Letter 23: Hilary, bishop of Rome, to Ascanius and the other bishops of the province of Tarraconensis, greetings.

[Heading of Pope Hilarus to Ascanius and the remaining bishops of the province of Tarraconensis.] [Summary of contents:] I. That no bishop be ordained without the cognizance of the metropolitan bishop. II. That no bishop, having abandoned his own church, pass over to another. III. That, Irenaeus having been removed, a worthy bishop be ordained for the church of Barcelona from its own clergy, and that the episcopal honor not be regarded as a hereditary right. IV. On the disposition of bishops who have been unlawfully ordained, and that two bishops not be held in one church. V. On the condemnation of Irenaeus, should he not return to his own church. Hilarus, bishop, to Ascanius and to all the bishops of the province of Tarraconensis. 1. After we received the letter of your charity, in which you asked that the presumptions of Silvanus, bishop of the church of the Calagurritani, be checked, and again you seek that the exceedingly unlawful designs of the people of Barcelona be confirmed: it is established that letters were brought to us from the men of honor and the landholders of the cities of the Turiassonenses, the Cascantenses, the Calagurritani, the Varegenses, the Tritienses, the Legionenses, and the Virovescenses, with the subscriptions of various persons, through which they excused that which your complaint had set forth concerning Silvanus. But, alongside their most just reproof, an unjust allegation was likewise not lacking, because it became clear that, without the knowledge of our metropolitan brother and fellow bishop Ascanius, priests had been ordained for certain cities. Hence, since we see that whatever has been alleged by either party is confused with utter perversity, with the necessity of the times discerned, we decree by this reasoning that what has been done pertains to pardon, on condition that henceforth nothing be attempted against the precepts of the blessed apostle, nothing against what is established by the canons of Nicaea. I. 2. But this first thing we wish to be observed, in accordance with the rules of those same fathers, that no one be in any way consecrated as bishop apart from the notice and consent of our brother Ascanius the metropolitan, because the ancient order maintained this, and the authority of the three hundred and eighteen holy fathers defined this; against which whoever shall have stretched out opposing hands confesses himself unworthy of the fellowship of those to whose ordinances he has stood opposed. II. 3. To their reproach, with a proud spirit that part also is despised by which it is forbidden that anyone, having abandoned his own church, presume to go over to another. This Irenaeus the bishop attempts to commit, with you (so that it may be grieved over more gravely) seeking it, in a manner exceedingly wicked and with men conniving; you who desire to be strengthened by our authority, you who, most of all, we observe to be inflamed with great indignation over unlawful matters. Therefore, when your letter had been read in the assembly of the brethren whom the festivity of my birthday had gathered, the sentence delivered concerning the ordaining of bishops according to the statutes of the canons and the decrees of my predecessors, you will learn from the tenor of the proceedings which we have likewise directed to you. III. 4. Hence, with the bishop Irenaeus removed from the church of Barcelona and sent back to his own, and with the wishes calmed by priestly modesty which, through ignorance of the ecclesiastical laws, desire to obtain what is not permitted, let such a bishop forthwith be ordained for the people of Barcelona from their own clergy as it especially behooves you, brother Ascanius, to choose and as it is fitting to consecrate: lest, if perchance something be done in like manner, our injunction strike it down not without rebuke especially of your name, because we shall have learned it committed to the injury of God, from whom in a special manner comes the grace of the priestly dignities; nor let the episcopal honor be reckoned a hereditary right, which is conferred upon us by the sole kindness of God our Christ. IV. 5. The bishops therefore now ordained, who (although while you were unaware) have been advanced, although they deserve to be removed together with their authors, we confirm by this reasoning, on condition that no one of them has been the husband of a widow, and that he has entered into the marriage and vows of a single virgin, just as the legal ordinances also prescribe, saying: Let the priest take a virgin to wife, not a widow, not one repudiated [Leviticus]; according to which the blessed apostle Paul also, the teacher of the nations, did not keep silent in his own instruction concerning those who desire to become priests, saying: The husband of one wife. By the tenor of this sentence you ought to be so instructed, dearest brethren, that among the other things which are to be guarded against, you may strive especially to observe these things, which you recognize to be enjoined before all else. Among which it is also to be foreseen that there not be two priests at the same time in one church, and that neither one ignorant of letters, nor one lacking some part of his members, nor even any one of the penitents be at all permitted to approach to the sacred ministry. And do not think the petitions of the peoples to be so valid that, while you desire to obey them, you forsake the will of God our Lord, who forbids us to sin. His indignation is the more gravely stirred by this, because his kindness is offended when unlawful things are done through those who are the interpreters of reconciliation. V. 6. But that all things may be corrected according to these things which we have written, we have directed the present letter at the coming of Trajanus our subdeacon. But if the bishop Irenaeus, having laid aside the ambition of his wickedness, shall have neglected to return to his own church, which will be granted to him not by judgment but by humane consideration, let him know that he is to be removed from the episcopal fellowship. May God keep you unharmed, dearest brethren! Given on the third day before the Kalends of January, in the consulship of Basiliscus and Hermenericus, most distinguished men [463 AD]. Epistola 17. [Heading of Pope Hilarus to Ascanius of Tarraconensis. 465 AD. Summary: He complains that he wonders that Ascanius favored the wishes of the people of Barcelona; he orders Irenaeus to return to his own church; but he grants to the bishops ordained without the consent of Ascanius that they remain in their places.] To his most beloved brother Ascanius, Hilarus the bishop. 1. We ought to be mindful of the divine grace toward us, which, through the mercy of its own condescension, has advanced us to the priestly summit for this purpose, that, cleaving to its commands and set as it were on a certain watchtower of priests, we may forbid unlawful things and teach the things that are to be followed. Hence, by letters directed through Trajanus our subdeacon, we admonish that the things which have been done ill be corrected. And we wonder exceedingly that your charity not only checked the petitions of the people of Barcelona by no authority, but even, by letters directed to us, requested the consummation of a depraved desire, employing in the preface of your letter the mention of a council, as though the excesses of fault were lessened through the multitude of the unskilled: whereas, even if each one under the designation of his own name had likewise reported it together with you, and the brethren singly had lent their own subscriptions, nevertheless the chief point of the matter that displeases concerned your charity, because, for the rank and honor owed to you, the other priests ought to have been taught, not followed. Hence, just as I indicated in the general letter, let Irenaeus return to his own church, and let a bishop forthwith be consecrated for the people of Barcelona from their own clergy, one with whom nevertheless the statutes of the canons and the apostolic precepts may be in concord. 2. And although those who, apart from the notice and consent of your charity, have been ordained as priests ought to have been removed together with their authors, nevertheless, lest we decree anything too severe in so great a necessity, those who have been made bishops we wish thus to remain, if they are not found liable in the apostolic precepts and the statutes of the holy fathers, and provided that henceforth nothing that comes contrary to ecclesiastical discipline, as has been done hitherto, be perpetrated. 3. It belongs to your solicitude, dearest brother, to guard the authority owed to you, and not only not to lend assent to unlawful things, but also to restrain all things which you shall find done contrary to the rule; and before all things, the things which we decree by humane consideration alone, compel Irenaeus to return to his own church. To which he ought rather to return of his own accord, if he fears not to be separated from the priestly fellowship. Nor let two be permitted to be bishops of one church, which we delegate to be done more opportunely by the instance of the aforesaid subdeacon, whom also, for the preserving of the discipline of the Church, the authority of our disposition has caused to travel to the Spains. But may God keep you unharmed, dearest brother! Notice of letters not extant which pertain to the holy Pope Hilarus. I. [462, before November.] A letter of Frithericus, the magnificent man, to Pope Hilarus concerning the invasion of Hermes, bishop of Beziers. Hilarus, at the beginning of the first year of his pontificate, received the letter of the magnificent man Fridericus, in which Johannes, once ordained bishop of the Aturenses and rejected by them, was reported to have invaded the see of Narbonne with execrable rashness. Moved by these letters, and also at the instigation of Johannes who delivered them, the pontiff, by letters given to Leontius bishop of Arles, who had neglected to make known so grave and unheard-of a matter which he himself ought to have corrected, rebuked him rather vehemently. And at the same time he enjoined that, the excuse set aside, he transmit a relation of all the proceedings written by his own hand and that of his brethren. (Compare Hilarus, letter 7, dated 3 November 462, and letter 8.) II. [Early 463.] A relation of Leontius bishop of Arles to Pope Hilarus concerning the alleged invasion of Hermes. Leontius without doubt obeyed the pontiff, and, having sent the relation which he requested, easily vindicated Hermes from the charged offense. Perhaps this relation was directed through Faustus and Auxanius, who, delegated by the bishops of the provinces of Vienne, of Narbonne the first and the second, and of the Alps, were present at the Roman synod held not long after the anniversary day of Hilarus. There, indeed, with the case of Hermes discussed, Hilarus, having nothing doubtful concerning his conduct, judged that he had incurred rather than committed those excesses of which he had accused him. In letter 8, given on this matter to the bishops of the aforesaid provinces, he likewise indicates what the synod determined concerning him, so that the decree of the Council of Nicaea, by which it is provided that neither a bishop nor a priest nor a deacon pass over from city to city, might be kept sound and whole. III. [About the beginning of 463.] A petition of Leontius of Arles to Pope Hilarus concerning the restoring of the parishes of the church of Arles formerly cut off. At the end of the same letter 8, Hilarus makes mention of a petition offered to him, in which Leontius prayed that the parishes of the church of Arles, transferred to others by your predecessor Hilarius, be restored to their former right. But, mindful of apostolic moderation, he says, we have remitted his complaint to your fraternity to be heard. IV. [463, before the month of October.] An accusation of Gundioc, master of soldiers, to the holy Pope Hilarus concerning a certain usurpation of holy Mamertus. Soon holy Mamertus, bishop of Vienne, drew upon himself the ill-will of many by ordaining a bishop of Die, whom Leontius, bishop of Arles, asserted to be of his own jurisdiction, and that most of all from the time when Leo had assigned to each his own churches by letter 66 given to the bishops of the metropolis of Arles. And the matter proceeded to such a point that the illustrious man Gundioc dared to defame the most holy man by most bitter letters. These letters holy Hilarus mentions in letter 9, written on this occasion to Leontius on the sixth day before the Ides of October. As far as has been indicated, he says, by the discourse of our son the illustrious man Gundioc, master of soldiers, the aforesaid bishop, against the will of the people of Die and of those who did not at all pertain to the number of his churches which the authority of the apostolic see assigned to him ... occupying the city in hostile fashion, as is said, presumed to consecrate a bishop. Then, taking it ill that the constitutions of his predecessor should be so neglected, nay even spurned, he commands that in the synod which he was bound to hold every single year, the relation of Gundioc be discussed, and that Mamertus be compelled to give an account of his deed before the whole assembly of the fraternity, and that whatever has been ascertained be intimated to the notice of all by letters. (Hilarus, letter 9.) V. [464, before the 25th of February.] A relation of the bishops who had taken cognizance of the case of holy Mamertus in synod, concerning the same matter, to the holy Pope Hilarus. The commands which we have mentioned having been received, Leontius convoked a synod. Whether there, as had been prescribed, Mamertus stood in judgment to render an account of his deed, is very uncertain. But the matters which had been reported to Hilarus, the bishops there gathered in part confirmed by letters sent through Bishop Antonius, as is easily gathered from his letter 10, in which he replies to them individually by name. Those letters, says Hilarus, delivered to him by Bishop Antonius, whom they had delegated from among themselves and whom he himself judged a fit interpreter of so great a legation, greatly saddened him from the very beginnings of their text. From which, namely, he learned by their first assertion that the definitions established by his predecessor of holy memory Leo concerning the bishop of Vienne could be transcended by Mamertus, by which definitions nevertheless it was established that his predecessor, nay even Leontius, had stood firm hitherto. Then, recalling to memory that the dignity of the church of Vienne had once been wronged by the transgression of the bishop of Arles, and that for the correcting of the things which had been done amiss it had afterward been settled by an inviolable definition, that neither should the one be inglorious nor the other be stripped of his entire ancient honor; he adds that from these same letters and the relation of Bishop Antonius it is evident that Mamertus, by wishing more, wished to lose privileges enclosed within fixed limits, abusing the moderation of Leontius, who, against right, did not fear to consecrate a bishop for the people of Die, even if he is deserving. Where it is worth observing, as in the whole letter, that the aforesaid fathers of the synod complain nothing concerning the violence done to the people of Die, nothing concerning the city occupied in hostile fashion. They object to Mamertus alone the ordination of a jurisdiction belonging to another, which perhaps he, with obstinate mind, contended to be attached to his own dignity and to ancient custom and to be capable of being torn away by no constitution. Certainly Hilarus charges upon him only the mark of pride and rebellion. To whom, he says, has a rebellious mind ever profited, or whom has the elation of pride not bent down? And with certain things interposed: His deed had to be resolved thus, that, according to the quality of the things perpetrated, he should judge that the man also whom he created unlawfully be removed from the priestly fellowship, not without loss of his own rank. Now since the letter from which we gather these things was given on 25 February 464, it follows that those letters were written at the beginning of the same month, or at the end of January, the aforesaid synod not yet being dissolved. VI. [464, before the 25th of February.] A delegation of the holy Pope Hilarus to Veranus concerning the convening of holy Mamertus. At the same time Hilarus directed writings to Bishop Veranus, in which he charged him to approach Mamertus by his delegation, to announce to him what had been reported to him by the synod: namely, that by ordaining a bishop of Die he had rashly violated what Leo had defined, and that he should be willing to desist from his undertakings and attest by a firm profession that he would henceforth, at the peril of his own rank, always preserve the definition of the apostolic see; but if not, that those same four cities, with whose ordination he had not been content, were to be recalled to the church of Arles. (Hilarus, letter 10, section 5.) These writings are hitherto wanting. But what followed thence is wholly hidden. Yet whether Mamertus truly sinned, or whether Hilarus, deceived by vague and false accusations, so ill-treated the holy man, is uncertain and the case is still before the judge. For the authority of the synod summoned and gathered by Leontius is not of so great weight that it is not also probable that a wrongful suspicion existed, by which very many of the fathers, suffragans of Leontius, could be brought to concede to the sentence of the metropolitan and to conform themselves to his judgment and will. VII. [In the year 463 or 464.] A letter of Ingenuus, bishop of Embrun, to the holy Pope Hilarus concerning a certain usurpation of Bishop Auxanius. The case of Auxanius, bishop of Aix as they think, reported to Hilarus not long after, he more easily dispatched. He, doubtless on the occasion of that legation which he had undertaken in 462 with Faustus bishop of Riez, as we mentioned above (compare Hilarus, letter ...), had stolen certain things to the prejudice of the church of Embrun, which seemed openly contrary to the synodal statutes confirmed by the apostolic see. Ingenuus, bishop of this city, complained of the injury done to him, defending his church most keenly by an offered petition and by the appended relations both of Veranus and the associate bishops once delegated by Leo to take cognizance of this case, and of the response of Leo himself. What then did the equitable pontiff do? Having reviewed all these things in judgment, he refused to let that be valid which he saw to have been elicited from him by surreption and contrary to his own synodal and his predecessor's definitions; and therefore he committed the cognizance of this complaint to the bishops Veranus, Leontius, and Victurus. (Compare Hilarus, letter ...) Whence it is likewise easily gathered that Ingenuus had complained that the churches of Cimiez and Nice had been taken from him by Auxanius, but that he himself too was not wholly free from all fault in ordaining a bishop in one of them, contrary to the decree of Leo, by which he had appointed both churches to be governed under one bishop. For when Hilarus had set forth this whole controversy, as we have just touched upon, he at once decrees: that Ingenuus have the pontifical jurisdiction of his own province, concerning which, he says, there was formerly an unlawful concession by the apostolic see; and, all things being preserved which had been defined by Leo concerning the churches of the city of Cimiez and the fort of Nice, that nothing harm the right of the churches, if he in one of them, to exclude cupidity, had, as is alleged, lately consecrated a bishop for a church belonging to another, but at the same time that they remain united under the governance of one bishop. (Hilarus, letter 12, section 2.) VIII. [Before the month of November.] An excuse of the men of honor and landholders of the Turiassonenses, Cascantenses, Calagurritani, Varegenses, Tritienses, Legionenses, and Virovescenses to the holy Pope Hilarus, on behalf of Silvanus bishop of Calagurris, accused of unlawful ordinations. Such letters the holy pope himself mentions in letter 16 to Ascanius and the bishops of the province of Tarraconensis. IX. [About 462.] An encyclical letter of the holy Pope Hilarus to the Easterners concerning the catholic faith. The Liber Pontificalis, in the life of this pontiff, narrates among other things: He made a decree and scattered throughout the whole East letters concerning the catholic and apostolic faith, confirming the three synods, the Nicene, the Ephesine, and the Chalcedonian, and the writings of the holy archbishop Leo, that is, the celebrated letter to Flavian, and condemning Eutyches and Nestorius and Dioscorus and all their followers and heresies, and confirming the dominion and primacy of the holy catholic and apostolic see; or, as in the manuscript otherwise, in the Fossalensian, now Colbertine, codex number 1868, it reads: He made a decretal and directed it throughout the whole East, and letters concerning the catholic faith. And that Hilarus did this not long after he ascended the see of Peter is no slight conjecture, namely that he might as soon as possible preclude the faith confirmed at Chalcedon and protect it from any addition by new sects. X. A letter of the holy Pope Hilarus to the bishops of various provinces concerning the sacrilege of injury inflicted on churches. The Synod of Tribur in the year 895, canon 4, refers it thus: that Pope Hilarus writes to all the bishops throughout various provinces in his letter, "the injury of priests and of churches is a sacrilege." Concerning the injury which is inflicted on a church by the plundering of its goods, Isidore Mercator, under the name of the sixth synod under Symmachus, number 6, says: "It is a sacrilege for anyone to transfer or convert to another use whatever each one has contributed to a venerable church, whether for the remedy of sins or for safety or for the salvation of their souls." XI. Decrees ascribed to Hilarus. 1. If anyone seems to be contentious, the apostle saying [1 Corinthians 11:16], We have no such custom, nor the Church of God, that satisfaction be not made for the contentious, let him be marked, until he correct himself. Crabbe and afterward the other editors of the councils bring forth this fragment from the codex book 16, chapter 19. The same is extant in Burchard of Worms, book ..., chapter 55, and Ivo, part 13, chapter 66 (from the decrees of Pope Hilarus, chapter 15). 2. Where there is a part of the body, there is also the whole. The same reasoning holds in the body of the Lord as in the manna, which preceded as its figure. Whence it is said: He who had gathered more had nothing over, and he who had prepared less had less [Exodus 16:18]. For the quantity is not to be estimated in this spiritual mystery, but the power of the spiritual sacrament.

Hllari papae ad Aseaniiim et reliquos eplscopos Tarraconensis ^* ^^ f prOTinciae. 0 p. 4. L Ut niiUiif liBe eonfeatn epiioopi metropoUtani epifoopai ordinetnr. IL Ut nnUnt epiiooponun, reliota propria eoolofin, ad aU&m tranfoat. nL Ut Irenaeo remoto dignnt Baroinonenfi eeelefiae de proprio olero epifoopuf ordi- ' Botar, neo epifoopaUf honor haereditarium jof patetnr. IT. De reparandif epifoopif, qai iUieite ordinati fant, et ne in ana eooleeia dao epieoepi habeantnr. ▼. ]>• davnatione Irenaei, fi ad fnam eoolofiam non reyertatar. . Hilarus episcopus Ascanio et universis episco- pis Tarraconensis provinciae. 1. Postquam litteras vestrae dilectionis accepimus, quibus prae- sumptiones Silvani episcopi Calagurensium^) ecclesiae retundi peti- stis, et rursum Barcinonensium*).quaeriti8 nimis illicita vota firmari: - honoratorum et possessorum Turiassonensimn*), Cascantensium ^), Ca- ") H* ignorantia. ImearensiMm, (H') Calagorrensium, (0*) Calacorrensium, Certe apud Bonifocium H epist. 2 n. 2 Stephanus Lanssenae civitatis episcopus «e pofleessonun totius dvitatis suifragiis electum asserit. Cf. Cassiodor. epist. III, 40 et IV, 8. a. 465. laguritanonini/ Varegeiisium*^), Tritieusium'), Legionensium et Viro- ve.scensium civitatis cum subscriptionil)us diversonnn litteras nobis constat ingestas, per quas id, quod de Silvano querela vestra de- l^rompserat, excusabant. Sed reprehensione justissima eonun pari- ter iiijusta®) allegatio non carebat, quia praeter conscientiam me- tropolitani fratris et coepiscopi nostri Ascanii nonnullis civitatibus ordinatos claruit sacerdotes. Unde, quoniam quidquid ab alterutra parte est indicatimi, (mmi videmus pciTersitate confiisnm, temponim necessitate perspecta liac ratione decernimus ad veniam pertinere quod gestmn est, ut niliil deinceps contra praecepta beati apostoli, nihil contra Nicaenorum canonum constitutmn tentetur. I. 2. Hoc autem primimi juxta eorumdem patnnn regulas volumus custodiri, ut nuUus praeter notitiam atque consensum fratris Aseanii metropolitani aliquatenus consecretur antistes, quia hoc vetus ordo tenuit, hoc trecentonmi decem et octo sanctonim patrum definivit auctoritas; cui quisquis obvias tetenderit manus, eorum se consortio fatetur indignmn, quonmi praeceptionibus resultarit. 11. .*). In quorum contumeliam superbo spiritu etiam pars illa eon- temnitur, qua^) vetatur, ne quis relicta ecclesia sua ad alteram traus- Cascastcfismm, niiw. 10 ('astanlensium (0' Ascautensium), Deinde F* H* H* Cala- poritanurum, H** (talatforitanorum, W Calofforitanorum. Bastitanornni in ilispcmia Tarraconenni (Ptolom.); sed et Vergii nrbis HiBpaniae meminit Livins 34, 21 (fortasse qnae hodie Benavarri)^ ot Varia vel Varea oppidma Hispaniae Tarraconensis ad Iberuni flnvium memoratur (Baudrand 1. c). Hum civitatum cum). Ex quibua Legionensium recepinuis. Magis arridet cum 1 H^ ah antiqua manu injustn aUegatio. Antiquiores fefellit, quod paritcr ad proximum ycrhum Justissima referri putarent, quum ad superiora nimis iUicita vota referatur. Sed et subnexa lectionem, quam praeferimus, con- firmant. Sed quamvis Sardicenses canones pro Nicaenis laudarint quidam pontifices Hi- laro majores (cf. Coust. not. in Zosimi epist. 15), hic tamen Hilarum ad Nieae- num canonem 15 respicere id argiuuento est, quod in judicio adversus Irenaeom translatum proferendo Iu\jus canonis sententiam sequitur. Sic porro canon lau- EPISTOLA 16. 167 ire praesumat. Quod iiimis improbe coniiiveiitibiis et, ut doleatur a. 466. gravius, vobis *®) quaerentibua Irenaeus episcopus conatur admittere : qui nostra auctoritate roborari cupitis, quos maxime de rebus illicitis magna indignatione probatis accendi. Lectis ergo in conventu fra- tnun, quos uatalis mei festivitas congregarat, litteris vestris, quae de ordinandis episcopis secundum statuta canonum vel praedecesso- rum meorum decreta sunt, prolata sententia gestorum quae pariter direximus^*) tenore discetis. in. 4. Unde remoto ab ecclesia Barcinonensi '^) atque ad^*^) sua re- misso Irenaeo epLscopo, sedatis per sacerdotalem mbdestiam volun- tatibus, quae per ignorantiam ecclesiasticanim legum desiderant quoil uon licet obtinere, talis protinus de clero proprio Barcinonen- sibus episcopus ordinetur, qualem te praecipue, frater Ascaiii, opor- teat eligere et deceat consecrare: ne^*) si similiter forte factimi fuerit, non sine objurgatione tui maxirae nominis retundat nostra praeceptio, quod in injuriam Dei, a quo specialiter sacerdotalium est gratia dignitatum, didicerimus admissum; nec episcopalis honor Iiaereditariiun jus putetur, quod nobis sola Dei nostri benignitate Christi**) confertur. IV. 5- Ordinatos ergo nunc episcopos, qui^^) licet dum te ignorante datos cx Dionysii interpretiitioiie decernit: Placuil coiisuelmlinem ommmoiUs ampu tnri, quae practcr regulam in quibusdam parlibus videlur ad^nissa, ita ut dc cimlate tid cfviiaiem non cpiscopus, non preshytcrj non diaconus transfcratur. Si quis autem paitt definiiionem sancti ct magni concilii tale quid agere tentaverilet se hujimcemodi negolio mancipaveiit , hoc factum prorsus irritttm ducatur, et restituatur ecclesiae^ r^jus fuit episcopus aut preshyter vel diaconus ordinatus, (Cf. Hieronyin. epist. 82 oL 83.) ««) Editi vobis asserentibus^ contra mss. Mox H® revocare (h* revocari) cupitis. »•) Qaas scil. huic proxime praemisimus epist. 13 — 15. **) Rursum hic Bimilis raas. varietas, quam supra not. 3: mss. H yercenoncnsi . , . ifercenonensihus, F* H* Vereconensiy mss. l 0 Barcilonensi. ^3) 'ilLs». 10 ad suam^ moxque H'° «en/en/iV?»i (loco modestiam). ludicium suum, ut jam observatum, Hilaros ad Nicaenum canonem exigit. Severior ftverjit Leo e|>ist. 14 cap. 8: Qui ad majorem^ inquit, se piebcm quacunque ratione transfulerit, a raihedra quidem pelletur aliena, sed carebit et propria. Certe hiiud indigna vcnia hujusmodi translatio erat. Irenaeus enim quum ad regendam Barcinonensem «*cclefliam aflsiimptuB eat, primus ut videtur ecclesiae Barcinonensi novissime episcopali titulo insiguitae praefectus fuerat; adeoque Cx portione unius ejus- demque ecclesiae ad totam administrandam cooptatus, nou magis translatus dici potcrat, quam presbyter, qui in ccclesia aliqua constitutus ad altiorem graxlum aut ejuBdem sedem episcopalem promovetiu'. •*) Mbs. 1 0 H>o ne « aliter. •*) Vocem Christi cum h' et mss. supplemus. '•) Ita msB. lOh*; mss. H qui licet ante /e, editi qui licet te ,., meruerunt. a. 465. provecti sunt, ciini suis auctoribiis meruerint submoveri, hac ratione firmamus, si nec viduae maritus fuerit quisquam, eV) in uuius tir- ginis nuptias ac vota convenerit, sicut et legalia constituta praeci- Lev. piunt dicendo: Sacerdos virginem uxorem accipiat, nm vidmm^ non ^,^iri,repudiatam; secundum quod etiam beatus apostolus Paulus magisier gentium de liis, qui fieri desiderant sacerdotes, propria institutione ^J^non tacuit, dicens: Unixts vxoris virum. Cujus^^) tenore sententiae ita informati esse debetis, fratres carissimi, ut inter ceters, quae cavenda sunt, haec studeatis praecipue custodiri, quae cognoscitis ante universa mandari. In quibus etiam prospiciendum est, ne duo simul sint in *^). una ecclesia sacerdotes, nec Utterarum ignarus, aut carens aliqua parte membronmi, vel etiam ex^®) poenitentibus -ali- quis ad sacmm ministeriiun prorsus sinatur accedere. Nec tautum putetis petitiones valere populoriun, ut quiun his parere'') cupitis, vohmtatem Dei nostri, qui nos peccare prohibet, deseratis. Cujus indignatio ex hoc gravius commovetur, quia benignitas ejus^ dum fiunt illicita per eos qui sunt interpretes placationis, offenditur. V. 6. Ut autem omnia secundum liaec, quae scripsimus, coni- gantur, praesentes Htteras Trajano subdiacono nostro veniente dire- ximiis. Quod si Irenaeus episcopus ad ecclesiam suam deposito im- probitatis ambitu redire neglexerit, quod ei non judicio sed huma- nitate^^) praestabitur, removendum se ab episcopali consortio esse cognoscat. Deus vos incoliunes custodiat, fratres carissinii! Data Hujusmodi episcopi practer metropolitiuii conscientiam ordinati submoveii ^me- ruenmt ex pracscripto Nicacnorum patrum can. 6: Qiiod si quis praeier genUtt- tiam meiropolitani fuerit factus episcopus, hunc magna synodus detMvU epiMcapmm esst tion oportere. Quibus concilia Taurincnso c. 3 ot Rcgiense c. 3 concinaut (Hard. I, 958 ct 1749), et ad horum quidcm canonum praescriptum soam ad- vcrsus hujusmodi ordinatos seutentiam HiUu^i successor Simplicios epist. 1 n. 1 accomodat. Eorum ctiam auctorcs seu ordinatorcs cum illis dejici meruerunt ex decrctis Zosimi papae epist. 6 n. 2 et epist. 9 n. 1. Quod nec se ignorare testatur Hilarus epist. 10 n. 3, scd cadem erga illoe indulgentia utendom duxit. ") Mss. lOi' nec in secundae conjugis nuptias^ W^ nec secundae coi^ugis eed in unius, *') Editi et{jus sane tenore (a* ieiTore .,,fonnati) ... custodire, Mss. cumh'i* sequimur. 1') Mss. 10 i^ Mnius ecclesiae sacerdotes. Rursum tuotur Hilarus Nicaeni oon- cilii dccretum can. 8, quo cavetur, ne in una civitate duo episcopi probeniwr e»- sistere. Quod in sc factum nec faciondum fuissc Augustinus cpist. 213 n. 4 fiite- tur, idcoque quod iii ipso reprchensum est, in successore suo se reprehendi nolle adjungit. '0) h. e. ex iis, qui poenitentia aliquando functi simt, quique interdum uno vorbo expoenitentes vocantur (sicut exconsules). *•) H* parcere cupitis. Deiiide H^ omittit secundum, ") H' H^ humUUate, Moxque H" Data Kaiendarum Januariarum. BPISTOLAE 16. 17. * 169 tertio Calendas Januarii^ Basilisco et Hermiuerico viris clarissimis a. 463. consulibus. £pistola 17. HiUirl papae ad Ascanium Tarraconensem. (a.465.) HiS. Se wurari canleMiaiiut , quod Ascanius Barcinonensium studia foverit, Irenaeum ad propriam eedesiam reverti Jubet, episcopis vero sine consensu Ascanii ordinatis ut in locis suis permaneant indulget, Dilectissimo fratri Ascauio Hilarus episcopus. 1. Divinae circa nos gratiae memores esse debemus, qui uos per diguatiouis suae misericordiam ob hoc ad fastigium sacerdotale prorexity ut mandatis ipsius iuhaerentes et iu quadam sacerdotum ^) ejus speeula constituti^ prohibeamus illicita et sequeuda doceamus. Unde directis per Trajanum subdiaconum nostrum litteris admoue- mos, ut quae male sunt facta coriigantur. £t miramur admodum, dilectioiiem tuam Barcinoneusium petitioues non solum uulla aucto- ritate retudisse'), verum etiam directis ad nos litteris consummatio- nem pravi desiderii postulasse, adhibendo iu epistolarmn prooemio concilii mentionem, tamquam culpae minuerentur excessus per raulti- tudinem imperitorum: quum si etiam sub significatione unusquisque sui uominis tecum pariter retulisset, et subscriptiones proprias fra- tres^) singuli commodassent, dilectionem tamen tuam rei, de qua dis- plicety summa tangebat, quia pro loco et honore tibi debito ceteri aacerdotes docendi fuerant non sequendi.^) Uude sicut in generali- bus litteris indicavi, Irenaeus ad propriam revertatur ecclesiam, et Barcinonensibus^) de suo clero protiuus consecretur antistes, cui ta- men statuta canonum et apostolica praecepta concordent. 2. Et licet hi, qui praeter notitiam atque consensum tuae di- ' *) In mw. retun^se. Moxquo P fi i* conversationem, I* conservattonem, 0'H'* eonMenMionem, qaod et editi ad marg. Mallemus confirfnationem^ quum Ascanius et «ocii id, quod petunt epist. 14 n. 2, ab Hilaro roborari ac firmari desidcrent. Coelestiutun epist. 4 n. 7, ubi episcopos omnino non vult ex aliena peti ecclesia, nisi qaam desant in propria. 170 " S. HILARI PAPAE a. 165. lectioiiis ordiiiati suiit sacerdotes, ciim suis debuerint aiictoribus sub- Dioveri^ ne quid tanien in tanta necessitate decernamus aust^nimy eos qui episcopi facti sunt, ita volumus permanere, si®) in apostolicis praeceptionibu» et 'statutis sanctorum patnim non reperiuntur ob- noxii, ac deinceps nihil, quod contra disciplinam ecclesiasticaiii veniat, sicut hactenus factimi est, perpetretur. 3. Tuae sollicitudinis est, frater carissime, debitam^) tibi au- ctoritatem tueri, et illicitis non modo non praebere assensum, sed etiam cuncta, quae contra regulani facta repereris, coercere; atque ante omnia, quae sola humanitate^) decemimus, Irenaeum ad ecde- siam suam redire compolle^ Ad quam sponte potius remeare debebit, si a sacerdotali consortio non^) metuit separari. Nec unius ecclesiae duo esse })ennittantur antistites, quod opportunius supradicti sub- diaconi fieri delegamus instantia, queni etiam pro conservanda Eccle- siae disciphna commeare ad Hispanias dispositionis nostrac fecit auctoritas. Deus autem incolumem te custodiat, frater carissime! No t i t i a epistolarum uon exstantium quae ad 6« Hilarum papam attineiit» > • I. a, 462 anle tneus, Nor, Frithcnci magnifici viri ad Hilarum papam d€ . invasionc Ifcrmac cpiscopi BHcrrcnsis, llilarus cxruntc |iriino pontificatus sui nnno liltcr.is arcepil niagnificl viri Fritliorici, quihus Jlmncs olini ItitonTnsiiuis onlinatus episcopus rt ali eis rejcctus Narhonensoni seiieni casccrabili tcmcrilaic invasisse ferchnlur. Hh litleris necnoii el J(»hanne. (pii eas reddidil, instiganle commotus pontlfei (latis litteris ad Leontiiiin Arelatensein episcopuni, (|ui reiu tani gravcni tamque inauditain, qiiani ipsemet corrigcre delMiisset, indicare neglexeral, veliemcutius ipsum repreliendil. Simulipie injunvil, ut seposita excusatione g&storuni omnimn relationem quuin sua tuin rralrum suorum inanu scriplam transmitterct. (Cf. Hilar. episl. 7 dat. d. 3. ?fov. 462 et epist. 8.) 11. a. 463 initio. Lcontii Arclatcnsis cpiscopi ad Hilarum papam de incusaia Hermac invasione relatio. Lcontius Iiaiid duhic pontifici paruit, missaque ca quam petebat relatione llermcn ah ohjccta iioxa facilc vindicavit. Fortc dirccla hacc rclatio fuit per Faustum el AuxaniuiH, qui a provinciac Vicnncnsis, Narhonensis primac et secmi» dac cl Alpinae cpiscopis delcgati Romanac synodo haud multo post anniver^ , •) Editi ut ... reperiantur. Lectio inss. conciimior. Quippe antecedens ticula ita periudc sonat at<iuc in eo statu et gradu^ quem consectUi sunt, ') Ita mss. et i'. Alii editi omfda dehita tihi auctoritate tueri. EPISTOLA 17. NOTITIA EPIST. NON EXST. 171 sario Ililari die habitae iuterfuere. Ibi vero discussa llcrmae causa ililarus de ejus conversatione nihil habens ambigui aeslimavil, illum hos fjuos ar- guerat excessus incurrisse potius guam fecisse, In epistola 8 de bac re ad praedktaruni provincianira episcopos data simnl signilicat,*quid dc ipso statuerit synodus, ut sarluni leclum esset cDncilii Nicacni decretum, quo cavetur, nc de dfritate in civitatem iranseant vel episcopus vel prcsbyter vcl diaconus. m. a. 463 circ. init. LeontH Arelatensis ad « Ililarum papnm libcUus dc resti- tueftdis Arelatensis ecclesiae paroeciis pridcm abscissis, Ad ejusflein epistolae 8 calocni Ililarus mcmiiiit oblati sibi libclli, quo orabat Leoulius. pristino Juri resiitui paroccias Arelatensis ccclcsiac praedccessore tuo Bilario in alios iranslatas. Sed moderaminis apostolici mcmorcs^ ait, fra- iemitati vestrae querclam ipsius remisimus audiendam. IV. a. 463 ante mens. Ociobr. Gunduici magislri miliium ad s. Hilarum papam incusatio de u^rpaiione guadam s. Mamcrii. Mox s. Mamertus Viennensis antistes multorum sibi iuvidiam condavit ordinato Dfensi episcopo, quem sui esse juris Leontius Arelatcnsis pracsul asscrcbat, el ex eo maxinic lempore, quo suas utriquc ccclcsias Lco attribuerat cpislola 66 ad cpi- «copos metropolis Arelatensis data. Eoque rcs processit, ut vir illustris Gunduicus s^nctissimuin viruin diflaraare sit ausus litteris acerbissimis. Ilas litteras s. Ililarus commemorat epistola 9 liac occasionc ad Leoutium VI Idus Oclobris scripla. Quantum fiiii nostri viri illustris magisiri militum Gunduici sermone est indi- ratum, inquit, praedicius episcopus inviiis Decnsibus, ei qui ad ccclesinrum ejus numerumj guas ei aposiolicae sedis drpuiavii aurioriias^ . . . minime pertinebnni, hostili morc^ ui diciiur^ occupans civiiaicm cpiscopum consecrare praesumpsii, Tum indignc ferens ita ncgligi immo ct spcrni dcccssoris sui con- stituta, praecipit, ulinsynodo, quain singulis aiinis baborc tencbatur, Gunduici rc- lationem discutial, et compulso Mamcrto raiioncm facti sui sub univcrso coeiu frniemiiatis exigerc, quid cxploratum fucrit, omnium liitcris sunc intimci noli- tiae (Hil. ep. 9). V. a. 464 ante d. 25 Febr. Episcoporum^ gui de s. Mnmcrti cntisa in synodo cognoverani, de eadem ad s. Hilarum pnpnm relntio. Mandatis, quae di\imus, acceplis Leontius syiiodum convocavit. Num ibi, .«•iiut praescriptam fuerat, Mamertus in judicio stcterit facti sui rationem rcddi- turns» valde esl incertura. Verum qiiac delata llilaro fucraiit, cpiscopi ibi congre- gati partim ipsi litleris per Anlonium cpiscopum missis confirmarunt, ut cx illius epist. lO, qna singulis nominatim rcspondct, facile colligilur. Littcras ilaquc illas, ait Hilarns, ab Anlouio episcopo, quem ex scse delegaverant ct i|)sc ianta lega- tiane dignum interpreiem judiciibat, sibi traditas v^ildc sc conlrislasse ah ipsis coniexius sui principiis. Ex quibus nimirum prmn nsscrtionc cognovii, dcfini- iianes a sanctae memoriae decessore suo Leone de Vicnnensi episcopo praesti- tutas a Mamerto potuisssftirnnscendi ^ quibus tamcn ejus decessorem Immo et Leontinm hactenus stclisse constaret. Tum in mcmoriam revocans, digni- tatem Viennensis ecclesiae Arelatensis aniisiiiis quondam irnnsgressionc crc- rissCy ct pro corrigendis^ quae perperam gerebaniur, inviolabili posiea defini- iione compositum^ ne alter inglorius alier in ioium veieri honore reperireiur exutus; addit, ex eisdem litteris et Antonii episcopi rclalionc paterc, Mamertum primlegia certis conclusa ierminis velic perdere plus volendo^ qui abusus Leoniii moderantia^ Deensibus contra fas episcopum^ etiamsi est merit inquil, non timuerit consecrare. Ubi obscrvarc libel. uti et in tota epistola, lul dc vi Deensibus ilJata, uihi] de occupala hostili morc civitate queri praedkl synodi patres. Solam Maracrto objiciunt praesuUs haud quidem iiidigQi tanto : stigio sed juris alieni ordinationem, quam fortc ille obflrmato animo contendd dignilati suae ei anliquo adnexam nulla avelli constitutione potuisse. Certe Hi rus notam ipsi solum impingil superbiae et rebellionis. Cui unquam profuU^ i quit, mens rebeUis, aut quem superbiae non inclinavit elatio ?. Et quibusdi interjcctis : Factum ejus convenerat sic resolviy ut juxta eorum^ quae perf trata sunt, qualitatem non sine jactura proprii ordinis etiam ilium a sacerc tali consortio submoveri ccmeret^ quem creavit indebite, Jam quum episto undehaeccolligimus, 25Februariidiea.464sildata» sequitur, utlitteraeilIaeeod< mcnse ineunte, vel exeunteJanuario scriptae fuerint.praedictasynodonondumsolu VI. a, 464 ante d, 25 Febr. S. Hilari papae ad Veranum de conveniendo s, M merto delegalio. Eodem tempore Hilarus scripta ad Vcranum cpiscopum dirigebat, quibus i demandabat, ut Mamertum ex sua delegatione adiret, quid sibi a synodo relat fuisset denuntiaturus : eum videlicet ordinatp' Deensi episcopo temere viola quod Leo definierat, utque a coeptis desistere vellet firmaque professione tesL se deinceps periculo ordinis sui semper conservaturum apostoiicae sedis d* nitionem, sin minus, ad Arelalensem ecclesiam easdem quatuor civitates^ qz rum non fuissct ordinatione contentus^ esse revocandas (llil. ep. 10 n. 5). II scripta hactcnus desideranlur. Quid vero inde secutum sit, prorsus latet. Sed utrum revera peccaveril Mamertus, an vagis faisisque accusationibus deceptus lE rus sanclum virum ila niale habuerit, incertum ct adhuc sub judicc lis est. Ne^ enim tanti e^t ponderis syuodi a Leonlio indictae et congregatae auctoritas, cu plerosquc patres Lcontii sufTraganeos in metropolitae sententiam concedere eC ejus arbitrium atque volunlatem conformarc sc potuisse, vero nec absimile iniqua est suspicio. vn. anno 463 aut 464. Ingenui Ebrcdunensis episcopi ad s. Hilarum papmm usurpatione quadam Auxanii episcopi. . Auxanii Aquensis, ut pulant, episcopi, causara sibi haud multo posl delai Hilarus facUius expedivit. llle occasione haud dubie cjus Icgationis, quam aJ 462 cum Fausto Rcgiensi episcopo obierat, ut supra merainimus (cf. llil. ep. quaedam ab llUaro in Ebreduncnsis ecclesiae praejudicium subripuerat, quae synodalibus statutis ab apostolica sede firmatis aperte contraria videbantur. Po irrogatam sibi injuriam querebatur Ingenuus hujus civitatis episcopus, ohlato» libello et subnexis quumVerani et sociorum episcoporum olim ad hanc causani gnosccndam Leoni delegatorum relationibus tum ipsius Leonis responsione, ecclesiae suae acerrime dcfeudebat. Quid tum aequus puntifex? His omnibiiJ judicio recensitis id valere noluit, quod a se per obreptionem et contra sttt synodalia ac decessoris sui definitiones elicitum videbat, ideoque hi^jus qiierc cognitionem Verano, Leontio ct Victuro episcopis demandavit (cf. HU. ep. V* Unde simul facUe coUigitur, de Cemeleusi et Nicensi ecclesus ab Auxanio Uiteroep conquestum fuisse Ingenuum, sed ncc ipsum omni prorsus culpa vacasse ordiBi in earum altera episcopo praeterLeonis decrctum, quo utramque ecclesiam subo antistite regendam constituerat. Ubi enira llilarus lotam hanc controversiam, modo perstriuximus, cxposuit, statim dccernit: ut habeat poniificium Ingem provinciae suae^ de cujus dudum^ inquit, ab apostolica sede esl iUiciia ce9m NOTITIA EPIST. NON EXST. 173 culpaiuSf atqoe custoditis omnibus, quae super ecclesiis Cemelensis civitatis Mf cast^i Nieensis a Leone definita fuerant^ nihil ecclesiarum juri noceret, ' fmi is m earum aliera ad excludendam cupiditatem^ quemadmodum perhibe- k^ aMdmi alienae episcopum proxime consecrasset, sed simul unitae sub mhtt anUstitis regimne permanerent (Ilil. ep. 12 n. 2). vm. i, i^ ante mens. Nov. Honoratorum et possessorum Turiassonensium^ Ca- seaniensium, Calaguritanorum^ Varegensium, Tritiensium^ Legionen- sium et Virovascensium ad s. Hilarum papam excusatio Silvani epi- seopi Calaguritani de illicitis ordinationibus accusati. ijjiisiDodi litteras s. papa ipsc in ep. 16 ad Asc^nium et episcopos provinciae Tamcooensis memorat. IX. Grt. e. 462. S. Hiiari papae ad Orientales epistola encyclida de fide ca- thoiica, Liber pontiflcalis in vita hujus poutificis inter alia narral : Hic fecit decre- Hm et per universum Orientem sparsit epistolas de fide catholica et aposto- Hct, eonfirmans ires synodos Nicaenam^ Ephesinam et Calchedonensem et temM sancti archiepiscopi Leonis, id est celebrem epistolam ad Flavianum, et imanl Euiychen et Nestorium et Dioscurum vel omnes eorum sequaces etkereses^ ei confirmans dominaiionem ei principatum sanctae sedis catho- ^ et aposiolicaey seu ut in codice alias* Fossaleusi nunc Colbertino Nr. 1868 Uirtar: Hic feeii decreialem et per universum Orientem direxit^ et epistolas ^fdicatholica. Et id quidem Hilarum non longc post, quam in Pclri sedem tttekos. praestitisse non levis conjectura cst, quo vidclicel Calchedonensem fir- ■ntfidem et omoem novis sectis addilum quamprimum praecluderet. X. 5. BQaripapae ad diversarum provinciarum episcopos de injuriae ecclesiis Ulaiae saerUegio. Svnodus Tribnriensis a. 895 c. 4 iUi refert : ut Hilarius papa omnibus epi- ^^per diversas provincias in epistda sua scribit, ^^injuria sacerdotum et ^i^rum sacrilegium esi.^*' — De injuria, quae ecclesiae inferlur depracdatione '^ ej«s, Isidonis Mercator nomine sextae synodi sub Symmacho num. 6 diiit : ^'^t^sacrUegium esi^ quaecunque vel pro remedio peccatorum vel sdlute vel '^fw ommarum suarum unusquisque venerabili ecclesiae contulerit^ in aliud ^'"uferre vei eonveriere. XI. Decreta Hilaro adscripta. !• Si qttis videiur conteniiosus esse^ dicente apostolo, mo5 i Cor. ^*^f9 eonsueiudinem non habemus, sed neque Ecclesia Dei.- 11,16. '^^iisfacit, notetur, usquequo se corrigat. ^^nhbiiu et deinde ceteri conciliorum edilores hoc fragmentum ex codice "'^* XVI cap. 19 proferunt. Exstal idem apud Burchardum Wormaliensem ■•^Qp. 55 et Ivonem p. XIII cap. 66 {ex decretis Hilari papae cap.l5). 2. Ubi pars est corporis, est et tolum. Eadem ratio cst in ^^ore Domini, quae in manna, quod in cjus figura praecessil. •«qBo dicitur: Qui plus collegerat, non habuit amplius^ ^^'\cuk 9J^ ^ui minus paraverat, habuit minus. Non cnim est quantitas * ^i^ibliis in hoc aestimanda myslcrio, sed virlus sacramenli spi- "iBalis.