Paulinus of Nola, in two letters to Sulpicius Severus, of c. 400 and of 401/2 (Letters 23 and 27), describes how both a courier and Severus himself resemble in their behaviour *Martin (ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397, S00050) and *Clarus (disciple of Martin, ob. c. 397, S00479). Paulinus also states that he and the courier wash the hands and feet of others in imitation of Martin. Written in Latin at Nola (southern Italy).
E05095
Literary - Letters
Paulinus of Nola
Paulinus of Nola, Letter 23.3-5 (to Sulpicius Severus)
Summary:
Paulinus discusses the courier of the letter, Victor, a monk of Primuliacum.
Vere recognouimus in eo sanctorum formulam beatorum Martini et Clari, quem proximo interuallo inlustris magistri sequacem te auctore cognouimus.
‘I truly recognised in him the pattern of the blessed Martin and Clarus and shortly afterward I discovered from your letter that he has become a follower of the illustrious master.’
Paulinus continues to describe Victor’s virtues. One of these is humility – the courier would not allow Paulinus to wash his hands. Paulinus elaborates on this, saying that he had begun to do this in imitation of Martin.
Ex libro enim tuo istius gratiam seruitutis adamaui, ut minimam saltem guttulam de sacris Martini actibus delibarem. ipse uero cotidie non solum pedes meos lauare, sed et calciamenta, si paterer, tergere cupiebat, auarus dominationis internae et idcirco corporeae seruitutis inpiger.
‘For I have come to love this gesture of service mentioned in your book, so that I savoured at least this tiny part of the holy actions of Martin. Victor himself desired every day not only to wash my feet but also clean my sandals.’
Paulinus allowed him to do this because the Apostles had allowed Christ to wash their feet.
Paulinus of Nola, Letter 27.3 (to Sulpicius Severus)
The couriers of a letter from Severus described to Paulinus the virtuous deeds and words of their master.
Totum in te spirare Martinum, florere Clarum, maturari euangelium praedicabant.
‘They proclaimed that in you Martin wholly breathes, Clarus blooms, and the Gospel is brought to ripeness’.
Text: Hartel 1894.
Translation: Walsh 1966-7.
Summary: Frances Trzeciak.
Transmission, copying and reading saint-related texts
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - monks/nuns/hermits
Ecclesiastics - lesser clergy
Source
Letter 23 in the letter collection of Paulinus of Nola (ob. 431). It is one of many letters which Paulinus addressed to aristocratic and ascetic Roman circles in the later fourth and early fifth centuries. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Paulinus did not curate any collection of his letters: instead collections were compiled by friends and admirers.Discussion
This letter dates from c. 400. In it, Paulinus refers to the Life of Martin of Tours, which Severus had sent to him in c.397 (E05093), and describes how he imitated certain behaviours he found in the text. In other letters, he praised this Life and described himself reading it aloud to honoured guests (E05103). Severus also played a role in the development of Clarus’ cult: his relics rested in the church at Primuliacum (modern Prémillac) in southern Gaul.The courier Victor appears in several other letters. He had previously been in the army in Gaul, before converting to the monastic life and acting as a courier for Severus.
Bibliography
Edition:Hartel, W., Sancti Pontii Meropii Paulini Epistulae, 2nd ed., revised M. Kamptner (Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum 29; Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna, 1999).
Translation:
Walsh, P.G., Letters of St. Paulinus of Nola, vol. 2 (Ancient Christian Writers 35; Westminster MD: Newman Press, 1967).
Further Reading:
Conybeare, Catherine, Paulinus Noster: Self and Symbols in the Letters of Paulinus of Nola (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000).
Trout, Dennis, Paulinus of Nola: Life, Letters and Poems (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1999).
Frances Trzeciak
19/02/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00050 | Martin, ascetic and bishop of Tours, ob. 397 | Martinus | Certain | S00479 | Clarus, disciple of Martin of Tours, ob. c. 397 | Clarus | Certain |
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