PL 54 · cols. 593–596

Leo the Great, Letters

Letter I

EPISTOLA I.

LETTER I.

AD AQUILEIENSEM EPISCOPUM.

TO THE BISHOP OF AQUILEIA.

CAP. I.— Relatione sancti fratris et coepiscopi nostri Septimi, quae in subditis habetur, agnovimus quosdam prebyteros, et diaconos, ac diversi ordinis clericos, quos Pelagiana sive Coelestiana haeresis habuit implicatos, ita in vestra provincia ad communionem catholicam pervenisse, ut nulla ab eis damnatio proprii exigeretur erroris; et pastoralibus excubiis nimium dormitantibus, lupos ovium pellibus tectos in ovile Dominicum (Matth. VII, 15), non depositis bestialibus animis introisse:

CHAP. I.— From the report of our holy brother and fellow bishop Septimus, which is subjoined, we have learned that certain priests and deacons, and clerics of various orders, whom the Pelagian or Celestian heresy held entangled, have come into catholic communion in your province in such a way that no condemnation of their own error was required of them; and that, while the pastoral watches were sleeping too soundly, wolves covered with the skins of sheep have entered the Lord's fold (Matt. 7:15) without laying aside their beastly minds;

et quod per auctoritatem canonum decretorumque nostrorum ne insontibus quidem conceditur, usurpasse; ut relictis Ecclesiis, in quibus clericatum aut acceperant, aut receperant, instabilitatem suam per diversa circumferant, amantes semper errare, et numquam in fundamento apostolico permanere. Quoniam qui nullo discussi examine, nullo sunt praejudicio suae professionis obstricti, hunc maxime expetunt fructum, ut sub velamento communionis plures domos adeant, et per falsi nominis scientiam

and that they have usurped what by the authority of the canons and of our decrees is not granted even to the innocent: that, leaving the churches in which they had either received or recovered clerical rank, they carry their instability about through various places, loving always to wander and never to remain on the apostolic foundation. For those who, examined by no inquiry, are bound by no prior commitment of their own profession, seek this fruit above all: that under the veil of communion they may enter many houses and, through knowledge falsely so called, […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 593

Footnotes

(a) ‹EPISTOLA I› · printed under col 593

Al. 6. Quae autem antea erat 1, nunc 12. Scripta circa an. 442.

Elsewhere 6. The one that was formerly 1 is now 12. Written about the year 442.

(b) ‹AD AQUILEIENSEM EPISCOPUM› (call before the line) · printed under col 593

Variantes hujus tituli lectiones exhibuimus in praemissa admonitione num. 21. Confer etiam notam 1 Quesnelli. Exstat autem ipsa epistola in tredecim collectionibus diversae originis, quas ibidem recensuimus num. 3, 5, 6 et 7, nec non apud Sichardum.

We have given the variant readings of this title in the preceding admonition, num. 21. Compare also Quesnel's note 1. The letter itself is extant in thirteen collections of different origin, which we have listed there, nums. 3, 5, 6 and 7, and also in Sichard.

In tabula collectionis 5 Quesnellianae hic titulus legitur cap. 82: Ad Aquileie⟨n⟩sem episcopum de incauta receptione Pelagianistarum, ut de Ecclesia ad Ecclesiam nullus ecclesiastici ordinis transferatur.

In the table of the Quesnellian collection 5 this title is read, chap. 82: "To the bishop of Aquileia, on the incautious reception of the Pelagianists, that no one of ecclesiastical order be transferred from church to church."

(d) ‹coepiscopi nostri› · printed under col 593 (its siglum printed (b))

Editi, Septimii. Secuti sumus nostrorum praesertim vetustiorum codicum fidem, qui non solum hic, sed etiam in sequenti epistola Septimum praeferunt, cum quibus concinit etiam Photius cod. 54, textu allegato in admonit. num. 23. Dein loca in subditis Sichardi exemplar cum quibusdam posterioribus codicibus habet in scriptis. At vox subditis Septimi relationem huic epistolae a Leone s⟨u⟩bjectam indicat.

The editions, Septimii. We have followed the authority of our manuscripts, especially the older ones, which not only here but also in the following letter carry Septimum; with them Photius, cod. 54, also agrees, in the text cited in the admonition, num. 23. Next, in place of in subditis Sichard's copy, with some later manuscripts, has in scriptis. But the word subditis indicates that Septimus's report was subjoined to this letter by Leo.

(e) ‹prebyteros› · printed under col 593

Sex praestantiorum mss. auctoritate addidimus conjunctionem et.

On the authority of six of the better manuscripts we have added the conjunction et.

(f) ‹ut nulla› · printed under col 593

Cod. Vat. 5845, ab eisdem.

The Vat. manuscript 5845, ab eisdem.

(g) ‹nimium dormitantibus› · printed under col 593

Edit. ante Quesn. et mss. collect. 4 et 24 cum exemplo Sichardiano, lupus ovium pedibus tectus..... introiret.

The editions before Quesnel and the manuscripts of collections 4 and 24, with Sichard's copy, lupus ovium pedibus tectus ..... introiret [a wolf covered with the feet (sic) of sheep ... entered].

(h) ‹conceditur› · printed under col 593

Al., usurpare.

Elsewhere, usurpare.

(i) ‹aut receperant› · printed under col 593, continued under col 594

Vulg. ante Quesn. cum solis mss. collect. 24 et Sichardo, instabilitate sua per diversa circumferantur.

The common editions before Quesnel, with only the manuscripts of collection 24 and Sichard, instabilitate sua per diversa circumferantur [they are carried about through various places by their instability].

(j) ‹hunc maxime› · printed under col 594

Apud Sichardum, producunt.

In Sichard, producunt.

(k) ‹falsi nominis› · printed under col 594

Duo codd., inscientiam.

Two manuscripts, inscientiam [ignorance].

Editors' prose

apponendum praecepit; id verisimilius id Leonis initia incidit, si praesertim epist. 1 non Januario, sed alicui ejus praedecessori data credatur. Cum vero hoc praedecessore brevi exstincto Junuarius in eodem opere exsequendo pastoralem curam naviter et cum felici successu fuerit exsecutus (quod non exiguum tempus requirit), S. Leo an. 447 ab eodem accepit litteras, in quibus zelum et diligentiam suam prodens, exposuisse videtur non tantum Pelagianos cum debita cautione in gradum suum receptos, verum etiam aliquos ad ulteriorem gradum fuisse promotos. Hinc autem Leo zelum ejus primo commendans, veterem monitionem eidem inculcavit, ne quis ex haeresi adveniens sine debitis cautionibus reciperetur. Dein vero illam canonum constitutionem ingerendam credidit, ne in suum gradum perinde admissi ad ulteriorem promoverentur: quod unum per hoc tempus correctione dignum superesse, ex iisdem Januarii litteris texerat.

[…] ordered to be applied; this falls more probably at the beginning of Leo's [pontificate], especially if epist. 1 is believed to have been given not to Januarius but to one of his predecessors. And when, this predecessor having soon died, Januarius had discharged his pastoral care diligently and with happy success in carrying out the same work (which requires no short time), St Leo in the year 447 received a letter from him in which, displaying his zeal and diligence, he seems to have set out not only that Pelagians had been received into their rank with due caution, but also that some had been promoted to a higher rank. Hence Leo, first commending his zeal, impressed on him the old admonition, that no one coming from heresy should be received without due precautions. Then he thought fit to urge that constitution of the canons, that those likewise admitted into their own rank should not be promoted to a higher one: which alone, as he had gathered (texerat, sic) from the same letter of Januarius, remained at this time deserving of correction.

SYNOPSIS. — I. Male Pelagianos in communionem recipi sine erroris abjuratione et fidei professione.— II. Synodum congregari praecipit, ut ab illis fidei professio exigatur.— III. Quid de gratia Christi sentiendum? — IV. Qui decretis Ecclesiae de gratia non subjicitur, ab ea esse pellendum. — V. Cuilibet ibi esse permanendum, ubi ordinatus fuerit.

SYNOPSIS. — I. That Pelagians are wrongly received into communion without abjuration of their error and a profession of faith. — II. He orders a synod to be assembled, so that a profession of faith may be required of them. — III. What is to be held concerning the grace of Christ? — IV. That one who does not submit to the decrees of the Church on grace is to be driven from her. — V. That each must remain where he was ordained.

Page

running head: shared with col 594 (593 EPISTOLA I. 594)
marginal letters: A ‹EPISTOLA I (heading line; printed beside the head of col 594)›; B ‹storalibus excubiis›; C ‹praemissa admonitione (footnote b)›; D ‹Sex praestantiorum (footnote e)›
old-edition numerals: 589 before ‹EPISTOLA I›; 590 after ‹decretorumque nostrorum›
signature: none
other: the head of page 302 is printed full width: the last lines of num. 26 of the Admonition ("apponendum praecepit … texerat."), set here as editors' prose; below it the page is in two columns, col 593 opening with the heading of EPISTOLA I, the address line, the italic SYNOPSIS (editors', set above) and CAP. I.

PL 54:594

multorum corda corrumpant. Quod utique efficere non possent, si Ecclesiarum praesules necessariam diligentiam in talium receptione servassent, ne cuiquam eorum evagari in diversa licuisset.

[…] corrupt the hearts of many. This they certainly could not do if the prelates of the churches had kept the necessary diligence in receiving such men, so that none of them would have been permitted to wander off in different directions.

CAP. II.— Ne ergo hoc ulterius audeatur, neve per quorumdam negligentiam introducta pernicies ad eversionem multarum tendat animarum; hac nostri auctoritate praecepti, industriae tuae fraternitatis indicimus, ut congregata apud vos synodo provincialium sacerdotum, omnes sive presbyteri, sive diaconi, sive cujusque ordinis clerici, qui de Pelagianorum Coelestianorumque consortio in communionem catholicam ea imprudentia sunt recepti, ut non prius ad damnationem sui coarctarentur erroris, nunc saltem, posteaquam hypocrisis eorum ex quadam parte detegitur, ad veram correctionem, quae et ipsis prodesse, et nullis possit nocere, cogantur.

CHAP. II.— Lest, then, this be dared any further, and lest the ruin brought in through the negligence of some tend to the overthrow of many souls, by the authority of this our precept we enjoin on the diligence of your Fraternity that, a synod of the provincial bishops being assembled among you, all priests or deacons or clerics of whatever order who from the fellowship of the Pelagians and Celestians have been received into catholic communion with such imprudence that they were not first compelled to condemn their own error, be now at least, since their hypocrisy is in some part uncovered, compelled to a true correction, which may both profit themselves and harm no one.

Damnent apertis professionibus suis superbi erroris auctores, et quidquid in doctrina eorum universalis Ecclesia exhorruit, detestantur; omniaque decreta synodalia, quae ad excisionem hujus haereseos apostolicae sedis confirmavit auctoritas, amplecti se et in omnibus approbare, plenis et apertis, ac propria manu subscriptis protestationibus eloquantur. Nihil in verbis eorum obscurum, nihil inveniatur ambiguum. Quoniam novimus hanc istorum esse versutiam, ut in quacumque particula dogmatis exsecrandi, quam a damnandorum soliditate

Let them condemn by their own open professions the authors of the proud error, and let them detest whatever the universal Church has abhorred in their teaching; and let them declare, in full and open statements subscribed with their own hand, that they embrace and approve in all things all the synodal decrees which the authority of the apostolic see has confirmed for the cutting off of this heresy. Let nothing obscure be found in their words, nothing ambiguous. For we know this to be their cunning: that in whatever particle of the accursed doctrine which they have set apart from the solid mass of the [tenets] to be condemned […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 594

Footnotes

(i) continued from col 593, set in n593

(l) ‹in talium receptione› · printed under col 594

Al., servarent, cum mss. collect. 24 et Sichardo. dein verba, ne cuiquam eorum evagari in diversa licuisset, desiderantur in ms. Vat. Reg. collect. 1. Sichardus omittit in diversa.

Elsewhere, servarent, with the manuscripts of collection 24 and Sichard. Next, the words ne cuiquam eorum evagari in diversa licuisset are missing in the manuscript Vat. Reg. of collection 1. Sichard omits in diversa.

(m) ‹hoc ulterius› · printed under col 594

Verbum audeatur, quod Quesnellus ex suorum codd. fide exclusit, restituimus auctoritate sex nostrorum mss. qui ad quinque collectiones diversae originis, et maxime insignes pertinent, inter quos memorandi praecipue sunt quatuor antiquissimi Vat. Regius collect. 1, Vat. 1342 collect. 3, Lucensis collect. 4 et Vallicell. A. 5 collect. 8. Legitur etiam in exemplo Sichardo. Canis. et Nicolin. Editiones pro audeatur exhibent audiatur.

The word audeatur, which Quesnel excluded on the authority of his manuscripts, we have restored on the authority of six of our manuscripts, which belong to five collections of different origin and of the greatest distinction; among them the four most ancient deserve special mention: the Vat. Regius of collection 1, Vat. 1342 of collection 3, the Lucca manuscript of collection 4, and the Vallicell. A. 5 of collection 8. It is read also in Sichard's copy. The editions of Canisius and Nicolini give audiatur for audeatur.

(n) ‹tendat animarum› · printed under col 594

Quatuor nostri codd. cum Canis., hoc.

Four of our manuscripts, with Canisius, hoc.

(o) ‹ordinis clerici› · printed under col 594

Verba qui de Pelagianorum Coelestianorumque consortio desunt in Vat. coll. 1.

The words qui de Pelagianorum Coelestianorumque consortio are missing in the Vat. of coll. 1.

(p) ‹superbi erroris› · printed under col 594

Vide not. 2 Quesn. et nostram observationem in eamdem notationem.

See Quesnel's note 2 and our observation on that note.

(q) ‹omniaque› · printed under col 594

Legenda est nostra observatio not. 3 Quesnelli.

Our observation on Quesnel's note 3 should be read.

(r) ‹verbis eorum› · printed under col 594

Cod. Vat. collect. 11 delet obscurum nihil. In mss. collect. 21: Nihil in verbis eorum, nihil in sensu inveniatur ambiguum. Mox in mss. Lucensi collect. 4. Vindebon. 39 collect. 5, et Vat. collect. 11, hanc esse eorum versutiam.

The Vat. manuscript of collection 11 deletes obscurum nihil. In the manuscripts of collection 21: Nihil in verbis eorum, nihil in sensu inveniatur ambiguum [let nothing ambiguous be found in their words, nothing in their sense]. Shortly after, in the Lucca manuscript of collection 4, Vienna 39 of collection 5 and the Vat. of collection 11, hanc esse eorum versutiam.

(s) ‹dogmatis exsecrandi› · printed under col 594, continued under col 595

Hanc Quesnelli emendationem praesertim e mss. collect. 5, de quibus ille agit not. 4, plerique et potiores nostri codd. confirmant Vat. Reg. collect. 1, Vat. collect. 3, Lucensis collect. 4, Vindebon. collect. 5, et tres collect. 8. Tria exemplaria recentiorum collectionum 11 et 21 habent: qua ad nostrarum soliditatem discreverint. Edit. ante Quesn. cum Sichardo, qua se a damnatorum societate discreverint. Hanc autem lectionem invenimus in ms. Vat. 544 collect. 24 qui solum omittit qua. Antelmius epistola prima Gallice scripta et subjecta ejus dissertationibus De veris operibus SS. Leonis et Prosperi, num. 26, Quesnello succensuit, quod hanc editorum lectionem immutaverit ex suorum codd. fide, quos minus exactos contendit. At non soli codices a Quesnello laudati, sed etiam nostri, quos indicavimus, diversarum et antiquissimarum collectionum libri manuscriptis unius collectionis posterioris praeferendi erant. Nec sensus obscurus est, si verborum vis recte intelligatur. Immo diversa licet via verba in eamdem sententiam recidunt. Significatur enim usita haereticorum versutia, qui in quacumque particula dogmatis exsecrandi alium quempiam sensum excogitare student, quo a soliditate dogmatum damnandorum, id est, a tota massa damnandorum sensuum desciscere ac discrepare videantur. Damnandorum quoque lectio cum antecedentibus dogmatis exsecrandi magis cohaeret, quam damnatorum.

This emendation of Quesnel, made chiefly from the manuscripts of collection 5, which he treats in note 4, is confirmed by most and the better of our manuscripts: the Vat. Reg. of collection 1, the Vat. of collection 3, the Lucca manuscript of collection 4, the Vienna manuscript of collection 5, and three of collection 8. Three copies of the more recent collections 11 and 21 have: qua ad nostrarum soliditatem discreverint. The editions before Quesnel, with Sichard, qua se a damnatorum societate discreverint [by which they have separated themselves from the fellowship of the condemned]. This reading we have found in the manuscript Vat. 544 of collection 24, which only omits qua. Antelmius, in his first letter, written in French and appended to his dissertations On the Genuine Works of SS. Leo and Prosper, num. 26, found fault with Quesnel for having changed this reading of the editions on the authority of his manuscripts, which he maintains are less accurate. But not only the manuscripts cited by Quesnel, but also ours, which we have indicated, books of different and most ancient collections, were to be preferred to the manuscripts of a single later collection. Nor is the sense obscure, if the force of the words is rightly understood. Indeed, though by a different route, the words come to the same meaning. For what is meant is the customary cunning of the heretics, who in any particle of the accursed doctrine strive to devise some other sense, by which they may appear to depart and differ from the solidity of the doctrines to be condemned, that is, from the whole mass of the opinions to be condemned. The reading damnandorum also agrees better with the preceding dogmatis exsecrandi than damnatorum.

Page

running head: shared with col 593 (593 EPISTOLA I. 594)
marginal letters: A ‹multorum corda corrumpant›; B ‹dam parte detegitur›; C ‹(j) Apud Sichardum (footnotes)›; D ‹in eamdem notationem (footnote p)›
old-edition numerals: 591 after ‹ad veram correctionem›
signature: none
other: the head of the page above this column is the full-width end of the Admonition, set in n593

PL 54:595

discreverint, nihil sibi sensum suorum aestiment esse non salvum.

[…] they reckon that none of their opinions has failed to be kept safe for them.

CAP. III.— Cumque omnes definitiones suas ad subrependi facilitatem, improbare se simulent atque deponere, hoc sibi tota arte fallendi, nisi intelligantur, excipiunt, ut gratia Dei secundum merita dari accipientium sentiatur. Quae utique nisi gratis detur, non est gratia, sed merces retributioque meritorum, dicente beato Apostolo: Gratiae salvi facti estis per fidem, et hoc non ex vobis, sed Dei donum est, non ex operibus, ne forte quis extollatur. Ipsius enim sumus figmentum, creati in Christo Jesu in operibus bonis, quae praeparavit Deus ut in illis ambulemus (Ephes. II, 8-10).

CHAP. III.— And while, for the ease of creeping in, they pretend to disapprove and lay aside all their definitions, they reserve this for themselves with the whole art of deceiving, unless they are seen through: that the grace of God is held to be given according to the merits of those who receive it. Yet unless it is given freely, it is not grace, but the wage and reward of merits, as the blessed Apostle says: "By grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves, but it is the gift of God, not from works, lest perhaps anyone be puffed up. For we are His handiwork, created in Christ Jesus in good works, which God prepared that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8–10).

Omnis itaque bonorum operum donatio, divina praeparatio est: quia non prius quisquam justificatur virtute, quam gratia, quae unicuique principium justitiae et bonorum fons atque origo meritorum est. Sed ab istis ideo per naturalem industriam dicitur praeveniri, ut quae ante gratiam proprio clara sit studio, nullo videatur peccati originalis vulnere sauciata; falsumque sit quod Veritas ait: Quoniam Filius hominis venit quaerere et salvare quod perierat (Luc. IX, 10).

Every gift of good works, therefore, is a divine preparation, because no one is justified by virtue before [he is justified] by grace, which is for each the beginning of righteousness, the fount of good things and the origin of merits. But by these men grace is said to be anticipated by natural diligence for this reason: that [nature], being illustrious by its own effort before grace, may seem wounded by no wound of original sin; and that what the Truth says may be false: "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what had perished" (Luke 9:10).

CAP. IV. [Al. V. — Cavendum ergo dilectioni tuae

CHAP. IV. [Elsewhere V.] — Your Charity must therefore beware […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 595

Footnotes

(s) continued from col 594, set in n594

(a) ‹suorum aestiment› · printed under col 595

In duobus mss. Vat. collect. 21, non salvari.

In two Vat. manuscripts of collection 21, non salvari.

(b) ‹definitiones suas› · printed under col 595

Vide not. 5 Quesnelli, cujus emendationem probant praestantiores nostri codices. Soli mss. collect. 21 habent ad subrepentem facilitatem. Anteriores vero editiones et Sichardus cum codd. collect. 24, ad tantam facilitatem; qui codices mox perperam cum edit. Lovaniensum, hoc ibi tota arte; aliae vero editiones multo pejus hoc tibi tota arte.

See Quesnel's note 5, whose emendation the better of our manuscripts approve. Only the manuscripts of collection 21 have ad subrepentem facilitatem. The earlier editions and Sichard, with the manuscripts of collection 24, ad tantam facilitatem; and these manuscripts shortly after wrongly, with the Louvain edition, hoc ibi tota arte; while other editions, much worse, hoc tibi tota arte.

Cod. Lucensis, nisi intelligatur; et post pauca, nisi gratis datur.

The Lucca manuscript, nisi intelligatur; and a little after, nisi gratis datur.

(d) ‹accipientium sentiatur› · printed under col 595

1, qu. 1, Gratia si non, c. 1.

[Gratian, Causa] 1, qu. 1, c. 1, Gratia si non.

(e) ‹beato Apostolo› · printed under col 595

Mss. Vat. collect. 21, et alius collect 11, Gratis salvi facti estis.

The Vat. manuscripts of collection 21, and another of collection 11, Gratis salvi facti estis [you have been saved freely].

(f) ‹non ex vobis› · printed under col 595

Adjecimus sed ex quatuor antiquissimis codd. collect. 1, 3 et 4 ac Vallicel. collect. 8, nec non ex Sichardo; editi ante Quesn., Dei enim donum est.

We have added sed from the four most ancient manuscripts of collections 1, 3 and 4 and the Vallicelliana manuscript of collection 8, and also from Sichard; the editions before Quesnel, Dei enim donum est.

(g) ‹(Ephes. II, 8-10)› · printed under col 595, continued under col 596

Cum codd. a Quesn. laudatis, not. 6, in hac lectione consentiunt etiam omnes nostri, exceptis illis collect. 24 inter quos est Victorinus ab eodem memoratus, ubi cum anterioribus editionibus et Sichardo legitur: Omnis itaque bonorum operum devotio, divina praeparatio est; nec propria quisquam justificatur virtute, quoniam gratia unicuique, etc.

With the manuscripts cited by Quesnel, note 6, all ours also agree in this reading, except those of collection 24, among which is the Victorinus mentioned by him, where, with the earlier editions and Sichard, one reads: Omnis itaque bonorum operum devotio, divina praeparatio est; nec propria quisquam justificatur virtute, quoniam gratia unicuique, etc. [Every devotion of good works, therefore, is a divine preparation; nor is anyone justified by his own virtue, since grace for each, etc.]

(h) ‹proprio› · printed under col 596

Vulg. ante Quesn. cum uno ms. Vat., data sit.

The common editions before Quesnel, with one Vat. manuscript, data sit.

(i) ‹quod perierat› · printed under col 596

Hic in omnibus editis Quesnello anterioribus inserebantur plura ex Augustini Enchiridio fere excerpta, quae conficiebant caput 4. Ea Quesnellus expunxit auctoritate suorum codicum, quibus etiam nostri favent; et in notam ejus 7 rejecit, ubi legi poterunt tomo hujus editionis secundo (primo autem nostrae). Invenimus autem eadem verba inserta tantummodo in mss. posteriorum collect. 12 et 24, necnon apud Sichardum, hoc tamen discrimine quod in mss. collect. 12, 15 pannus assuitur post verba quod perierat; in codicibus autem collect. 24 et in exemplo Sichardi post verba antecedentia originalis vulnere sauciata, sequentibus usque ad finem capitis omissis.

Here in all the editions before Quesnel several passages were inserted, excerpted for the most part from Augustine's Enchiridion, which made up chapter 4. Quesnel struck them out on the authority of his manuscripts, which ours also favour, and relegated them to his note 7, where they can be read in the second volume of this edition (but the first of ours). We have found the same words inserted only in the manuscripts of the later collections 12 and 24, and also in Sichard, with this difference, however, that in the manuscripts of collection 12, 15 the patch is sewn on after the words quod perierat, but in the manuscripts of collection 24 and in Sichard's copy after the preceding words originalis vulnere sauciata, the following words to the end of the chapter being omitted.

Page

running head: shared with col 596 (595 S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE. 596)
marginal letters: A ‹discreverint, nihil sibi›; B ‹que origo meritorum›; C ‹Antelmius epistola prima (footnote s)›; D ‹(a) In duobus mss. (footnotes)›
old-edition numerals: 592 after ‹dicente beato Apostolo:›
signature: none
other: (none)

PL 54:596

est, magnaque diligentia providendum, ne per hujusmodi homines exstincta dudum scandala suscitentur, et de exciso olim dogmate aliquod in provincia tua ejusdem mali germen oriatur, quod non solum in radicibus suis crescat, sed etiam sanctae Ecclesiae sobolem veneno sui oris inficiat. Qui correctos se videri volunt, ab omni suspicione se purgent; et obediendo nobis, probent se esse nostros. Quorum si quisquam salubribus praeceptis satisfacere detrectarit, sive ille clericus, sive sit laicus, ab Ecclesiae societate pellatur, ne perditor animae suae, saluti insidietur alienae.

[…], and provision must be made with great diligence, lest through men of this kind scandals long extinguished be stirred up, and from a doctrine once cut off some shoot of the same evil spring up in your province, which may not only grow in its own roots but also infect the offspring of holy Church with the poison of its mouth. Let those who wish to be seen as corrected clear themselves of all suspicion, and by obeying us prove that they are ours. If any of them refuses to comply with these salutary precepts, whether he be a cleric or a layman, let him be driven from the fellowship of the Church, lest, the destroyer of his own soul, he lie in wait for the salvation of others.

CAP. V (Al. VI]. — Illam quoque partem ecclesiasticae disciplinae, qua olim a sanctis Patribus et a nobis saepe decretum est, ut nec in presbyteratus gradu, nec in diaconatus ordine, nec in subsequenti officio clericorum ab Ecclesia ad Ecclesiam cuiquam transire sit liberum, ut in integrum revoces, admonemus: ut unusquisque non ambitione illectus, nun cupiditate seductus, non persuasione hominum depravatus, ubi ordinatus est, perseveret: ita ut si quis sua quaerens, non quae Jesu Christi, ad plebem et Ecclesiam suam redire neglexerit, et ab honoris privilegio, et a communionis vinculo

CHAP. V (Elsewhere VI). — We admonish you also to restore in full that part of ecclesiastical discipline by which it was formerly decreed by the holy Fathers, and often by us, that no one, whether in the rank of the priesthood, or in the order of the diaconate, or in the lower office of clerics, is free to pass from church to church: so that each, not enticed by ambition, not led astray by greed, not corrupted by the persuasion of men, may persevere where he was ordained; so that if anyone, seeking his own things, not those of Jesus Christ, neglects to return to his own people and church, both from the privilege of honour and from the bond of communion […]

Editors' notes and page, col. 596

Footnotes

(g) continued from col 595, set in n595

(j) ‹providendum› · printed under col 596

Cod. Vercell. collect. 8, ne scandala suscitentur, intermediis vocibus praetermissis. In cod. Lucensi verba per hujusmodi homines desiderantur.

The Vercelli manuscript of collection 8, ne scandala suscitentur, the intermediate words being omitted. In the Lucca manuscript the words per hujusmodi homines are missing.

(k) ‹Ecclesiae sobolem› · printed under col 596

Quesnellus cum aliis edit. et nonnullis codd., veneno sui odoris. Ms. Cantabrig. ab eodem laudatus et editio Canisii cum nostris codd. collect. 21, veneni sui odore. Praetulimus lectionem quinque praestantissimorum exemplarium Vat. Reg. Vat. 1342, Lucensis, nec non Vallicell. et Vercellensis. Paulo ante idem Vercell. habet sanctam Ecclesiae sobolem.

Quesnel, with other editions and some manuscripts, veneno sui odoris [with the poison of its smell]. The Cambridge manuscript cited by him and the edition of Canisius, with our manuscripts of collection 21, veneni sui odore. We have preferred the reading of five most excellent copies, the Vat. Reg., Vat. 1342, the Lucca manuscript, and also the Vallicelliana and the Vercelli manuscripts. A little before, the same Vercelli manuscript has sanctam Ecclesiae sobolem.

(l) ‹pellatur, ne› · printed under col 596

Tres mss. codices Quesn. ac totidem nostri et editio Canisii perditione. Hadrianus I, epist. 97, ad episcopos Hispan., proditor.

Three of Quesnel's manuscripts and as many of ours, and the edition of Canisius, perditione. Hadrian I, epist. 97, to the bishops of Spain, proditor.

(m) ‹disciplinae, qua› · printed under col 596

Ms. Vat. 5845, et olim. Quatuor alii codices, quae olim decreta est. Confer quae in hunc locum observavimus in praemissa admonitione, num. 25. Vide, si lubet, etiam Quesnelli not. 8.

The manuscript Vat. 5845, et olim. Four other manuscripts, quae olim decreta est. Compare what we observed on this passage in the preceding admonition, num. 25. See also, if you like, Quesnel's note 8.

(n) ‹presbyteratus gradu› · printed under col 596

Tres codd. Vat., nec in diaconatus, nec in subsequenti ordine clericorum. Quatuor alii pro officio clericorum habent ordine clericorum. Cod. Lucensis omittit nec in subsequenti officio.

Three Vat. manuscripts, nec in diaconatus, nec in subsequenti ordine clericorum. Four others have ordine clericorum for officio clericorum. The Lucca manuscript omits nec in subsequenti officio.

(o) ‹sit liberum› · printed under col 596

Cod. Vat. collect. 11, delet ut.

The Vat. manuscript of collection 11 deletes ut.

(p) ‹hominum depravatus› · printed under col 596

In ms. Vat. collect. 24, ibi ubi ordinatus est.

In the Vat. manuscript of collection 24, ibi ubi ordinatus est.

(q) ‹ad plebem› · printed under col 596

Cod. Vat. Regius, et ad Ecclesiam. Sichardus delet plebem et.

The Vat. Regius manuscript, et ad Ecclesiam. Sichard deletes plebem et.