Letter 8

From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne To: Victorius, bishop Date: ~498 AD Context: Avitus responds to a query about an incestuous marriage between relatives, confirming that canon law forbids it. Bishop Avitus to Bishop Victorius. It speaks well of your proven and outstanding devotion that you consider my counsel worth seeking on matters that fall within your own episcopal jurisdiction. In doing this, as I said, you display not uncertainty but affection. Regarding the offense you have described in your letter, I believe you are right to be troubled. What layman, let alone a bishop, would fail to recognize that a marriage between close relatives is a grave stain? Even though our pastoral concern rightly grieves at this necessity, we must deal with the matter firmly — for canon law and apostolic tradition alike prohibit such unions.

Avitus episcopus Victorio episcopo. Probatae summaeque pietatis est, ut de causis ad pontificium vestrum pertinen- tibus meum quoque consilium consulendum esse ducatis. Quod facere vos, ut dixi, non ambiguitatis animo, sed dilectionis ostenditis. Quapropter contra culpam, quam litteris indicastis, arbitror vos merito moveri, Quis enim vel laicus non advertat non sine grandi macula fieri de affinitatis propinquitate coniugium? Vnde licet sollicitudini nostrae iustissimus dolor de necessitate ipsius districtionis incumbat, salubriter tamen exasperatur in temporaneis, quem salvari cupimus in aeternis. Oportet ergo hominem maritum duarum scilicet germanarum non inrevocabili anathemate percuti, sed pro- positis observationibus interim ab ecclesia sequestrari. Et quia indicatis laboriosum ipsum ante multos iam annos illicitam secundae uxoris copulam fuisse sortitum, suffi- ciat impune baiulatum longo tempore crimen incesti. Nil hic quasi timore divortii dubitetis, Merito censetur separatio legitima, ubi extitit coniunctio criminosa. Vtris- que ergo, si videtur, dum in tam infelici obstinatione persistunt, votum excommuni- cationis indicite, donec a consortio criminali publica paenitentiae professione desciscant. Et tunc miserentibus vobis ad timoris ex correctione exemplum gratiam reconciliationis accipiant. Ego certe sinceritati vestrae quod rationabile credidi, quia tanti habuistis iubere, suggessi. Auctoritatis vestrae est errantium compunctione perspecta severi- tatis ordinem temperare. Quos tamen aestimo, si veraciter compunguntur, supra scriptis condicionibus parituros.