Letter of Pope Siricius to Bishop Himerius of Tarragona, 385.

Catholic University of America ^ | 385 A.D. | Pope Siricius

[bornacatholic]

Isn't it bracing to read such masculine language in the authoritative decisions taken by the Pope.

This isn't the Directa Decree of 385 A.D. (the oldest Decretal in existence) but this does advance the reason for the Apostolic Origins of Priestly Celibacy famously cited in the book of the same name by Christian Cochini.

Henri Cardinal de Lubac called that boook, "This work is of the first importance. It is the result of serious and extensive research. There is nothing even remotely comparable to this work in this whole 20th century."

[bornacatholic]

FYI

[bornacatholic]

Now, I suppose I wil be told this is not an example of Petrine Primacy.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I enjoyed reading it, and thanks for sharing. This goes hand in hand with a variety of readings I have read about the same time period. (But I may get the popcorn ready anyway for the long discussion which may follow!)

[Desdemona]

bookmark

[bornacatholic]

http://faculty.cua.edu/pennington/Canon%20Law/Canon%20Law%20Texts/SiriciusLatin.htm

[Nihil Obstat]

A lot of interesting stuff in there. Paragraph 6 was especially interesting. Thank you for posting this.

[bornacatholic]

Don't worry, BAC, at least the Encycopedia Britannica agrees with you.

Siricius, Saint

Encyclopædia Britannica Article

Page 1 of 1

Saint Siricius

born c. 334, , Rome [Italy]

died Nov. 26, 399, Rome; feast day November 26

pope from 384 to 399.

Ordained a deacon by Pope Liberius, he was elected as Pope St. Damasus I's successor in December 384. His famous letters—the earliest surviving texts of papal decretals—focus particularly on religious discipline and include decisions on baptism, consecration, ordination, penance, and continence. Siricius' important decretal of 386 (written to Bishop Himerius of Tarragona), commanding celibacy for priests, was the first decree on this subject and has remained in force ever since the pontificate (440–461) of Pope St. Leo I the Great. Significantly, Siricius asserted papal authority by accompanying his decretals with threats of sanctions against those who contravened them; his letters designate the pope as a sovereign of the whole Western church, for which he makes laws.

Likewise, Siricius believed he was entitled to intervene in the affairs of the Eastern church. At the request of Bishop St. Ambrose of Milan, he became involved with settling the Meletian Schism, a complex situation involving the disputed bishopric of Antioch. His instructions to the Council of Caesarea (393) for recognizing Flavian I as the legitimate Antiochene bishop terminated the long-standing schism. He arbitrated in 394 in a dispute within the Arabian church on the bishopric of Bosra (Bostra).

A column still surviving in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, commemorates Siricius' dedication (390) of that church

*Well, BAC, you are citing a secular source.

I know, But at least it is a neutral one and one that can't be claimed to be biased in favor of Catholic. I mean, it is a start.

Good point. I love you, BAC.

Good night

Good night.

[bornacatholic]

FYI

[bornacatholic]

so that the things which were salubriously established by us, not haphazardly, but prudently, with very great care and deliberation, might remain inviolate, and that in the future access to all excuses should be blocked, which according to us cannot be available now to anyone.

I am the Pope. Capiche?

I'd LOVE a return to this "management style." Talk about a Patristic approach. Everyone keeps asking for a Patristic approach. Well, here it is :)

[Nihil Obstat]

Agreed. We need some bishops like this. (Burke comes to mind though.) I liked this part too:

"For in view of our office there is no freedom for us, on whom a zeal for the Christian religion is incumbent greater than on all others, to dissimulate or to be silent. We bear the burdens of all who are oppressed, or rather the blessed apostle Peter, who in all things protects and preserves us, the heirs, as we trust, of his administration, bears them in us."

[bornacatholic]

AMEN, brother. The last time I heard such masculine authoritativeness from he who occupies the Petrine Office was, was, ah, um, well...

I'll have to get back to ya :)

Imagine the USCCB hearing this from one of their members? There'd be a lot of fainting going on...and vapours and whatnot

[TexConfederate1861]

No...it is an example of being "first among equals"

Disputes were usually mediated by the Pope, as the See of Peter was first in honor & priviledge.

[Dionysiusdecordealcis]

Capisce??

[bornacatholic]

Capiche?

[bornacatholic]

20. We explicated, I believe, dearest brother, all the things which were set forth as being at issue, and we provided adequate replies, in my opinion, to the individual cases which you referred to the Roman Church, just as to the head of your body

*Your head is not first among equals to your spleen. You can live without your spleen

I think you have lost your head if you don't recognize this is an example of the Petrine Primacy being exercised.

I am unaware any other Bishop of any other Jurisdiction complaining about this, putative, "usurpation" of authority. And we don't read of any such protestation because, back in the day, all Bishops recognized the Petrine Primacy was Divinely Constituted