Letter 15: RUFO TIIESSALONICENSI to the bishop.

To Rufus, Bishop of Thessalonica. [Rubric:] The care of the several provinces is committed to him, in which he is established as the vicar of Innocent and first among the primates. Innocent to his most beloved brother Rufus. 1. To the most chosen and most glorious Moses the Lord committed all things in this manner, for the freeing and the governing of Israel, that he commanded him to follow the counsel of his father-in-law Jethro and to enjoin it by a public account (Exod. xviii): namely, that he should appoint men nearly equal to himself in the rank of judicial dignity, who throughout the peoples might settle the multitude of cases for the place entrusted to each, while he himself was to be free above all even for divine consolations. Nor was the pattern of the Apostles promulgated otherwise (Acts vi, 2 and 5), than that they themselves, established as princes of the Gospel, should commit to their disciples the cases and necessities of the other matters to be cared for and discharged. Thus, finally, Paul, wonderful in his whole compassion, committed to Titus the things he was to care for in Crete (Tit. i, 5), and to Timothy the things he was to arrange throughout Asia (1 Tim. i), as we learn from the reading of the sacred letters. 2. This grace, therefore, running forward from God, [moved us] thus to take counsel for the churches separated from me by long intervals, so that we entrust to your prudence and gravity the care to be committed [to you] and the cases, if any should arise, throughout the churches of Achaia, Thessaly, Old Epirus, New Epirus, and Crete, Mediterranean Dacia, Riparian Dacia, Moesia, Dardania and Praevalis, that, with Christ the Lord granting it, they may be decided (Nicholas I in his second letter looks back to this passage). For truly, his most sacred admonitions having been read, we enjoin this solicitude upon the providence and virtue of your most chosen sincerity; not establishing these things thus for the first time, but imitating our apostolic predecessors, who willed these things to be enjoined upon the most blessed Acholius and Anysius according to their merits. For it is most just that those who have deserved so well be adorned with honors, in such a way that it may seem necessary that the arrogant be checked. It is pleasing, therefore, that there be a reward among the good, and a censure among the less good: for thus the one is corrected, and the other is ennobled. 3. [Section 5:] Take up therefore, most beloved brother, in our stead, the care throughout the above-written Churches, their primacy being preserved: and being first among the primates themselves, [see to it] that whatever it shall be necessary for them to send to us, they do not request without your judgment. For thus either through your experience whatever that matter is shall be settled; or by your counsel we direct that it must come all the way to us. Know, moreover, that it is permitted, and granted by the favor of the apostolic see, to your fraternity, that when any ecclesiastical matter is to be transacted and examined either in your province or in the aforesaid provinces, you may take with you as associates whichever of the bishops you wish from whatever Churches, by whose title and moderation, whatever necessity or the case shall demand, you may direct it as the best arbiter, and chiefly, being indeed chosen by us, you may determine it as intercessor. Indeed, [we wish] that all the instruction of the documents in the matter of the archives [be carried out], together with the presbyter Senecio, a man [...] of ripe [...], we have ordered to be done. And so from our earlier letter, and from these documents, well reviewing what you ought to do, take cognizance. For we have made this our will manifest by letters throughout each and every province, sufficiently, as was fitting. Given on the fifteenth of the Kalends of July (that is, the 17th of June 442 [recte 412]), Honorius for the ninth time and Theodosius for the fifth time, the Augusti, being consuls. [Editorial apparatus follows:] This [letter], once read in the Roman synod under Boniface II, and thereupon also praised by Nicholas I in his second letter, was afterward brought to light by Lucas Holstenius along with the other monuments of the aforesaid Roman synod. The time at which it was written is indicated by the consular note. But that there is an error in this note, and that for "Honorius for the ninth time and Theodosius for the fifth time" should be restored "Honorius for the seventh time and Theodosius for the second time," the most illustrious man Tillemont opines (vol. X, p. 821). Whence it would follow that this letter was written in the year 407. He strives to prove this opinion by this reasoning. First indeed he establishes, from the letters which Innocent wrote to Rufus, that this is the first, and that it was given by him as soon as he was made more certain of Rufus's ordination; which is not to be denied. Then he adds that that Rufus, to whom Innocent now writes, does not seem to be other than the one to whom the same pope, in letter 17, to Marcianus, mentions that he had already sent a letter concerning the clerics of Naissus. This likewise being conceded, he subjoins: But Innocent wrote this letter to Marcianus while established at Ravenna, where he came at the beginning of the year 409, and where in the month of August of the year 410 he was still residing; nor is there anything in history from which we might conjecture that he afterward returned to that same city. From which he thinks it follows that neither Rufus's ordination nor that letter are to be deferred later than the year 408. But since by no means were all the things written which happened, and since he who once came to Ravenna could have proceeded thither a second and a third time; and since of this matter, the most illustrious man himself avowing it, in the year 415, when Heraclianus was hindering the corn-supply [annona] from reaching Rome, the cause and occasion were not lacking: it seems by no means safe to change a certain epoch by an uncertain conjecture. Indeed it would be a very unusual lapse of the copyists, that whereas in indicating those who had borne the same dignity several times they had erred more than once in expressing the years, yet their error in designating their consulships should so aptly cohere with itself, that with the ninth consulship of Honorius they should compose the fifth of Theodosius, not the fourth or third, and conversely with the fifth of Theodosius the ninth year of Honorius, not the seventh or any other whatever. That it [the office] had been attributed to the [bishop] of Thessalonica, it is manifest that thence [the error] was imposed upon this emperor. "Censure" [censio] commonly denotes the mark branded by a censor. Next, by the name "primates" are understood the metropolitans of the aforenamed provinces. Since, indeed, the truth of the documents, by which the office of vicar was delegated to the bishop of Thessalonica, appears to have then been called into doubt by some. Wherefore Innocent, although he had said to Rufus just before, "being indeed chosen by us"—which sounds as though the power had been conferred upon him not so much by the prerogative of the see as by the office of the one choosing—yet does not deny that this is supported by custom: and therefore he is the author [of the suggestion] that he should review both his own earlier letter, and others of his predecessors given for that cause. [Note:] In the edition of the Councils, it [the letter] is 11. But that which was 14 is now 23. Epistles and Decrees. [...] in ripe [manner], we have ordered to be done. And so from our earlier letter, and from these documents, well reviewing what you ought to do, take cognizance. For we have made this our will manifest by letters throughout each and every province, sufficiently, as was fitting. Given on the fifteenth of the Kalends of July (that is, the 17th of June 442), Honorius for the ninth time and Theodosius for the fifth time, the Augusti, being consuls.

RUFO TIIESSALONICENSI EPISCOPO. Variarum ei committitur cura provinriarum, in quibus vicarius Innocentii el inter piimates primus consti- tuitur. Dilectissimo fralri Rufo Innocentius. 1. Lectissimo ei gloriosissimo Moysi ita in hracl tiberando regeniloque Dnminus ctincia commisit, nt consilium soceri Jothor sequendiim ei manifes a ;ub relatione mandaret (Exod. xvm) : vitlelicet ul con- stitueret viros gradu iligtiitaiis judiciariae snppares, qui causarum niultitiidines pro loco sibi crediio in- ter pnpulos definirent, ipso maxime vel etiani divi- nis '' consolalionibus vacaturo. Nec aliter Aposto- lorum forma promulgataest ( Acl. vi, 2 et 5), quam ut ipsi principes Evangelii constiluti, c;cterarum \) rerum eausas necessitudinesqiie snis discipulis cu- randas obeundasque niandarent. Ita dcnique lota miseialione mirabilis Paulus Tilo qu;c curet apud Cretam ( Tit. i, 5), Timolheo qnse per Asiam dis- ponat (ITim. i), eommisil, ut sacrarnm epislola- riiiu leciinne cognoseiinus. 2. Divinitus crgo h:cc procurrens gralia iia longis inlervallis disierminatis a me ecclesiis discalconsu- lendiim, ut prudentia: gravitalique luie c commit- tendam euram causasque, si quae exorianliir per Acbaioe, Thessalia:, Epiri veleris, Epiri nnvae,et Creta; , Dacioe Medilerraneae , Daei«> Ripensis , Moesia: , Dardanice cl Praevali ecclesias, Cbristo H I PAP/E 5IS Domino annucnle, censeanl (Ad liunc tocum respicit Nicolaus I cpi t. 2). Vere eniin ejus sacratissimis monitis leciis>inii' sinccritaiis tuse providentiae ac virluti h.iiic injungimus solliciiudiiiem ; non primi- tus haec ita staiuentes , sed praicessores noslros apo^lolicos imilati, qui beatissimis d Acholio et Anysin injuiigi pro eorum merilis isla voluerunt. Jiistissimuin esl cnim ila bene merilos honoribus decorari, ut arroganles nccessaiium videinr ob- liindi. Placet ergo in bonis pvocmium , et in miniis bonis e censio : sic enim et isle corrigilur, et ille nobilitatur. 5. Arripe ilaque, dileciissime fraler, nostra vice per suprascripias Ecclesias, salvo earum primatu , curani : el inler ipsos priinales priinus, quidquid eos ad nos necesse fueril miilere, non sine luo postule.nl arhiliatu. Iia enim aut per luam experien- tiam quidquid illud est fiiiiclur; aut luo consilio ad nos usque perveniendum esse mandamus. Licilum autem et apuslolica: sedis favme permissum tu:e fra- lerniiati cognosce , ui cum aliqua eeclesinsiica ratio vcl in lua vel in niemoraiis provinciis agiianda cognoscendiiquc fuerit, quos velis episcoporum so- cios quibusciimquc de Kcclesiis assumas lecum , qnnrnm et litle el moderalione quidquid necessiias causave flagilaveril, oplimus dirigas arbiier, et prae- cipuiis, quippe a nnbis lectns , definias interccssor. Omneni sane insiruclioncni chartarmii in causa f arcbivorum cuiii presbyiero s Senecionc, viro ad- » in Romana synodo sub Bonifacio II olim reci- lala , siibinde et a Nicolao I episl. 2 laifdata , posl,- inndiini a Luca Holstenin cnm eoeteris ptsedictSi syn- odi RoinaiKC mmiimciilis in luceni cmissa est. Tempus, quo scripia est , cnnsulari noia indicaiur. Sed bac in nola mcnduin esse, ac pro Honorio IX el Thcodosio V restiluendiim esse HonorioV II elTheo- dosio II elarissiiiius vir Tilleiimnlius lo. X, pag. 82:1, opinalnr. Unde sequeretur, ui hsec episiola anno 407 scripia esset. Ilanc aiileoi opiniouem probare niiitiir isia iiiduelimie. Piiiiio qiiidem staiuit, ex cpislolis, qu:is Innocentiiis ad Riiliun scripsil, hanc piiinam esse , ali|iie ab eo dal.im fuisse stainn ut ile Rufi ordinaiione ceriior factus csi;quod non ne- ganduin. Tum addil Rllfuiil illuin, ad quein Inno- teuiius modo scribit , non alium videri ab co , ad quein de Naissensibus clericis lilleras jam dedisse se idcm papa episl. 17, ad M:ircianuin , lnemorat. Quo pariter concesso , subilit : Altpii banc epislolim :kI Marciannm scripsit lnnocentius Raveiuue eonstilu^ lus, quo ab anno 409 ineunie vcnii, et ubi mense Augusio anni 410 adliuc versabalur; nec iillum est in iiistoria vesuYium, unilc eum prauerea iu eam- dem eivitatem rediisse conjectemus. Kx quo conse- qni |uilat , ut ne :iie Ruli mdinalio, neque cpislola ista serius nnno 40S dilferend:»: sint. Sed cum ne- quai|uam omnia scripla sinl qu;c coniigerunl, el qui Raveiinain scmel accessit, eo eiiam secnndo ac ler- tio poluerit pergere; cuinqiie Iiiijus rci,ipso viro elaiissiino f itente, anno 415, quo liiinicnlnm llera- clianus Rnmani perleni piobibebnt, causa el occa- sio nnn defueiit: iniiiiine liiluin \ idetur cerlam epociiam conjerlura incerta inulare. Sane iniisitiiius valde loret is libiaiinrum lapsus, tit ciiin in dimium consuliiiii qui i aiudeiii digiiiiatem gessisseni pluries, annis expriinendis peccassent , eorum lamcn error in eornm con ulalibuS designandis sic aptc sibi co- lixrercl , ul cum Honorii nono consulalu, qiiinlum C Theodosii, non qnartum aut tertium , ac vicissim Ciim qninto Tlleodosii nnnuni Honorii, nnn sepliinum aut alium quemvis coinponerent. Tbessaloiiicensi fuisse allribuiain, imperalori huic imposuisse iude mauifeslum csl. cCen$io vulgo uoiam a ccnsore inuslam soual. Mox priinnlum iioinine intelligunlur |>ncnniniiialaruni pro- vinciai iim uielropolilani. Qnippe chariaruin, qiiibus viearii inuniis anlisliii Thessalonieciisi delegiibatur, veriiaiem lunc a non- nullis in dubiiiin vocatam esse apparel. Quoiirca Innoceiiliiis l:unelsi Rufo proxime dixerit , quippe a nobis leelus, quod poteslalem illi non taui sedis praerogaliva , quaui eligentis inuncre collalam snnai, neque banc lamen consucludine fultiim negat : ideo- que eiilcin , ut lum priorem epistolam snam, turii alias decessorum suortim ea de causa daiasrccenseat, aucior est. « I ti edit.Concil. 11. Qua: autem 14 crat, nunc23. 517 EPISTOL.E ET DECRETA. 511 niodiini maturo, fieri jnssimus. Itaque ei ex priore A nulliim Pasclia umqiiani b antehac factiim csse nostra " episiola, el ex liis eliariulis, bene receiiscns qniil agere debeas , recognosce. Nam vnluntatem lianc noslram per unauiquamqiic pnivinc;am salis , 11 1 decelial , liiteris m niife-tavinuis. Data xv kalen- das Julias(./«im 17 tmn. 442) llonorio ix el Tlicodo- sio v auguslis consulibus.