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E02787: Latin letter from the deacon Paschasius of Rome to the abbot Eugippius of Lucullanum (near Naples), acknowledging receipt of the Life of Severinus (see E02347) and its accompanying letter (E02786), and underlining the significance of putting the deeds of saints into writing.
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posted on 2017-05-10, 00:00 authored by mpignotEugippius of Lucullanum, Life of Severinus
Letter of Paschasius to Eugippius
Acknowledging receipt of Eugippius' Life of Severinus ($E02347) and the letter asking him to write a more extensive account (E02786), Paschasius replies that this is not required since Eugippius has done a much better job than he himself would have done in narrating the deeds of Severinus. He emphasises the importance of relating the deeds of saints as examples, recalling the advice of Peter (1 Peter 5:3) and Paul (1 Tim. 4:12; Heb. 11), and the example of Mattathias (1 Macc. 2:49).
Relevant passages:
§§ 2-3: Direxisti commemoratorium, cui nihil possit adicere facundia peritorum, et opus, quod ecclesiae possit universitas recensere, brevi reserasti compendio, dum beati Severini finitimas Pannoniorum provincias incolentis vitam moresque verius explicasti et quae per illum divina virtus est operata miracula diuturnis mansura temporibus tradidisti memoriae posterorum – nesciunt facta piorum praeterire cum saeculo – ut omnes praesentem habeant et secum quodam modo sentiant commorari, quibus eum relatio pervexerit lectionis. Et ideo, quia tu haec quae a me narranda poscebas elocutus es simplicius, explicasti facilius, nihil adiciendum labori vestro studio nostro credimus.’
'You have sent me your memorandum, to which nothing can be added by the eloquence of learned men. You have compressed in a short compass a work worthy to be placed before the whole Church. You have made known truthfully the life and character of blessed Severinus, who lived in the provinces bordering on the Pannonias, and you have handed down to posterity the memory of the miracles which the power of God has worked through him and which will last for all time – the works of the pious cannot perish with their age. You have done this in such a way that all those to whom the reading of your report brings him can see him, as it were, present, and, in some way, experience his company. And, therefore, since you have told with greater simplicity, and explained more gracefully than I could do what you ask me to relate, I believe that nothing can be added to your work by our effort.'
§ 4: Divinis charismatibus inspiratus scis, bonorum mentibus excolendis quantum gesta sanctorum utilitatis impertiant, quantum fervoris attribuant, quantum puritatis infundant.
'Inspired by divine gifts, you know what great stimulus the deeds of the saints can add to the improvement of the minds of good men, what great fervour they give them, what strength of purity they instil.'
Text: Noll 1981, 46-49. Translation: Bieler-Krestan 1965, 101-102 (from which paragraph numbers are taken; lightly adapted).
Letter of Paschasius to Eugippius
Acknowledging receipt of Eugippius' Life of Severinus ($E02347) and the letter asking him to write a more extensive account (E02786), Paschasius replies that this is not required since Eugippius has done a much better job than he himself would have done in narrating the deeds of Severinus. He emphasises the importance of relating the deeds of saints as examples, recalling the advice of Peter (1 Peter 5:3) and Paul (1 Tim. 4:12; Heb. 11), and the example of Mattathias (1 Macc. 2:49).
Relevant passages:
§§ 2-3: Direxisti commemoratorium, cui nihil possit adicere facundia peritorum, et opus, quod ecclesiae possit universitas recensere, brevi reserasti compendio, dum beati Severini finitimas Pannoniorum provincias incolentis vitam moresque verius explicasti et quae per illum divina virtus est operata miracula diuturnis mansura temporibus tradidisti memoriae posterorum – nesciunt facta piorum praeterire cum saeculo – ut omnes praesentem habeant et secum quodam modo sentiant commorari, quibus eum relatio pervexerit lectionis. Et ideo, quia tu haec quae a me narranda poscebas elocutus es simplicius, explicasti facilius, nihil adiciendum labori vestro studio nostro credimus.’
'You have sent me your memorandum, to which nothing can be added by the eloquence of learned men. You have compressed in a short compass a work worthy to be placed before the whole Church. You have made known truthfully the life and character of blessed Severinus, who lived in the provinces bordering on the Pannonias, and you have handed down to posterity the memory of the miracles which the power of God has worked through him and which will last for all time – the works of the pious cannot perish with their age. You have done this in such a way that all those to whom the reading of your report brings him can see him, as it were, present, and, in some way, experience his company. And, therefore, since you have told with greater simplicity, and explained more gracefully than I could do what you ask me to relate, I believe that nothing can be added to your work by our effort.'
§ 4: Divinis charismatibus inspiratus scis, bonorum mentibus excolendis quantum gesta sanctorum utilitatis impertiant, quantum fervoris attribuant, quantum puritatis infundant.
'Inspired by divine gifts, you know what great stimulus the deeds of the saints can add to the improvement of the minds of good men, what great fervour they give them, what strength of purity they instil.'
Text: Noll 1981, 46-49. Translation: Bieler-Krestan 1965, 101-102 (from which paragraph numbers are taken; lightly adapted).
History
Evidence ID
E02787Saint Name
Severinus, hermit and monk in Noricum, ob. 482 : S00848Saint Name in Source
SeverinusRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - LettersLanguage
- Latin
