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The Cult of Saints in Late Antiquity


from its origins to circa AD 700, across the entire Christian world


Caesarius, bishop of Arles, in his Sermon 221, On the Feast of the Apostles James and John, celebrates the feast of *John (Apostle and Evangelist, S00042). Written in Latin at Arles (southern Gaul), 503/542.

Evidence ID

E07237

Type of Evidence

Literary - Sermons/Homilies

Major author/Major anonymous work

Caesarius of Arles

Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 221, Omelia in natale Apostolorum Iacobi et Iohannis


The sermon is mainly focused on loving one’s enemies, citing the examples of the brothers and disciples, James and John (and also, briefly, of Stephen). Despite the title, the sermon appears to have been delivered on the feast of John alone:

(3.) [...] Nam beatissimus Iohannes apostolus, cuius hodie festivitas recolitur
[...] huius Iohannis, cuius in toto mundo hodie festum peragitur [...]

'... Most blessed John the Apostle, whose feast is celebrated today ... of this John whose feast is being celebrated today throughout the world ... '



Text: Morin 1953, 875.
Translation: Mueller 1973, 137.

Liturgical Activities

Service for the saint
Sermon/homily

Festivals

Saint’s feast

Source

After an early career as an ascetic monk, first at the island monastery of Lérins, Caesarius became bishop of Arles in 503, and held this post, through many political vicissitudes, until his death in 542 (for his Life see E06283).

Caesarius acquired a considerable reputation as a preacher, delivering sermons in a straightforward style and language, with limited use of rhetorical effects; most of his sermons address issues of Christian morality and practice, and the handful that he delivered on the feast days of saints are often concerned with proper behaviour at their festivals. His sermons were popular, and are widely attested in the manuscript tradition.

Germain Morin, the most recent collector and editor of his sermons, attributed nearly 250, in whole or in part, to Caesarius; many, according to Morin, are reworkings of earlier sermons, with shorter or longer additions by Caesarius. Although Morin's attributions are not always certain, we have accepted them without question, since to look into this issue is beyond the scope of our project. Morin divided the sermons into five groups: sermons or admonitions on various topics (1-80), sermons on Scripture (81-186), seasonal sermons (187-213), sermons on the saints and feast days (214-232), and sermons to monks (233-238).


Discussion

The feast of the apostles and brothers James and John occurs just after Christmas, often immediately succeeding that of Stephen.


Bibliography

Edition:
Morin, G., Sancti Caesarii Arelatensis sermones, pars altera (Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina 104; Turnhout: Brepols, 1953), 873-877.

Translation:
Mueller, M.M, Caesarius of Arles, Sermons, vol. 3 (Fathers of the Church 66; Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1973), 134-138.

Further reading:
Klingshirn, W.E.,
Caesarius of Arles: The Making of a Christian Community in Late Antique Gaul (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994).


Record Created By

Katarzyna Wojtalik

Date of Entry

30/12/2018

Related Saint Records
IDNameName in SourceIdentity
S00042John, the Apostle and EvangelistIohannes ApostolusCertain
S00108James, the Apostle, son of ZebedeeUncertain


Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL:
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