E02783: Augustine of Hippo (North Africa), preaches in Latin a sermon for the feast of Quadratus (martyr and bishop of Utica, one of the *Martyrs of Massa Candida, S00904). Sermon 306B, preached probably c. 399 at Utica.

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 306B

[Sermo habitus XII Kal. Septemb. in natale martyris Quadrati

'Sermon preached on the 12 day before the Kalends of September (21 August] on the Birthday of the Martyr Quadratus']


Augustine tells in general terms about the martyrs as those who precede other Christians on their way to God. The only passage in which he refers specifically to Quadratus is the one in which he comments upon the martyr's name in the following words:

Quid dicemus, fratres? nonne perfectus martyr Quadratus? quid quadrato perfectius? Paria sunt latera, undique aequalis est forma; quacumque uerterit, statio est, non ruina. O nomen pulchrum, demonstrans figuram, et indicans rem futuram. Iam Quadratus et antea uocabatur, et nondum coronabatur: nondum in temptatione apparuerat, per quam esset ille quadratus; et tamen, quando uocabatur, praenuntiabatur praedestinatus ante mundi constitutionem, et, ut hoc uocaretur, hoc in illo compatitur, ut impleretur...

'What shall we say, brothers? Wasn't the martyr Quadratus perfect? What could be more perfect than the square? The sides are equal, from every direction there is equality of shape; whichever way you turn it, it's upstanding, it's not in a ruin. What a beautiful name, demonstrating the figure, indicating the future reality it's a figure of! He was already called Quadratus beforehand, and he hasn't yet been crowned; he hadn't yet been publicly subjected to the trials in which he would be squared off. And yet he was given the name it was being proclaimed that he had been "predestined before the foundation of the world" (Rom. 8:30; John 17:24); and in order to be called this, he experiences this in it, so it might be fulfilled ...'


Text: Morin 1930, 92. Translation: Hill 1994, 28-35. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.