E02793: 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), celebrated four days after that of the *Martyrs of Massa Candida (S01324). Sermon 306C, preached probably c. 397.

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 306C

[Sermo sancti Augustini episcopi ad mensam Cypriani de sancto Quadrato

'Sermon of Saint Augustine the Bishop at the Table of Saint Cyprian on Saint Quadratus']


1. Hoc discens et docens iste Quadratus – erat enim episcopus – cuius sollemnitatem hodie celebramus, cum tota plebe sua, clericis et laicis, confessus est Christum. Praemisit gregem, quem pascebat: post quadriduum Quadratus secutus est. Massa enim Candida, cuius ante quadriduum sollempnitas celebrata est, plebs erat Dei, gubernationi huius credita. Quam magnum parietem signinarium regebat iste Quadratus.

'Quadratus, whose feast we are celebrating today, both learned and taught his lesson - he was a bishop, you see - and with his whole people, clergy and laity, confessed Christ. He sent the flock on ahead, which he had been pasturing; four days later Quadratus followed them. The Shining White Mass (Massa Candida), you see, whose feast was celebrated four days ago, was the people of God entrusted to this man's care. What a splendid wall for wall posters this Quadratus had presided over.'

In the next passage of the sermon (§ 2) Augustine comments upon Quadratus' name, which denotes firmness. The rest of the sermon does not refer to him anymore.

Text: Morin 1930, 646. Translation: Hill 1994, 36. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.