E04531: Augustine of Hippo preaches in Latin a sermon on the anniversary of the death of a certain Domicianus, referred to as a just and holy man. Sermon 335M, delivered possibly in Hippo (North Africa), c. 391/430.

Augustine of Hippo, Sermon 335M

[Sermo unius iusti

'On a just man']


1. Diem celebramus hodie mortui iusti, et non est hic. Si autem scire uultis ubi sit, interrogate lectionem quam primo audistis: iustus si morte praeoccupatus fuerit, in refrigerio erit. refrigerium enim in hoc saeculo, cui, unde, ubi plena sunt omnia tribulationibus, et quando tribulationes parcunt, plena sunt tentationibus?

'Today we are celebrating the day of a just man, and he isn't here. But if you wish to know where he is, question the reading which you heard first: "If the just man is overtaken by death, he will be at rest" (Wis. 4:7). For whom, after all, is there any rest or relief in this age, where everything is full of troubles, and when troubles ease off, then full of temptations.'

In what follows Augustine tells about the life to be lived in order to be at rest, and mentions only once the name of the hero of this sermon, referring to him as to 'holy Domicianus' (sanctus Domicianus).

Text: Lambot 1949, 79. Translation: Hill 1994, 263. Summary: Robert Wiśniewski.