Migne Reading Room

PL 54 · cols. 898–902

Leo the Great, Letters

Letters LXXII–LXXV

PL 54:898
EPISTOLA LXXII.
LETTER LXXII.
AD FAUSTUM PRESBYTERUM.
TO FAUSTUS, PRESBYTER.
Τῷ ἀγαπητῷ υἱῷ Φαύστῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ Λέων ἐπίσκοπος.
To his beloved son Faustus, presbyter, Leo, bishop.
Κεχαρισμένον ἐστὶν ἀεὶ ἐμοὶ τὸ τὴν σὴν ἀγάπην προσφθέγγεσθαι, καὶ πρὸς τὴν προσηγορίαν τὰ ἥδιστα ἔχω. Ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐκ ἀγνοῶ δεδοκιμασμένον σε τῆς ἁγίας πίστεως εἶναι φύλακα, μὴ περιφερόμενον παντὶ ἀνέμῳ τῆς διδασκαλίας, ἀλλ' ἐν τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν προφητῶν καὶ ἀποστόλων, ὅς ἐστι Χριστὸς, βέβαιον διαμένειν. Ἵνα ὁπότε ἔλθῃ ὁ Υἱὸς του ἀνθρώπου ἐν θεότητι αὐτοῦ πρὸς καθαρισμὸν παντὸς τοῦ κόσμου, ἐν ἐπιλογῇ εὑρεθείης τοῦ σίτου τῆς ἀϊδιότητος τοῖς ὁρίοις θησαυρίζεσθαι ἄξιος.
It is always pleasing to me to address your charity, and I take the greatest pleasure in greeting you. And since I am not unaware that you are an approved guardian of the holy faith, not carried about by every wind of doctrine, but abiding firm on the foundation of the prophets and apostles, which is Christ. So that, when the Son of Man comes in His Godhead for the cleansing of the whole world, you may be found in the choice of the wheat of eternity worthy to be stored in the granaries.
Ἀποδοθέντων τοιγαροῦν τῶν γραμμάτων διὰ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ ἐμοῦ Παρθενίου, τὴν ὁμοίαν προσηγορίαν πληρῶ, προτρεπόμενος τὴν σὴν τελειότητα, υἱὲ ἀγαπητὲ, ἵνα μὴ ἐπαισχυνθῇς τὸ Εὐαγγέλιον τῆς γενέσεως τοῦ Δεσπότου Χριστοῦ, τοῦ υἱοῦ Δαυὶδ, υἱοῦ Ἀβραὰμ κατὰ σάρκα· ἐπειδὴ αὕτη ἡ πίστις ἐνίκησε τὸν κόσμον, εἴ τις πιστεύει, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ. Εἰ δέ τινες τῆς πίστεως παρευρέσεις εὑρίσκοιντο, ὑπομιμνήσκομεν, ἵνα γράφῃς ἡμῖν πλατύτερον, ἡδέως ἔχοντες πρὸς τοὺς ταύτας διακομίζοντας.
The letter having therefore been delivered through my son Parthenius, I return a like greeting, exhorting your Perfection, beloved son, not to be ashamed of the Gospel of the birth of the Lord Christ, the son of David, son of Abraham according to the flesh; since this faith has conquered the world, if anyone believes that Jesus is the Son of God. And if any pretexts concerning the faith should be found, we remind you to write to us more fully, since we are glad to receive those who bring these.
Editors' notes and page, col. 898

Footnotes

(e) continued from col 897, set in n897

1 ‹anchor: "δεδοκιμασμένον σε" (Greek of Letter LXXII)› · printed under col 898 In ms. Ven., τῆς ὑγιοῦς πίστεως. Fortasse rectius.

In the Venice manuscript: τῆς ὑγιοῦς πίστεως ("of the sound faith"). Perhaps more correctly.

2 ‹anchor: "πρὸς τοὺς" (Greek of Letter LXXII)› · printed under col 898 In marg. edit. Rom., ἴσως. ταῦτα.

In the margin of the Roman edition: perhaps ταῦτα ("these things").

Page

  • running head: 897 EPISTOLA LXXII. 898 (across the page, page 454)
  • marginal letters: A ‹Τῷ ἀγαπητῷ υἱῷ›; B ‹Δεσπότου Χριστοῦ›; C ‹In ms. Ven.› (beside Greek note 1); all printed once in the gutter, shared with col 897
  • old-edition numerals: 1015 before ‹Τῷ ἀγαπητῷ›; 1017 before ‹Εὐαγγέλιον›
  • signature: none seen
  • other: the admonition, the caption and the synopsis at the head of page 454 are printed full width (admonition and synopsis set in n897). The full-width caption EPISTOLA LXXII / AD FAUSTUM PRESBYTERUM is set here, under the rail of the column where layer 1 (the Greek) is read. The Greek notes are marked with superior numerals 1 and 2. Notes (f) and (g), printed under col 898, answer calls in the Latin version of col 897 and are set in n897. Letter LXXII ends at the foot of the text in both columns (Greek "ταύτας διακομίζοντας.", Latin "detulerint."), with no date; col 898 ends with no hyphen
PL 54:899
Editors' notes and page, col. 899

Footnotes

(a) ‹anchor: "EPISTOLA" (heading of Letter LXXIII)› · printed under col 899

Alias post ep. 57. Quae autem erat 73, nunc 90. Scripta exeunte Aug. aut initio Septemb. an. 450.

Formerly after letter 57. The one that was 73 is now 90. Written at the end of August or the beginning of September, in the year 450.

(b) ‹anchor: before "VALENTINIANI ET MARCIANI" (title of Letter LXXIII)› · printed under col 899

Haec Marciani imperatoris epistola invenitur in sola collectione Chalcedonensi et in ms. Veneto collect. 22, cui additiones ex Chalcedon. collectione accesserunt. Graecum textum originalem esse non dubitamus ex loci et consulatus notatione, quae in interpretatione Graeca omissa fuisset, ut in aliis epistolis Graece redditis constanter observatur. Num vero Latinus quoque textus sit originalis, an versio ex Graeco, inquiri potest. Certum est imperatorem Marcianum quaedam scripsisse Latine et Graece, uti Latine et Graece in ipsa Chalcedonensi synodo allocutus traditur actione 6, pag. 1472. Vide not. o Baluzii. Sic etiam Latine et Graece scriptam videbimus aliam ejusdem imperatoris epistolam 100 ad Leonem. Plura ejusdem generis proferre possemus exempla, si opus esset. Gravitas quidem et dignitas Latinae locutionis praesentis epistolae non interpretem e Graeco in aliis epistolis reddendis valde humilem et minus peritum, sed Latinum auctorem praefert.

This letter of the emperor Marcian is found only in the Chalcedonian collection and in the Venice manuscript of collection 22, to which additions from the Chalcedonian collection were joined. We do not doubt that the Greek text is the original, from the notation of the place and the consulship, which would have been omitted in a Greek translation, as is constantly observed in other letters rendered into Greek. Whether the Latin text too is original, or a version from the Greek, may be asked. It is certain that the emperor Marcian wrote certain things in Latin and in Greek, as he is reported to have addressed the Chalcedonian synod itself in Latin and in Greek, in the 6th session, p. 1472. See Baluze's note o. So too we shall see another letter of the same emperor to Leo, the 100th, written in Latin and in Greek. We could bring forward more examples of the same kind, if there were need. Indeed the gravity and dignity of the Latin diction of the present letter shows not the translator from the Greek, very lowly and less skilled, [seen] in the rendering of other letters, but a Latin author.

(c) ‹anchor: "VALENTINIANI ET MARCIANI" (title of Letter LXXIII)› · printed under col 899

Ita codd. Latini et Graecus textus, nec non in edit. Concil. Solus Quesnellus, ad episcopum.

So the Latin manuscripts and the Greek text, and also in the edition of the Councils. Quesnel alone has to the bishop.

(d) ‹anchor: "LEONI reverendissimo" (Latin version)› · printed under col 899

Idem Quesnellus cum Graeco: Episcopo. Lectionem vulgatam Conciliorum ex Latinis codicibus revocavimus.

Quesnel likewise, with the Greek: bishop. We have restored the common reading of the Councils from the Latin manuscripts.

(e) ‹anchor: "Ad hoc maximum imperium" (Latin version)› · printed under col 899

Cod. Divionensis, nos venire contigit. Alii Baluzii codices, veni.

The Dijon manuscript: it befell us to come. Other manuscripts of Baluze: I came.

(f) ‹anchor: "militiae. Unde" (Latin version)› · printed under col 899

Ms. Ver. 57, pro reverentia.

The Verona manuscript 57: for the reverence.

(g) ‹anchor: "Actum Constantinopoli," (Latin version)› · printed under cols 899–900

Ita optime ex eodem ms. Veron., cui caeteri nostri codd. accedunt, et solum tres Baluzii pro Avieni v. c. perperam habent Avieneni, Albieni, vel Avenieni VI. Dies et mensis in codd. et in Graeco desunt. Cum vero Marcianus hac in epistola suae assumptionis notitiam praebeat, ea paulo post electionem ejus scripta fuit. Nonnulli cum Baronio crediderunt Marcianum imperium suscepisse ante mensem Augustum hujus an. 450, eo quod in Cod. Justinianeo lex ejusdem imperatoris contra Eutychianos lata tradatur kal. Aug. Valentiniano VII et Avieno coss. Sed hanc chronicam notam perperam a Treboniano assutam fuisse huic legi ult. de Apostatis patet ex collectionibus Chalcedonensi, Hispanica. etc., in quibus eadem lex integra describitur cum data XV kal. Aug. CP. Sporatio v. c. et qui fuerit nuntiatus coss., id est 18 Julii an. 452. Porro Marcianum ad imperium ascendisse die 24 Augusti an. 450 ex Chronico Paschali colligitur. Igitur haec epistola scripta fuit hoc anno aut Augusto exeunte, aut ineunte Septembri.

So, and best, from the same Verona manuscript, which our other manuscripts join; only three of Baluze's wrongly have, for Avieni v. c., Avieneni, Albieni or Avenieni VI. The day and the month are missing in the manuscripts and in the Greek. But since Marcian gives notice of his accession in this letter, it was written shortly after his election. Some, with Baronius, have believed that Marcian took up the empire before the month of August of this year 450, because in the Justinian Code a law of the same emperor against the Eutychians is reported as issued on the kalends of August, Valentinian for the 7th time and Avienus being consuls. But that this chronological note was wrongly sewn on to this last law de Apostatis by Trebonianus is clear from the collections, the Chalcedonian, the Spanish, etc., in which the same law is copied entire with the date: 15th day before the kalends of August, at Constantinople, Sporatius v. c. and whoever shall have been announced being consuls, that is, 18 July of the year 452. Further, it is gathered from the Paschal Chronicle that Marcian ascended to the empire on 24 August of the year 450. Therefore this letter was written in this year, either at the end of August or at the beginning of September.

(h) ‹anchor: "EPISTOLA" (heading of Letter LXXIV)› · printed under col 900 (mark printed "h", without parentheses)

Alias 55. Quae autem antea 74 erat, nunc 94. Scripta 13 Septemb. an. 450.

Formerly 55. The one that was formerly 74 is now 94. Written on 13 September, in the year 450.

(i) ‹anchor: before "AD MARTINUM PRESBYTERUM" (title of Letter LXXIV)› · printed under col 900 (mark printed "i", without parentheses)

Est in ms. Grim. collect. 18 et in nostris codd. Vat. ac Veneto collect. 12, qui postremi perperam Martiano hanc epistolam inscribunt. Notat in postilla marginali Quesnellus: « Non uni Martino inscriptam fuisse a Leone hanc epistolam, sed caeteris pariter ejus collegis, patet ex epistolae contextu. » Sed ad solum Martinum initio scribens, ut indicant verba dilectionem tuam mox ad catholicam fraternitatem, id est ad omnes Constantinopolitanos, et praesertim monachos catholice sentientes sermonem dirigit.

It is in the Grimani manuscript of collection 18 and in our Vatican and Venice manuscripts of collection 12, the latter of which wrongly address this letter to Martian. Quesnel notes in a marginal gloss: "That this letter was addressed by Leo not to Martin alone, but equally to the rest of his colleagues, is clear from the context of the letter." But while writing at the beginning to Martin alone, as the words your Love indicate, he presently directs his speech to the catholic brotherhood, that is, to all the people of Constantinople, and especially to the monks of catholic mind.

(j) ‹anchor: "piae exsultationis" (Letter LXXIV)› · printed under col 900 (mark printed "j", without parentheses)

Ita ex duobus nostris codicibus collect. 12, ipso exigente contextu, non ut in vulgatis, accepimus.

So from two of our manuscripts of collection 12, the context itself requiring it; not, as in the printed editions, accepimus [we have received].

Editors' prose

SYNOPSIS. — Quam bonum sit pro veritate pati, cujus unitatem locorum spatia non scindunt. De legatis mentio.

SYNOPSIS. — How good it is to suffer for the truth, whose unity the distances of places do not divide. Mention of the legates.

Ancient version (Latin)

Victores VALENTINIANUS et MARCIANUS gloriosi triumphatores, semper Augusti, LEONI reverendissimo archiepiscopo gloriosae civitatis Romae. Ad hoc maximum imperium venimus Dei providentia et electione senatus excellentissimi cunctaeque militiae. Unde pro reverenda et catholica religione fidei Christianorum, cujus auxiliis virtutum nostrae potentiae confidimus gubernari, tuam sanctitatem principatum in Episcopatú, divinae fidei possidentem, sacris litteris in principio justum credimus alloquendam: invitantes atque rogantes ut pro firmitate et statu nostri imperii aeternam Divinitatem tua sanctitas deprecetur, ut et tale propositum atque desiderium habeamus, quatenus omni impio errore sublato per celebrandam synodum, te auctore, maxima pax circa omnes episcopos fidei catholicae fiat, ab omni scelere pura et intemerata consistens. Actum Constantinopoli, consulatu VII domni Valentiniani Augusti PP., et Avieni. v. c.

Page

  • running head: 899 S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE. 900 (across the page, page 455)
  • marginal letters: A ‹Victores VALENTINIANUS et MARCIANUS›; B ‹ab omni scelere pura›; C ‹(b) Haec Marciani imperatoris› (footnotes); D ‹(c) Ita codd. Latini› (footnotes)
  • old-edition numerals: 1019 after ‹divinae› (Latin version)
  • signature: none
  • other: the heading of Letter LXXIII (EPISTOLA LXXIII, the title line and the italic line) is printed full-width at the head of the page and is set in layer 1 under the 900 rail, with the Greek text; the left column holds the Latin version of LXXIII (above), then the heading, synopsis, address and first lines of Letter LXXIV, which are set under the 900 rail in reading order (UNIT.md, rule after E27). Col 899 is therefore rail-only. In note (d) a small raised mark stands after "Graeco" (not set). Notes (h), (i), (j) belong to calls printed in this column and are printed under col 900.
PL 54:900
EPISTOLA LXXIII.
LETTER LXXIII.
VALENTINIANI ET MARCIANI AD ARCHIEPISCOPUM ROMAE LEONEM.
OF VALENTINIAN AND MARCIAN TO LEO, ARCHBISHOP OF ROME.
De electione sua et de concilio celebrando.
On their election and on holding a council.
Νικηταὶ Οὐαλεντινιανὸς καὶ Μαρκιανὸς, ἔνδοξοι, τροπαιοῦχοι ἀεὶ βασιλεῖς, Λέοντι τῷ εὐλαβεστάτῳ ἐπισκόπῳ τῆς ἐνδόξου πόλεως Ῥώμης.
The victors Valentinian and Marcian, glorious, triumphant, ever emperors, to Leo, the most reverent bishop of the glorious city of Rome.
Εἰς τοῦτο τὸ μέγιστον βασίλειον ἤλθομεν Θεοῦ προνοίᾳ καὶ ἐπιλογῇ τῆς ὑπερφυοῦς συγκλήτου, καὶ παντὸς τοῦ στρατοῦ, ὅθεν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐλαβοῦς, καὶ καθολικῆς θρησκείας τῆς πίστεως τῶν Χριστιανῶν, οὗ τινος τῇ βοηθείᾳ τοῦ ἡμετέρου κράτους πεποίθαμεν ἰθύνεσθαι τὴν δύναμιν, τήν τε σὴν ἁγιωσύνην ἐπισκοπεύουσαν, καὶ ἄρχουσαν τῆς θείας πίστεως, ἱεροῖς γράμμασιν ἐν πρώτοις δίκαιον ἡγησάμεθα προσειπεῖν, προτρεπόμενοι καὶ παρακαλοῦντες, ἵνα ὑπὲρ ἑδραιότητος, καὶ στάσεως τοῦ ἡμετέρου βασιλείου, τὴν αἰώνιον θειότητα ἡ σὴ ἱκετεύῃ ὁσιότης· διὰ τὸ καὶ τὴν ἡμετέραν πρόθεσιν, καὶ τὸν πόθον τοιοῦτον ὑπάρχειν, ὥστε πάσης ἀσεβοῦς πλάνης ἀποκινηθείσης, διὰ τῆς συγκροτηθείσης ταύτης συνόδου, σοῦ αὐθεντοῦντος, μεγίστη εἰρήνη περὶ πάντας τοὺς ἐπισκόπους τῆς καθολικῆς πίστεως ὑπαρχθείη, παντὸς μύσους καθαρὰ καὶ ἄσπιλος γενομένη.
We have come to this greatest empire by the providence of God and the choice of the most excellent senate and of the whole army; wherefore, on behalf of the reverent and catholic religion of the faith of the Christians, by whose help we trust that the power of our might is directed, we have thought it right, among the first things, to address with sacred letters Your Holiness also, who oversee as bishop and rule over the divine faith, urging and exhorting that Your Sanctity entreat the eternal Godhead for the stability and standing of our empire; since our purpose and desire also are such that, all impious error having been removed through this synod once it is convened, under your authority, the greatest peace may be established among all the bishops of the catholic faith, pure and spotless of all defilement.
Ἐπράχθη ἐν Κωνσταντινουπόλει ἐν ὑπατείᾳ τοῦ δεσπότου ἡμῶν Οὐαλεντινιανοῦ τοῦ αἰωνίου Αὐγούστου τὸ ἕβδομον, καὶ Ἀβιηνοῦ τῶν ὑπάτων
Done at Constantinople in the consulship of our lord Valentinian, the eternal Augustus, for the seventh time, and of Avienus, the consuls.
EPISTOLA LXXIV.
LETTER LXXIV.
AD MARTINUM PRESBYTERUM.
TO MARTIN THE PRESBYTER.
LEO episcopus MARTINO presbytero.
Leo, bishop, to Martin, presbyter.
Gratias agimus Deo, et multam fiduciam piae exsultationis accipimus, cum dilectionem tuam et catholicam fraternitatem ita spiritu fidei vigere cognoscimus, ut cordibus vestris nihil infirmitatis baeretica possit inferre tentatio: ad quam divinitus destruendam nec defuit, ut scitis, sollicitudo nostra, nec deerit, donec omnipotentis dextera Dei omnia diaboli arma confringat: cui ob aliquid audere permittitur, ut a fidelibus Christi gloria majore vincatur. Si quid autem aut difficultatum intervenit aut morarum,
We give thanks to God, and we receive much confidence of pious exultation, when we learn that your Love and the catholic brotherhood so flourish in the spirit of faith that no heretical temptation can bring any weakness into your hearts: for the destruction of which, by God's help, our solicitude has not been lacking, as you know, nor will it be lacking, until the right hand of almighty God breaks all the weapons of the devil; who is permitted to dare something for this reason, that he may be conquered by the faithful of Christ with greater glory. But if anything, whether of difficulties or of delays, has come in, […]
Editors' notes and page, col. 900

Footnotes

(1) ‹anchor: "τὸ μέγιστον βασίλειον" (Greek text)› · printed under col 900 (the numeral is not visible in our scan)

Ms. Ven., ἦλθον.

The Venice manuscript: ἦλθον [I came].

(2) ‹anchor: "τήν τε σὴν" (Greek text)› · printed under col 900 (the numeral is not visible in our scan)

Sic ex codd. Graec. Vat. 1178 et Ottob. 29, pro ἀγνωσύνην, lectione vulgata.

So from the Greek manuscripts Vatican 1178 and Ottoboni 29, in place of ἀγνωσύνην, the common reading.

(3) ‹anchor: "ἡ σὴ" (Greek text)› · printed under col 900

Ms. Ten., ἱκετεύος.

Manuscript Ten.: ἱκετεύος.

(4) ‹anchor: "διὰ τῆς" (Greek text)› · printed under col 900

In marg. edit. Cotel., συγκοτηθησομένης συνόδου.

In the margin of Cotelier's edition: συγκοτηθησομένης συνόδου [the synod that is to be convened].

(g) continued from col 899, set in n899. Notes (h), (i), (j), printed under this column, answer calls in col 899 and are set in n899.

Page

  • running head: 899 S. LEONIS MAGNI EPISTOLAE. 900 (across the page, page 455)
  • marginal letters: A ‹Νικηταὶ Οὐαλεντινιανὸς›; B ‹συνόδου, σοῦ αὐθεντοῦντος›; C ‹imperium suscepisse ante mensem› (footnotes); D ‹fuisse a Leone hanc epistolam› (footnotes)
  • old-edition numerals: 1020 after ‹θείας›
  • signature: none
  • other: the first two lines of the Greek address are faintly printed (Νικηταὶ, Οὐαλεντινιανὸς, ἀεὶ βασιλεῖς), traces visible and words certain; set plain. The 900 rail also carries the full-width heading of Letter LXXIII and the heading, address and first lines of Letter LXXIV printed in col 899 (reading order). "mora-rum" divides over cols 900/901 and is set whole here.
PL 54:901
cum aequanimitate tolerandum est: quoniam ubi veritas est magistra, numquam desunt divina solatia, fratres charissimi. Quamvis ergo magna locorum intervalla nos dividant, unitate tamen fidei vobiscum sumus, et toto corde Jesum Christum Dominum nostrum verum Deum et verum hominem confitentes, nulla in vobis detrimenta perpetimur, cum de vestrae professionis concordia gloriamur: tantum ut sit auxiliante Domino constantia perseverans, dicente Apostolo: Vobis enim donatum est pro Christo, non solum ut in eum credatis, sed etiam ut pro illo patiamini (Philip. I, 29).
[…] it is to be borne with equanimity; for where truth is the teacher, divine consolations are never lacking, dearest brethren. Although, then, great distances of place divide us, yet we are with you in unity of faith, and, confessing with our whole heart Jesus Christ our Lord, true God and true man, we suffer no loss in you, since we glory in the concord of your profession: only let there be, with the Lord's help, a persevering constancy, as the Apostle says: For to you it has been given for Christ, not only that you believe in Him, but also that you suffer for Him (Phil. 1:29).
Ad quam fortitudinem sanctarum mentium roborandam, fratres nostros atque legatos, quos pro apostolicae fidei libertate direximus, et quos dudum apud vos esse confidimus, plurimum credimus profuturos: cum totius actionis nostrae didiceritis affectum, et curam vestram atque consilium pio operi junxeritis. De qua re non necesse est nunc latius scribere, cum jam per supradictos sufficientes epistolas miserimus, quibus abundantissime omnis catholica fraternitas instruatur. Divinae erit virtutis et gratiae ut Dei Filius, qui naturam humani generis suam fecit, amplius quam videmus aut sapimus, magnum pietatis suae asserat sacramentum (I Tim. III, 16), quod impia temeritas sibi quidem fraudavit, sed rectis cordibus auferre non potuit. Data idibus Septembris, Valentiniano et Avieno v. c. consulibus.
For strengthening this fortitude of holy minds we believe that our brethren and legates, whom we have sent for the freedom of the apostolic faith, and who we trust have for some time been with you, will be of very great profit, when you have learned the intent of our whole proceeding and have joined your care and counsel to the pious work. On this matter there is no need to write more at length now, since we have already sent, through the aforesaid, sufficient letters, by which the whole catholic brotherhood may be most abundantly instructed. It will belong to the divine power and grace that the Son of God, Who made the nature of the human race His own, may assert, more fully than we see or know, the great mystery of His piety (1 Tim. 3:16), of which impious rashness has indeed defrauded itself, but which it could not take away from upright hearts. Given on the ides of September, Valentinian and Avienus, most illustrious men, being consuls.
EPISTOLA LXXV.
LETTER LXXV.
AD FAUSTUM ET MARTINUM PRESBYTEROS.
TO FAUSTUS AND MARTIN, PRESBYTERS.
LEO FAUSTO et MARTINO presbyteris et archimandritis.
Leo to Faustus and Martin, presbyters and archimandrites.
Per MAXIMINUM eomitem.
By Maximinus the count.
CAP. I. — Omnes scribendi occasiones libenter
CHAP. I. — Gladly embracing all occasions of writing […]
Editors' notes and page, col. 901

Footnotes

(a) ‹anchor: "Vobis enim" (Letter LXXIV)› · printed under col 901

Sic mss. et Quesnellus. Caeterae editiones, datum est.

So the manuscripts and Quesnel. The other editions: it has been given.

(b) ‹anchor: "ut pro illo" (Letter LXXIV)› · printed under col 901

Haec scripta sunt a Leone, dum nondum Theodosii, qui Eutychianis favebat, mortem acceperat; unde catholicos adhuc vexatos praesumit.

These things were written by Leo while he had not yet received [news of] the death of Theodosius, who favoured the Eutychians; hence he presumes that the catholics are still being harassed.

(c) ‹anchor: "atque consilium" (Letter LXXIV)› · printed under col 901

Codd. collect. 12 cum editis Quesnello anterioribus ignorant pio. Iste in margine pro operi alias opere.

The manuscripts of collection 12, with the editions earlier than Quesnel, do not know pious. He, in the margin, for operi [work] has another reading, opere.

(d) ‹anchor: "supradictos sufficientes" (Letter LXXIV)› · printed under col 901

Id est epistolam 71.

That is, letter 71.

(e) ‹anchor: "amplius quam" (Letter LXXIV)› · printed under col 901

Ita nostri codd. cum editis ante Quesn., apud quem, praevidemus.

So our manuscripts, with the editions before Quesnel; in his: we foresee.

(f) ‹anchor: "Data" (date of Letter LXXIV)› · printed under cols 901–902

Haec dies, mensis, et consulum notatio deest in ms. Grim. Legitur autem in nostris mss. et in editis. Solum post vocem Valentiniano supplendum esset Aug. VII. Utrique codices collect. 12 statim post consularem notam addunt, per Carterium et Asclepiadem diaconos Constantinopolitanum; corrupte. Cum enim epistola 80, cap. 1, mentio fiat Casterii, alias Carterii presbyteri, et Asclepiadis diaconi Constantinopolitani, legendum credimus per Carterium, seu Casterium presbyterum, et Asclepiadem diaconum Constantinopolitanum. Cum porro in iisdem mss. huic epistolae subjiciatur epistola 78, quae per hos Casterium et Asclepiadem Constantinopolim missa fuit anno sequenti idibus Aprilis, censemus hanc notationem ad eamdem epistolam 78 potius quam ad praesentem esse referendam: neque enim eos clericos bis transmisisse et hoc et sequenti anno ullum indicium, ulla probabilitas est.

This notation of the day, the month and the consuls is missing in the Grimani manuscript. It is read, however, in our manuscripts and in the printed editions. Only, after the word Valentiniano, Aug. VII should be supplied. Both manuscripts of collection 12 add, immediately after the consular note, by Carterius and Asclepiades, deacons of Constantinople; corruptly. For since in letter 80, chap. 1, mention is made of Casterius, otherwise Carterius, a presbyter, and of Asclepiades, a deacon of Constantinople, we believe one should read by Carterius, or Casterius, the presbyter, and Asclepiades, the deacon of Constantinople. Further, since in the same manuscripts letter 78 is placed after this letter, which was sent to Constantinople by this Casterius and Asclepiades in the following year on the ides of April, we judge that this notation should be referred to that letter 78 rather than to the present one: for there is no indication, no probability, that [he] sent those clerics twice, both in this year and in the following.

(g) ‹anchor: "EPISTOLA" (heading of Letter LXXV)› · printed under col 902

Al. 56. Quae autem erat 75, nunc 95. Die 8 vel 9 Nov. an. 450.

Otherwise 56. The one that was 75 is now 95. On 8 or 9 November, in the year 450.

(h) ‹anchor: before "AD FAUSTUM ET MARTINUM" (title of Letter LXXV)› · printed under col 902

Edita fuit a Quesnello ex ms. Grimanico collect. 18. Nos eamdem contulimus cum Ratisponensi collect. 19.

It was edited by Quesnel from the Grimani manuscript of collection 18. We have collated it with the Ratisbon manuscript of collection 19.

(i) ‹anchor: "MARTINO presbyteris" (Letter LXXV)› · printed under col 902

Voces et archimandritis adjecimus ex cod. Ratisp. Quesnellus addidit, a pari, quod noster codex ignorat, et contextus pluralis numeri excludit.

We have added the words and archimandrites from the Ratisbon manuscript. Quesnel added a pari [of equal rank], which our manuscript does not know and the context, in the plural number, excludes.

Editors' prose

SYNOPSIS. — I. Intolerabile esse scribit Occidentalibus episcopis, quod Ephesi contra fidem actum est. — II. Antichristo militare tam Nestorium quam Eutychen; contra quos Ecclesia profitetur non unam naturam, sed unam se adorare personam.

SYNOPSIS. — I. He writes that what was done at Ephesus against the faith is intolerable to the Western bishops. — II. That Nestorius and Eutyches alike serve Antichrist; against whom the Church professes that it adores not one nature but one Person.

Page

  • running head: 901 EPISTOLA LXXV. 902 (across the page, page 456)
  • marginal letters: A ‹rum, cum aequanimitate›; B ‹ros: cum totius actionis›; C ‹episcopis, quod Ephesi› (synopsis); D ‹(e) Ita nostri codd.› (footnotes)
  • old-edition numerals: 1021 before ‹Vobis enim›; 1022 before ‹LEO FAUSTO›
  • signature: none
  • other: col 901 opens with "rum,", the end of "morarum" set whole in c900_b.
PL 54:902
amplectens, alloqui dilectionem vestram sacerdotali affectione non desino: ut ex ipsa frequentia litterarum possitis agnoscere quantam curam Ecclesiae universalis habeamus, pro cujus piissima fide studiosius defendenda vestram quoque devotionem oportet laborum nostrorum esse consortem. Nam et per fratres nostros episcopos atque presbyteros, quos pro Christianae religionis statu misimus, quosque dudum vobiscum esse confidimus, plenissime ex omni instructione quam dedimus potuistis advertere quam intolerabile habetur quod cunctos nostrarum partium sacerdotes, quod profana quorumdam insipientia contra sacramentum redemptionis humanae inferre molita est. Et nunc per filium nostrum Maximinum comitem continuatim vos alloquiis cohortamur, ut quia propitio Domino multum catholicorum est aucta libertas, assumatis constantiam spiritalem contra Antichristi praecursores, dicente beato Joanne: Omnis spiritus qui confitetur Jesum Christum in carne venisse ex Deo est; et omnis spiritus qui solvit Jesum Christum ex Deo non est, et hic est Antichristus (I Joan. IV, 2, 3).
[…] I do not cease to address your Love with priestly affection, so that from the very frequency of our letters you may recognize how great a care we have for the universal Church; for the more zealous defence of whose most pious faith your devotion too ought to be a partner of our labours. For through our brethren, the bishops and presbyters whom we sent for the state of the Christian religion, and who we trust have for some time been with you, you have been able to observe most fully, from all the instruction that we gave, how intolerable it is held [to be] by all the priests of our parts, what the profane folly of certain men has attempted to bring in against the mystery of human redemption. And now through our son Maximinus the count we exhort you with continued addresses that, since by the Lord's favour the freedom of the catholics has been much increased, you take up a spiritual constancy against the forerunners of Antichrist, as blessed John says: Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ come in the flesh is of God; and every spirit that dissolves Jesus Christ is not of God, and this is Antichrist (1 John 4:2, 3).
CAP. II. — Cui Nestorius et Eutyches sub diversa quidem erroris specie, sed sub eodem spiritu falsitatis militare voluerunt, cum catholica fides apostolicis atque evangelicis inbuta doctrinis utrumque detestetur, utrumque condemnet; quae ex quo coaeternum Patri Verbo caro factum est (Joan. I, 14), quem credit Filium Dei, eumdem etiam filium hominis confitetur; et in uno vero Deo ac vero homine Domino Jesu Christo non unam naturam, sed unam se profitetur adorare personam. In hac fide nobiscum inseparabiliter atque indifferenter uniti, state constanter et viriliter agite; ac si quae sunt morae de his quae poscimus ordinandis, per occasiones tamen, quas fidas gratia divina providerit, litteris nos vestrae dilectionis instruite. Quia multum solatii est, cum sollicitis animis
CHAP. II. — In whose service Nestorius and Eutyches chose to fight, under a different appearance of error indeed, but under the same spirit of falsehood; whereas the catholic faith, imbued with the apostolic and evangelical teachings, detests both and condemns both; which, from the time when the Word coeternal with the Father was made flesh (John 1:14), confesses the same One Whom it believes to be the Son of God to be also son of man; and in the one Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, professes that it adores not one nature but one Person. United with us in this faith inseparably and without difference, stand firm and act manfully; and if there are any delays in arranging the things we ask, yet by such opportunities as divine grace shall provide as trustworthy, inform us by the letters of your Love. For it is a great consolation, when with anxious minds […]
Editors' notes and page, col. 902

Footnotes

(f) continued from col 901, set in n901.

(j) ‹anchor: "ut quia propitio" (Letter LXXV)› · printed under col 902

Ratisp., Deo. Idcirco autem multum catholicorum aucta libertas dicitur, quia Marcianus novus imperator catholicis favebat. Hoc primum indicium est electionis Marciani, quam quidem Maximinum comitem ejusdem imperatoris ministrum attulisse, ut a Valentiniano approbaretur, satis credibile est.

The Ratisbon manuscript: God. And the freedom of the catholics is said to have been much increased for this reason, that Marcian, the new emperor, favoured the catholics. This is the first indication of Marcian's election; and it is quite credible that the count Maximinus, a minister of the same emperor, brought [news of] it, that it might be approved by Valentinian.

(k) ‹anchor: "aucta libertas," (Letter LXXV)› · printed under col 902

Quesnellus ex Grimanico, sumatis. Magis placuit lectio Ratisp.

Quesnel, from the Grimani manuscript: sumatis [take]. The Ratisbon reading pleased us more.

(l) ‹anchor: "Omnis" (Letter LXXV)› · printed under col 902

Ratisp. omittit spiritus, et secundo loco Christum.

The Ratisbon manuscript omits spirit, and, in the second place, Christ.

(m) ‹anchor: "fides apostolicis" (Letter LXXV)› · printed under col 902

In eodem codice desunt voces atque evangelicis.

In the same manuscript the words and evangelical are missing.

(n) ‹anchor: "ex quo" (Letter LXXV)› · printed under col 902

Sic noster Ratisp. Quesnellus ex Grim., aeternum Patris.

So our Ratisbon manuscript. Quesnel, from the Grimani: eternal [Word] of the Father.

(o) ‹anchor: "uniti, state" (Letter LXXV)› · printed under col 902

Grim. ms. et Quesnellus, confidenter. Melius in Ratisponensi.

The Grimani manuscript and Quesnel: confidently. Better in the Ratisbon manuscript.

Page

  • running head: 901 EPISTOLA LXXV. 902 (across the page, page 456)
  • marginal letters: A ‹amplectens, alloqui›; B ‹quiis cohortamur›; C ‹sed unam se profitetur›; D ‹tisp. Quesnellus addidit› (footnotes)
  • old-edition numerals: 1023 after ‹vero Deo ac›; 1024 after ‹multum solatii est,›
  • signature: none
  • other: in "propitio Domino multum" the l of multum is broken and looks like i; set plain.