PL 54 · cols. 1009–1013

Leo the Great, Letters

Letters CVII–CVIII

CAP. VI. — Haec tibi scribens, frater, in Domino hortor ac moneo ut, deposito ambitionis desiderio spiritu potius ferveas charitatis, ejusque virtutibus, secundum doctrinam apostolicam, proficienter orneris. Est enim patiens et benigna, et non aemulatur, non agit perperam, non inflatur, non est ambitiosa, non quaerit quae sua sunt (I Cor. XIII, 4). Unde si charitas non quaerit propria, quantum peccat, qui concupiscit aliena? A quibus volo ut te prorsus abstineas, memorque sis ejus sententiae quae dicit: Tene quod habes, ne alius accipiat coronam tuam (Apoc. III, 11). Nam si inconcessa quaesieris, ipse te tuo opere atque judicio universalis Ecclesiae pace privabis. Frater autem et coepiscopus noster Lucianus, et filius noster Basilius diaconus, quantum in ipsis fuit, studiose his quae injunxeras affuere; sed actioni eorum justitia negavit effectum. Data undecimo kalendas Junii, Herculano viro clarissimo consule.

Chap. VI. — Writing these things to you, brother, I exhort and admonish you in the Lord that, having laid aside the desire of ambition, you may rather be fervent in the spirit of charity, and be profitably adorned with its virtues according to the apostolic teaching. For it is patient and kind, and is not envious, does not act wrongly, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, does not seek the things that are its own (1 Cor. 13:4). Hence, if charity does not seek what is its own, how greatly does he sin who covets what belongs to others? From these I wish you to abstain entirely, and to be mindful of that saying which says: Hold what you have, lest another receive your crown (Rev. 3:11). For if you seek what has not been granted, you yourself by your own act and judgement will deprive yourself of the peace of the universal Church. Our brother and fellow bishop Lucianus, and our son Basilius the deacon, as far as lay in them, zealously attended to what you had enjoined; but justice denied their action its effect. Given on the eleventh day before the Kalends of June, in the consulship of the most distinguished Herculanus.

EPISTOLA CVII.

LETTER CVII.

AD JULIANUM COENSEM EPISCOPUM.

To Julian, Bishop of Cos.

LEO papa JULIANO Coensi episcopo.

Pope Leo to Julian, Bishop of Cos.

Cum frequentibus experimentis probaverit dilectio tua quam constanti fixoque proposito sanctorum Nicaenorum canonum statuta custodiam, dissolvi omnes ecclesiasticas regulas aestimans, si quidquam ex illa sacrosancta Patrum constitutione violetur, miror talia te per fratrem et coepiscopum nostrum Lucianum dirigere scripta potuisse, quibus in tantum pro appetitu novae transgressionis intervenis, ut tibi putes aliquid speciale praestandum, si his quae illicite concupiscuntur annuero. Quantumlibet autem te affectione complectar, nullo tamen modo poteris obtinere ut me in excidium ecclesiastici

Since your Dilection has proved by frequent experiences with what constant and fixed purpose I guard the statutes of the holy Nicene canons, judging that all the ecclesiastical rules are dissolved if anything of that most sacred constitution of the Fathers is violated, I wonder that you could have sent such writings through our brother and fellow bishop Lucianus, in which you intervene so far on behalf of the craving for a new transgression that you think something special is to be granted to you if I assent to the things which are unlawfully coveted. But however much I embrace you with affection, you will nevertheless in no way be able to obtain that, to the ruin of the ecclesiastical […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 1009

Footnotes

(h) continued from col 1007, set in n1007

(a) ‹memorque sis … Tene› · printed under col 1009

Mss. collect. 24 et Sichardus, quod tenes.

The manuscripts of collection 24 and Sichardus: quod tenes ("which you hold").

(b) ‹Nam si inconcessa quaesieris, ipse› · printed under col 1009

Iidem codd. delent te. Et dein, privaberis.

The same manuscripts delete te. And then: privaberis ("you will be deprived").

Vindebon. Hisp. cum quinque aliis codd. et antiquiores editiones, quae eis injunxeras.

The Vienna Hispana with five other manuscripts, and the older editions: quae eis injunxeras ("which you had enjoined on them").

(d) ‹negavit effectum. Data› · printed under col 1009

Solus cod. Vindebon. collect. 5, XII kal., ut similiter solus eamdem diem signavit in epist. 104.

Only the Vienna manuscript of collection 5 has XII kal. ("the twelfth day before the Kalends"), just as it alone likewise marked the same day in letter 104.

(e) ‹EPISTOLA› · printed under col 1009

Alias 81. Quae autem antea 107 erat, nunc 136. Scripta 22 Maii an. 452.

Formerly 81. The letter that was formerly 107 is now 136. Written 22 May in the year 452.

(f) ‹no call found in the text; the note concerns the letter as a whole› · printed under col 1009

Gerardus Vossius in calce operum S. Gregorii Thaumaturgi Moguntiae an. 1604, primus hanc epistolam edidit e ms. libro cardinalis Sirleti, quem ex aliarum epistolarum exinde editarum complexu colligimus fuisse codicem collect. 23, qualis est Vat. Ottob. 297. Quesnellus eamdem invenit in Grimanico; nos praeter laudatum Vaticanum etiam in Ratisponensi.

Gerardus Vossius, at the end of the works of St Gregory Thaumaturgus (Mainz, in the year 1604), first edited this letter from a manuscript book of Cardinal Sirleto, which, from the body of the other letters edited from it, we gather to have been a manuscript of collection 23, such as is Vat. Ottob. 297. Quesnel found the same letter in the Grimani manuscript; we found it, besides the Vatican manuscript mentioned, also in the Regensburg one.

(g) ‹LEO papa JULIANO Coensi episcopo.› (call at the head of the letter's first line) · printed under col 1009, continuing under col 1010

Quesnellus hanc integram et veram lectionem ex ms. Grimanico eruit, eamque nos pariter in Ratisp ac in Vat. Ottob. reperimus. Anteriores vero editiones post Vossium, omissis quatuor primis vocibus, et duabus aliis non ignorat insertis, sic inchoabant: Dilectio tua non ignorat quam constanti, etc. Cod. tamen Vossii Ottoboniano similis veram lectionem praetulisse credimus. Sed cum ille legisset quem pro cum, quatuor primas voces titulo adjecit sic: Leo papa Juliano episcopo, quem frequentibus experimentis probaverat; et inchoans epistolam a verbis Dilectio tua, ut sensum perficeret addidit non ignorat. Posteriores autem editores deleverunt tituli verba, quem frequentibus experimentis probaverat.

Quesnel brought out this complete and true reading from the Grimani manuscript, and we likewise found it in the Regensburg and in the Vat. Ottob. manuscripts. But the earlier editions after Vossius, omitting the first four words and inserting two others, non ignorat, began thus: Dilectio tua non ignorat quam constanti, etc. ("Your Dilection is not unaware with what constant", etc.). Yet we believe that Vossius's manuscript, being similar to the Ottobonianus, displayed the true reading. But since he had read quem for cum, he added the first four words to the title thus: Leo papa Juliano episcopo, quem frequentibus experimentis probaverat ("Pope Leo to Bishop Julian, whom he had proved by frequent experiences"); and, beginning the letter with the words Dilectio tua, he added non ignorat to complete the sense. Later editors, however, deleted the words of the title, quem frequentibus experimentis probaverat.

(h) ‹fixoque proposito› · printed under col 1010

Ratisp., sacrorum.

Regensburg: sacrorum ("of the sacred").

(i) ‹pro appetitu novae› · printed under col 1010

Editi antiqui ex cod. Sirleti, litterarum gressionis, in textu, et in margine, Al., transgressionis, quam lectionem Quesnellus ex Griman. inseruit, et nos cum Ratispon. retinuimus. Vat. Ottob. lectionem codicis Sirleti praefert, adeo hic ejusdem collectionis fuit.

The old editions, from Sirleto's manuscript, have litterarum gressionis in the text, and in the margin "Al[iter]" transgressionis, a reading which Quesnel inserted from the Grimani manuscript and which we have kept with the Regensburg one. The Vat. Ottob. manuscript shows the reading of Sirleto's manuscript, so truly was it of the same collection.

(j) ‹si his› · printed under col 1010

In iisdem editionibus antiquis, qui illicite concupiscunt. Grim., Ratisp. et Vat. Ottob. ut in textu; et solum duae voces in cod. Vat. Ottob. simili ms. card. Sirleti abbreviatae q et concupiscunt errandi occasionem dedisse videntur.

In the same old editions: qui illicite concupiscunt ("who unlawfully covet"). The Grimani, Regensburg and Vat. Ottob. manuscripts as in the text; and only the two words, abbreviated q and concupiscunt, in the Vat. Ottob. manuscript, which is similar to Cardinal Sirleto's manuscript, seem to have given occasion for the error.

Editors' prose

SYNOPSIS. — I. Nicaeni concilii auctoritas quanti facienda sit. — II. Julianum arguit quod Anatolio CP. faveat. — III. Contra universalis Ecclesiae statum, sine reatu utriusque ipsorum, nec sibi licere quidquam concedere, nec ei obtinere.

Synopsis. — I. How highly the authority of the Nicene council is to be esteemed. — II. He rebukes Julian for favouring Anatolius of Constantinople. — III. That against the state of the universal Church it is lawful, without the guilt of both of them, neither for himself to grant anything nor for the other to obtain it.

Page

running head: 1009 EPISTOLA CVII. (across both columns of page 510, with 1010)
marginal letters: A ‹CAP. VI. — Haec tibi scribens›; B ‹his quae injunxeras affuere›; C ‹miror talia te per fratrem›; D ‹(e) Alias 81 (in the notes)›
old-edition numerals: 1171 before EPISTOLA CVII; 1172 after Lucianum
signature: none
other: the heading of Letter CVII, its synopsis and its opening stand in the left column only; the right column's head carries the end of the Greek version of Letter CVI (n1010)

PL 54:1010

status, vel suadendo impellas vel, supplicando traducas. Frater enim et coepiscopus noster Anatolius, si divina beneficia et mei favoris assensum sapienter intelligit, satis illi sufficit obtinuisse quod summus antistes de honore episcopatus sui gratias Deo referat, et se ab illicitorum cupiditate contineat; et quicumque illum specialiter diligunt, tali eum debent confirmare consilio; ut impossibilia omnino non quaerat, et sibi talia concupiscendo non noceat: quia nullis apud me patrociniis ita poterit adjuvari, ut hic quae postulat, calcata Patrum constitutione, consentiam.

[…] state you should either drive me by persuading or carry me over by entreating. For our brother and fellow bishop Anatolius, if he wisely understands the divine benefits and the assent of my favour, it is quite enough for him to have obtained that, as a supreme prelate, he should give thanks to God for the honour of his episcopate, and restrain himself from the desire of unlawful things; and whoever love him especially ought to strengthen him with such counsel, that he should not seek things altogether impossible, and should not harm himself by coveting such things: for by no patronage with me can he be so helped that I should here consent to what he demands, with the constitution of the Fathers trampled underfoot.

Rescribens itaque ad epistolas tuas, pro ea qua diligo affectione, te moneo ut major apud te sit universalis Ecclesiae status, saluberrima olim et vera ordinatione munitus, quam ut in cujusquam gratiam ea a me velis postulare, quae sine reatu utriusque nostrum, nec mihi concedere, nec tibi liceat obtinere. Dat. XI kalend. Junias, Herculano viro clarissimo consule.

Replying, therefore, to your letters, with the affection with which I love you, I admonish you that the state of the universal Church, fortified long ago by a most wholesome and true ordering, should weigh more with you than that you should wish, for the favour of anyone, to demand of me those things which, without the guilt of us both, it is lawful neither for me to grant nor for you to obtain. Given on the eleventh day before the Kalends of June, in the consulship of the most distinguished Herculanus.

Editors' notes and page, col. 1010

Footnotes

(g) continued from col 1009 (printed at the head of the notes under col 1010), set in n1009

(h), (i), (j) printed under this column; their calls are in col 1009, set in n1009

(k) ‹satis illi› · printed under col 1010

Vulg. antiqui, suffecerit. Vat. Ottob., sufficeret.

The old printed editions: suffecerit. Vat. Ottob.: sufficeret.

(l) ‹non noceat: quia› · printed under col 1010

Cod. Sirleti et Vat Ottob. cum antiquis editis, nullus.

Sirleto's manuscript and the Vat. Ottob., with the old editions: nullus ("by no one").

(m) ‹munitus, quam› · printed under col 1010

Ratisp. omitti ut et a me; addit autem ea, quam vocem inserendam credidimus.

The Regensburg manuscript omits ut and a me; but it adds ea, a word which we believed should be inserted.

(1) ‹Greek version: Ὅθεν› · printed under col 1010

Leg., εἰ.

Read εἰ ("if").

(2) ‹Greek version: Καὶ γὰρ εἰ› · printed under col 1010

Lege potius, τὰ μή.

Read rather τὰ μή.

Ancient version (Greek)

Greek version of Letter CVI (Leo to Anatolius), continued from col 1008 and ending here; printed at the head of the right column, beside the Latin of col 1009. ἀγαθότητος· ταῦτά σοι γράφω, ἀδελφὲ, ἐν τῷ Δεσπότῃ ἡμῶν προτρεπόμενος. Καὶ ὑπομιμνήσκω, ὅπως ἀφέμενος τῆς ἐπιθυμίας τῆς ἀμβιτίονος, πνεύματι μᾶλλον ζέοις διαθέσεως, καὶ ταῖς ἀρεταῖς ταύτης κατὰ τὴν διδασκαλίαν τὴν ἀποστολικὴν λυσιτελῶς κοσμηθείης· ἔστιν ἀνεξίκακος, καὶ καλοθελής, καὶ οὐκ ἐριστικὴ, οὐδὲ πράττει μάτην, οὐδὲ ὀγκοῦται, οὐδὲ ἀμβιτιονεύει οὐδὲ ζητεῖ, ἅπερ ἑαυτῆς ἴδιά ἐστιν. Ὅθεν ἡ ἀγάπη οὐ ζητεῖ τὰ ἴδια, πόσον ἁμαρτάνει ὁ ἐπιθυμῶν τῶν ἀλλοτρίων; ὧν θέλω πάντῃ ἵνα ἀποσχῇς, καὶ ἔχοις κατὰ νοῦν ταύτην τὴν γνώμην, ητις προαγορεύει. Κάτεχε ὅπερ ἔχεις, μὴ ἄλλος δέξηται τὸν σόν στέφανον. Καὶ γὰρ εἰ μὴ τὰ συγκεχωρημένα ζητήσειας, αὐτὸς σεαυτὸν τῷ σῷ ἔργῳ, καὶ τῇ σῇ κρίσει τῆς εἰρήνης πάσης τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἀποστερήσειας· Ὁ ἀδελφὸς καὶ συνεπίσκοπος ἡμῶν Λουκιανὸς, καὶ ὁ ἐμὸς υἱὸς ὁ διάκονος Βασίλειος, ὅσον τὸ κατ᾽ αὐτοὺς, σπουδαιότατα τὰ ἐγχειρισθέντα διήνυσαν, ἀλλὰ τῇ πράξει αὐτῶν τὸ ἔργον τὸ δίκαιον ἠρνήσατο. Ἐδόθη πρὸ ἕνδεκα καλανδῶν Ἰουννίων ὑπατείας Ἑρκουλάνου τοῦ λαμπροτάτου.

Page

running head: EPISTOLA CVII. 1010 (across both columns of page 510, with 1009)
marginal letters: A ‹ἀγαθότητος· ταῦτά σοι γράφω (Greek version)›; B ‹ὅσον τὸ κατ᾽ αὐτοὺς (Greek version)›; C ‹qua diligo affectione›; D ‹in textu, et in margine (in the notes, note i)›
old-edition numerals: none
signature: none
other: upper part of the column holds the end of the Greek version of Letter CVI (layer 1 of CVI is the Latin in col 1009); the Latin of Letter CVII resumes below it at "status"; after ἀποστερήσειας the stop is printed as a short dash-like mark, set as a raised point

PL 54:1011

EPISTOLA CVIII.

LETTER CVIII.

AD THEODORUM FOROJULIENSEM EPISCOPUM.

To Theodore, Bishop of Forum Julii.

LEO episcopus THEODORO Forojuliensi episcopo.

Bishop Leo to Theodore, Bishop of Forum Julii.

CAP. I. — Sollicitudinis quidem tuae hic ordo esse debuerat, ut cum metropolitano tuo primitus de eo quod quaerendum esse videbatur conferres, ac si id quod ignorabat dilectio tua etiam ipse nesciret, instrui vos pariter posceretis: quia in causis quae ad generalem observantiam pertinent omnium Domini sacerdotum, nihil sine primatibus oportet inquiri. Sed ut quoquomodo instruatur ambiguitas consulentis, quid de poenitentium statu ecclesiastica habeat regula non tacebo.

Chap. I. — The proper order for your solicitude ought indeed to have been this: that you should first confer with your metropolitan about what seemed to need inquiry, and, if he too did not know what your Dilection did not know, that you should together ask to be instructed; for in causes which concern the general observance of all the Lord's priests, nothing ought to be inquired into without the primates. But so that the doubt of the one consulting may be resolved in some way, I will not keep silent about what the ecclesiastical rule holds concerning the state of penitents.

CAP. II. — Multiplex misericordia Dei ita lapsibus subvenit humanis, ut non solum per baptismi gratiam sed etiam per poenitentiae medicinam spes vitae reparetur aeternae, ut qui regenerationis dona violassent, proprio se judicio condemnantes, ad remissionem criminum pervenirent: sic divinae bonitatis praesidiis ordinatis, ut indulgentia Dei nisi supplicationibus sacerdotum nequeat obtineri. Mediator enim Dei et hominum homo Christus Jesus hanc praepositis

Chap. II. — The manifold mercy of God so succours human lapses that the hope of eternal life is restored not only through the grace of baptism but also through the medicine of penance, so that those who had violated the gifts of regeneration, condemning themselves by their own judgement, might attain to the remission of their crimes; the safeguards of the divine goodness being so ordered that God's pardon cannot be obtained except through the supplications of priests. For the Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, [handed on] this [power] to the rulers […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 1011

Footnotes

(a) ‹EPISTOLA› · printed under col 1011

Alias 83. Quae autem antea 108 erat, nunc 137. Scripta 11 Junii an. 432.

Formerly 83. The letter that was formerly 108 is now 137. Written 11 June in the year 432 (so printed; 452 is meant).

(b) ‹AD THEODORUM› (call before the address line) · printed under col 1011

Est haec epistola in ms. collect. 5 et 8. Hisp. Isid., et bis in Vat. 3791 collect. 11, item in codd. collect. 12 et 20 usque ad 24. Praeterea in duobus peculiaribus mss. Vat. 1343 et Vat. Reg. 612. In mss. antiquae collect. 8 nec non in ms. Ottobon. 297 collect. 23 hic titulus legitur: S. Leonis papae de poenitentia ad Theodorum episcopum Galliensem de civitate Forojuliensi.

This letter is in the manuscript(s) of collections 5 and 8, the Hispana, the Isidorian, and twice in Vat. 3791 of collection 11, likewise in the manuscripts of collections 12 and 20 through 24. Besides, in two separate manuscripts, Vat. 1343 and Vat. Reg. 612. In the manuscripts of the ancient collection 8, and also in the Ottobonian manuscript 297 of collection 23, this title is read: "Of St Leo the pope, on penance, to Theodore, a Gallic bishop, of the city of Forum Julii."

In tabula collect. 5 cap. 70: Constitutio ad Theodorum episcopum Forojuliensem super poenitentiae statu. In collect. Hisp.: Ut his qui in exitu sunt poenitentia et communio non negetur.

In the table of collection 5, chapter 70: "Constitution to Theodore, Bishop of Forum Julii, on the state of penance." In the Hispana collection: "That penance and communion be not denied to those who are at the point of departure."

(d) ‹LEO episcopus THEODORO› (call before the line) · printed under col 1011

In mss. collect. 8, Leo papa Theodoro episcopo Gallo Forojuliensi Vat. 5845 ejusdem collectionis addit salutem. In ms. Vindebon. collect. 5, Dilectissimo fratri Theodoro episcopo Forojuliensi Leo episcopus.

In the manuscripts of collection 8: "Pope Leo to Theodore, a Gallic bishop, of Forum Julii"; Vat. 5845, of the same collection, adds "greeting". In the Vienna manuscript of collection 5: "To his most beloved brother Theodore, Bishop of Forum Julii, Bishop Leo."

(e) ‹Sollicitudinis quidem tuae› · printed under col 1011

Vat. Hisp. et Isid., iste ordo. Editi ante Quesn. cum Vat. collect. 11, is ordo.

The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian: iste ordo. The editions before Quesnel, with the Vatican manuscript of collection 11: is ordo.

(f) ‹metropolitano tuo primitus› · printed under col 1011

Duo mss. collect. 21 omittunt de eo. Alias, de hoc.

Two manuscripts of collection 21 omit de eo. Elsewhere: de hoc.

(g) ‹ignorabat dilectio tua› · printed under col 1011

Utrique Hisp. cum Vat. Isid. delent etiam. Vallicell. an. 5 collect. 8, etiam ipse diceret se nescire.

Both Hispana manuscripts, with the Vatican Isidorian, delete etiam. The Vallicelliana manuscript "an. 5" [as printed] of collection 8: etiam ipse diceret se nescire ("if he too said that he did not know").

(h) ‹instrui vos pariter› · printed under col 1011

Quesnellus, posceritis. Ex sex nostris mss. veterem lectionem, quam contextus exigit, revocavimus.

Quesnel: posceritis. From six of our manuscripts we have restored the old reading, which the context demands.

(i) ‹observantiam pertinent› · printed under col 1011

Voces omnium Domini sacerdotum omittunt tres Quesnelli codices, et utrique nostri Hisp. cum aliis quatuor mss. Paulo post, sine primate suo in quatuor mss. collect. 8; forte melius.

Three of Quesnel's manuscripts omit the words omnium Domini sacerdotum, and so do both our Hispana manuscripts with four other manuscripts. A little after, sine primate suo ("without his primate") in four manuscripts of collection 8; perhaps better.

(j) ‹inquiri.› (call before Sed ut quoquomodo) · printed under col 1011

Vat. collect. 11 utroque diversae licet originis exemplo: Sed quomodo instruatur ambiguitas consulentis, vel quid. etc. Sed quoquomodo est in utrisque Hisp. et in Vat. Isid.

The Vatican manuscript of collection 11, in both its copies, though they are of different origin: Sed quomodo instruatur ambiguitas consulentis, vel quid, etc. Sed quoquomodo is in both Hispana manuscripts and in the Vatican Isidorian.

(k) ‹CAP. II. —› (call before Multiplex) · printed under col 1011

De Poenit. dist. 1, Multiplex, c. 49.

[Gratian,] De Poenitentia, distinction 1, Multiplex, chapter 49.

(l) ‹reparetur aeternae,› · printed under col 1012

Vindebon. collect. 5, Vat. Hisp. et Vercell. collect. 8 cum Merlino collect. 12, et qui. Mox. donum in Vat. collect. 11 et in editis ante Quesn.

The Vienna manuscript of collection 5, the Vatican Hispana and the Vercelli manuscript of collection 8, with Merlin and collection 12: et qui. Next, donum in the Vatican manuscript of collection 11 and in the editions before Quesnel.

(m) ‹sic divinae› · printed under col 1012

Vat. Hisp. et Isid. cum tribus aliis mss., voluntatis.

The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian, with three other manuscripts: voluntatis ("of the will").

Editors' prose

SYNOPSIS. — I. Unumquemque episcopum ad metropolitanum in dubiis recurrere debere. — II. Duplex esse peccati remedium; et quis reconciliationis ordo esse debeat. — III. Poenitentem, qui ante reconciliationem decedit, reconciliari post mortem non posse. — IV. Nemini in extremis posito et reconciliationem petenti eam esse denegandam. — V. Quam periculose in finem poenitentia reservatur. Nemini per signa poscenti negandam esse, observatis circa apostatas canonicis regulis. — VI. Ut cum metropolitano responsa ad consultationem communicet.

Synopsis. — I. That every bishop ought to have recourse to the metropolitan in doubtful matters. — II. That the remedy for sin is twofold; and what the order of reconciliation ought to be. — III. That a penitent who dies before reconciliation cannot be reconciled after death. — IV. That reconciliation is to be denied to no one placed at the last extremity who asks for it. — V. How dangerously penance is reserved to the end. That it is to be denied to no one who asks for it by signs, the canonical rules concerning apostates being observed. — VI. That he should share the replies to his consultation with the metropolitan.

Page

running head: 1011 S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE. (across both columns of page 511, with 1012)
marginal letters: A ‹EPISTOLA CVIII (at the head of the page, in the gutter)›; B ‹de eo quod quaerendum esse videbatur›; C ‹Dei et hominum homo Christus Jesus›; D ‹Gallo Forojuliensi Vat. 5845 (in the notes, note d)›
old-edition numerals: 1173 before EPISTOLA CVIII; 1174 after inquiri.
signature: none
other: none

PL 54:1012

Ecclesiae tradidit potestatem, ut et confitentibus actionem poenitentiae darent, et eosdem salubri satisfactione purgatos, ad communionem sacramentorum per januam reconciliationis admitterent. Cui utique operi incessabiliter ipse Salvator intervenit, nec umquam ab his abest quae ministris suis exsequenda commisit, dicens: Ecce ego vobiscum sum omnibus diebus usque ad consummationem saeculi (Matth. XXVIII, 20): ut siquid per servitutem nostram bono ordine et gratulando impletur effectu, non ambigamus per Spiritum sanctum fuisse donatum.

[…] of the Church handed on this power: that they should both give the action of penance to those who confess, and admit the same, when cleansed by a wholesome satisfaction, to the communion of the sacraments through the door of reconciliation. In this work indeed the Saviour Himself unceasingly intervenes, and is never absent from those things which He has committed to His ministers to be carried out, saying: Behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world (Matt. 28:20); so that if anything is accomplished through our service in good order and with a gladdening effect, we should not doubt that it has been granted through the Holy Spirit.

CAP. III. — Si autem aliquis eorum pro quibus Domino supplicamus, quocumque interceptus obstaculo, a munere indulgentiae praesentis exciderit, et priusquam ad constituta remedia perveniat, temporalem vitam humana conditione finierit, quod manens in corpore non recepit, consequi exutus carne non poterit. Nec necesse est nos eorum qui sic obierint merita actusque discutere, cum Dominus Deus noster, cujus judicia nequeunt comprehendi, quod sacerdotale ministerium implere non potuit, suae justitiae reservaverit: ita potestatem suam timeri volens, ut hic terror omnibus prosit, et quod quibusdam tepidis aut negligentibus accidit, nemo non metuat. Multum enim utile ab necessarium est ut peccatorum reatus ante ultimum diem sacerdotali supplicatione solvatur.

Chap. III. — But if any of those for whom we make supplication to the Lord, cut off by some obstacle or other, has fallen away from the gift of present pardon, and before he comes to the appointed remedies has ended his temporal life by the human condition, what he did not receive while remaining in the body he will not be able to obtain when stripped of the flesh. Nor is it necessary for us to examine the merits and acts of those who have died thus, since the Lord our God, Whose judgements cannot be comprehended, has reserved to His own justice what the priestly ministry could not fulfil: wishing His power to be so feared that this terror may profit all, and that no one may fail to fear what has befallen certain lukewarm or negligent persons. For it is very useful and necessary that the guilt of sins be loosed by priestly supplication before the last day.

CAP. IV. — His autem qui in tempore necessitatis et in periculi urgentis instantia praesidium poenitentiae et mox reconciliationis implorant, nec satisfactio interdicenda est, nec reconciliatio deneganda:

Chap. IV. — But to those who, in a time of necessity and under the pressure of urgent danger, implore the help of penance and then of reconciliation, neither is satisfaction to be forbidden nor reconciliation to be denied:

Editors' notes and page, col. 1012

Footnotes

(l), (m) printed under this column; their calls are in col 1011, set in n1011

(n) ‹ut et confitentibus› · printed under col 1012

Iidem quinque codices, poenitentiae sanctionem darent. Id derivare videtur ex arbitraria emendatione lectionis mendosae Vindebon. Hisp., agationem pro actionem. Mox, et eadem salubri sanctificatione in duobus mss. Vat. collect. 21.

The same five manuscripts: poenitentiae sanctionem darent ("should give the sanction of penance"). This seems to derive from an arbitrary emendation of the faulty reading of the Vienna Hispana, agationem for actionem. Next, et eadem salubri sanctificatione in two Vatican manuscripts of collection 21.

(o) ‹Cui utique operi› · printed under col 1012

Vox incessabiliter in Vindebon. collect 5 desideratur. Sirmondus in marg.: Al., incessanter. Post pauca, cum in Vindebon. Hisp., desint, quae ministris suis exsequenda commisit dicens, in Vat Hisp. et Isid. ac tribus aliis inde proficiscentibus, ut sensus perficeretur, scriptum fuit: Nec umquam ab iis abest, quibus ait: Ecce vobiscum, etc.

The word incessabiliter is wanting in the Vienna manuscript of collection 5. Sirmond in the margin: "Al[iter]" incessanter. A little after, since in the Vienna Hispana the words quae ministris suis exsequenda commisit dicens are missing, in the Vatican Hispana and Isidorian and three others derived from them, to complete the sense, it was written: Nec umquam ab iis abest, quibus ait: Ecce vobiscum, etc. ("Nor is He ever absent from those to whom He says: Behold, with you", etc.).

(p) ‹bono ordine et› · printed under col 1012

Utrique codd. Hisp. Vat. Isid. cum tribus aliis mss. et Sirmondus in margine, grato impletur affectu; et mox in iisdem codd. ante verbum fuisse additur nobis.

Both Hispana manuscripts, the Vatican Isidorian with three other manuscripts, and Sirmond in the margin: grato impletur affectu ("is accomplished with a grateful affection"); and next, in the same manuscripts, nobis is added before the word fuisse.

(q) ‹indulgentiae praesentis› · printed under col 1012

Alias, excesserit in iisdem mss. excepto Vindebon. Hisp. Dein, perveniret in utrisque Vindebon. et in aliis ex collect. Hisp. profectis.

Elsewhere: excesserit, in the same manuscripts except the Vienna Hispana. Then, perveniret in both Vienna manuscripts and in the others derived from the Hispana collection.

(r) ‹manens in corpore› · printed under col 1012

Antiquiores vulg. cum Vat. collect. 11 primo loco, non receperit.

The older printed editions, with the Vatican manuscript of collection 11 in the first place: non receperit.

(s) ‹comprehendi, quod› · printed under col 1012

Quinque codd., sacerdotum; et in quatuor ex his, implere ministerium non sinit; in Vindebon. Hisp., non sinebit.

Five manuscripts: sacerdotum; and in four of these, implere ministerium non sinit ("[what] ... does not allow the ministry to fulfil"); in the Vienna Hispana: non sinebit.

(t) ‹ut hic› · printed under col 1012

Quesnellus cum nostro Vindebon. Hisp., error. Veterem lectionem ex novem nostris codd. collect. 5, 8, 11, 21 ac Vat. Hisp. et Isid., revocavimus.

Quesnel, with our Vienna Hispana: error. We have restored the old reading from nine of our manuscripts, of collections 5, 8, 11, 21 and the Vatican Hispana and Isidorian.

(u) ‹CAP. IV. —› (call before His autem) · printed under col 1012

De Poenit. dist. 1, Multiplex, cap. 49; et 26, qui 6, His qui tempore, c. 10.

[Gratian,] De Poenitentia, distinction 1, Multiplex, chapter 49; and [Causa] 26, [question] 6 ("qui" as printed), His qui tempore, chapter 10.

Page

running head: S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE. 1012 (across both columns of page 511, with 1011)
marginal letters: A ‹Ecclesiae tradidit potestatem›; B ‹priusquam ad constituta remedia›; C ‹ctio interdicenda est›; D ‹(p) Utrique codd. (in the notes)›
old-edition numerals: 1175 after cujus
signature: none
other: none

PL 54:1013

quia misericordiae Dei nec mensuras possumus ponere, nec tempora definire, apud quem nullas patitur veniae moras vera conversio, dicente Spiritu Dei per prophetam: Cum conversus ingemueris, tunc salvus eris (Isai XXX, 15 sec. LXX). Et alibi: Dic tu iniquitates tuas prior, ut justificeris (Isai. XLIII, 26, sec. LXX. Et iterum: Quia apud Dominum misericordia est, et copiosa apud eum redemptio (Ps. CXXIX, 7). In dispensandis itaque Dei donis non debemus esse difficiles, nec accusantium se lacrymas gemitusque negligere, cum ipsam poenitendi affectionem ex Dei credamus inspiratione conceptam, dicente Apostolo: Ne forte det illis Deus poenitentiam, ut resipiscant a diaboli laqueis, a quo captivi tenentur ad ipsius voluntatem (II Tim. II 25, 26).

for we can neither set measures to the mercy of God nor define its times, with Whom true conversion suffers no delays of pardon, as the Spirit of God says through the prophet: When you have turned and groaned, then you shall be saved (Isa. 30:15, according to the Septuagint). And elsewhere: Tell your iniquities first, that you may be justified (Isa. 43:26, according to the Septuagint). And again: For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him plentiful redemption (Ps. 129:7). In dispensing the gifts of God, therefore, we ought not to be difficult, nor to neglect the tears and groans of those who accuse themselves, since we believe that the very disposition to repent has been conceived by the inspiration of God, as the Apostle says: If perhaps God may give them repentance, that they may recover themselves from the snares of the devil, by whom they are held captive at his will (2 Tim. 2:25–26).

CAP. V. — Unde oportet unumquemque Christianum conscientiae suae habere judictum, ne converti ad Deum de die in diem differat, nec satisfactionis sibi tempus in fine vitae suae constituat: qua periculose hac se conditione fragilitas et ignorantia humana concludit, ut ad paucarum horarum se reservet incertum; et cum possit pleniore satisfactione indulgentiam promereri, illius temporis angustias eligat, quo vix inveniat spatium vel confessio poenitentis, vel reconciliatio sacerdotis. Verum ut dixi, etiam talium necessitati ita auxiliandum est, ut et actio illis poenitentiae, et communionis gratia, si eam, etiam amisso vocis officio, per indicia integri sensus postulant, non negetur. At si aliqua vi

Chap. V. — Hence every Christian ought to hold the judgement of his own conscience, so as not to put off turning to God from day to day, nor to appoint for himself the time of satisfaction at the end of his life: since human frailty and ignorance dangerously shut themselves in by this condition, so as to reserve themselves for the uncertainty of a few hours; and, when it could merit pardon by a fuller satisfaction, it chooses the straits of that time in which there is scarcely room either for the confession of the penitent or for the reconciliation by the priest. But, as I have said, even the necessity of such persons is to be so helped that both the action of penance and the grace of communion are not denied them, if they ask for it by signs of sound mind, even when the use of the voice has been lost. But if, by some force […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 1013

Footnotes

(a) ‹nullas patitur veniae moras› · printed under col 1013

Vindebon. Hisp. cum aliis quatuor mss. ejusdem originis omittit vera. Vat. collect. 11 in utroque exemplari, et Quesnellus in margine, vera confessio.

The Vienna Hispana, with four other manuscripts of the same origin, omits vera. The Vatican manuscript of collection 11 in both copies, and Quesnel in the margin: vera confessio ("true confession").

(b) ‹cum ipsam› (call printed ")b)") · printed under col 1013

Codd. Vat. et Vallicell. collect. 8, poenitentiae affectionem. Ms. Vat. collect. 24 cum editis ante Quesn., ipsam poenitentiam ex Dei, etc. Caeteri nostri et omnes Quesnelli codd. ut in textu.

The Vatican and Vallicelliana manuscripts of collection 8: poenitentiae affectionem. The Vatican manuscript of collection 24, with the editions before Quesnel: ipsam poenitentiam ex Dei, etc. Our other manuscripts and all Quesnel's as in the text.

Vindebon. collect. 5 et Quesn. in marg., capti. Mox Vindebon. Hisp., in ipsius voluntate. Vat. Hisp. et Isid., in ipsius voluntatem.

The Vienna manuscript of collection 5 and Quesnel in the margin: capti. Next, the Vienna Hispana: in ipsius voluntate. The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian: in ipsius voluntatem.

(d) ‹oportet unumquemque› (the call is printed "(a)") · printed under col 1013

Utrique Hisp. et Vat. Isid. delent Christianum

Both Hispana manuscripts and the Vatican Isidorian delete Christianum.

(e) ‹constituat:› (call before qua periculose) · printed under col 1013

Vindebon. Hisp. corrupte: Quem periculose se ignorantia humana concludit, ut ad paucarum horarum spatium se reservet incertum. Eamdem lectionem receperunt vulgati ante Quesn., omissa tantum primo loco voce se. Emendationem a Quesnello inductam nostri codd. collect. 5, 8 et 24, ac Vat. collect. 11 secundo loco approbant.

The Vienna Hispana, corruptly: Quem periculose se ignorantia humana concludit, ut ad paucarum horarum spatium se reservet incertum. The printed editions before Quesnel adopted the same reading, only omitting the word se in the first place. The emendation introduced by Quesnel is approved by our manuscripts of collections 5, 8 and 24, and by the Vatican manuscript of collection 11 in the second place.

(f) ‹angustias eligat,› · printed under col 1013

Vindebon. collect. 5 et Vallicell. collect. 8, in quo.

The Vienna manuscript of collection 5 and the Vallicelliana of collection 8: in quo.

(g) ‹reconciliatio sacerdotis.› (call before Verum) · printed under col 1013

Vindebon. Hisp., Ita ergo etiam talium necessitate auxiliandum est. Vat. collect, 11, primo loco: Ita ergo neeessitatibus talium auxiliandum est. Vat. Hisp. et Isid. Cum duobus collect. 21: ita ergo necessitati auxilliandum est.

The Vienna Hispana: Ita ergo etiam talium necessitate auxiliandum est. The Vatican manuscript of collection 11, in the first place: Ita ergo necessitatibus talium auxiliandum est. The Vatican Hispana and Isidorian, with two of collection 21: ita ergo necessitati auxiliandum est.

(h) ‹auxiliandum est,› (call before ut et actio) · printed under col 1013

Editi ante Quesn., ut nec actio illis poenitentiae. nec communionis gratia denegetur, si eam etiam omissi ab eis vocis officio, per indicium integri sensus quaerere comprobentur. Quod si aliqua, etc. Paulo dissimilis est lectio in utrisque Hisp., in Vat. Isid. et in alio collect. 11 primo loco, nec non in mss. collect. 21. Postrema verba, per indicium integri sensus quaerere comprobentur, leguntur etiam in exemplo Merlini collect. 12 et in Vat. collect. 24. Lectionem textus codd. collect 8 et Vat. collect. 11 secundo loco praeferunt; iisdemque accedit Vindebon. collect. 5.

The editions before Quesnel: ut nec actio illis poenitentiae, nec communionis gratia denegetur, si eam etiam omissi ab eis vocis officio, per indicium integri sensus quaerere comprobentur. Quod si aliqua, etc. The reading is a little different in both Hispana manuscripts, in the Vatican Isidorian and in another of collection 11 in the first place, and also in the manuscripts of collection 21. The last words, per indicium integri sensus quaerere comprobentur, are read also in Merlin's copy of collection 12 and in the Vatican manuscript of collection 24. The manuscripts of collection 8 and the Vatican manuscript of collection 11 in the second place show the reading of the text; and the Vienna manuscript of collection 5 agrees with them.

(i) ‹At si› · printed under col 1014

Quesn. cum quibusdam mss., aliqua aegritudine. Melior visa est lectio antiquiorum editionum, quam vetustiores codd. Vindebon, collect. 5. Vat. et Vallicelli collect. 8 cum Vat. collect. 24 exhibent.

Quesnel, with certain manuscripts: aliqua aegritudine ("by some sickness"). The reading of the older editions seemed better, which the more ancient manuscripts show: the Vienna manuscript of collection 5, the Vatican and Vallicelliana manuscripts of collection 8, with the Vatican manuscript of collection 24.