows.
IX. An exhortation to accept the catholic view of the Incarnation.
Give up, my sons, give up these suggestions of the devil. GOD's Truth
nothing can impair, but the Truth does not save us except in our flesh. For, as the
prophet says, "truth is sprung out of the earth(1)," and the Virgin Mary
conceived the Word in such wise that she ministered flesh of her substance to be
united to Him without the addition of a second person, and without the
disappearance of her nature: seeing that He who was in the form of GOD took the form of a
slave in such wise that Christ is one and the same in both forms: GOD bending
Himself to the-weak things of man, and man rising up to the high things of the
Godhead, as the Apostle says, "whose are the fathers, and from whom, according
to the flesh is Christ, who is above all things GOD blessed for ever. Amen(2)."
LETTER CXXV.
TO JULIAN, THE BISHOP, BY COUNT RODANUS.
(Asking him to write quickly, and not keep him in suspense.)
LETTER CXXVI.
TO MARCIAN AUGUSTUS.
(Congratulating him on the restoration of peace in Palestine.)
LETTER CXXVII.
TO JULIAN, BISHOP OF COS.
(About (1) affairs in Palestine, (2) a letter from Proterius, (3) the date
of Easter, (4) his reply to the Synod of Chalcedon, (5) the deposition of
Aetius.)
LETTER CXXVII.
TO MARCIAN AUGUSTUS.
(Professing readiness to be reconciled to Anatolius if he will abide by
the canons and not infringe the prerogatives of others.)
LETTER CXXIX.
TO PROTERIUS, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA.
Leo to Proterius, bishop of Alexandria.
I. He commends his persistent loyalty to the Faith.
Your letter, beloved, which our brother and fellow-bishop Nestorius duly
brought us, has caused me great joy. For it was seemly that such an epistle
should be sent by the head of the church of Alexandria to the Apostolic See, as
showed that the Egyptians had from the first learnt from the teaching of the most
blessed Apostle Peter through his blessed disciple Mark(3), that which it is
agreed the Romans have believed, that beside the LORD Jesus Christ "there is no
other name given to men under heaven, in which they must be saved(4)." But
because "all men have not faith(5)" and the crafty Tempter never delights so much in
wounding the hearts of men as when he can poison their unwary minds with
errors that are opposed to Gospel Truth, we must strive by the mighty teaching of
the Holy Ghost to prevent Christian knowledge from being perverted by the devil's
falsehoods. And against this danger it behoves the rulers of the churches
especially to guard and to avert from the minds of simple folk lies which are
coloured by a certain show of truth(6). "For narrow and steep is the way which leads
to life(7)." And they seek to entrap men not so much by watching their actions
as by nice distinctions of meaning, corrupting the force of sentences by some
very slight addition or alteration, whereby sometimes a statement, which made
for salvation, by a subtle change is turned to destruction. But since the
Apostle says, "there must be heresies, that they which are approved may be made
manifest among you(8)," it tends to tile progress of the whole Church, that,
whenever wickedness reveals itself in setting forth wrong opinions, the things which
are harmful be not concealed, and that what will inevitably end in ruin may not
injure the innocence of others. Wherefore they must put down. their blind
wanderings and downfalls to themselves, who with rash obstinacy prefer to glory: in
their shame than to accept the offered remedy. You do right, brother, to be
displeased at their stubbornness, and we commend. you for holding fast that
teaching which has; come down to us from the blessed Apostles and the holy Fathers.
II. Let him fortify the faithful by the public reading aloud of quotations
from the Fathers bearing on the question and of the Tome.
For there is no new preaching in the letter which I wrote in reply to
Flavian of holy memory, when be consulted me about the Incarnation of our LORD
Jesus Christ; for in nothing did I depart from that rule of Faith which was
outspokenly maintained by your ancestors and ours. And if Dioscorus had been willing
to follow and imitate them, he would have abided in the Body of Christ, having
in the works of Athanasius(9) of blessed memory the materials for instruction,
and in the discourses of Theophilus(9) and Cyril(9) of holy remembrance the
means rather of praise-worthily opposing the already condemned dogma than of
choosing to consort with Eutyches in his blasphemy. This therefore, beloved brother,
I advise in my anxiety for our common Faith that, because the enemies of
Christ's cross lie in watch for all our words and syllables, we give them not the
slightest occasion for falsely asserting that we agree with the Nestorian
doctrine. And you must so diligently exhort the laity and clergy and all the
brotherhood to advance in the Faith as to show that you teach nothing new but instil into
all men's breasts those things, which the Fathers of revered memory have with
harmony of statement taught, and with which in all things our epistle agrees.
And this must be shown not only by your words but also by the actually reading
aloud of previous statements, that GOD's people may know that what the Fathers
received from their predecessors and handed on to their descendants, is still
instilled into them in the present day. And to this end, when the statements of
the aforesaid priests have first been read, then lastly let my writings also be
recited, that the ears of the faithful may attest that we preach nothing else
than what we received from our forefathers. And because their understandings are
but little practised in discerning these things, let them at least learn from
the letters of the Fathers, how ancient this evil is, which is now condemned by
us in Nestorius as well as in Eutyches, who have both been ashamed to preach
the gospel of Christ according to the LORD'S own teaching.
III. The ancient precedents are to be maintained throughout.
Accordingly, both in the rule of Faith and in the observance of
discipline, let the standard of antiquity be maintained throughout, and do thou, beloved,
display the firmness of a prudent ruler, that the church of Alexandria may get
the benefit of my earnest resistance to the unprincipled ambition of certain
people in maintaining its ancient privileges, and of my determination that all
metropolitans should retain their dignity undiminished, as you will ascertain
from the tenor of my letters, which I have addressed, whether to the holy Synod
or to the most Christian Emperor, or to the Bishop of Constantinople; for you
will perceive that I have made it my special care to allow no deviation from the
rule of Faith in the LORD-churches, nor any diminution of their privileges
through any individual's unscrupulousness. And as this is so, hold fast, brother,
to the custom of your predecessors, and keep due authority over your
comprovincial bishops, who by ancient constitution are subject to the See of Alexandria;
so that they resist not ecclesiastical usage, and refuse not to meet together
under your presidency, either at fixed times or when any reasonable cause demands
it: and that if anything has to be discussed in a general meeting which will
be to the benefit of the Church, when the brethren have thus met together, they
may unanimously come to some resolution thereupon. For there is nothing which
ought to recall them from this obedience, seeing that both for faith and conduct
we have such good knowledge of you, brother, that we will not allow you to
lose any of your predecessor's authority, nor to be slighted with impunity. Dated
March 10th, in the consulship of the illustrious Aetius and Studius (454).
LETTER CXXX.
TO MARCIAN AUGUSTUS.
(Praising the orthodoxy of Proterius, advocating the public recital by him
of passages bearing on the present controversy from the writings of Athanasius
and others, and also of the Tome itself in a new Greek translation.)
LETTER CXXXI.
TO JULIAN, BISHOP OF COS.
(Telling him he has received Proterius' letter, and asking for (1) a new
Greek translation of the Tome; (2) a report on the Easter difficulty of the next
year (455)).
LETTER CXXXII.
FROM ANATOLIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE, TO LEO.
(In which he complains of the intermission in their correspondence,
maintains his allegiance to Rome, announces the restitution of Aetius, deprecates the
charge of personal ambition, and remits the proceedings of Chalcedon for his
approval.)
LETTER CXXXIlI.
FROM PROTERIUS, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA, TO LEO.
(Upon the Easter difficulty of 455.)
LETTER CXXXIV.
TO MARCIAN AUGUSTUS.
(Suggesting that Eutyches should be banished to a still remoter place,
where he cannot do so much harm by his false teaching.)
LETTER CXXXV.
TO ANATOLIUS.
(In answer to CXXXII.)
LETTER CXXXVI.
TO MARCIAN AUGUSTUS.
(Simultaneously with CXXXV., on the subject of his reconciliation with
Anatolius.)
LETTER CXXXVII.
TO THE SAME, AND ON THE SAME DAY,
(On the subject of Easter, acknowledging the trouble Proterius has taken,
-- to which is joined a request that the accounts of the aeconomi (1) should be
audited by priests, not lay persons.)
LETTER CXXXVIII.
TO THE BISHOPS OF GAUL AND SPAIN.
(On Easter.)
LETTER CXXXIX.
TO JUVENAL, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM.
Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Juvenal, bishop of Jerusalem.
I.He rejoices over Juvenal's return to orthodoxy, though chiding him far
having gone astray.
When I received your letter, beloved, which our sons Andrew the presbyter
and Peter the deacon brought me, I rejoiced indeed that you had been allowed to
return to the seat of your bishopric; but when all the reasons came to my
remembrance, which brought you into such excessive troubles, I grieved to think you
had been yourself the source of your adversities by failing in persistency of
opposition to the heretics: for men can but think you were not bold enough to
refute those with whom when in error you professed yourself satisfied. For the
condemnation of Flavian of blessed memory, and the acceptance of the most unholy
Eutyches, what was it but the denial of our LORD Jesus Christ according to the
flesh? which He Himself of His great mercy caused to be overthrown, when by
the authority of the holy Council of Chalcedon He brought to nought that accursed
judgment of the Synod of Ephesus without debarring any of the attainted from
being healed by correction. And therefore, because in the tithe of
long-suffering, you have chosen return to wisdom rather than persistency in folly, I rejoice
that you have so sought the heavenly remedies as at last to have become a
defender of the Faith which is assailed by heretics. For, though no priest ought to
be ignorant of that which he preaches (2), yet any Christian living at
Jerusalem is more inexcusable than all the ignorant, seeing that he is taught to
understand the power of the Gospel, not only by the written word but by the witness
of the places themselves, and what elsewhere may not be disbelieved, cannot
there remain unseen. Why is the understanding in difficulty, where the eyes are
its instructors? And why are things read or heard doubtful, where all the
mysteries of man's salvation obtrude themselves upon the sight and touch? As if to
each individual doubter the LORD still used His human voice and said, why are "ye
disturbed and why do thoughts arise into your hearts? see My hands and My feet
that it is I myself. Handle Me and see because (or that) a spirit hath not
bones and flesh, as ye see Me have (3)."
II. Let him be strengthened in his faith by the holy associations of life
place where he lives.
Make use, therefore, beloved brother, of these incontrovertible proofs of
the catholic Faith and support the preaching of the Evangelists by the
testimony of the holy places in which you live. In your country is Bethlehem, in which
the Light of Salvation sprang from the womb of the Virgin of the house of David
(4), whom wrapped in swaddling clothes the manger of the crowded inn received.
In your country was the Saviour's infancy announced by angels, adored by magi,
sought by Herod through the death of many infants. In your country was it that
His boyhood grew, His youth ripened, and His true man's nature reached to
perfect manhood by the increase of the body, not without food for hunger, not
without sleep for rest, not without tears of pity, not without fear and dread: for
He is one and the same Person, who in the form of GOD wrought great miracles of
power, and in the form of a slave underwent the cruelty of the passion. This
the very cross unceasingly says to you: this the stone of the sepulchre cries
out, under which the LORD in human condition lay, and from which by Divine power
He rose. And when you approach the mount of Olivet, to venerate the place of the
Ascension, does not the angel's voice ring in your ears, which says to those
who were dumb-founded at the LORD'S uplifting, "ye men of Galilee, why stand ye
gazing into heaven? this Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, shall so
come, as ye saw Him going into heaven (5)."
III. 'The facts of the Gospel attest the Incarnation.
The true birth of Christ, therefore, is confirmed by the true cross; since
He is Himself born in our flesh, Who is crucified in our flesh, which, as no
sin entered into it., could not have been mortal, unless it had been that of our
race. But in order that He might restore life to all, He undertook the cause
of all and rendered void the force of the old bond, by paying it for all,
because He alone of us all did not owe it: that, as by one man's guilt all had become
sinners, so by one man's innocence all might become innocent, righteousness
being bestowed upon men by Him Who had undertaken man's nature. For in no way is
He outside our true bodily nature, of Whom the Evangelist in beginning his
story says, "the book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son
of Abraham (6),'' with which the blessed Apostle Paul's teaching agrees, when
he says "whose are the fathers and of whom is Christ according to the flesh, Who
is above all GOD blessed for ever (7)," and so to Timothy "remember," he says,
"that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, of the seed of David (8)."
IV. Those who are still in error must be thoroughly instructed in the historic
Faith.
But how many are the authorities, both in the New and Old Testaments, by
which this truth is declared, as befits the antiquity of your See, you clearly
understand, seeing that the belief of the Fathers and my letter written to
Flavian, of holy memory, of which you yourself made mention, confirmed, as they have
been, by the universal synod, are sufficient for you. And therefore it behoves
you, beloved, to take heed that no one raise a murmur against the unspeakable
mystery of our Redemption and Hope. But if there are any who are still in the
darkness of ignorance or the discord of perversity, let them be instructed by
the authority of those whose doctrine in GOD'S Church was apostolical and clear,
that they may recognize that on the Incarnation of GOD's Word we believe what
they did, and may not by their obstinacy place themselves outside the Body of
Christ, in which we died and rose with Him: because neither loyalty to the Faith
nor the plan of the mystery admits that either the Godhead should be possible
in its own essence. or the reality be falsified in His taking on Him of our
flesh. Dated 4th September, in the consulship of the illustrious Aetius and Studius
(454).
LETTER CXL.
TO JULIAN, BISHOP OF COS.
(Now that Dioscorus is dead, the peace of the Church will be more easily
restored.)
LETTER CXLI.
TO THE SAME.
(On several minor points of detail)
LETTER CXLII.
TO MARCIAN AUGUSTUS.
(Inter alia thanking him for the trouble he has taken about the Easter of
455.)
LETTER CXLIII.
TO ANATOLIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
(Briefly asking him to extirpate all remains of heresy.)
LETTER CXLIV.
TO JULIAN, BISHOP OF COS.
(Speaking of run, ours which have reached him of disturbances at
Alexandria, and begging of him to be on the alert.)
LETTER CXLV.
TO LEO AUGUSTUS (9).
(Asking him to help the church of Alexandria in appointing a good bishop
in place of the murdered Proterius (1).)
LETTER CXLVI.
TO ANATOLIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
(Begging him to take precautions lest the change of Emperor should be made
the occasion for fresh outbreaks of heresy.)
LETTER CXLVII.
TO JULIAN, BISHOP OF COS, AND AETIUS, THE PRESBYTER.
(Charging him to uphold the acts of Chalcedon, and to help in choosing a
good successor to Proterius.)
LETTER CXLVIII.
TO LEO AUGUSTUS.
(Thanking him for assurances made that he would guard the interests of the
Church.)
LETTER CXLIX.
TO BASIL, BISHOP OF ANTIOCH.
(Asking him to give no countenance to the demand for a new Synod.)
LETTER CL
TO EUXITHEUS, BISHOP OF THESSALONICA (AND OTHERS).
(To the same effect.)
LETTER CLI.
TO ANATOLIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
(He is to keep the church of Constantinople free from all heresy.)
LETTER CLII.
TO JULIAN, BISHOP OF COS.
(Charging him to see that the preceding letters reach their destination.)
LETTER CLIII.
TO AETIUS, PRESBYTER ,OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
(Asking him to assist in the distribution of these letters.)
LETTER CLIV.
TO THE EGYPTIAN BISHOPS.
(See Letter CLVIII.)
LETTER CLV.
TO ANATOLIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
(In which he incites him to watchfulness, and complains that certain of
the clergy in Constantinople are in collusion with the adversary.)
LETTER CLVI.
TO LEO AUGUSTUS.
Leo, the bishop, to Leo Augustus.
I. There is no need to open the question of doctrine again now.
Your clemency's letter, which was full of vigorous faith and of the light
of truth, I have respectfully received, which I wish I could obey, even in the
matter of my personal attendance, which your Majesty thinks necessary; for then
I should gain the greater advantage from the sight of your splendour. But I
believe you will approve of my view when reason has shown it preferable. For
since with holy and spiritual zeal you consistently maintain the Church's peace,
and nothing is more conducive to the defence of the Faith than to adhere to those
things which have been incontrovertibly defined under tile unceasing guidance
of the Holy Spirit, we shall seem (2) to be doing our best to upset the
decrees, and at the bidding of a heretic's petition to overthrow the authorities which
the universal Church has adopted, and thus to remove all limits from the
conflicts of Churches, and giving full rein to rebellion, to extend rather than
appease contentions. And hence because after the disgraceful scenes at the synod of
Ephesus, whereat through the wickedness of Dioscorus the catholic Faith was
rejected, and Eutyches' heresy accepted, nothing more useful could be devised for
the preservation of the Christian Faith than that the holy Synod of Chalcedon
should rescind his wicked acts, and that such care should be bestowed thereat
on heavenly doctrine, that nothing should linger in any one's mind in
disagreement with the utterances of either the Prophets or the Apostles, such moderation
of course being observed that only the persistent rebels should be east off
from the unity of the Church, and no one who was penitent should be denied pardon,
what more in accordance with men's expectations or with religion will your
Majesty be able to decree, than that no one henceforth be permitted to attack what
has been determined by decrees which are Divine rather than human, lest they
be truly worthy but to lose GOD's gift, who have dared to doubt concerning His
Truth?
II. The proposal to reconsider the question proceeds from antichrist or the
devil himself.
Since, therefore, the universal Church has become a rock (petra) through
the building up of that original Rock (3), and the first of the Apostles, the
most blessed Peter, heard the voice of the LORD saying, "Thou art Peter, and upon
this rock (petra) I will build My Church (4)," who is there who dare assail
such impregnable strength, unless he be either antichrist or the devil, who,
abiding unconverted in his wickedness, is anxious to sow lies by the vessels of
wrath which are suited to his treachery, whilst under the false name of diligence
he pretends to be in search of the Truth. And his unrestrained madness and
blind wickedness has deservedly brought contempt and disrepute on himself, so that
while he rages against the holy church of Alexandria with diabolical purpose,
men may learn the character of those who desire to reconsider the Synod of
Chalcedon. For it cannot possibly have been that an opinion was there expressed
contrary to the holy Synod of Nicaea, as the heretics falsely maintain, who pretend
that they hold the faith of the Nicene Council, in which our holy and
venerable fathers, being assembled against Arius, affirmed not that the LORD's Flesh,
but that the Son's Godhead was homoousion with the Father, whereas in the
Council of Chalcedon against the blasphemy of Eutyches, it was defined that the LORD
Jesus Christ took the reality of our body from the substance of the
Virgin-mother.
III. All the bishops of Christendom agree with him in this.
Therefore in addressing our most Christian Emperor, who is worthy to be
classed among the champions of Christ, I use the freedom of the catholic Faith
and fearlessly exhort you to throw in your lot with Apostles and Prophets; firmly
to despise and reject those who have deprived themselves of their Christian
name, and not to let blasphemous parricides, who, it is agreed, wish to annul the
Faith, discuss that Faith under treacherous pretexts. For since the LORD has
enriched your clemency with such insight into His mystery, you ought
unhesitatingly to consider that the kingly power has been conferred on you not for the
governance of the world alone but more especially for the guardianship of the
Church: that by quelling wicked attempts you may both defend that which has been
rightly decreed, and restore true peace where there has been disturbance, that
is to say by deposing usurpers (5) of the rights of others and reinstating the
ancient Faith in the See of Alexandria, that by your reforms GOD's wrath may be
appeased, and so He take not vengeance for their doings on a people hitherto
religious, but forgive them. Set before the eyes of your heart, venerable
Emperor, the fact that all the LORD'S priests which are in all the world, are
beseeching you on behalf of that Faith, wherein is Redemption for the whole world. In
which those maintainers of the Apostolic Faith more particularly appeal to you
who have presided over the Church of Alexandria, entreating your Majesty not to
allow heretics who have rightfully been condemned for their perversity, to
continue in their usurpation (6); for, whether you look at the wickedness of their
error or consider the deed which their madness has perpetrated, not only are
they unable to be admitted to the dignity of the priesthood, but they even
deserve to be cut off from the name of Christian. For -- and I entreat your
Majesty's forgiveness for saying so -- they to some extent dim your own splendour, most
glorious Emperor, when such treacherous parricides dare to ask for that which
even the guiltless could not lawfully obtain.
IV. The difference between the two petitions which have been presented to the
Emperor.
Petitions have been presented to your Majesty (7), copies of which you
subjoined to your letter. But in that which comes in deprecation from the
catholics, a list of signatures is contained: and because their case had good reason in
it, the names of individuals, and even their dignified rank is confidently
disclosed. But in that, which heretical intrusion has not feared to offer to our
orthodox Emperor under the vague sanction of a motley body, all particular names
are withheld for this reason, lest not only the paucity of members but also
their worth might be discovered. For they think it expedient to conceal their
number, though their quality is indicated, and not improperly they are afraid to
proclaim their position, seeing that they deserve to be condemned. In the one
document therefore is contained the petition of catholics, in the other the
fictions of heretics are set forth. Here the overthrow of the LORD's priests, of the
whole Christian people, and of the monasteries is bemoaned: there is displayed
the continuance of gigantic wrongs, so that what ought never to have been
heard of (8) is allowed to be widely extended.
V. It is a great opportunity for the Emperor to show his faith.
Is it not clear which side you ought to support and which to oppose, if
the Church of Alexandria, which has always been the "house of prayer," is not now
to be "a den of robbers (8a)?" For surely it is manifest that through the
cruellest and maddest savagery all the light of the heavenly mysteries is
extinguished. The offering of the sacrifice is cut off, the hallowing of the chrism has
failed (9), and from the murderous hands of wicked men all the mysteries have
withdrawn themselves. Nor can there be any manner of doubt what decree ought to
be passed on these then, who after unutterable acts of sacrilege, after
shedding the blood of a most highly reputed priest, awl scattering the ashes of his
burnt body to be the sport of the winds of heaven, dare to demand for themselves
the rights of a usurped dignity and to arraign before councils the inviolable
Faith of the Apostolic teaching. Great, therefore, is the opportunity for you to
add to your diadem from the LORD'S hand the crown of faith also, and to
triumph over the Church's foes: for, if it be matter of praise to you to vanquish the
armies of opposing nations, how great will be the glory of freeing from its
mad tyrant the church of Alexandria, the affliction of which is an injury to all
Christians?
VI. He promises more detailed statements an the Faith subsequently, and begs
him to correct certain things in which Anatolius is remiss.
But in order that my correspondence may have the effect on your Majesty of
a mouth to mouth colloquy, I have seen that whatever suggestions I would make
about our common Faith, must be conveyed in subsequent communications (1). And
lest the pages of this epistle reach too great a length, I have comprised in
another letter what is agreeable to the maintenance of the catholic Faith, in
order that, though the published statements of the Apostolic See were sufficient,
yet these additional statements might also break down the snares of the
heretics. For your Majesty's priestly and Apostolic mind ought to be still further
kindled to righteous vengeance by this pestilential evil, which mars the purity
of the church of Constantinople, in which are found certain clerics, who agree
with the interpretations of the heretics and within the very heart of the
Church assist them by their support (2). In removing whom if my brother Anatolius is
found remiss through too good-natured leniency, vouchsafe to show your laith
by administering this remedy also to the Church, that such men be driven not
only from the ranks of the clergy, but also from dwelling in the city. I commend
to you your Majesty's loyal subjects, bishop Julian and presbyter Aetius, with a
request that you will deign to listen quietly to their suggestions in defence
of the catholic Faith, because they are in good truth men who may be found
helpful to your faith in all things. Dated the 1st of Dec. in the consulship of the
illustrious Constantine and Rufus (457).
LETTER CLVII.
TO ANATOLIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
(Urging him to active measures in certain specified matters.)
LETTER CLVIII (3).
TO THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF EGYPT SOJOURNING IN CONSTANTINOPLE.
Leo to the catholic Egyptian bishops sojourning in Constantinople.
He encourages them in their sufferings for the Faith, and in their entreaties
for redress to the Emperor.
I have before now been so saddened by tidings of the crimes committed in
Alexandria, and my spirit has been so wounded by the atrocity of the deed
itself, that I know not what tears to show and what lamentation to utter over it, and
am fain to use the prophet's language, "who will give waters to my head and a
fountain of tears to my eyes (4)?" Yet anticipating your complaint, beloved, I
have entreated our most clement and Christian Emperor for a remedy of these
great evils, and by our sons and assistants Gerontius and Olympius have at a
different time demanded that he should make haste to purge of a heresy already
condemned the church of that city, in which so many Catholic teachers have
flourished, and not allow murderous spirits whom no reverence for place or time s could
deter from shedding their ruler's blood, to gain anything from his clemency,
more particularly when they desire to reconsider the council of Chalcedon to the
overthrow of the Faith. Accordingly the same reason, beloved, which drove you
from your own Sees, ought to console you for your sufferings; for it, is certain
that afflicted souls, that suffer adversity for His name, are in no wise
deprived of the LORD'S protection. Bear it therefore bravely, and mindful of that
country which is yours, rejoice over your present sojourn in a strange land.
Abstain from grieving over your exile and indulge not in sorrow for your present
weariness, ye who know that the Apostle glories even in his many perils on behalf
of the LORD's Faith. You have One who knows your conflicts and has prepared
the rewards of recompense. Let no one shrink from this labour, whose guerdon is
to reign and 6 live for ever. Let the feet of all who fight be fixed in the
halls of Jerusalem; for in the hope of that retribution they will have no cause to
fear the camp nor the onsets of the enemy. Victory is never hard nor triumph
difficult over the remnants of an abject foe who has been routed by the whole
world alike, especially over those whose ringleaders you see already prostrate.
With unceasing prayers, therefore (even as I also have not failed to do), entreat
the favour of the most Christian Emperor, who in GOD's mercy is ready to hear:
that in accordance with the letter I have sent (7), he may strengthen the
cause of the common Faith with that devotion of mind, which we are well assured he
possesses, and in his piety may remove all the harmful charges which the
madness of heretics has invented, and arrange for your return, beloved, and so may
cause each several province and all the churches with their priests to rejoice in
the unshaken peace of Christ. Dated the 1st of Dec. in the consulship of
Constantine and Rufus (457).
LETTER CLIX.
TO NICAETAS, BISHOP OF AQUILEIA.
(Leo, the bishop, to Nicaetas, bishop of Aquileia, greeting.)
I. Prefatory
My son Adeodatus, deacon of our See, on returning to us has delivered your
request, beloved, to receive from us the authority of the Apostolic See upon
matters which seem indeed to be hard to decide, but which we must make provision
for with a view to the necessities of the times that the wounds which have
been inflicted by the attacks of the enemy may be healed chiefly by the agency of
religion.
II. About the women who married again when their husbands were taken prisoners.
As then you say that through the disasters of war and through the grievous
inroads of the enemy families have in certain cases been so broken up that the
husbands have been carried off into captivity and their wives remain forsaken,
and these latter thinking their own husbands either dead or never likely to be
freed from their masters, have contracted another marriage under stress of
loneliness, and as, now that the state of things has improved through the Lord's
help, some of those who were thought to have perished have returned, you seem,
dear brother, naturally to be in doubt what ought to be settled by us about
women thus joined to other husbands. But because we know it is written that "a
woman is joined to a man by God(8)," and again, we are aware of the precept that
"what God hath joined, man may not put asunder(9)," we are bound to hold that the
compact of the lawful marriage must be renewed, and after the removal of the
evils inflicted by the enemy, what each lawfully had must be restored to him;
and we must take every pains that each should recover what is his own.
III. Whether he is blameable who has taken the prisoner's wife?
But notwithstanding let him not be held blameable and treated as the
invader of another's right, who took the place of the husband, who was thought no
longer alive. For thus many things which belonged to those led into captivity
happened to pass into the possession of others, and yet it is altogether fair that
on their return their property should be restored. And if this is duly
observed in the case of slaves or of lands, or even of houses and personal goods, how
much more ought it to be done in the restoration of wives, that what has been
disturbed by the necessitities of war may be restored by the remedy of peace?
IV. The wife must be restored to her first husband.
And, therefore, if husbands who have returned after a long captivity still
feel such affection for their wives as to desire them to return to
partnership(1), that, which necessity brought about, must be passed over and judged
blameless and the demands of fidelity satisfied.
V. Women must be excommunicated who refuse to return.
And if any women are so possessed by love of their later husbands as to
prefer to remain with them than to return to their lawful partners, they are
deservedly to be branded: so that they be even deprived of the Church's communion;
for in a pardonable matter they have chosen to taint themselves with crime,
showing that they have sought their own pleasure in their incontinence, when a
rightful restitution could have obtained their forgiveness. Let them return then
to their former state and make voluntary reparation, nor let that which a
condition of necessity extorted from them be by any means turned into disgrace
through evil desires; because, as those women who refuse to return to their husbands
are to be held unholy, so they who return to an affection entered on with God's
sanction are deservedly to be praised.
VI. About captives, who were compelled to eat of sacrificial food.
Concerning those Christians who are asserted to have been polluted with
sacrificial food, while among those by whom they were taken prisoners, we have
thought it right to make this reply to your enquiry, dear brother, that they be
purged by a satisfactory penitence which is to be measured not so much by the
duration of the process as by the intensity of the feeling. And whether their
compliance was wrung from them by terror or hunger, there need be no hesitation at
acquitting them, since the food was taken from fear or want, not from
superstitious reverence.
VII. About those who in fear or by mistake were re-baptized
But as to those about whom you thought. beloved, we ought likewise to be
consulted who were either forced by fear or led by mistake to repeat their
baptism, and now understand that they acted contrary to the ordinances of the
catholic Faith, such moderation must be observed towards them that they be received
into full communion with us, but not without the healing of penitence and the
imposition of the bishop's hands, the length of the penance (with due regard to
moderation) being left to your judgment, as you shall perceive the minds of the
penitents to be disposed: in which you must not forget to consider old age,
illness, and other risks. For if a man be in so dangerous a case that his life is
despaired of, while he is still under penance, he should receive the gracious
aid of communion by the priest's tender care.
VIII. About baptism by heretics.
For they who have received baptism from heretics, not having been
previously baptized, are to be confirmed by imposition of hands with only the
invocation of the Holy Ghost, because they have received the bare form of baptism
without the power of sanctification(2). And this regulation, as you know; we require
to be kept in all the churches, that the font once entered may not be defiled
by repetition, as the Lord says, "One Lord, one faith, one baptism." And that
washing may not be polluted by repetition, but, as we have said, only the
sanctification of the Holy Ghost invoked, that what no one can receive from heretics
may be obtained from catholic priests. This letter of ours, which we have sent
in reply to the inquiries of the brotherhood you shall bring to the knowledge of
all your brethren and fellow-bishops of the province, that our authority, now
that it is given, may avail for the general observance. Dated 21st March, in
the consulship of Majorian Augustus (458).
LETTER CLX.
(See Letter CLVIII.)
LETTER CLXI.
TO THE PRESBYTERS, DEACONS AND CLERGY OF THE CHURCH OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
(Exhorting them to remain stedfast in the Faith as fixed at Chalcedon, and
to have no dealings with Atticus and Andrew unless they recant.)
LETTER CLXII.
TO LEO AUGUSTUS.
By the hand of Philoxenus agens in rebus(2a) . Leo the Bishop to Leo
Augustus.
I. The decrees of Chalcedon and Nicaea are identical and final.
With much joy my mind exults in the Lord, and great is my cause for
thankfulness, now that I perceive your clemency's most excellent faith to be in all
things enlarged by the gifts of heavenly grace, and I experience by increased
diligence the devotion of a priestly mind in you. For in your Majesty's
communications! it is beyond doubt revealed what the Holy Spirit is working through you
for the good of the whole Church, and how greatly it is to be desired by the
prayers of all the faithful that your empire may be everywhere extended with
glory, seeing that besides your care for things temporal you so perseveringly
exercise a religious foresight in the service of what is divine and eternal: to wit
that the catholic Faith, which alone gives life to and alone in hallows
mankind, may abide in the one confession, and the dissensions which spring from the
variety of earthly opinions may be driven away, most glorious Emperor, from that
solid Rock, on which the city of God is built. And these gifts of God will at
last be granted us from Him, if we be not found ungrateful for what has been
vouchsafed, and as though what we have gained were naught, we seek not rather the
very opposite. For to seek what has been discovered, to reconsider what has
been completed, and to demolish what has been defined, what else is it but to
return no thanks for things gained and to indulge the unholy longings of deadly
lust on the food of the forbidden tree? And hence by deigning to show a more
careful regard for the peace of the universal Church, you manifestly recognize what
is the design of the heretics' mighty intrigues that a more careful discussion
should take place between the disciples of Eutyches and Dioscorus and the
emissary of the Apostolic See, as if nothing had already been defined, and that what
with the glad approval of the catholic priests of the whole world was
determined at the holy Synod of Chalcedon should be rendered invalid to the detriment
also of the most sacred Council of Nicaea. For what in our own days at Chalcedon
was determined concerning our Lord Jesus Christ's Incarnation, was also so
defined at Nicaea by that mystic number of Fathers 3, lest the confession of
catholics should believe that God's Only-begotten Son was in aught unequal to the
Father, or that when He was made Son of man He had not the true nature of our
flesh and soul.
II. The wicked designs of heretics must be stedfastly resisted.
Therefore we must abhor and persistently avoid what heretical deceit is
striving to obtain, nor must what has been well and fully defined be brought
again under discussion, lest we ourselves should seem at the will of condemned men
to have doubts concerning things which it is clear agree throughout with the
authority of Prophets, Evangelists, and Apostles. And hence, if there are any who
disagree with these heaven-inspired decisions, let them be left to their own
opinions and depart from the unity of the Church with that perverse sect which
they have chosen. For it can in no wise be that men who dare to speak against
divine mysteries are associated in any communion with us. Let them pride
themselves on the emptiness of their talk and boast of the cleverness of their
arguments against the Faith: we are pleased to obey the Apostle's precepts, where he
says, "See that no one deceive you with philosophy and vain seductions of
men(4)." For according to the same Apostle, "if I build up those things which I
destroyed, I prove myself a transgressors(5)," and subject myself to those
conditions of punishment which not only the authority of Prince Marcian of blessed
memory, but I myself also by my consent have accepted. Because as you have justly
and truthfully maintained perfection admits of no increase nor fulness of
addition. And hence, since I know you, venerable Prince, imbued as you are with the
purest light of truth, waver in no part of the Faith, but with just and perfect
judgment distinguish right from wrong, and separate what is to be embraced from
what is to be rejected, I beseech you not to think that my humility is to be
blamed 'for want of confidence, since my cautiousness is not only in the
interests of the universal Church but also for the furtherance of your own glory, that
under your reign the unscrupulousness of heretics may not seem to be advanced
and the security of catholics disturbed.
IlI. He promises to send envoys not to discuss with the Eutychians, but to
explain the Faith to the Emperor.
Although, therefore, I am very confident of the piety of your heart in all
things, and perceive that through the Spirit of Gov dwelling in you, you are
sufficiently instructed, nor can any error delude your faith, yet I will
endeavour to follow your bidding so far as to send certain of my brothers to represent
my person before you, and to set forth what the Apostolic rule of Faith is,
although, as I have said, it is well known to you, in all things making it clear
and certain that they are not in any way to be reckoned among catholics, who do
not accept the definitions of the venerable Synod of Nicaea or the ordinances
of the holy Council of Chalcedon, inasmuch as it is evident the holy decrees of
both proceed from the Evangelical and Apostolical source, and whatever is not
of Christ's watering is like a snake-poisoned draught(6). Your Majesty should
understand beforehand, most venerable Emperor, that those whom I undertake to
send will come from the Apostolic See, not to fight with the enemies of the Faith
nor to strive against any, because of matters already settled as it has
pleased God both at Nicaea and at Chalcedon we dare not enter upon any discussion, as
if what so great an authority has fixed by the Holy Spirit were doubtful or
weak.
IV. The heretics must be formed to give up their usurpations and left to the
judgment of God.
But we do not refuse the assistance of our ministry for the instruction of
our little ones, who after being fed with milk desire to be satisfied with
more solid food: and as we do not scorn the simple folk, so we will have no
dealings with rebel heretics, remembering the Lord's command, who says, "Give not
that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before swine(7)." Surely it
is altogether unworthy and unjust to admit to freedom of discussion men whom the
Holy Spirit describes in the words of the prophet, "the sons of the stranger
have lied unto rues(8)." For even though they resist not the Gospel, yet they
have shown themselves to be of those of whom it is written "they profess that
they know God but by their deeds they deny Him(9)," while the blood of just
Abel(1) still cries against wicked Cain(1), who being rebuked by the Lord did not set
quietly about his repentance but burst forth into murder. Whose punishment we
wish to be reserved for the Lord's judgment in such a way that, unprincipled
plunderer and blood-thirsty murderer as he is, he may be thrown back upon himself
and relinquish what is ours. We pray you also not to suffer the lamentable
captivity of the holy church of Alexandria to be any further prolonged, which by
the help of your faith and Justice ought to be restored to its liberty, that
through all the cities of Egypt the dignity of the Fathers and their priestly
rights may be restored. Dated 21st of March in the consulship of Leo and Majorian
Augusti (458).
LETTER CLXIII.
TO ANATOLIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
By Patritius the deacon the deacon.
(Glorying over the harshness of his former letter, to which Anatolius had
objected, but persisting that he is not satisfied with the explanation Atticus
had furnished of his orthodoxy.)
LETTER CLXIV(2)
TO LEO AUGUSTUS.
Leo, the bishop, to Leo Augustus.
I. He sends envoys but de deprecates any fresh discussion of the Faith.
Rejoicing that it has been proved to me by many clear proofs with what
earnestness you consult the interests of the universal Church, I have not delayed
to obey your Majesty's commands on the first opportunity, by despatching
Domitian and Geminian my brothers and fellow-bishops, who in furtherance of my
earnest prayers, shall entreat you for the peaceful acceptance of the gospel-teaching
and obtain the liberty of the Faith in which through the instruction of the
Holy Spirit you yourself are so conspicuously eminent, now that the enemies of
Christ are driven far away, who even if they had wished to conceal their madness,
could not lie hid, because the holy simplicity of the Lord's flock is very
different from the pretences of beasts who hide themselves in sheeps' clothing,
nor can they creep in by hypocrisy now that their exceeding madness has revealed
them. Recognize, therefore, august and venerable Emperor, how that you are
called by Divine providence to the guardianship of the whole world, and understand
what aid you owe to your Mother, the Church, who makes especial boast of you.
Disputes that are ended must not be allowed to rise with renewed vigour against
the triumphs of the Almighty's right hand, especially when this can in no wise
be allowed to heretics, whose attempts have long ago been condemned and the
labours of the faithful have a just claim to this result, that all the fulness of
the Church shall remain secure in the completeness of her unity, and that
nothing whatever of what has been well laid down shall be reconsidered, because,
after constitutions have been legitimately framed under Divine guidance, to wish
still to wrangle is the sign not of a peace-making but of a rebellious spirit,
as says the Apostle, "for to strive with words is profitable for nothing, but
for the subverting of them that hear'."
II. In matters of Faith human rhetorns out of place.
For if it be always free for human fancies to assert themselves in
dispute, there never will be wanting men who will dare to oppose the Truth, and to put
their trust in the glib utterances of this world's wisdom, whereas the
Christian Faith and wisdom knows from the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself
how strictly it ought to shun this most harmful vanity. For when Christ was about
to summon all nations to the illumination of the Faith, He chose those who
were to devote themselves to the preaching of the Gospel not from among
philosophers or orators, but took humble fishermen as the instruments by which He would
reveal Himself, lest the heavenly teaching, which was of itself full of mighty
power, should. seem to need the aid of words. And hence the Apostle protests
and says, "For Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the Gospel, not in
wisdom of words lest the cross of Christ should be made void; for the word of the
cross is to them indeed that perish foolishness, but to those which are being
saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of
the wise and the prudence of the prudent will I reject. Where is the wise? where
is the scribe? where is the inquirer of this age? has not God made foolish the
wisdom of this world(3)?" For rhetorical arguments and clever debates of man's
device make their chief boast in this, that in doubtful matters which are
obscured by the variety of opinions they can induce their hearers to accept that
view which each has chosen for his own genius and eloquence to bring forward; and
thus it happens that what is maintained with the greatest eloquence is
reckoned the truest. But Christ's Gospel needs not this art; for in it the true
teaching stands revealed by its own light: nor is there any seeking for that which
shall please the ear, when to know Who is the Teacher is sufficient for true
faith.
III. Eutyches' dogma is condemned by the testimony of Scripture and cannot
further be entertained.
But nothing severs those who are deceived by their own inventions, from
the light of the Gospel so much as their not thinking that the Lord's Incarnation
appertains in a true sense to man's, that is, our, nature: as if it were
unworthy of God's glory that the majesty of the impossible Word should have taken
the reality of human flesh, whereas men's salvation could not otherwise have been
restored had not He Who is in the form of God deigned also to take the form of
a slave. And hence since the holy Synod of Chalcedon, which was attended by
all the provinces of the Roman world and obtained universal acceptance for its
decisions, and is in complete harmony therein with the most sacred council of
Nicaea, has cut off all the wicked followers of the Eutychian dogma from the body
of the catholic communion, how shall any of the lapsed regain the peace of the
church, without purging himself by a full course of penitence? For what licence
can be granted them for discussing, when they have deserved to be condemned by
a just and holy judgment, so that they might most truly fall under that
sentence of the blessed Apostle, wherewith at the very outset of the infant Church he
overthrew the enemies of Christ's cross, saying: "every spirit which confesses
Jesus Christ to have come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which
dissolves Jesus is not of God, but this is antichrist 4." And this pre-existent
teaching of the Holy Ghost we must faithfully and stedfastly make use of, lest, by
admitting the discussions of such men the authority of the divinely inspired
decrees be diminished, when in all parts of your kingdom and in all borders of
the earth that Faith which was confirmed at Chalcedon is being established on the
surest basis of peace, nor is any one worthy of the name of Christian who cuts
himself off from communion with us. Of whom the Apostle says, "a man that is
heretical after a first and a second admonition, avoid, knowing that such a one
is perverse and condemned by his own judgment(4a)."
IV. If the Divine mercy is to be exercised, the heretics must cease entirely
from the error of their ways.
What therefore the unholy parricide has perpetrated by seizing on the holy
Church and cruelly murdering its very ruler, cannot be expiated by man's
forgiveness, unless He Who alone can rightly punish such things, and alone can of
His unspeakable mercy remit them, be propitiated. But though we are not anxious
for vengeance, we cannot in any way be allied with the devil's servants. Yet if
we learn they are quitting the ranks of heresy, repenting, them of their error
and turning from the weapons of discord to the lamentations of sorrow, we also
can intercede for them, lest they perish for ever, thus following the example
of the Lord's loving-kindness, who, when nailed to the wood of the cross prayed
for His persecutors, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do s."
And that Christian love may do this profitably for its enemies, wicked heretics
must cease to harass God's ever religious and ever devout Church; they must
not dare to disturb the souls of the simple by their falsehoods, to the end that,
where in all former times the purest faith has flourished, the teaching of the
Gospel and of the Apostles may now also have free course; because we also
imitating, so far as we can, the Divine mercy desire no one to be punished by
justice, but all to be released by mercy.
V. Let him restore the refugee clergy and laity and utterly reject those who
persist in heresy.
I entreat your clemency, listen to the suggestions of my brethren already
mentioned, whom, as I some time ago have said in a former letters(5a), I have
sent not to wrangle with the condemned, but merely to intercede with you for the
stability of the catholic Faith. And in accordance with your faith in and
regard for the Divine Majesty this especially you should grant, that completely
setting aside the contentions of heretics you should deign to bestow a merciful
attention on those who have fallen upon such evil days, and, after restoring the
liberty of the church of Alexandria to its pristine state, should set up there
a bishop who, upholding the decrees of the Synod of Chalcedon and agreeing with
the ordinances of the Gospel, shall be able to restore peace among that
greatly disturbed people. Those bishops and clergy also whom the unholy parricide has
driven out of their churches, should be recalled at your Majesty's command,
all others also, whom a like maliciousness has banished from their dwellings,
being restored to their former estate, to the end that we may have due cause fully
and perfectly to rejoice in the grace of GOD and your faith without any
further noise of strife. For it any one is so forgetful of the Christian hope and his
own salvation as to venture by any dispute to assail the Evangelical and
Apostolical decrease of the holy Synod of Chalcedon, thus overthrowing the most
sacred Council of Nicaea also, him with all heretics who have held blasphemous and
abominable views on the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ we condemn by a
like anathema and equal curse, so that, without refusing the remedy of repentance
to those who make full and legitimate atonement, the sentence of the Synod,
which is based on truth, may rest upon those who still resist. Dated 17th of
August, in the consulship of Leo and Majorian Augusti (458).
LETTER CLXV.
TO LEO AUGUSTUS.
[This letter, which is sometimes called the Second Tome, contains the
detailed statement of the catholic doctrine of the Incarnation, which Leo had
promised the Emperor in Letter CLVI. It consists of(9) chapters, but, as chaps. iii.
to viii. and parts of ii. and ix. are almost identical in language with Letter
CXXIV. already given in full, I have not thought it necessary to reproduce the
letter here. At the end a long series of quotations from Hilary, Ambrose and
other Fathers bearing upon the doctrine are also added, but these also are
dispensed with in accordance with our general practice, as we are now presenting Leo
and no one else to the reader.]
LETTER CLXVI.
TO NEO, BISHOP OF RAVENNA.
Leo, the bishop, to Neo, bishop of Ravenna, greeting.
I. Those, who being taken captives in infancy cannot remember or bring
witnesses of their baptism, must not be denied this sacrament.
We have indeed frequently, God's Spirit instructing us, steadied the
brethren's hearts, when they were tottering on the slippery places of doubtful
questions, by formulating an answer either out of the teaching of the Holy
Scriptures or from the rules of the Fathers: but lately in Synod a new and hitherto
unheard-of subject of debate has arisen. For at the instance of certain brethren we
have discovered that some of the prisoners of war, on their free return to
their own homes, such to wit as went into captivity at an age when they could have
no sure knowledge of anything, crave the healing waters of baptism, but in the
ignorance of infancy cannot remember whether they have received the mystery
and rites of baptism, and that therefore in this uncertainty of defective
recollection their souls are brought into jeopardy, so long as under a show of caution
they are denied a grace, which is withheld, because it is thought to have been
bestowed. And so, since certain brethren in a not unjustifiable fear have
hesitated to perform the rites of the Lord's mystery, at a synodal meeting, as we
have said, we have received a formal request for advice on this matter, and in
carefully discussing it, we have desired to weigh each members opinion, and to
handle it in so cautious a manner as to arrive with certainty at the truth by
making use of the knowledge of many. Consequently the same things, which have
come into our mind by the Divine inspiration, have received the assent and
confirmation of a large number of the brethren. And so we are bound before all things
to take heed test, while we hold fast to a certain show of caution, we incur a
loss of souls who are to be regenerated. For who is so given over to suspicions
as to decide that to be true which without any evidence he suspects by mere
guesswork? And so wherever the man himself who is anxious for the new birth does
not recollect his baptism, and no one can Bear witness about him being unaware
of his consecration to God, there is no possibility for sin to creep In, seeing
that, so far as their knowledge goes, neither the bestower or receiver of the
consecration is guilty. We know indeed that an unpardonable offence is
committed, whenever in accordance with the institutions of heretics which the holy
Fathers have condemned, any one is forced twice to enter the font, which is but
once available for those who are to be reborn, in opposition to the Apostle's
teaching(5b), which speaks to us of One Godhead in Trinity, one confession in
Faith, one sacrament in Baptism. But in this nothing similar is to be apprehended,
since, what is not known to have been done at all, cannot come under the charge
of repetition. And so, whenever such a case occurs, first sift it by careful
investigation, and spend a considerable time, unless his last end is near, in
inquiring whether there be absolutely no one who by his testimony can assist the
other's ignorance. And when it is established that the man who requires the
sacrament of baptism is prevented by a mere baseless suspicion, let him come boldly
to obtain the grace, of which he is conscious of no trace in himself. Nor need
we fear thus to open the door of salvation which has not been shown to have
been entered before.
II. Baptism by heretics must not be invalidated by second baptism.
But if it is established that a man has been baptized by heretics, on him
the mystery of regeneration must in no wise be repeated, but only that
conferred which was wanting before, so that he may obtain the power of the Holy Ghost
by the laying on of the Bishop's hands(6). This decision, beloved brother, we
wish to be brought to the knowledge of you all generally, to the end that God's
mercy may not be refused to those who desire to be saved through undue timidity.
Dated the 24th of Oct., in the consulship of Ms Majorian Augustus (458).
LETTER CLXVII(7).
TO RUSTICUS, BISHOP OF GALLIA NARBONENSIS
With the Reply to His Questions on Various Points.
Leo, the bishop, to Rusticus, bishop of Gallia Narbonensis.
I. He exhorts him to act with moderation towards two bishops who have offended
him.
Your letter, brother. which Hermes your archdeacon(8) brought, I have
gladly received; the number of different matters it contains makes it indeed
lengthy, but not so tedious to me on a patient perusal that any point should be
passed over, amid the cares that press upon me from all sides. And hence having
grasped the gist of your allegation and reviewed what took place at the inquiry of
the bishops and leading men(9), we gather that Sabinian and Leo, presbyters,
lacked confidence in your(1) action, and that they have no longer any just cause
for complaint, seeing that of their own accord they withdrew from the
discussion that had been begun. What form or what measure of justice you ought to mete
out to them I leave to your own discretion advising you, however, with the
exhortation of love that to the healing of the sick you ought to apply spiritual
medicine, and that remembering the Scripture which says "be not over just(2)," you
should act with mildness towards these who in zeal for chastity seem to have
exceeded the limits of vengeance, lest the devil, who deceived the adulterers,
should triumph over the avengers of the adultery.
II. He expostulates with him for wishing to give up his office, which would
imply distrust of GOD's promises.
But I am surprised, beloved, that you are so disturbed by opposition in
consequence of offences, from whatever cause arising, as to say you would rather
be relieved of the labours of your bishopric, and live in quietness and ease
than continue in the office committed to you. But since the LORD says, "blessed
is he who shall persevere unto the end(3)," whence shall come this blessed
perseverance, except from the strength of patience? For as the Apostle proclaims,
"All who would live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution(4)." And it is not
only to be reckoned persecution, when sword or fire or other active means are
used against the Christian religion; for the direst persecution is often
inflicted by nonconformity of practice and persistent disobedience and the barbs of
ill-natured tongues: and since all the members of the Church are always liable to
these attacks, and no portion of the faithful are free from temptation, so that
a life neither of ease nor of labour is devoid of danger, who shall guide the
ship amidst the waves of the sea. if the helmsman quit his post? Who shall
guard the sheep from the treachery of wolves, if the shepherd himself be not on the
watch? Who, in fine, shall resist the thieves and robbers. if love of quietude
draw away the watchman that is set to keep the outlook from the strictness of
his watch? One must abide, therefore, in the office committed to him and in the
task undertaken. Justice must be stedfastly upheld and mercy lovingly
extended. Not men, but their sins must be hated(5). The proud must be rebuked, the weak
must be borne with; and those sins which require severer chastisement must be
dealt with in the spirit not of vindictiveness but of desire to heal. And if a
fiercer storm of tribulation fall upon us, let us not be terror-stricken as if
we had to overcome the disaster in our own strength, since both our Counsel and
our Strength is Christ, and through Him we can do all things, without Him
nothing, Who, to confirm the preachers of the Gospel and the ministers of the
mysteries, says, "Lo, I am with you all the days even to the consummation of the
age(6)." And again He says, "these things I have spoken unto you that in me ye may
have peace. In this world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer,
because I have overcome the worlds." The promises, which are as plain as they can
be, we ought not to let any causes of offence to weaken, lest we should seem
ungrateful to GOD for making us His chosen vessels, since His assistance is
powerful as His promises are true.
III. Many of the questions raised could be more easily settled in a personal
interview than on paper.
On those points of inquiry, beloved, which your archdeacon has brought me
separately written out, it would be easier to arrive at conclusions on each
point face to face, if you could grant us the advantage of your presence. For
since some questions seem to exceed the limits of ordinary diligence, I perceive
that they are better suited to conversation than to writing: for as there are
certain things which can in no wise be controverted, so there are many things
which require to be modified either by considerations of age or by the necessities
of the case; always provided that we remember in things which are doubtful or
obscure, that must be followed which is found to be neither contrary to the
commands of the Gospel nor opposed to the decrees of the holy Fathers.
QUESTION I. Concerning a presbyter or deacon who falsely claims to be a
bishop, and those whom they have ordained,
REPLY. No consideration permits men to be reckoned among bishops who have not been
elected by the clergy, demanded by the laity, and consecrated by the bishops of
the province with the assent of the metropolitan(8). And hence, since the
question often arises concerning advancement unduly obtained, who need doubt that
that can in no wise be which is not shown to have been conferred on them, And if
any clerics have been ordained by such false bishops in those churches which
have bishops of their own, and their ordination took place with the consent and
approval of the proper bishops, it may be held valid on condition that they
continue in the same churches. Otherwise it must be held void, not being connected
with any place nor resting on any authority.
QUESTION II. Concerning a presbyter or deacon, who an his crime being known
asks for public penance, whether it is to be granted hint by laying on of hands?
REPLY. It is contrary to the custom of the Church that they who have been dedicated
to the dignity of the presbyterate or the rank of the diaconate, should receive
the remedy of penitence by laying on of hands for any crime; which doubtless
descends from the Apostles' tradition, according to what is written," If a
priest shall have sinned, who shall pray for him(9)?" And hence such men when they
have lapsed in order to obtain GOD's mercy must seek private retirement, where
their atonement may be profitable as well as adequate.
QUESTION III. Concerning those who minister at the altar and have wives,
whether they may lawfully cohabit with them?
REPLY. The law of continence is the same for the ministers(1) of the altar as for
bishops and priests, who when they were laymen or readers, could lawfully marry
and have offspring. But when they reached to the said ranks, what was before
lawful ceased to be so. And hence, in order that their wedlock may become
spiritual instead of carnal, it behaves them not to put away their wives but to "have
them as though they had them not(2)," whereby both the affection of their wives
may be retained and the marriage functions cease.
QUESTION IV. Concerning a presbyter or deacon who has given his unmarried
daughter in marriage to a man who already had a woman joined to him, by whom he had
also had children.
REPLY. Not every woman that is joined to a man is his wife, even as every son is not
his father's heir. But the marriage bond is legitimate between the freeborn
and between equals: this was laid down by the LORD long before the Roman law had
its beginning. And so a wife is different from a concubine, even as a bondwoman
from a freewoman. For which reason also the Apostle in order to show the
difference of these persons quotes from Genesis, where it is said to Abraham, "Cast
out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir
with my son Isaac(3)." And hence, since the marriage tie was from the beginning
so constituted as apart from the joining of the sexes to symbolize the mystic
union of Christ and His Church, it is undoubted that that woman has no part in
matrimony, in whose case it is shown that the mystery of marriage has not taken
place. Accordingly a clergyman of any rank who has given his daughter in
marriage to a man that has a concubine, must not be considered to have given her to a
married man, unless perchance the other woman should appear to have become
free, to have been legitimately dowered and to have been honoured by public
nuptials.
QUESTION V. Concerning young women who have married men that have concubines.
REPLY. Those who are joined to husbands by their fathers' will are tree from blame,
if the women whom their husbands had were not in wedlock.
QUESTION VI. Concerning those who leave the women by whom they have children
and take wives.
REPLY. Seeing that the wife is different from the concubine, to turn a bondwoman
from one's couch and take a wife whose free birth is assured, is not bigamy but an
honourable proceeding.
QUESTION VII. Concerning those who in sickness accept terms of penitence, and
when they have recovered, refuse to keep them.
REPLY. Such men's neglect is to be blamed but not finally to be abandoned, in order
that they may be incited by frequent exhortations to carry out faithfully what
under stress of need they asked for. For no one is to be despaired of so long
as he remain in this body, because sometimes what the diffidence of age puts off
is accomplished by maturer counsels.
QUESTION VIII. Concerning those who their deathbed promise repentance and die
before receiving communion.
REPLY. Their cause is reserved for the judgment of GOD, in Whose hand it was that
their death was put off until the very time of communion. But we cannot be in
communion with those, when dead, with whom when alive we were not in communion.
QUESTION IX. Concerning those who under pressure of great pain ask for penance
to be granted them, and when the presbyter has come to give what they seek, if
the pain has abated somewhat, make excuses and refuse to accept what is
offered.
REPLY. This tergiversation cannot proceed from contempt of the remedy but from fear
of falling into worse sin. Hence the penance which is put off, when it is more
earnestly sought must not be denied in order that the wounded soul may in
whatever way attain to the healing of absolution.
QUESTION X. Concerning those who have professed repentance, if they begin to
go to law in the forum.
REPLY. To demand just debts is indeed one thing and to think nothing of one's own
property from the perfection of love is another. But one who craves pardon for
unlawful doings ought to abstain even from many things that are lawful, as says
the Apostle, "all things are lawful for me, but all things are not
expedient(4)." Hence, if the penitent has a matter which perchance he ought not to neglect,
it is better for him to have recourse to the judgment of the Church than of the
forum.
QUESTION XI. Concerning those who during or after penance transact business.
REPLY. The nature of their gains either excuses or condemns the trafficker, because
there is an honourable and a base kind of profit. Notwithstanding it is more
expedient for the penitent to suffer loss than to be involved in the risks of
trafficking, because it is hard for sin not to come into transactions between
buyer and seller.
QUESTION XII. Concerning those who return to military service after doing
penance.
REPLY. It is altogether contrary to the rules of the Church to return to military
service in the world after doing penance, as the Apostle says, "No soldier in
GOD'S service entangles himself in the affairs of the world(5)." Hence he is not
free from the snares of the devil who wishes to entangle himself in the military
service of the world.
QUESTION XIII. Concerning those who after penance take wives or join
themselves to concubines.
REPLY. If a young man under fear of death or the dangers of captivity has done
penance, and afterwards fearing to fall into youthful
incontinence has chosen to marry a wife lest he should be guilty of
fornication, he seems to have comitted a pardonable act, so long as he has known no woman
whatever save his wife. Yet herein we lay down no rule, but express an opinion
as to what is less objectionable. For according to a true view of the matter
nothing better suits him who has done penance than continued chastity both of
mind and body.
QUESTION XIV. Concerning monks who take to military service or to marriage.
REPLY. The monk's vow being undertaken of his own will or wish cannot be given up
without sin. For that which a man has vowed to GOD, he ought also to pay. Hence
he who abandons his profession of a single life and betakes himself to military
service or to marriage, must make atonement and clear himself publicly, because
although such service may be innocent and the married state honourable, it is
transgression to have forsaken the higher choice.
QUESTION XV. Concerning young women who have worn the religious habit for some
time but have not been dedicated, if they afterwards marry.
REPLY. Young women, who without being forced by their parents' command but of their
own free-will have taken the vow and habit of virginity, if afterwards they
choose wedlock, act wrongly, even though they have not received dedication: of
which they would doubtless not have been defrauded, if they had abided by their
vow.
QUESTION XVI. Concerning those who have been left as infants by Christian
parents, if no proof of thee? baptism can be found whether they ought to be
baptized?
REPLY. If no proof exist among their kinsfolk and relations, nor among the clergy or
neighbours whereby those, about whom the question is raised, may be proved to
have been baptized, steps must be taken for their regeneration: lest they
evidently perish; for in their case reason does not allow that what is not shown to
have been done should seem to be repeated.
QUESTION XVII. Concerning those who have been captured by the enemy and are
not aware whether they have been baptized but know, they were several times taken
to church by their parents, whether they can or ought to be baptized when they
come back to Roman territory(6)?
REPLY. Those who can remember that they used to go to church with their parents can
remember whether they received what used to be given to their parents(7). But
if this also has escaped their memory, it seems that that must be bestowed on
them which is not known to have been bestowed because there can be no
presumptuous rashness where the most loyal carefulness has been exercised.
QUESTION XVIII. Concerning those who have come from Africa or Mauretania and
know not in what sect they were baptized, what ought to be done in their case(6)?
REPLY. These persons are not doubtful of their baptism, but profess ignorance as to
the faith of those who baptized them: and hence since they have received the
form of baptism in some way or other, they are not to be baptized but are to be
united to the catholics by imposition of hands, after the invocation of the Holy
Spirit's power, which they could not receive from heretics.
QUESTION XIX. Concerning those who after being baptized in infancy were
captured by the Gentiles, and lived with them after the manner of the Gentiles, when
they come back to Roman territory as still young men, if they seek communion,
what shall be done?
REPLY. If they have only lived with Gentiles and eaten sacrificial food, they can be
purged by fasting and laying on of hands, in order that for the future
abstaining from things offered to idols, they may be partakers of Christ's mysteries.
But if they have either worshipped idols or been polluted with manslaughter or
fornication, they must not be admitted to communion, except by public penance.
LETTER CLXVIII.
TO ALL THE BISHOPS OF CAMPANIA, SAMNIUM AND PICENUM.
(Rebuking them first for performing baptisms without due preparation or
sufficient cause on ordinary saints'-days (Easter and Whitsuntide being the only
recognized times), and secondly for requiring from penitents that a list of
their offences should be read out publicly, a practice which is in many ways
objectionable.)
LETTER CLXIX.
TO LEO AUGUSTUS.
Leo, the bishop, to Leo Augustus.
I. He heartily thanks the Emperor far what he has done, and asks him to
complete the work in any way he can.
If we should seek to reward your Majesty's glorious resolution in defence
of the Faith with all the praise that the greatness of the issue demands, we
should be found unequal to the task of giving thanks and celebrating the joy of
the universal Church with our feeble tongue. But His worthier recompense awaits
your acts and deserts, in whose cause you have shown so excellent a zeal, and
are now triumphing gloriously over the attainment of the wished-for end. Your
clemency must know therefore that all the churches of GOD join in praising you
and rejoicing that the unholy parricide has been cast off from the neck of the
Alexandrine church, and that GOD's people, on whom the abominable robber has been
so great a burden, restored to the ancient liberty of the Faith, can now be
recalled into the way of salvation by the preaching of faithful priests, when it
sees the whole hotbed of pestilence done away with in the person of the
originator himself. Now therefore, because you have accomplished this by firm
resolution and stedfast will, complete your tale of work for the Faith by passing such
decrees as shall be well-pleasing to GOD in favour of this city's catholic
ruler(8), who is tainted by no trace of the heresy now so often condemned: lest,
perchance, the wound apparently healed but still lurking beneath. the scar should
grow, and the Christian laity; which by your public action has been freed from
the perversity of heretics, should again fall a prey to deadly poison.
II. Good works as well as integrity of faith is required in a priest.
But you see, venerable Emperor, and clearly understand, that in the
person, whose excommunication is contemplated, it is not only the integrity of his
faith that must be considered; for even, if that could be purged by any
punishments and confessions, and completely restored by any conditions, yet the wicked
and bloody deeds that have been committed can never be done away by the
protestations of plausible words: because in GOD'S pontiff, and particularly in the
priest of so great a church, the sound of the tongue and the utterance of the lips
is not enough, and nothing is of avail, if GOD makes proclamation with His
voice and the mind is convicted of blasphemy. For of such the Holy Ghost speaks by
the Apostle, "having an appearance of godliness, but denying the power
thereof," and again elsewhere, "they profess that they know GOD, but in deeds they
deny Him(9)." And hence, since in every member of the Church both the integrity of
the true Faith and abundance of good works is looked for, how much more ought
both these things to predominate in the chief pontiff, because the one without
the other cannot be in union with the Body of Christ.
III. Timothy's request far indulgence on the scare of orthodoxy must not be
allowed.
Nor need we now state all that makes Timothy accursed, since what has been
done through him and on his account, has abundantly and conspicuously come to
the knowledge of the whole world, and whatever has been perpetrated by an
unruly mob against justice, all rests on his head, whose wishes were served by its
mad hands. And hence, even if in his profession of faith he neglects nothing,
and deceives us in nothing, it best consorts with your glory absolutely to
exclude him from this design of his L because in the bishop of so great a city the
universal Church ought to rejoice with holy exultation, so that the true peace of
the LORD may be glorified not only by the preaching of the Faith, but also by
the example of men's conduct. Dated 17th of June, in the consulship of Magnus
and Apollonius (460). (By the hand of Philoxenus agens in rebus(1a).)
LETTER CLXX.
TO GENNADIUS, BISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE(2).
(Complaining of Timothy AElurus having been allowed to come to
Constantinople, and saying that there is no hope of his restitution.)
LETTER CLXXI.
TO TIMOTHY, BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA.
Leo, the bishop, to Timothy, catholic bishop of the church of Alexandria.
I. He congratulates him on his election, and bids him win back wanderers to
the fold.
It is dearly apparent from the brightness of the sentiment quoted by the
Apostle, that "all things work together for good to them that love GOD(3)," and
by the dispensation of GOD's pity, where adversities are received, there also
prosperity is given. This the experience of the Alexandrine church shows, in
which the moderation and long suffering of the humble has laid up for themselves
great store in return for their patience: because "the LORD is nigh them that
are of a contrite heart, and shall save those that are humble in spirit(4)," our
noble Prince's faith being glorified in all things, through whom "the
right-hand of the LORD hath done great acts(4)," in preventing the abomination of
antichrist any longer occupying the throne of the blessed Fathers; whose blasphemy
has hurt no one more than himself, because although he has induced some to be
partners of his guilt, yet he has inexpiably stained himself with blood. And hence
concerning that which under the direction of Faith your election, brother, by
the clergy, and the laity, and all the faithful, has brought about, I assure
you that the whole of the LORD'S Church rejoices with me, and it is my strong
desire that the Divine pity will in its loving-kindness confirm this joy with
manifold signs of grace, your own devotion ministering thereto in all things, so
that you may sedulously win over, through the Church's prayers, those also who
have hitherto resisted the Truth, to reconciliation with GOD, and, as a zealous
ruler, bring them into union with the mystic body of the catholic Faith, whose
entirety admits of no division, imitating that true and gentle Shepherd, who
laid down His life for His sheep, and, when one sheep wandered, drove it not back
with the lash, but carried it back to the fold on His own shoulders.
II. Let him be watchful against heresy and send frequent reports to Rome.
Take heed, then, dearly beloved brother, lest any trace of either
Nestorius' or Eutyches' error be found in GOD's people: because "no one can lay any
foundation except that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus(5);" who would not
have reconciled the whole world to GoD the Father, had He not by the regeneration
of Faith adopted us all in the reality of our flesh(6). Whenever, therefore,
opportunities arise which you can use for writing, brother, even as you
necessarily and in accordance with custom have done in sending a report of your
ordination to us by our sons, Daniel the presbyter and Timothy the deacon, so continue
to act at all times and send us, who will be anxious for them, as frequent
accounts as possible of the progress of peace, in order that by regular intercourse
we may feel that "the love of GOD is shed abroad in our hearts through the
Holy Ghost, which is given unto us(7)." Dated the 18th of August, in the
consulship of Magnus and Apollonius (460).
LETTER CLXXII.
TO THE PRESBYTERS AND DEACONS OF THE CHURCH OF ALEXANDRIA.
(Inviting them to aid in confirming the peace of the Church, and in
winning those who had given way to heresy.)
LETTER CLXXIII.
TO CERTAIN EGYPTIAN BISHOPS.
(Congratulating them on the election of Timothy, and begging them to
assist in maintaining unity and bringing back wanderers to the fold.)