Letter 213: Record, Prepared by St. Augustine, of the Proceedings on the Occasion of His Designating Eraclius to Succeed Him in the Episcopal Chair, and to Relieve Him Meanwhile in His Old Age of a Part of His Responsibilities. In the Church of Peace in the district of Hippo Regius, on the 26th day of September in the year of the twelfth consulship of the m...

Augustine to his people, greetings. I have called you together — and I am writing this down so that those who were absent may also know what was said — to announce a decision that I have been contemplating for some time. I have chosen Eraclius as my successor. He is young, but he is gifted. He is learned, but he is humble. He loves the Lord, and he loves this church. I have tested him, and I believe he is ready — or as ready as anyone can be for a burden that no one is truly prepared to bear. I will not retire. As long as God gives me breath, I will serve. But Eraclius will take over the judicial duties — the endless stream of disputes, claims, and grievances that consume most of a bishop's time. This will free me to do what I believe I can still do best: write, teach, and finish the works I have begun. You approved this with your acclamation, and I thank you. But I want to record it formally, because the affairs of the Church must not depend on memory alone. Let the stenographers note: on this day, in the presence of the people, Augustine of Hippo designated Eraclius as his successor, and the people consented. May God bless him, and you, and the Church we serve together. Farewell.

Letter 213 (September 26th, A.D. 426) Record, Prepared by St. Augustine, of the Proceedings on the Occasion of His Designating Eraclius to Succeed Him in the Episcopal Chair, and to Relieve Him Meanwhile in His Old Age of a Part of His Responsibilities. In the Church of Peace in the district of Hippo Regius, on the 26th day of September in the year of the twelfth consulship of the most renowned Theodosius, and of the second consulship of Valentinian Augustus: — Bishop Augustine having taken his seat along with his fellow bishops Religianus and Martinianus, there being present Saturninus, Leporius, Barnabas, Fortunatianus, Rusticus, Lazarus, and Eraclius — presbyters — while the clergy and a large congregation of laymen stood by — Bishop Augustine said:— The business which I brought before you yesterday, my beloved, as one in connection with which I wished you to attend, as I see you have done in greater numbers than usual, must be at once disposed of. For while your minds are anxiously preoccupied with it, you would scarcely listen to me if I were to speak of any other subject. We all are mortal, and the day which shall be the last of life on earth is to every man at all times uncertain; but in infancy there is hope of entering on boyhood, and so our hope goes on, looking forward from boyhood to youth, from youth to manhood, and from manhood to old age: whether these hopes may be realized or not is uncertain, but there is in each case something which may be hoped for. But old age has no other period of this life to look forward to with expectation: how long old age may in any case be prolonged is uncertain, but it is certain that no other age destined to take its place lies beyond. I came to this town — for such was the will of God— when I was in the prime of life. I was young then, but now I am old. I know that churches are wont to be disturbed after the decease of their bishops by ambitious or contentious parties, and I feel it to be my duty to take measures to prevent this community from suffering, in connection with my decease, that which I have often observed and lamented elsewhere. You are aware, my beloved, that I recently visited the Church of Milevi; for certain brethren, and especially the servants of God there, requested me to come, because some disturbance was apprehended after the death of my brother and fellow bishop Severus, of blessed memory. I went accordingly, and the Lord was in mercy pleased so to help us that they harmoniously accepted as bishop the person designated by their former bishop his lifetime; for when this designation had become known to them, they willingly acquiesced in the choice which he had made. An omission, however, had occurred by which some were dissatisfied; for brother Severus, believing that it might be sufficient for him to mention to the clergy the name of his successor, did not speak of the matter to the people, which gave rise to dissatisfaction in the minds of some. But why should I say more? By the good pleasure of God, the dissatisfaction was removed, joy took its place in the minds of all, and he was ordained as bishop whom Severus had proposed. To obviate all such occasion of complaint in this case, I now intimate to all here my desire, which I believe to be also the will of God: I wish to have for my successor the presbyter Eraclius. The people shouted, To God be thanks! To Christ be praise (this was repeated twenty-three times). O Christ, hear us; may Augustine live long! (repeated sixteen times). We will have you as our father, you as our bishop (repeated eight times). 2. Silence having been obtained, Bishop Augustine said:— It is unnecessary for me to say anything in praise of Eraclius; I esteem his wisdom and spare his modesty; it is enough that you know him: and I declare that I desire in regard to him what I know you also to desire, and if I had not known it before, I would have had proof of it today. This, therefore, I desire; this I ask from the Lord our God in prayers, the warmth of which is not abated by the chill of age; this I exhort, admonish, and entreat you also to pray for along with me — that God may confirm that, which He has wrought in us by blending and fusing together the minds of all in the peace of Christ. May He who has sent him to me preserve him! preserve him safe, preserve him blameless, that as he gives me joy while I live, he may fill my place when I die. The notaries of the church are, as you observe, recording what I say, and recording what you say; both my address and your acclamations are not allowed to fall to the ground. To speak more plainly, we are making up an ecclesiastical record of this day's proceedings; for I wish them to be in this way confirmed so far as pertains to men. The people shouted thirty-six times, To God be thanks! To Christ be praise! O Christ, hear us; may Augustine live long! was said thirteen times. You, our father! You, our bishop! was said eight times. He is worthy and just, was said twenty times. Well deserving, well worthy! was said five times. He is worthy and just! was said six times. 3. Silence having been obtained, Bishop Augustine said:— It is my wish, as I was just now saying, that my desire and your desire be confirmed, so far as pertains to men, by being placed on an ecclesiastical record; but so far as pertains to the will of the Almighty, let us all pray, as I said before, that God would confirm that which He has wrought in us. The people shouted, saying sixteen times, We give thanks for your decision: then twelve times, Agreed! Agreed! and then six times, You, our father! Eraclius, our bishop! 4. Silence having been obtained, Bishop Augustine said:— I approve of that of which you also express your approval; but I do not wish that to be done in regard to him which was done in my own case. What was done many of you know; in fact, all of you, excepting only those who at that time were not born, or had not attained to the years of understanding. When my father and bishop, the aged Valerius, of blessed memory, was still living, I was ordained bishop and occupied the episcopal see along with him which I did not know to have been forbidden by the Council of Nicaea; and he was equally ignorant of the prohibition. I do not wish to have my son here exposed to the same censure as was incurred in my own case. The people shouted, saying thirteen times, To God be thanks! To Christ be praise! 5. Silence having been obtained, Bishop Augustine said:— He shall be as he now is, a presbyter, meanwhile; but afterwards, at such time as may please God, your bishop. But now I will assuredly begin to do, as the compassion of Christ may enable me, what I have not hitherto done. You know what for several years I would have done, had you permitted me. It was agreed between you and me that no one should intrude on me for five days of each week, that I might discharge the duty in the study of Scripture which my brethren and fathers the co-bishops were pleased to assign to me in the two councils of Numidia and Carthage. The agreement was duly recorded, you gave your consent, you signified it by acclamations. The record of your consent and of your acclamations, was read aloud to you. For a short time the agreement was observed by you; afterwards, it was violated without consideration, and I am not permitted to have leisure for the work which I wish to do: forenoon and afternoon alike, I am involved in the affairs of other people demanding my attention. I now beseech you, and solemnly engage you, for Christ's sake, to suffer me to devolve the burden of this part of my labours on this young man, I mean on Eraclius, the presbyter, whom today I designate in the name of Christ as my successor in the office of bishop. The people shouted, saying twenty-six times, We give thanks for your decision. 6. Silence having been obtained, Bishop Augustine said:— I give thanks before the Lord our God for your love and your goodwill; yes, I give thanks to God for these. Wherefore, henceforth, my brethren, let everything which was wont to be brought by you to me be brought to him. In any case in which he may think my advice necessary, I will not refuse it; far be it from me to withdraw this: nevertheless, let everything be brought to him which used to be brought to me. Let Eraclius himself, if in any case, perchance, he be at a loss as to what should be done, either consult me, or claim an assistant in me, whom he has known as a father. By this arrangement you will, on the one hand, suffer no disadvantage, and I will at length, for the brief space during which God may prolong my life, devote the remainder of my days, be they few or many, not to idleness nor to the indulgence of a love of ease, but, so far as Eraclius kindly gives me leave, to the study of the sacred Scriptures: this also will be of service to him, and through him to you likewise. Let no one therefore grudge me this leisure, for I claim it only in order to do important work. I see that I have now transacted with you all the business necessary in the matter for which I called you together. The last thing I have to ask is, that as many of you as are able be pleased to subscribe your names to this record. At this point I require a response from you. Let me have it: show your assent by some acclamations. The people shouted, saying twenty-five times, Agreed! Agreed! then twenty-eight times, It is worthy, it is just! then fourteen times, Agreed! Agreed! then twenty-five times, He has long been worthy, he has long been deserving! then thirteen times, We give thanks for your decision! then eighteen times, O Christ, hear us; preserve Eraclius! 7. Silence having been obtained, Bishop Augustine said:— It is well that we are able to transact around His sacrifice those things which belong to God; and in this hour appointed for our supplications, I especially exhort you, beloved, to suspend all your occupations and business, and pour out before the Lord your petitions for this church, and for me, and for the presbyter Eraclius.

EPISTOLA 213 Scripta VI Kal. Oct. a. 426. Gesta ecclesiastica ab A. iam sene confecta in designando Eraclio qui ipsi in episcopatu succederet (nn. 1-4) atque interim ipsum aliqua regiminis parte sublevaret (nn. 5-6). ACTA ECCLESIASTICA A. affuit in causa designati episcopi a Severo. 1. Gloriosissimo Theodosio duodecies et Valentiniano Augusto iterum consulibus, sexto calendas octobris, cum Augustinus episcopus una cum Religiano et Martiniano coepiscopis suis consedisset in ecclesia Pacis Hipponensium Regiorum, praesentibus Saturnino, Leporio, Barnaba, Fortunatiano, Rustico, Lazaro, et Eraclio presbyteris, astante clero et frequenti populo, Augustinus episcopus dixit: Quod hesterno die promisi Caritati vestrae, propter quod vos volui frequentius convenire, et video frequentius convenisse, mora omni postposita hoc agendum est. Si enim aliud velim loqui, in illud suspensi minus auditis. Omnes in hac vita mortales sumus, et dies huius vitae ultimus, omni homini est semper incertus: verumtamen in infantia speratur pueritia; et in pueritia speratur adolescentia; et in adolescentia speratur iuventus; et in iuventute speratur gravitas; et in gravitate speratur senectus: utrum contingat incertum est; est tamen quod speretur. Senectus autem aliam aetatem quam speret, non habet: incertum est etiam ipsa senectus quamdiu sit homini; illud tamen certum est, nullam remanere aetatem quae possit succedere senectuti. Quia voluit Deus, ad istam civitatem cum vigore aetatis adveni; sed tamen iuvenis fui, et senui 1. Scio post obitus episcoporum, per ambitiosos aut contentiosos solere Ecclesias perturbari; et quod saepe expertus sum et dolui, debeo quantum ad me attinet, ne contingat, huic prospicere civitati. Sicuti novit Caritas vestra, in Milevitana Ecclesia modo fui: petierunt enim me fratres, et maxime servi Dei qui ibi sunt, ut venirem; quia post obitum beatae memoriae fratris et coepiscopi mei Severi, nonnulla ibi perturbatio timebatur. Veni; et quomodo voluit Dominus, adiuvit nos pro sua misericordia, ut cum pace episcopum acciperent, quem vivus designaverat episcopus eorum: hoc enim eis cum innotuisset, voluntatem praecedentis et decedentis episcopi sui libenter amplexi sunt. Minus tamen aliquid factum erat, unde nonnulli contristabantur, quia frater Severus credidit posse sufficere ut successorem suum apud clericos designaret, ad populum inde non est locutus; et erat inde aliquorum nonnulla tristitia. Quid plura? Deo placuit; tristitia fugata est, gaudium successit: ordinatus est episcopus, quem praecedens episcopus designaverat. Ergo ne aliquis de me queratur, voluntatem meam, quam credo Dei esse, in omnium vestrum notitiam perfero: presbyterum Eraclium mihi successorem volo. A populo acclamatum est: "Deo gratias, Christo laudes; dictum est vicies terties. Exaudi Christe, Augustino vita"; dictum est sexies decies. "Te patrem, te episcopum"; dictum est octies. Gesta de populi placitis. 2. Cumque reticeretur, Augustinus episcopus dixit: Non opus est me de laudibus eius aliquid dicere; faveo sapientiae, et parco verecundiae: sufficit quia nostis eum; et hoc me velle dico quod vos velle scio; et si ante nescirem, hodie probarem. Hoc ergo volo: hoc a Domino Deo nostro, nunc etiam in aetate frigida, votis ferventibus posco; hoc ut mecum oretis exhortor, admoneo, rogo, ut omnium in pace Christi collatis et conflatis mentibus confirmet Deus quod operatus est in nobis. Qui misit mihi eum, servet eum; servet incolumem, servet sine crimine, ut qui facit gaudium viventis, locum suppleat morientis. A notariis Ecclesiae, sicut cernitis, excipiuntur quae dicimus, excipiuntur quae dicitis; et meus sermo, et vestrae acclamationes in terram non cadunt. Apertius ut dicam, ecclesiastica nunc Gesta conficimus: sic enim hoc esse, quantum ad homines attinet, confirmatum volo. A populo acclamatum est trigesies sexies: "Deo gratias, Christo laudes". "Exaudi, Christe, Augustino vita"; dictum est tredecies. "Te patrem, te episcopum"; dictum est octies. "Dignus et iustus est"; dictum est vicies. "Bene meritus, bene dignus"; dictum est quinquies." Dignus et iustus est"; dictum est sexies. Augustini consilium populo acceptum. 3. Cumque reticeretur, Augustinus episcopus dixit: Ergo, ut dicebam, voluntatem meam et voluntatem vestram Gestis ecclesiasticis, quantum ad homines attinet, confirmatam volo: quantum vero ad latentem Omnipotentis voluntatem, omnes, ut dixi, oremus ut confirmet Deus quod operatus est in nobis. A populo acclamatum est: "Iudicio tuo gratias agimus"; dictum est sedecies. "Fiat, fiat"; dictum est duodecies. "Te patrem, Eraclium episcopum"; dictum est sexies. A. ordinatus episcopus a Valerio Nicena decreta nesciente. 4. Cumque reticeretur, Augustinus episcopus dixit: Scio quod scitis et vos, sed nolo de illo fieri quod de me factum est. Quid autem factum sit multi scitis; illi soli nesciunt qui tunc aut nondum nati erant, aut nondum habebant aetatem sciendi. Adhuc in corpore posito beatae memoriae patre et episcopo meo sene Valerio, episcopus ordinatus sum, et sedi cum illo: quod concilio Nicaeno prohibitum fuisse nesciebam, nec ipse sciebat. Quod ergo reprehensum est in me, nolo reprehendi in filio meo. A populo acclamatum est: "Deo gratias; Christo laudes"; dictum est tredecies. A. totus Scripturae sanctae incumbere cupit. 5. Cumque reticeretur, Augustinus episcopus dixit: Erit presbyter ut est; quando Deus voluerit, futurus episcopus. Sed plane modo facturus sum adiuvante misericordia Christi, quod adhuc usque non feci. Nostis ante aliquot annos quid facere voluerim, et non permisistis. Placuit mihi et vobis propter curam Scripturarum, quam mihi fratres et patres mei coepiscopi duobus conciliis Numidiae et Carthaginis imponere dignati sunt, ut per quinque dies nemo mihi molestus esset. Gesta confecta sunt, placuit, acclamastis: recitatur placitum vestrum, et acclamationes vestrae. Parvo tempore servatum est circa me; et postea violenter irruptum est, et non permittor ad quod volo, vacare: ante meridiem et post meridiem occupationibus hominum implicor. Obsecro vos et obstringo per Christum, ut huic iuveni, hoc est Eraclio presbytero, quem hodie in nomine Christi designo episcopum successorem mihi, patiamini me refundere onera occupationum mearum. A populo acclamatum est: "Iudicio tuo gratias agimus"; dictum est vicies sexies. Populus rogatur ut gestis subscribat. 6. Cumque reticeretur, Augustinus episcopus dixit: Ego caritati et benevolentiae vestrae apud Dominum Deum nostrum gratias ago, imo de illa Deo gratias ago. Ergo, fratres, quidquid est quod ad me perferebatur, ad illum perferatur: ubi necessarium habuerit consilium, meum non negabo auxilium; absit ut subtraham. Tamen quidquid illud est quod ad me perferebatur, ad illum perferatur. Ipse me aut consulat, si forte non invenerit quid facere debeat, aut poscat adiutorem quem novit patrem: ut et vobis nihil desit, et ego tandem aliquando, si quantulumcumque spatium mihi huius vitae donaverit Deus, ipsam meam quantulamcumque vitam non dem segnitiei, nec donem inertiae, sed in sanctis Scripturis, quantum ipse permittit et largitur, exerceam; hoc et ipsi proderit, et per ipsum etiam vobis. Nemo ergo invideat otio meo, quia meum otium magnum habet negotium. Video me de hac re propter quam vos invitavi, omnia vobiscum egisse quae debui: hoc ad ultimum rogo, ut Gestis istis dignemini subscribere qui potestis. Hic mihi responsione vestra opus est: teneam responsionem vestram; de hac assensione aliquid acclamate. A populo acclamatum est: "Fiat, fiat"; dictum vicies quinquies. "Dignum est, iustum est"; dictum vicies octies. "Fiat, fiat"; dictum quater decies. "Olim dignus, olim meritus"; dictum vicies quinquies. "Iudicio tuo gratias agimus"; dictum tredecies. "Exaudi, Christe, Eraclium conserva"; dictum octies decies. Populus monetur ut oret inter Missae sacrificium. 7. Cumque reticeretur, Augustinus episcopus dixit: Bene habet ut ea quae Dei sunt, circa sacrificium eius agere valeamus; in qua hora supplicationis nostrae maxime commendo Caritati vestrae ut omnes vestras causas et negotia intermittatis, et pro ista Ecclesia, et pro me, et pro presbytero Eraclio, Domino precem fundatis.