The Fathers of the Church ; V

THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH A NEW TRANSLATION VOLUME 99 THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH A NEW TRANSLATION EDITORIAL BOARD Thomas P. Halton The Catholic University of America Editorial Director Elizabeth Clark Robert D. Sider Duke University Dickinson College Joseph T. Lienhard, S.J. Michael Slusser Fordham University Duquesne University Frank A.C. Mantello Cynthia White The Catholic University of America The University of Arizona Kathleen McVey Robin Darling Young Princeton Theological Seminary The Catholic University of America David J. McGonagle Director The Catholic University of America Press FORMER EDITORIAL DIRECTORS Ludwig Schopp, Roy J. Deferrari, Bernard M. Peebles, Hermigild Dressler, O.F.M. Cornelia Horn Staff Editor IBERIAN FATHERS volume 3 PACIAN OF BARCELONA OROSIUS OF BRAGA Translated by CRAIG L. HANSON Muskingum College New Concord, Ohio THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS Washington, D.C. Copyright © 1999 THE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA PRESS All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standards for Information Science— Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ansi z39.48–1984. ∞ library of congress cataloging-in-publication data Iberian fathers : Pacian of Barcelona and Orosius of Braga : [writings] / translated by Craig L. Hanson. p. cm. — (The fathers of the church ; v. 99) Includes bibliographical references and Indexes. ISBN 0-8132- 0099-7 (alk. paper) 1. Theology—Early works to 1800. 2. Apologetics—Early works to 1800. i. Pacian, Saint, Bishop of Barcelona, 4th cent. ii. Orosius, Paulus iii. Hanson, Craig L. iv. Series. br60.f3i27 1999 [br65] 270 s—dc21 [270.2] 98-16992 UXORI DILECTISSIMAE ROBIN CONTENTS Preface ix pacian of barcelona Introduction 3 Select Bibliography 14 Letter 1 17 Letter 2 27 Letter 3 38 On Penitents 71 On Baptism 87 orosius of braga Introduction 97 Select Bibliography 112 Book in Defense against the Pelagians 115 Inquiry or Memorandum to Augustine on the Error of the Priscillianists and Origenists 168 Indices General Index 177 Index of Holy Scripture 187 PREFACE This volume brings together writings from Pacian of Barcelona and Orosius of Braga, two leading Iberian Fathers of the late fourth and early fifth centuries. In the case of Pacian, bishop of Barcelona, this includes all of his extant works: a trea- tise on penance; a sermon on baptism; and his correspondence with the Novatianist Sympronian. For Orosius, priest of Braga, this comprises two short treatises written not long before his fa- mous Historiarum adversus paganos libri septem:1 a memorandum to Augustine of Hippo on Priscillianism and Origenism in Spain; and an apologetic tract directed against Pelagius and his sup- porters. As such, this book complements existing volumes in the “Fathers of the Church” series. It completes the corpus of Oro- sius’s writings which began with the publication of Roy Defer- rari’s translation of the Historia in volume 50 (1964); and it adds the works of these two Iberian Fathers to those of Martin of Braga, Paschasius of Dumium, Leander of Seville, Braulio of Saragossa, and Fructuosus of Braga gathered in volumes 62 and 63 (1969, translated by Claude Barlow). While today Orosius is a well-known figure in the history of Christianity, due in large part to his Historia and his prominent, if controversial, role in the Pelagian controversy, Pacian has received far less notice and recognition. Yet his writings reveal much about Spanish Christianity of his own time. In particular he furnishes valuable insights into the presence of the Novatian- ist movement in Spain and its distinctive doctrines, the Catholic modes of resistance, and contemporary orthodox theory and teachings on penance and baptism. Both authors were well- educated in classical pagan and Christian Latin literature, and accomplished in rhetorical technique. Orosius especially is fond 1. Hereafter, Historia. x PREFACE of displaying his rhetorical knowledge and training. But it is Pa- cian who is the more effective stylist and writer. As Jerome noted long ago in his De viris illustribus, 106, Pacian is a man “of restrained eloquence.” The translation of these two authors’ works is fairly literal. Readers will notice that, as a result, the use of inclusive language is somewhat restricted. As scholars before me have observed, there is no entirely consistent or satisfactory solution to this problem. The most a translator can do, in the words of a noted authority, is “to echo the original’s true meaning in context, with its significant overtones, distinctive style, special individual use of words, and perceptible ‘flavor.’”2 The biblical references in the notes accompanying the trans- lations give the chapter and verse numbers of the New Revised Standard Version. But in quoting Pacian’s and Orosius’s own biblical texts I have, of course, faithfully translated their Latin. Also, it should be noted that there are indications for both men occasionally quoting biblical passages from memory. Finally, be- yond such scriptural references, only a few important classical pagan and early Christian literary parallels have been cited in the notes; more extensive citations may be found in the editions themselves. I am grateful to Thomas P. Halton and the other “Fathers of the Church” editors for their support of this project and for in- cluding the volume in the present series. Special thanks go to Cornelia Horn, who has been unfailing with her editorial advice and assistance. 2. Raymond V.Schoder, The Art and Challenge of Translation (Oak Park: Bolchazy- Carducci, 1987), vii. INTRODUCTION St. Jerome, in chapter 106 of his De viris illustribus, furnishes most of the meager biographical data which we possess concern- ing the bishop and theologian Pacian of Barcelona. It reads as follows: “Pacian, bishop of Barcelona in the foothills of the Pyre- nean mountains, a man of restrained eloquence1 and as distinguished for his life as for his words, wrote various short works among which are The Stag and Against the Novatianists, and died at an advanced age in the reign of the emperor Theodosius.” Barcelona (ancient Barcino) in the Roman province of Tarraco- nensis was known early on for its Christian connections.2 St. Cu- cuphas, celebrated by Prudentius as the “glory of Barcelona,”3 as well as the martyrs Eulalia and Severus were noteworthy in the history of the early Church. The city eventually became the suf- fragan diocese of Tarragona, and the succession of bishops in the fourth century included Praetextatus, Pacian, and Lampius. Al- though neither Jerome nor any other source explicitly indicates Pacian’s nationality, Lisardo Rubio Fernández makes the point that at this time prelates were chosen here, as in many locations, from among the local diocesan clergy.4 Thus, he supposes that 1. Castigatae eloquentiae. A variant manuscript reading, accepted by some scholars, is castitate et eloquentia. In this case the passage should be translated as “Pacian . distinguished for his chastity and eloquence . .” But since Pacian was married and had a son before his elevation to the see of Barcelona, this reading seems less appropriate and thus less likely to be authentic. Cf. Lisardo Rubio Fer- nández, San Paciano. Obras (Barcelona: Universidad de Barcelona, 1958), 5; and Ángel Anglada Anfruns, Las obras de Paciano publicadas por V. Noguera y edición crítica del “Liber de paenitentibus” (Valencia: Universidad de Valencia, 1982), 14. 2. Valuable background on the history of Christianity in the city is available in J. Mas, Notes históriques del bisbat de Barcelona (Barcelona: J. Vives y La Renaixensa, 1906) and Sebastían Puig y Puig, Episcopologio de la sede Barcinonense (Barcelona: Balmes, 1929). 3. Peristephanon 4.33–34. 4. San Paciano, 5. Cf. canon 24 from the Council of Elvira: Omnes qui peregre 3 4 INTRODUCTION Pacian, a “son of the diocese of Barcelona,” was native to the re- gion if not the city. On the matter of Pacian’s dating, it can be noted that Jerome’s catalog of Christian writers, De viris illustribus, was produced in 393. Since therein he speaks of Pacian as having died “at an advanced age” during Theodosius’s reign (379 – 95), it appears that Pacian passed away sometime between 379 and 392 and may have been born in the first decade of the fourth century. (2) Judging from his extant writings as well as Jerome’s brief evaluation of his literary qualities, Pacian received a good educa- tion and solid literary training in his early life. Most likely such was provided by his parents who, in turn, were probably wealthy. Pacian himself admits his classical schooling in one of his letters to Sympronian.5 Of his subsequent life before his consecration as bishop of Barcelona little is known, except that he was married and had a son who was to figure prominently in the later po- litical and literary history of the Empire. Even the date of his elevation to the see of Barcelona is controversial. Certainly it was after 343 (when we know that Praetextatus still presided in Barcelona)6 and probably before 377.7 Some modern authorities have ventured that Pacian perhaps came to Christianity as a con- vert. They base their view upon a statement made by the bishop in his De baptismo where he seems to associate himself with pa- ganism.8 Rubio Fernández, for his part, raises some interesting fuerint baptizati, eo quod eorum minime sit cognita vita, placuit ad clerum non esse pro- movendos in alienis provinciis. 5. Ep. 2.4: “And yet I had learned this verse [of Virgil] as a little child.” 6. In that year sources indicate that he was present at the Council of Sardica. 7. In Pacian’s initial letter to Sympronian (Ep. 1.3) he mentions the Apolli- narians, among other heretical groups.

Load more