Letter 24: From the record of proceedings held at Rome under Pope Felix.

[a. 487. A copy of the proceedings, to which is attached the decree, 13 March ... 488. Of Pope Felix. 15 March.] 15. [Chapter list:] Concerning those who grieved that they had been rebaptized and afterward wished to do penance. II. Concerning presbyters or deacons who in the lapse of the heretics gave themselves over to be baptized. III. Concerning others who impiously gave themselves over to be rebaptized. IV. Concerning those who through ignorance of their age were rebaptized. V. Concerning those who were baptized or rebaptized by the heretics, that they may not attain to the ecclesiastical service. VI. Concerning penitents, that they not be received by other bishops. To the most beloved brethren in Christ Jesus, to all the bishops established throughout the various provinces. 1. When Flavius Boethius, most distinguished man, was consul, on the third day before the Ides of March, with the venerable man Pope Felix presiding in the Constantinian basilica together with Candidus of Tibur, Paschasius of Centumcellae, Constantius of Aquinum, Equitius of Matellica, Philippus of Numana, Epiphanius of Spello, Bonus of Ostia, Herennius of Portus, Constantius of Triventum, Agnellus of Telesia, Constantinus of Capua, Urbanus of Fulginium, Severus of Casinum, Martinianus of Formiae, Marcianus of Ameria, Cresconius of Tuder, Herculius of Utriculum, Basilius of Tolentinum, Maximus of Bleda, Projectitius of Tarquinii, Petrus of Subaugusta, Maximinus of Ferentum, Bassus of Ferentinum, Felix of Antium, Innocentius of Mevania, Felix of Anagnia, Benignus of Aquaeviva, Andreas of Gabii, Decius of the Three Taverns, Cyprianus of Nomentum, Athanasius of Albanum, Vitalis of Fundi, Petrus of Lorium, Constantius of Sutrium, Felicissimus of Sabina, Gaudentius of Forum Clodii, Bonifacius of Velitrae, Asterius of Forum Novum, Romulus of Praeneste, and Victor, Donatus, Rusticus, and Pardulius, African bishops; and with the presbyters Rusticus, Urbicus, Firminus, Paulinus, Castinus, Petrus, Simplicius, Valens, Laurentius, Petrus, Canusius, Valentinus, Cassius, Paschasius, Petrus, Vincomalus, Asterius, Laurentius, Soranus, Canusius, Valentinus, Cassius, Paschasius, Petrus, Asterius, Leo, Asterius, Eucherius, Asellus, Januarius, Bonifacius, Marcianus, Petrus, Gordianus, Smaragdus, Petrus, Bonifacius, Lepidus, Xystus, Maxentius, Petrus, Epiphanius, Paschasius, Epiphanius, Felix, Asterius, Petronius, Petrus, Laurentius, Justinus, Fulgentius, Felix, Callistus, Alexander, Romanus, Redemptus, Johannes, Projectitius, Valentinus, Bonifacius, Sebastianus, Laurentius, Martinianus, Jobinus, Epiphanius, Epiphanius, Andreas, Bonus, Petrus, Servusdei, Opilio, Petrus, Sebastianus, Servandus, Romanus, Marcellinus, Domninus, Petrus, Agapitus, Julianus, and Abundantius; with the deacons also standing by, Felix the bishop, presiding over the synod of the catholic city of Rome, said: 2. It is a common grief and a general lamentation that we have learned that within Africa even bishops, presbyters, and deacons have been rebaptized. This matter has without doubt come also to the knowledge of your holiness: concerning which, what ought to be observed, it befits us to ordain. Accordingly, that our judgment upon this may be manifest, let the things which have seemed good to us be recited. Anastasius the deacon recited: Your holiness to all the bishops established throughout the various provinces. 3. How in the African regions the cunning of the devil raged against the Christian people, and burst forth upon it with manifold deception. that it has assailed not only the unwary common folk but the priests themselves in the depths of death, no part of the world has not lamented, no land has been ignorant of it. Wherefore, set in great mourning, we cannot dissemble the destructive peril, and the hazard of souls that must be demanded of us. Wherefore a fitting remedy must be applied to such wounds, lest a premature ease of healing profit nothing to those seized by a deadly plague, but rather the pestilence, too slothfully handled, by the guilt of an unlawful cure enwrap alike the wounded and the healers. Chapter I. 4. First, therefore, the profession and person of the one deceived who comes to you and asks for a remedy must be carefully examined, so that a fitting remedy may be applied. And let inquiry be made whether he who, ready to make satisfaction to God through penance, has lawfully grieved that he was rebaptized, ran to this crime of his own accord or came to it under compulsion: knowing that he deceives himself and is deceived, and that nothing is detracted by our easiness from the judgment of the lofty tribunal; to which those things are ratified which are pious, which are true, which are just; and the case of necessity must be handled in one way, and the case of will in another. Worse, however, is the cause of him who perhaps was solicited by a price to perish. For the enemy left nothing unattempted; and lest it be permitted him to rejoice over his prey, help must be brought to those who are ensnared, and the snare of the deceiver must be crushed, so that to those who unfeignedly lament their lapse there may be a return, both by the moderation of justice and by the compunction of piety, to the court which they have abandoned. Nor let him be ashamed perhaps or grieved to obey in the appointed times of fasts and lamentations, or to comply with other precepts of a more salutary observance: for grace is given to the humble, not to the proud. Let him therefore be prostrated by sorrow for his ruin, whosoever seeks to be raised up in Christ; and through the ministry of our dispensation, which it befits to follow your charity, and which it is lawful for no one either to wish or to be able to transgress, let us handle with priestly vigor and humanity the cases of him who against the apostolic doctrine cast himself down to the all-too-unhappy repetition of baptism, or of him who craftily thought his own consent excusable by certain arguments, so that in them the faith, which unless it is one is now no faith at all, may be restored to salvation by the help of the Lord the judge, without the offense of our haste: for when the satisfaction of the sinner is drawn out by us, not without our praise and gladness his mind is found more purified for pardon. And therefore be ye mindful that we hold this judgment upon these matters, that, the discretion of sinners being preserved, not all who have lapsed are to be weighed in the same scale: since greater chastisement is to be exacted as interest from him to whom the discipline of the house of the Lord has been committed. Chapter II. 5. That we may begin, then, from the heights of the Church: those who shall be established to have been bishops, presbyters, or deacons, and who shall appear, whether perhaps desiring it or compelled, to have made shipwreck of that one and saving laver, and to have put off Christ, whom they had put on not only by the gift of regeneration but also by the grace of the honor received, since it is agreed that no one could come to a second dipping unless he openly denied himself to be a Christian and professed himself to be a pagan: which, though it is to be execrated generally in all, much more in bishops, presbyters, and deacons is proved by the mere hearing and saying of it to be horrifying; but since the same Lord and Savior is most merciful and wills no one to perish, it will be fitting that, up to the day of his departure, they lie in penance, if they come to their senses, and that they in no way share even in the prayer not only of the faithful but not even of the catechumens; to whom lay communion is to be restored at death. This matter the care of a most approved priest will have the duty to explore or carry out more diligently. Chapter III. 6. But concerning clerics and monks or virgins of God or layfolk we command this tenor to be observed, which the Council of Nicaea established to be kept concerning those who have lapsed or shall have lapsed: namely, that those who under no necessity, from no fear of any thing or peril, impiously gave themselves over to the heretics to be rebaptized, if nevertheless they repent from the heart, let them be among the hearers for three years, but for seven years let them lie under the hands of the priests among the penitents; for two years also let them in no way be permitted to offer oblations, but let them only be joined with the people in prayer. Nor let them be confounded to submit their necks to God, who did not fear to deny him. But if, as being already lapsed, the end of life should begin to draw near within the bounds of the prescribed time, the one imploring is to be aided, and either by the bishop who gave the penance, or by another who nevertheless shall prove that it was given, or likewise by a presbyter, let the viaticum not be denied to one departing from the world. Chapter IV. 7. But to boys, who, because they are still beardless, take their name from purity, whether clerics or laics, or even to like girls, to whom ignorance of their age is a support, communion is to be restored after they have been held for some time under the imposition of hands. Nor is their penance to be awaited, whom censure exempts from coercion. This was providently established by us, lest these, to whom in the stain of earthly contagion more or less of life remains, while they are still in penance, should perchance commit things to be repented of. But if before the appointed time of penance anyone, despaired of by the physicians or pressed by the evident signs of death, recovers after receiving the grace of communion, let us observe in him what the canons of Nicaea ordained: that he be held among those who communicate in prayer alone, until the span of time appointed for him be fulfilled. Nor do we pass over our catechumens, who were baptized under such a profession, because the case is not dissimilar, as the same holy canons ordained, of him who in any manner abjured Christ, whom he once confessed: let them be among the hearers for three years, and afterward let them be permitted to pray with the catechumens, to receive the grace of catholic communion through the imposition of hands. 8. Excepting only, indeed, the bishops, presbyters, and deacons, whom we have already said must be reconciled only at the time of their death. [Marginal/heading: "Bina, etc."] That is, whether clerics or monks or nuns or laypersons of either sex, persons whom it shall be established to have undergone the repetition of baptism compelled by violence and perils, or who shall have said by some pretext that they are not bound by the guilt of this crime, we decree to remain in penance for a triennium, and to be received into the fellowship of the sacrament through the imposition of hands. Chapter V. This being kept in all things, that none of those who at whatever age were either baptized or rebaptized elsewhere than in the catholic Church be by any means permitted to approach the ecclesiastical service, for whom it ought to be enough that they have been received into the number of the catholics; since whoever of the prelates shall violate this, or who shall not remove him whom he has come to know to have crept in from among these to the clerical ministry, will be seen to bring judgment upon his own order and communion: Chapter VI. 9. But it must especially be taken care, and provided with all caution, that none of our brethren and fellow-bishops, or even of the presbyters, receive in another's city or diocese a penitent, or one placed under the hand of a priest, or one who shall have said that he has been reconciled, without the testimony and letters of his bishop or presbyter -- neither a presbyter in a parish, nor a bishop in a city. Which, if neglected by some dissimulation, touches the fault also of the clerics who dwell in the places where this shall have been less cared for. 10. These things, then, being duly arranged, and brought to the notice of your churches by our deliberation, it befits you to obey: to whom, although nothing may seem to be lacking for the restoration of souls, nevertheless if anything be revealed to anyone of us, even something that could escape us, let him, according to Paul the apostle, the former speaker keeping silence, confidently bring it forward: for the Holy Spirit breathes where it wills, especially when its own cause is treated; nor will it irk us to hear, and, if anything has been omitted, not arrogantly to refuse but reasonably to ordain. May God keep you, most beloved brethren! Given on the Ides of March, when Dynamius and Sifidius, most distinguished men, were consuls.

®^" a.487d. Ezemplar gestonim, qiiibus alligatum est -praeceptum i3Mart. «9 «. . cta.488d. Fehcis papae. l5Mart. 15. I*) De hii, qni rebaptisati dolaenmt et postea poenitere volaenmt. n. le pnibyterii vel diacoxiibnB, qni in lapsu haereticonixn se baptiimati dedenmt. m Se nUqidi, qni le rebaptisaados impie dedemnt. lY* De kii, qni per ignorantiam aetatii rebaptisati sunt. ▼• De Ui, qni ab haereticiB baptisati ant rebaptizati snnt , nt ad ecclesiasticam Bilititin non p«rtingant. YL De poenitentibni, nt ab aliis episcopis non snscipiantnr. Dilectissimis in Christo Jesu fratribus, universis episcopis per diversas provincias constitutis. 1. Plavio Boetio viro clarissimo consule sub die III ^) Idus Mar- tias in basilica Constantiniana residente venerabili viro papa Fe- Uee una cum Candido Tiburtino, Paschasio Centumcellensi, Con- stantio Aquinati^ Equitio Matellicati ^), Philippo Numanati, Epiphanio Spellati^), Bono Ostiensi, Herennio Portuensi, Constantio Triventi ^), Agnelio Telesino'),^Constantino Capuano, Urbano Fulginati, Severo Casinati '), Martiniano Formiano, Marciano Amerino, Creschonio Tu- dertino, Herculio Utriculano*), Basilio Tolentinati, Maximo Blerano, Projectitio Tarquiniensi, Petro Subaugustano, MaximinoFerentiensi^), perieaihtm vel aliquid hitjusmodi (Hard. I, 327); adeoque et de iis, qui se aliqua necessitate victos gemebant, lenius judicandum censuit. «> H« // Id, •) Editi MaUeUicalemi^ Metellicani, aut Marcellicaiensi; emendantur ex mss. et c' c*. Matellica urbs est Italiae in Piceno seu Marchia Anconitana. Tidetiir Trwenti, quae urbs episcopalis in Samnio est, nisi quis malit Truenti, cxijiia urbis episcopus fuerat Vitalis, unus ex Felicis legatis, quos Acacius per- Terterat. Ib certe in gest. de nom. Acac. (Gelas. tract. I) n. 13 Trocntinas (X" TrosntinuSy Vat. Triventinas) episcopus appellatur. Hunc autem antequam recon- cOiationiB gratiam mereretur obiisse, ex Gelasii epist. 30 n. 14 constat. •) Editi Torcettno, h» Tolesino, H^ Telesinio, alii Telesino, ») H« CasimH, H« Casinato, H'o Casinensi, c' c» c»o Cassinati, Moxque c^ c« c'o CriMComo. •) Editi Ferentanewti (H*® Frentanensi) y h* Ferennensi. Sequimur potiores \i " ^60 S. FELICIS II PAPAE a. 487 Basso Ferentinati, Felice Antiatino ^®), Innocentio Mevanati, Felic^ ^ • Anagnino, Benigno Aquaevivensi, Andrea Gabinati, Decio Triim/i^^ Tabernarum, Cypriano Numentano, Athanasio Albanensi, Vitah"^ Fundano, Petro Lorensi, Constantio Sutrino, Felicissimo Sabinenai, GaudentioForoclodiensi "), Bonifacio Veliterno, Asterio Foronovano, Romulo Praenestino, Victore, Donato, Rustico et Pardulio Afris episcopis; et presj^yteris Rustico, Urbico^^), Finnino, Paulino, Ca- stino, Petro, Simplicio, Valente, Laurentio, Petro, Canusio, Valentino, -Cassio, Paschasio, Petro, Vincomalo, Asterio, Laurentio, Sorano, Canusio, Valentino, Cassio, Paschasio, Petro, Asterio, Leone, Asterio, f.i:w^e-*Euchenio, Asello, Januario, Bonifacio; Marciano, Petro, Gordiano, nio vel y 7 . y 7 y 7 7 ^jueherio Smaragdo, Petro, Bonifacio, Lepido, Xysto, Maxentio, Petro, Epi- phanio, Paschasio, Epiphanio, Felice, Asterio, Petronio, Petro, Lau- rentio, Justino, Fulgentio, Felice, Callisto, Alexandro, Romano, Re- demto, Johanne, Projectitio, Valentino, Bonifacio, Sebastiano, Lau- rentio, Martiniano, Jobino, Epiphanio, Epiphanio, Andrea, Bono^ Petro, Servo Dei, Opilione, Petro, Sebastiano, Servando, Romano, Marcellino, Domnino, Petro, Agapito, Juliano et Abimdantio; ad- stantibus quoque diaconibus, Felix episcopus catholicae urbis Ropiae praesidens synodo dixit: 2. Communis dolor ei gmeralis est gemilus, quod inira Africam rebapiizaios eiiam episcopos, presbyieros diaconesque cognovimus. Quae res sine dubio ad vesiram quoque pervenii noiiiiam sanciiiaiis: de quo quid observari debeai, ordinare nos convenii, Proinde ut manifesta sit ' super hoc nosira senieniia, quae nobis sunt visa, reciieniur. Anastasius diaconus recitavit: Sanctitas^^) vestra universis epi- scopis per diversas provincias constitutis. 3. Qualiter in Africanis regionibus astutia diaboli saevierit in populum Christiaiimn, atque in id multiplici deceptione proruperit. inB8. Porro Fereniiam, Ferentinum et Ferenlanum distinguuut geographi) ac pri- m&m et secuudam urbes episcopales fuisse observant, non postremam. ^°) In plurib. mss. Anieatino et mox Mivanati vel Mihanati (H*); c'' c* c** Me- vatiatensi et mox Triumiabemensi . . . Nomenianensi . . . Laurensi. *') H* Florogodiensif H** Foroclaudiensi. ") In vulgatis ex 81 presbyteris infra nominatis receusentur tantam 76, omissis quinquef quorum nomina ex mss. revocantur. Quamquam suspicio mihi haud parva, sola incuria quadam librarii quinque uomina (scil. Canusio, Valen- iino, Cassio, Paschasio, Pelro) duplicata esse. Certe vulgatis favent H** 0* ita haec perstringentes: residentibus eiiam presbyieris LXXVI, Ceterum Ordinem ibi sequor a"*, quem etiam H^ praebet, dum editi alium exhibent. *') H* Urbino. Deinde post diaconibus H'o addit vel cuncto clero, ^*) Ita mss., in quibus gesta praefixa sunt. In ceteris, in quibus omittaiitar, inscriptio ponitur: Dileclissimis fratribus universis episcopis per Siciliam congtUuH» Fetix in Domino saluiem, In yulgatis autem : Dilectissimis in Christo Jegu fnxiribmM universis episcopis per provincias consiituiis. EPISTOLA 13. 261 ut uoii modo vulgus incautum sed ipsos quoque in inortis profunda a. 487 Aeiuerserit sacerdotes, nullus non orbis gemuit, nulla terra nescivit. *^^' VSude in grandi moerore positi, dissimulare non possumus peremi- tiuiQ atque a nobis exigendarum discrimen animarum. Quapropter competens adhibeuda est talibus niedela vnlneribus, ne immatura c\irandi facilitas mortifera captis peste nihil prosit, sed segnius tra- ckta^^) pemicies reatu non legitimae curationis involvat pariter sau- cios et medentes. Cap. I. 4. Imprimis itaque venientis ad vos et remedium postulantis .soUicite discutienda est- professio et persona decepti, ut medela possit congruens exhiberi. Et qui satisfacturus Deo per poenitentiam, se rebaptizatum legitime doluerit, utrum ad hoc facinus cucurrerit^®), an impulsus accesserit, requiratur: sciens quod se decipiat ipse, ^w/Sap.1,11. fallit, nihilque per nostram facihtatem tribunalis excelsi judicio de- rogari; cui illa sunt rata^"), quae pia^ quae vera, quae justa sunt; et aliter necessitatis, aUter tractanda est ratio voluntatis. Deterior est autem causa illius, qui forte pretio sollicitatus est ut periret. Nihil enim inteutatum reliquit^®) inimicus; cui ne de sua liceat gau- dere captura, succurrendum est irretitis, et conterendus^^) est ve-^^^a''?' uantis laqueus^), ut infucatim lamentantibus lapsum tam justitiae moderatione quam compunctione ^ pietatis ad aulam, quam relique- raut, sit regressus. Nec pudeat forsan aut pigeat indictis jejuniorum gemituumque temporibus obedire, aut aliis observantiae salubrioris obtemperare praeceptis: quia humilibus ^atur gratia, non superbis. Jac.4,6. Sit ergo ruinae suae dolore prostratus, quisquis in Christo fieri '*) Ita msB. HIO i*; editi tracta, *•) Editi concurrerit, corriguntur ex msa. , '^ MsB. 0 recta^ valde corrupte. Perpendendus est hic locus sivc poeni- tentibiis, qui de Bacerdotum jacilitate et indulgentia sibi frustra blandiuntur, sive ipeis sacerdotibus, qui molliori disciplina dum poenitentibuB parcere 8e pntant, et sibi et illis imponunt. Eorum quippe judicia quum minime ad justi- tiae regolas exacta dntf nec supremo tribunali rata sunt, ideoque ipsi velut causae Dei desertoreB eidem tribunali obnoxii fiunt. '*) Editi reUnquity rectius mss. et h* c® i' reliqmt, quum hic memoretur, quod sub Hunerico rege in Africa gestum est. <•) Ita H TJi* c' i*; a* cc contendendus. Ad imitationem Psalmi 123,7 laqueus contritus est hic locuB exprimitur. «>) Ita plorimi mda. Editi ut (c' c*" omitt. ut) infucatum lamentantibus tam, H*o i* ut tHfucaium lamentationibus lapsum {W° prima manu laqueum) ... ad caulam ^< ad auiam). H* P E' infugatim, H^ infugatum, in aliis uoatrae lectioni favent. 2 H^ infitMeatia (alter H^ infucalis) lamentationibus. O^ ut infuscatum sine dolo lamen- iationibus, haud dubie ex imperitia librarii, qui et vocem infucaiim, quam potio- res maB. retinent, corrupit, et efjusdem vocis explicationem (i. e. sine doloJ*a,d marginem adscriptam temere in textum transtulit. 202 iS. FELICIS II PArAE a. 487quaerit erectus; et per dispeiisutioiiis'^*) nostrae mimsterium^ quod vestram sequi ccmvenit caritatem nec alicui fas est vel velle vel posse transcenilere, causas ejus, qui contra apostolicam doctrinam ad iterationem se nimis infaustam l)aptismatis deilidit, vel ejus, qui aliquibus argumentis excusandum callide proprium putaverit esse consensum, sacerdotali vigore et Immanitate tractemus, ut in eis fides, quae nisi est una jam nulla est, adjutorio Domini judicis ad salutem sine nostrae properationis '^'^) offensione reparetur: quia quum peccatoris a nobis satisfactio protraliitur, noii praeter nostram lau- dem* atque laetitiam mens ejus ad veniam purgatior invenitur. Et ideo memineritis, lianc super liis nos habere sententiam, ut servata discretione peccantium noii eadem ouiicti, qui lapsi sunt, lance pen- sentur: quoniam majoris castigationis est exigendus usuram^'), cui domus Domini commissa fuerit disciplina. Cap. II. 5. Ut ergo ab Ecclesiae*''^) summitatibus inchoemus, eos, quos episcopos, presbyteros vel diacones fuisse constiterit, et seu optantes forsitan seu coactos lavacri illius unici salutarisque claruerit fecisse jacturam, et Christum, quem non solmn dono regenerationis yerum etiam gratia percepti honoris induerant, exuisse, quum constet ne- minem ad secundam tinctionem venire potuisse, nisi se palam^*) Christianum negaverit et professus fuerit se esse paganum: quod quum generaliter sit in omnibus exsecrandum, multo magis in epi- scopis, presbyteris et diaconibus auditu saltem dictuque probatur *') Editi (excepto h') disposiiionis nostrae^ deinde c* mysterium, refragantibDS mss. Serio mature diligenterque examinari vult Felix causas eorum, qui baptb- 'mum in se iterari vel spontanea voluutato vel consensu permiserunt, uec prae- properam eis veniam concedi. ^'^) Mss. 0 et editi operationis» 1 H'' praeparationis , verius alii (etiam H^ H' H*®) properationisy h. e. shm offensa et vituperatione, in quam praepropera lapso- rum reconciliatione inciurremus. '^) f]diti usuja, corriguntur ex mss. (etiam H^ H'). Apud Ivou. plane depra- vatus est hic locus. **) Potiores mss. septem summantibus (etiam H' H* et prima manu H*). In H* expuncta est littera n, ita ut restet summatibus^ non male. Non enim in- cognita erat Romauis vox safnmates eodem modo, quo dicitiur opiimateM, '^) Huc facit illud s. Aiigustini cum Eusebio Donatieta (epist. 36 n. 3) ex- postuUintis, quod catholicis exsecrabiliter persuadeatur y ut ad lawtcrfon aHermm veniant, atque ut id uccipere mereaniur, paganos se esse respondeant; quae vox ne procederet de ore Christiano, tantus sanguis martyrum fusus est, Ipsi etiam Ariam Vandali, quos secundo tinxerant, Ghristianos se effecisse jactitabant. lia vero catholici vim sibi inferre volentibus rechimare solebant: „C/irisiiam sumtu^^ CxjQvm rei Victor Vitensis hiet. persec. Vand. 1. V plura profert ezempla nominatimqiie unufti infautuli septemiis, cui etiam a matre separato os obturare coacti simt» quia clamare non cessabat: ,^Christianus sum'\ EPISTOLA 13. 263 horrendum] sed quia idem Dominus atque Salvator clementissimus a. 487 est et neminem vult perire, usque ad exitus sui diem, in^'*) poeni- ientia, si resipiscimt; jacere conveniet, nec orationi non modo fide- lium sed ne catechumenorum quidem omnimodis interesse; quit)us eoimnunio^^) laica in morte redhibenda est. Quam rem diligentius explorare vel facere probatissimi sacerdotis cura debebit. cap. m. 6. De clericis autem et monachis aut puellis Dei aut saecu- laribus servari praecipimus hunc tenorem^ quem Nicaena synodus circa eos^ qui lapsi sunt vel fuerint; servandum esse constituit: ut scilicet qui nulla necessitate, nullius rei timore atque periculo se, ut rebaptizarentur, haereticis impie dediderunt, si tamen eos ex corde poeniteat, tribus^^) annis inter audientes sint, sejjtem vero aimis subjaceant inter poenitentes manibus sacerdotum ] duobus etiam oblationes modis onmibus non sinantur oiferre, sed tantummodo popularibus^*') in oratione socientur. Nec confundantiu* Deo colla ••) Plures ms8. in poeniteniiam , 1 H* poeniteniia, Hoc Felicis statutum haud pag^nare putandom est cum illo Siricii epist. 1 n. IS: poeniieniiam agere cuiquam mom conceditur clericorum, Quod quidem, inquit Leo epist. 167 c. 2, sine dubio ea: aposioiiea tradiHone descendii, Siricio enim scrmo est de poeuiteu^a publica, quae com soUemni manuum impositione in ecclesia peragitur, ut ex verbis quum con- irilii Caxthaginensis V c. 11 tum Leonis in epistola mox citata iu locum pracdictum Siricii in edit. Coust. exscriptis liquet. Felix autem etsi graviorem poeuitentiam, eam t&men secretam et a soUemni manuum impoditdone immunem exi^it, eaque^ ratione superiorum ordinum poenitentiam a poenitentia clericoru^^ inferiorum ilifltingiiit. Istud illustrat et confirmat concilium a Gratiauo c. 5 D. 82 lauda- tmn, quod Polycarpus seu Gregorius Hibernense vocat, quod autem saeculo IX anteriofl non est, sumptiun fortasse ex poeuitontiali quodam, in huuc modum moderauiB: Presbyier n fornicaiionem feceriit quamquam secundum canones aposio' Inrum debeai deponi, iamen juxia aucioriiatem b, papae SilvcstH, si in vitio non per- darauerit, 9ed sua sponie confessus adjecii ui resurgat, decem annis in hunc mod^m poeniieat: iribus quidem mensibus privato loco a ceteris remotns pane et aqua a wespera in vesperam uiaiur, ianium auiem dicbus dominicis el praecipnis festis modico wimo ei piseictdis aique legwtunibus recreeiury sine carne et sagimine, ovis ei caseOy Boeco indiiius kumi adhaereai, die ac nocie Jugiter misericordiam l)ei omnipoieniis imploret. Fimiis iribus mensibus conlinuis exeai; tamen in publicum non procedai, ne grejD fidetis in eo scandalum paiiaiur; nec enim debel sacerdos publice poeniiere sicmi iaicuM. Ubi quum sacerdoti lapso poenitentia prorsus canonica praescriba- tar, haec tameu publica negatur. ") Ita msB. (etiam H'H'H'°); editi laica tantum in morte reddenda est, ••) DionysiuB quidem in conc. Nic. c. 11, quem Felix se sequi profitetur, sex ammis legit. Sed ex hoc loco firmantur ejusdem canouis (|uum textus graecus tmn Tetos interpretatio latina, quae ))er^>eram [ippellatur Isidori Mercatoris, qaum etiam iu Hispana coUectione obtineat. Dionysio tamen pervetustus codex Corbejensis £aYet, in quo haec Nicaeni c. 11 pars ita proiertur: et sex ajtnis omimi kumdHtaie suceumbai, **') Excuiwi saecularibus, concinnius msu. cum Ivone popularibus, In Capitu- 264 ' S. FELICIS II PAPAK a. 487 submittere, qui euin non timuerunt abnegare. Quodsi^ utpote isxif^ et488. ^al^g^ intra metas praescripti temporis coeperit vitae finis vc[^er^^ subveniendum est imploranti, et seu ab episcopo, qui poenitentian^ dederit, seu ab alio, qui tamen datam esse probaverit, aut similiter a presbytero viaticum abeunti de saeculo non negetur, cap. rv^ 7. Pueris autem, quibus, quod adhuc investes'**) sunt, a puri- tate vocabulum est, seu clericis seu laicis, aut etiam similibus puellis, quibus ignorantia suflPragatur aetatis, aliquamdiu sub manus impo- sitione detentis reddenda communio est. Nec eorum exspectanda poenitentia, quos excipit a coercitione censura. Quod est a nobia provide constitutum, ne hi, quibus iii terreni labe contagii plus mi- nusve restat ad vitam, dum adhuc in poenitentia sunt, poeDitenda forte committant. Quodsi ante praefinitum poenitentiae tempus de- spectus^*) a medicis aut e^adentibus mortis pressus indieiisy recepta quisquam communionis gratia con\ralescit, servemus in eo, quod Ni- caeni canones ordiuaverunt: ut habeatur inter eos, qui in oratione sola communicant, donec impleatur spatium temporis eidem praesti- tutum. Nec catechumenos nostros, qui sub tali professione bapti- zati sunt^ praeterimus, quia non est causa dissimilis, sicut iidem sancti canoneif ordinaverunt, ejus, qui quolibet modo Christum^ qnem semel confessus est, abjurarit: tril}us annis inter audientes sint^ et postea cum catechumenis permittantur ^^) orare, per manus imposi* tionem communiouis catholicae gratiam recepturi. 8. Exceptis sane tantummodo episcopis, presbyteris, diaconi- bus, quos^^) solo mortis suae tempore reconciUandos esse jam dixi- laxibus l.V c. 134 et 135, quae ex Felicis verbis conflata siint, legitur popuHM^ in conc. Nic. c. 11 duobus annis sine oblatione (Corb. praeter oblationem) popuio nt oratione communicet. Quocirca Siricius epist. 1 u. 13 decernit: Quicunque se Ecclesiae vovit obte^uHs m sua infantiay ante puhei'tatis annos baptizari et lectorum debet numero Mociari* Oob£ etiam not. Coust. in b 1. interpretatione verbi dnoyvcoad^eig (in Nic. c. 13). T desperaius a medkii ob evidentia mortis indicia. 3*) Ita mss. H I b' i*; alii editi omisso pertnittantur orare deinde cam H** perceptftri, ^') Plerique mss. (etiam H*^ H**) quibus ... conciliandum (1 H*H® reconciHandum):^' non displiceret communicandum. B EPI8TOLA 13. 265 ^ N^^ Bins, eeiem. id est, sive clericos sive monachos vel monachas^) ft-^87 seulaicos sezus utriusque personas^ quos violentia^^) et periculis co- arfoe iterationem baptismatis subiisse constiterit, vel qui aliquo com- mento hujas se facinoris piaculis dixerint non teneri, in poenitentia per triennium durare decernimus, et per manus impositionem ad sodetatem recipi sacramenti. Cap. V. IUo per omnia custodito, ne ex eis unquam, qui in qualibet netate alibi quam in Ecclesia catholica aut baptizati aut rebaptizati sunt, ad ecclesiasticam militiam prorsus permittantur ^^) accedere, quibos satis esse debet, quod in catholiconim numerum sunt recepti ; , qaoniam de suo ordine et communione videbitur ferre judicium, (juisquis *hoc violaverit antistitum'^), vel qui non removerit eum, quem ex eis ad ministerium clericale obrepsisse cognoverit: Cap. VI. 9. Curandum vero maxime et omni cautela est providendum, ne quis fratrum coepiscoporumque nostrorum aut etiam presbytero- rum in alterius civitate vel dioecesi poenitentem vel sub manu po- sitnm sacerdotis aut eum, qui reconciliatum^^) se esse dixerit, sine episcopi vel presbyteri testimonio et litteris aut^^) in paroecia pre- sbyter, aut episcopus in civitate suscipiat. Quod*^) aliqua dissimu- latione neglectum, culpam tangit etiam clericorum, qui in locis, in qnibos hoc minus curatum fuerit, commorantur. *•) Veterum codiciim (etiam H® H*) auctoritate restituimus monachas, db editis omiBsum. Eodem intellectu n. 6 dicitur monachis aut puelHs Dei. ••) Editi non permitianiur ... deheat ... numero; castigantur ex mBS. Nititur boc decretom reg^ula ecclesiastica, quam et Nicaeni patres can. 10 confirmant, qoae scilicet lapgos a clero arcet. Conferantur Innocentii epist. 17 n. 8 bs., XieoiiiB epiflt. 18, Felicifl epist. 8, ac Coustantii in cas notata, sicut Balleriniorum in Leonis epirt. 1 admouit. n. 16 bs. Quibus addere libet illud concilii Carthagi- afamin a. 419 habiti (cod. can. ecclee. Afric. c. 27): neque permittendum, ut rehapti- zmH ad ciericatus gradum promoveantur. ■^) Ita pleriqne msB. (etiam H» H») et T; vulgati institulum, male. Quippe ordinis ■oi atqne communiouis jacturam Felix cuiviB antistitum commiuatur, qui hoc decretum yiolayerit aut clericos hiyuBmodi a se per obreptionem promotos non removerit: quia cogniti deponuniuTf inquiunt Nicaeni patres can. 10. *") H h* eoneUiaium. •) Editi ad cujus pertinet parochiam preshyter; castigautur ex mss. (etiam !!• H* H**). Vox paroecia hic ecclesiam extra civitat^m positam, dioecesis vero episcopi territorium seu dvitatem sonat. • et a. 487 10. His itaque rite dispositis et ad ecclesiarum vestrarum aotT' ' tiaiu nostra deliberatioiie perlatis parere vos convenit: quibus, lic^ ad animarum reparationem uibil deesse videatur, tamen si cui no/^ aliquid, et quod praeterire nos potuit, fuerit revelatum, secunduD^ 14 30 ^^*^^^™ Pauhim apostoUmi, tacenie priore, fidenter*^) insinuet: qoi» Joh.3,8. '^/^^'"''WA* sancius ubi vuii spirai, maxime quum sua causa tractator*, nec nos pigel}it audire, et si qua sunt omissa, non arroganter ab- nuere sed rational)iliter ordinare. Deus custodiat vos, dilectis^im • fratres! Data Idibus Martii Dynamio et Siphidio*^) viris clarissimis consulibus. •