Paulinus of Nola, in a letter to the senator Pammachius of c. 397 (Letter 13), refers to the distribution of alms at the basilica of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036) at the Vatican, Rome; he includes a detailed description of the courtyard in front of the basilica. Written in Latin at Nola (southern Italy).
E05124
Literary - Letters
Paulinus of Nola
Paulinus of Nola, Letter 13
Summary:
Paulinus writes a letter of consolation to a friend, the senator Pammachius, on the death of his wife, Paulina. In it (§ 11-14), he describes how Pammachius fed the poor at St Peter's basilica at the Vatican, Rome, thereby honouring and venerating God and Peter. In this account, Paulinus describes the atrium in front of the church in detail, where the alms were distributed:
(13.) ... sub eadem mole tectorum geminis utrimque porticibus latera diffundit, qua ue praetento, nitens atrium, fusa uestibulo est, ubi cantharum ministra manibus et oribus nostris fluenta ructantem fastigatus solido aere tholus ornat et inumbrat, non sine mystica specie quattuor columnis salientes aquas ambiens.
Decet enim ingressum ecclesiae talis ornatus, ut quod intus mysterio salutari geritur spectabili pro foribus opere signetur. nam et nostri corporis templum quadriiugo stabilimento una euangelii fides sustinet et, cum ex eo gratia, qua renascimur, fluat et in eo Christus, quo uiuimus, reueletur, profecto nobis in quattuor uitae columnas illic aquae salientis in uitam aeternam fons nascitur nos que ab interno rigat et feruet in nobis, si tamen possimus dicere uel sentire mereamur habere nos cor ardens in uia, quod Christo nobis cum inambulante flammatur.
'Where, under the same massive roof, the church expands on both sides with double porticoes and where, with the church extended through a vestibule in front, there is a bright atrium; where a cupola topped with solid brass adorns and shades a cantharus, which belches forth streams of water serving our hands and faces.
Not without secret meaning does it surround the water spouts with four columns; such a decoration is proper for the entrance of the church in order that what is done inside by the mystery of salvation may be marked by the noteworthy work outside. For one single faith of the gospel also sustains the temple of our body with a fourfold support; and, since the grace by which we are reborn flows from it, and Christ, in whom we live, is revealed in it, surely a fountain of water springing to eternal life is born in that place for us on four columns of life; and it waters us within and boils in us, if only we should be able to say or deserve to feel that we have a burning heart on the road, which is kindled when Christ is walking with us.'
Text: Hartel 1894.
Translation: Walsh 1966-7.
Summary: Frances Trzeciak.
Cult building - independent (church)
Non Liturgical ActivityDistribution of alms
Protagonists in Cult and NarrativesEcclesiastics - lesser clergy
Crowds
Aristocrats
Source
Letter 13 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. This letter dates to shortly after the death of Pammachius' wife, Paulina, in 397.Discussion
Paulinus was not present for the feast for the poor, but instead must have heard about it from a correspondent. Most likely he describes it in this letter to ensure the wider dissemination of knowledge about this event. As Catherine Conybeare argues (Conybeare 2000, 45-6), this is not just a consolation letter, but a hortatory letter for any of the senatorial class who may read it.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. 1 (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
22/02/2018
| ID | Name | Name in Source | Identity | S00036 | Peter, the Apostle | Certain |
|---|
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