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E07867: Gregory of Tours, in his Life of *Illidius (bishop of Clermont, ob. 384/5, S00022), explains what a 'confessor' is and also seeks the reader's indulgence for his poor literary style. From Gregory's Life of the Fathers, written in Latin in Tours (north-west Gaul), 573/594.
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posted on 2020-03-30, 00:00 authored by CSLA AdminGregory of Tours, Life of the Fathers 2 preface
Christians must scorn mortal life and carry Christ's body in their own bodies.
Ergo confessores Christi, quos tempus persecutionis ad martyrium non lacessivit, ipsi sibi persecutoris [Christi] modo, ut digni Deo haberentur, diversas abstinentiae cruces adhibuerunt; et ut, mortificatis membris, soli illi viverent, de quo idem apostolus dixit: Iam non vivo ego; vivit autem in me Christus.
'Therefore the confessors of Christ, whom the time of persecution has not provoked to martyrdom, have become their own persecutors, in order to be thought worthy of God. They have charged themselves with various crosses of abstinence, and in order to live with Jesus Christ they have mortified their flesh, following the words of the Apostle: "It is not I who live, but Christ liveth in me" [Galat. 2:20]'
The blessed Illidius is one of these.
Gregory then begs forgiveness for his lack of secular education and his consequent rusticity (rusticitas).
Non enim me artis grammaticae studium imbuit, neque auctorum saecularium polita lectio erudivit, sed tantum beati patris Aviti Arverni pontificis studium ad eclesiastica sollicitavit scripta.
'I have indeed not made any study of grammar and I have not been polished by the cultivated reading of secular writers; instead the blessed father Avitus, bishop of Clermont, exhorted me to study ecclesiastical works.'
Krusch 1969, 218-219. James 1991, 11-12.
Christians must scorn mortal life and carry Christ's body in their own bodies.
Ergo confessores Christi, quos tempus persecutionis ad martyrium non lacessivit, ipsi sibi persecutoris [Christi] modo, ut digni Deo haberentur, diversas abstinentiae cruces adhibuerunt; et ut, mortificatis membris, soli illi viverent, de quo idem apostolus dixit: Iam non vivo ego; vivit autem in me Christus.
'Therefore the confessors of Christ, whom the time of persecution has not provoked to martyrdom, have become their own persecutors, in order to be thought worthy of God. They have charged themselves with various crosses of abstinence, and in order to live with Jesus Christ they have mortified their flesh, following the words of the Apostle: "It is not I who live, but Christ liveth in me" [Galat. 2:20]'
The blessed Illidius is one of these.
Gregory then begs forgiveness for his lack of secular education and his consequent rusticity (rusticitas).
Non enim me artis grammaticae studium imbuit, neque auctorum saecularium polita lectio erudivit, sed tantum beati patris Aviti Arverni pontificis studium ad eclesiastica sollicitavit scripta.
'I have indeed not made any study of grammar and I have not been polished by the cultivated reading of secular writers; instead the blessed father Avitus, bishop of Clermont, exhorted me to study ecclesiastical works.'
Krusch 1969, 218-219. James 1991, 11-12.
History
Evidence ID
E07867Type of Evidence
Literary - Hagiographical - LivesLanguage
- Latin