Letter XXII.

(a.d. 392.)

To Bishop Aurelius, Augustin, Presbyter, Sends Greeting.

Chap. I.

1. When, after long hesitation, I knew not how to frame a suitable reply to the letter of your Holiness (for all attempts to express my feelings were baffled by the strength of affectionate emotions which, rising spontaneously, were by the reading of your letter much more vehemently inflamed), I cast myself at last upon God, that He might, according to my strength, so work in me that I might address to you such an answer as should be suitable to the zeal for the Lord and the care of His Church which we have in common, and in accordance with your dignity and the respect which is due to you from me. And, first of all, as to your belief that you are aided by my prayers, I not only do not decline this assurance, but I do even willingly accept it. For thus, though not through my prayers, assuredly in yours, our Lord will hear me. As to your most benignant approval of the conduct of brother Alypius in remaining in connection with us, to be an example to the brethren who desire to withdraw themselves from this world’s cares, I thank you more warmly than words can declare. May the Lord recompense this to your own soul! The whole company, therefore, of brethren which has begun to grow up together beside me, is bound to you by gratitude for this great favour; in bestowing which, you, being far separated from us only by distance on the surface of the earth, have consulted our interest as one in spirit very near to us. Wherefore, to the utmost of our power we give ourselves to prayer that the Lord may be pleased to uphold along with you the flock which has been committed to you, and may never anywhere forsake you, but be present as your help in all times of need, showing in His dealings with His Church, through your discharge of priestly functions, such mercy as spiritual men with tears and groanings implore Him to manifest.

2. Know, therefore, most blessed lord, venerable for the superlative fulness of your charity, that I do not despair, but rather cherish lively hope that, by means of that authority which you wield, and which, as we trust, has been committed to your spirit, not to your flesh alone, our Lord and God may be able, through the respect due to councils46    We adopt the conjectural reading “conciliorum.” Compare sec. 4, p. 240. and to yourself, to bring healing to the many carnal blemishes and disorders which the African Church is suffering in the conduct of many, and is bewailing in the sorrow of a few of her members. For whereas the apostle had in one passage briefly set forth as fit to be hated and avoided three classes of vices, from which there springs an innumerable crop of vicious courses, only one of these—that, namely, which he has placed second—is very strictly punished by the Church; but the other two, viz. the first and third, appear to be tolerable in the estimation of men, and so it may gradually come to pass that they shall even cease to be regarded as vices. The words of the chosen vessel are these: “Not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying: but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”47    Rom. xiii. 13, 14.

3. Of these three, then, chambering and wantonness are regarded as crimes so great, that any one stained with these sins is deemed unworthy not merely of holding office in the Church, but also of participation in the sacraments; and rightly so. But why restrict such censure to this form of sin alone? For rioting and drunkenness are so tolerated and allowed by public opinion, that even in services designed to honour the memory of the blessed martyrs, and this not only on the annual festivals (which itself must be regarded as deplorable by every one who looks with a spiritual eye upon these things), but every day, they are openly practised. Were this corrupt practice objectionable only because of its being disgraceful, and not on the ground of impiety, we might consider it as a scandal to be tolerated with such amount of forbearance as is within our power. And yet, even in that case, what are we to make of the fact that, when the same apostle had given a long list of vices, among which he mentioned drunkenness, he concluded with the warning that we should not even eat bread with those who are guilty of such things?48    1 Cor. v. 11. But let us, if it must be so, bear with these things in the luxury and disorder of families, and of those convivial meetings which are held within the walls of private houses; and let us take the body of Christ in communion with those with whom we are forbidden to eat even the bread which sustains our bodies; but at least let this outrageous insult be kept far away from the tombs of the sainted dead, from the scenes of sacramental privilege, and from the houses of prayer. For who may venture to forbid in private life excesses which, when they are practised by crowds in holy places, are called an honouring of the martyrs?

4. If Africa were the first country in which an attempt were made to put down these things, her example would deserve to be esteemed worthy of imitation by all other countries;49    Manifestly the correct punctuation here is: Hæc si prima Africa tentaret auferre, a cæteris terris imitatione digna esse deberet. but when, both throughout the greater part of Italy and in all or almost all the churches beyond the sea, these practices either, as in some places, never existed, or, as in other places where they did exist, have been, whether they were recent or of long standing, rooted out and put down by the diligence and the censures of bishops who were holy men, entertaining true views concerning the life to come;—when this, I say, is the case, do we hesitate as to the possibility of removing this monstrous defect in our morals, after an example has been set before us in so many lands? Moreover, we have as our bishop a man belonging to those parts, for which we give thanks earnestly to God; although he is a man of such moderation and gentleness, in fine, of such prudence and zeal in the Lord, that even had he been a native of Africa, the persuasion would have been wrought in him by the Scriptures, that a remedy must be applied to the wound which this loose and disorderly custom has inflicted. But so wide and deep is the plague caused by this wickedness, that, in my opinion, it cannot be completely cured without interposition of a council’s authority. If, however, a beginning is to be made by one church, it seems to me, that as it would be presumptuous for any other church to attempt to change what the Church of Carthage still maintained, so would it also be the height of effrontery for any other to wish to persevere in a course which the Church of Carthage had condemned. And for such a reform in Carthage, what better bishop could be desired than the prelate who, while he was a deacon, solemnly denounced these practices?

5. But that over which you then sorrowed you ought now to suppress, not harshly, but as it is written, “in the spirit of meekness.”50    Gal. vi. 1. Pardon my boldness, for your letter revealing to me your true brotherly love gives me such confidence, that I am encouraged to speak as freely to you as I would to myself. These offences are taken out of the way, at least in my judgment, by other methods than harshness, severity, and an imperious mode of dealing,—namely, rather by teaching than by commanding, rather by advice than by denunciation.51    Magis monendo quam minando. Thus at least we must deal with the multitude; in regard to the sins of a few, exemplary severity must be used. And if we do employ threats, let this be done sorrowfully, supporting our threatenings of coming judgment by the texts of Scripture, so that the fear which men feel through our words may be not of us in our own authority, but of God Himself. Thus an impression shall be made in the first place upon those who are spiritual, or who are nearest to that state of mind; and then by means of the most gentle, but at the same time most importunate exhortations, the opposition of the rest of the multitude shall be broken down.52    One may see in Letter XXIX. how admirably Augustin illustrated in his own practice the directions here given.

6. Since, however, these drunken revels and luxurious feasts in the cemeteries are wont to be regarded by the ignorant and carnal multitude as not only an honour to the martyrs, but also a solace to the dead, it appears to me that they might be more easily dissuaded from such scandalous and unworthy practices in these places, if, besides showing that they are forbidden by Scripture, we take care, in regard to the offerings for the spirits of those who sleep, which indeed we are bound to believe to be of some use, that they be not sumptuous beyond what is becoming respect for the memory of the departed, and that they be distributed without ostentation, and cheerfully to all who ask a share of them; also that they be not sold, but that if any one desires to offer any money as a religious act, it be given on the spot to the poor. Thus the appearance of neglecting the memory of their deceased friends, which might cause them no small sorrow of heart, shall be avoided, and that which is a pious and honourable act of religious service shall be celebrated as it should be in the Church. This may suffice meanwhile in regard to rioting and drunkenness.

Chap. II.

7. As to “strife and deceit,”53    “De contentione et dolo” is Augustin’s translation of the words in Rom. xiii. 13. what right have I to speak, seeing that these vices prevail more seriously among our own order than among our congregations? Let me, however, say that the source of these evils is pride, and a desire for the praises of men, which also frequently produces hypocrisy. This is successfully resisted only by him who is penetrated with love and fear of God, through the multiplied declarations of the divine books; provided, however, that such a man exhibit in himself a pattern both of patience and of humility, by assuming as his due less praise and honour than is offered to him: at the same time neither accepting all nor refusing all that is rendered to him by those who honour him; and as to the portion which he does accept, receiving it not for his own sake, seeing that he ought to live wholly in the sight of God and to despise human applause, but for the sake of those whose welfare he cannot promote if by too great self-abasement he lose his place in their esteem. For to this pertains that word, “Let no man despise thy youth;”54    1 Tim. iv. 12. while he who said this says also in another place, “If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”55    Gal. i. 10.

8. It is a great matter not to exult in the honours and praises which come from men, but to reject all vain pomp; and, if some of this be necessary, to make whatever is thus retained contribute to the benefit and salvation of those who confer the honour. For it has not been said in vain, “God will break the bones of those who seek to please men.”56    Ps. lii. 6, Sept. For what could be feebler, what more destitute of the firmness and strength which the bones here spoken of figuratively represent, than the man who is prostrated by the tongue of slanderers, although he knows that the things spoken against him are false? The pain arising from this thing would in no wise rend the bowels of his soul, if its bones had not been broken by the love of praise. I take for granted your strength of mind: therefore it is to myself that I say those things which I am now stating to you. Nevertheless you are willing, I believe, to consider along with me how important and how difficult these things are. For the man who has not declared war against this enemy has no idea of its power; for if it be comparatively easy to dispense with praise so long as it is denied to him, it is difficult to forbear from being captivated with praise when it is offered. And yet the hanging of our minds upon God ought to be so great, that we would at once correct those with whom we may take that liberty, when we are by them undeservedly praised, so as to prevent them from either thinking us to possess what is not in us, or regarding that as ours which belongs to God, or commending us for things which, though we have them, and perhaps have them in abundance, are nevertheless in their nature not worthy of commendation, such as are all those good things which we have in common with the lower animals or with wicked men. If, however, we are deservedly praised on account of what God has given us, let us congratulate those to whom what is really good yields pleasure; but let us not congratulate ourselves on the fact of our pleasing men, but on the fact of our being (if it is the case) such in the sight of God as we are in their esteem, and because praise is given not to us, but to God, who is the giver of all things which are truly and justly praised. These things are daily repeated to me by myself, or rather by Him from whom proceed all profitable instructions, whether they are found in the reading of the divine word or are suggested from within to the mind; and yet, although strenuously contending with my adversary, I often receive wounds from him when I am unable to put away from myself the fascinating power of the praise which is offered to me.

9. These things I have written, in order that, if they are not now necessary for your Holiness (your own thoughts suggesting to you other and more useful considerations of this kind, or your Holiness being above the need of such remedies), my disorders at least may be known to you, and you may know that which may move you to deign to plead with God for me as my infirmity demands: and I beseech you, by the humanity of Him who hath commanded us to bear each other’s burdens, that you offer such intercession most importunately on my behalf. There are many things in regard to my life and conversation, of which I will not write, which I would confess with tears if we were so situated that nothing was required but my mouth and your ears as the means of communication between my heart and your heart. If, however, the aged Saturninus, venerated by us and beloved by all here with unreserved and unfeigned affection, whose brotherly love and devotion to you I observed when I was with you,—if he, I say, is pleased to visit us so soon as he finds it convenient, whatever converse we may be able to enjoy with that holy and spiritually-minded man shall be esteemed by us very little, if at all, different from personal conference with your Excellency. With entreaties too earnest for words to express their urgency, I beg you to condescend to join us in asking and obtaining from him this favour. For the people of Hippo fear much, and far more than they ought, to let me go to so great a distance from them, and will on no account trust me by myself so far as to permit me to see the field given by your care and generosity to the brethren, of which, before your letter came, we had heard through our brother and fellow-servant Parthenius, from whom we have also learned many other things which we longed to know. The Lord will accomplish the fulfilment of all the other things which we still desiderate.

EPISTOLA XXII . Augustinus presbyter, Aurelio Carthaginensi episcopo, deflens comessationes et ebrietates per Africam in coemeteriis et memoriis martyrum frequentari specie religionis: cui malo obtestatur ut mederi velit. Dolet subinde etiam contentionem et humanae laudis appetitum ab ipso Clericorum ordine non exsulare.

AURELIO episcopo, AUGUSTINUS presbyter.

CAPUT PRIMUM. Salutato Aurelio agit de comes sationibus ab ecclesia removendis.

1. Qua gratia responderem litteris Sanctitatis tuae cum diu haesitans non reperirem (omnia enim vicit affectus animi mei, quem jam sponte surgentem lectio epistolae tuae multo ardentius excitavit), commisi me tamen Deo, qui pro viribus meis operaretur in me, ut ea rescriberem quae utrique nostrum studio in Domino et cura ecclesiastica pro tua praestantia et mea obsecundatione congruerent. Atque illud primum, quod orationibus meis te adjuvari credis, non solum non defugio, verum etiam libenter amplector. Ita enim, etsi non meis, certe tuis, me Dominus noster exaudiet. Quod fratrem Alypium in nostra conjunctione mansisse, ut exemplo sit fratribus curas mundi hujus vitare cupientibus, benevolentissime accepisti, ago gratias, quas nullis verbis explicare possim: Dominus hoc rependat in animam tuam. Omnis itaque fratrum coetus, qui apud nos coepit coalescere, tanta tibi praerogativa obstrictus est, ut locis terrarum tantum longe disjunctis ita nobis consulueris tanquam praesentissimus spiritu. Quapropter precibus quantum valemus incumbimus, ut gregem tibi commissum tecum Dominus sustinere dignetur, nec te uspiam deserere, sed adesse adjutor in opportunitatibus, faciens cum Ecclesia sua misericordiam per sacerdotium tuum, qualem spirituales viri ut faciat, lacrymis eum gemitibusque interpellant.

0091 2. Scias itaque, domine beatissime et plenissima charitate venerabilis, non desperare nos, imo sperare vehementer, quod Dominus et Deus noster per auctoritatem personae quam geris, quam non carni, sed spiritui tuo impositam esse confidimus, multas carnales foeditates et aegritudines quas Africana Ecclesia in multis patitur, in paucis gemit, consiliorum gravitate et tua possit sanare. Cum enim Apostolus tria breviter genera vitiorum detestanda et vitanda uno in loco posuerit, de quibus innumerabilium vitiorum exsurgit seges, unum horum quod secundo loco posuit, acerrime in Ecclesia vindicatur; duo autem reliqua, id est primum et ultimum, tolerabilia videntur hominibus, atque ita paulatim fieri potest, ut nec vitia jam putentur. Ait enim vas electionis: Non in comessationibus et ebrietatibus, non in cubilibus et impudicitiis, non in contentione et dolo; sed induite vos Dominum Jesum Christum, et carnis curam ne feceritis in concupiscentiis (Rom. XIII, 13, 14).

3. Horum ergo trium, cubilia et impudicitiae tam magnum crimen putantur, ut nemo dignus non modo ecclesiastico ministerio, sed ipsa etiam sacramentorum communione videatur, qui se isto peccato maculavit : et recte omnino. Sed quare solum? Comessationes enim et ebrietates ita concessae et licitae putantur, ut in honorem etiam beatissimorum martyrum, non solum per dies solemnes (quod ipsum quis non lugendum videat, qui haec non carnis oculis inspicit), sed etiam quotidie celebrentur. Quae foeditas si tantum flagitiosa et non etiam sacrilega esset, quibuscumque tolerantiae viribus sustentandam putaremus. Quanquam ubi est illud, quod cum multa vitia enumerasset idem apostolus, inter quae posuit ebriosos, ita conclusit, ut diceret cum talibus nec panem edere? (I Cor. V, 11). Sed feramus haec in luxu et labe domestica, et eorum conviviorum quae privatis parietibus continentur, accipiamusque cum eis corpus Christi, cum quibus panem edere prohibemur; saltem de sanctorum corporum sepulcris, saltem de locis sacramentorum, de domibus orationum tantum dedecus arceatur. Quis enim audet vetare privatim, quod cum frequentatur in sanctis locis, honor martyrum nominatur?

4. Haec si prima Africa tentaret auferre a caeteris terris, imitatione digna esse deberet: cum vero et per Italiae maximam partem, et in aliis omnibus aut prope omnibus transmarinis Ecclesiis, partim quia nunquam facta sunt, partim quia vel orta vel inveterata, sanctorum et vere de vita futura cogitantium episcoporum diligentia et animadversione exstincta atque deleta sint, dubitamus quomodo possumus tantam morum labem, vel proposito tam late exemplo emendare? Et nos quidem illarum partium hominem habemus episcopum, unde magnas agimus gratias 0092 Deo: quanquam ejus modestiae atque lenitatis est, ejus denique prudentiae et sollicitudinis in Domino, ut etiamsi Afer esset, cito illi de Scripturis persuaderetur curandum, quod licentiosa et male libera consuetudo vulnus inflixit. Sed tanta pestilentia est hujus mali, ut sanari prorsus, quantum mihi videtur, nisi concilii auctoritate non possit. Aut si ab una ecclesia inchoanda est medicina; sicut videtur audaciae, mutare conari quod Carthaginensis Ecclesia tenet, sic magnae impudentiae est, velle servare quae Carthaginensis Ecclesia correxit. Ad hanc autem rem quis alius episcopus esset optandus, nisi qui ea diaconus exsecrabatur?

5. Sed quod erat tunc dolendum nunc auferendum est; non aspere, sed sicut scriptum est, in spiritu lenitatis et mansuetudinis (Gal. VI, 1). Dant enim mihi fiduciam litterae tuae indices germanissimae charitatis, ut tecum tanquam mecum audeam colloqui. Non ergo aspere, quantum existimo, non duriter, non modo imperioso ista tolluntur; magis docendo quam jubendo, magis monendo quam minando. Sic enim agendum est cum multitudine: severitas autem exercenda est in peccata paucorum. Et si quid minamur, cum dolore fiat, de Scripturis comminando vindictam futuram ne nos ipsi in nostra potestate, sed Deus in nostro sermone timeatur . Ita prius movebuntur spirituales vel spiritualibus proximi, quorum auctoritate, et lenissimis quidem sed instantissimis admonitionibus caetera multitudo frangatur.

6. Sed quoniam istae in coemeteriis ebrietates et luxuriosa convivia, non solum honores martyrum a carnali et imperita plebe credi solent, sed etiam solatia mortuorum; mihi videtur facilius illic dissuaderi posse istam foeditatem ac turpitudinem, si et de Scripturis prohibeatur, et oblationes pro spiritibus dormientium, quas vere aliquid adjuvare credendum est, super ipsas memorias non sint sumptuosae, atque omnibus petentibus sine typho , et cum alacritate praebeantur: neque vendantur; sed si quis, pro religione aliquid pecuniae offerre voluerit, in praesenti pauperibus eroget . Ita nec deserere videbuntur memorias suorum, quod potest gignere non levem cordis dolorem, et id celebrabitur in Ecclesia quod pie et honeste celebratur. Haec interim de comessationibus et ebrietatibus dicta sint.

CAPUT II. De contentione et laudis appetitu. Quomodo honor et laus à praelatis assumenda.

7. De contentione autem et dolo quid me attinet dicere, quando ista vitia non in plebe, sed in nostro numero graviora sunt? Horum autem morborum mater superbia est, et humanae laudis aviditas, quae etiam hypocrisim saepe generat. Huic non resistitur, nisi crebris 0093 divinorum Librorum testimoniis incutiatur timor et charitas Dei: si tamen ille qui hoc agit, seipsum praebeat patientiae atque humilitatis exemplum, minus sibi assumendo quam offertur; sed tamen ab eis qui se honorant nec totum nec nihil accipiendo, et id quod accipitur laudis aut honoris, non propter se qui totus coram Deo esse debet et humana contemnere, sed propter illos accipiatur quibus consulere non potest, si nimia dejectione vilescat. Ad hoc enim pertinet quod dictum est, Nemo juventutem tuam contemnat (I Tim. IV, 12); cum hoc ille dixerit, qui alio loco ait: Si hominibus placere vellem, Christi servus non essem (Gal. I, 10).

8. Magnum est de honoribus et laudibus hominum non laetari, sed et omnem pompam inanem praecidere, et si quid inde necessarium retinetur, id totum ad utilitatem honorantium salutemque conferre. Non enim frustra dictum est: Deus confringet ossa hominum placere volentium (Psal. LII, 6). Quid enim languidius, quid tam sine stabilitate ac fortitudine, quod ossa significant, quam homo quem male loquentium lingua debilitat, cum sciat falsa esse quae dicuntur? Cujus rei dolor nullo modo animae viscera dilaniaret, si non amor laudis ossa ejus confringeret. Praesumo de robore animi tui: itaque ista quae tecum confero, mihi dico; dignaris tamen, credo, mecum considerare quam sint gravia, quam difficilia. Non enim hujus hostis vires sentit, nisi qui ei bellum indixerit; quia si cuiquam facile est laude carere dum denegatur, difficile est ea non delectari cum offertur; et tamen tanta mentis in Deum debet esse suspensio, ut si non merito laudemur, corrigamus eos quos possumus; ne arbitrentur aut in nobis esse quod non est, aut nostrum esse quod Dei est, aut ea laudent quae quamvis non desint nobis, aut etiam supersint, nequaquam tamen sunt laudabilia; velut sunt bona omnia quae vel cum pecoribus habemus communia, vel cum impiis hominibus. Si autem merito laudamur propter Deum, gratulemur eis quibus placet verum bonum; non tamen nobis quia placemus hominibus, sed si coram Deo tales sumus, quales nos esse credunt, et non tribuitur nobis, sed Deo, cujus dona sunt omnia quae vere meritoque laudantur. Haec mihi ipse canto quotidie, vel potius ille cujus salutaria praecepta sunt, quaecumque sive in divinis Lectionibus inveniuntur, sive quae intrinsecus animo suggeruntur; et tamen vehementer cum adversario dimicans, saepe ab eo vulnera capio, cum delectationem oblatae laudis mihi auferre non possum.

9. Haec propterea scripsi, ut si tuae Sanctitati jam non sunt necessaria, sive quod plura hujusmodi ipse cogites atque utiliora, sive quod tuae Sanctitati medicina ista non opus sit, mala tamen mea nota sint tibi, sciasque unde pro mea infirmitate Deum rogare digneris: quod ut impensissime facias, obsecro per humanitatem illius qui praeceptum dedit ut invicem onera nostra portemus. Multa sunt quae de vita nostra et conversatione deflerem, quae nollem per litteras ad te venire, 0094 si inter cor meum et cor tuum ulla essent ministeria praeter os meum et aures tuas. Si autem venerabilis nobis omniumque nostrum tota sinceritate charissimus, cujus in te vere fraternam cum praesens essem benignitatem studiumque perspexi, senex Saturninus dignatus fuerit, quando opportunum videbitur, ad nos venire, quidquid cum ejus Sanctitate, et spirituali affectu colloqui potuerimus, aut nihil, aut non multum distabit, ac si cum tua Dignatione id ageremus. Quod ut nobiscum ab eo petere atque impetrare digneris, tantis precibus posco, quantis verba nulla sufficiunt. Absentiam enim meam tantum longe Hipponenses vehementer nimisque formidant, neque ullo modo mihi sic volunt credere, ut et ego videam agrum quem fratribus datum provisione et liberalitate tua didicimus, ante epistolam tuam, per sanctum fratrem et conservum nostrum Parthenium, a quo multa alia, quae audire desiderabamus, audivimus. Praestabit Dominus ut etiam caetera, quae adhuc desideramus, impleantur.