Letter 12

From: Leontius, Bishop of Arles To: Pope Hilary, bishop of Rome Date: ~462 AD Context: Pope Hilary's letter 5; Leontius responds to Hilary's inaugural letter, congratulating him on his election and commending the rights of the church of Arles. Leontius, bishop of Arles, to the most holy Pope Hilary, greetings. That we have lost Leo, the most holy and learned bishop who governed the apostolic see with such distinction for so many years, is a grief that the whole church shares. That we have gained in you a successor who was formed in his school, who served him faithfully and with distinction, and who showed at Ephesus the kind of courage that the apostolic see requires — this is a consolation that the whole church can appreciate. We write to congratulate you on your election and to commend to your care the rights of the church of Arles, which your predecessors have consistently recognized and which we ask you to confirm in due form. The metropolitan authority of Arles over the Gallic church rests on foundations that predate any living bishop; it has served the church well for generations. We ask for its formal confirmation at the beginning of your pontificate. We also write to assure you that the church of Arles will be as faithful and cooperative a metropolitan province under your pontificate as it has been under your predecessors. Your devoted brother in the faith, Leontius, bishop of Arles

a.462. Leontii episcopi Arelatensis ad Uilarum papam. Hilaro de suscepio pontificatu gratulatur et Jura suae ecclesiae recommendai. p. 3 1. Quod Leonem sanctissimum praedecessorem tuum mors abs- tulerit contra haereses invigilantem et lolium in agro Domini heu V nimis fruticans eradicantem, dolemus; quod de tua sanctitate repa- raverit, gratulamur. Nam gaudet filius de honore matris^ et quum ecclesia Romana sit onmium mater, fuit nobis gaudendum, quod in tanta constematione rerum et infirmitate saeculorom Ponlm 66 5 ^^V^^ ^*™ ^ erexerit, ut judices popuios in aequitate et gentes in terra dirigas, Unde quum nobis nuntius ille per Concordium eccle- siae nostrae diaconum, qui tmic praesens erat quum sanctitas tua ad id honoris fastigatum cubnen evecta est, relatus est, gratias Deo uostro reddidimus, et te decrevimus quam primum hac humilitatis nostrae epistola salutare: ut et sic affectus, qui inter tuam sancti- tatem et nos jamdiu coaluit, in Domino corroboraretur et de cetero augeatur cum debita reverentia, qua decet fiiios patrem prosequi. 2. Benedictus itaque qui venit in nomine Do^nini! Jam forti- ter sanctitati tuae insudandum et anhelandiun est, ut quod sanctis- simus Leo papa incepit, ad terminabilem perducas limitem, et cum Jud.7,20. exercitu Gedeonis per tubas in ore fortium concrepantes etperlam- pades in robusta manu agitatas et ventilatas maledictos muros Jos.6,20. Jericho jam toties anathematizatos et quassatos sanctitas tua faciat prostemere. ') afi in ommum notiiiam quemadmodum diximus perferre. L' m omnimn nostro- rum (b nostrum, c* fratrum) quemadmodum diximus noiitiam perferre (c* deferre), Domino Severo Aug. cons. >- 3. EPISTOLAE 4 — 6. 139 3. Cetermn quum ecclesia uostra Arelatensis semper ab apo-a. 462. &\olica sede amplis favoribus et privilegiis fuerit decorata^ rogamus sanctitatem tuam^ ut per eam nihil nobis decedat, sed potius augea- tur: ut et coUaborare tecum in vinea Domini Dei 8abaoth valeamus, et iiiTidorum conatus^) infringere; quos, si non esset auctoritas re- primens, -eertum est de die in diem grassaturos in pejus, quia ma- Htia, qua') nos oderuut, ascendit semper. Data Cal. ... Severo Au- gusto consule.