“Casinensis 595, Parisinus lat. 1664, Palatino-Vaticanus 161 and the Divine Institutes’ Second Edition,” Hermes: Zeitschrift für klassische Philologie 127 (1999): 75-98. (original) (raw)

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Lactantius and Creation of the Roman Canon for Imperial Liturgy (full paper)

Questions Liturgiques, 2020

Who is the "scholasticus" responsible for the Roman Canon? Answer: Lactanctius. The study principally concentrates on reconstructing the Roman Canon to approximately AD 325. The reconstruction takes advantage of traditional sources and witnesses to the primitive Roman Canon but adds additional witnesses extracted from the so-called Gelasianium Vetus in order to fill in the chiastic structure of the Eucharistic Prayer. Furthermore, to justify each section of the chiastic structure of the reconstructed Roman Canon, the author provides a detailed analysis of Latin vocabulary and Roman institutions explaining exhaustively the author’s choices of texts. The utility of Roman law is necessary to grasp the formulae and theological points in both the reconstructed and extant versions of the Roman Canon. The study also provides solid arguments for attributing the redaction of the Roman Canon, as used in Rome in the fourth century, to the ecclesiastical writer Lactantius. This hypothesis is strengthened by textual comparisons drawn between the reconstructed Roman Canon and Lactantius’s style and vocabulary in his works. The study uncovers the contributions of Roman-pagan authors of classical antiquity and Roman jurists to explain peculiar features of the Roman Canon’s vocabulary and phraseology. Finally, an appendix suggests edits to the Roman Canon made by Pope Damasus of Rome in the late-fourth century.

The Confession of Faith Ascribed to Caelestius

Sacris Erudiri, 2011

In this contribution the validity of Jean Garnier’s reconstruction of Caelestius’ confession of faith (or Libellus fidei) is examined. In an overview of its influence, it is pointed out that earlier criticisms of this reconstruction have fallen into oblivion, with significant risks and consequences for current research on the Pelagian controversy. Next, Garnier’s method of reconstrucing the text is shown to be wanting, and the result should be rejected : he combines into one two essentially different texts from two different authors. As a consequence, the larger part of his edition consists not of Caelestius’ but Pelagius’ words. The article closes with a new and improved edition of the remaining fragments of Caelestius’ confession (CPL 768).

Venantius Fortunatus and Christian Theology at the End of the Sixth Century in Gaul

2018

The writings of the poet Venantius Fortunatus are a major historical source for the study of Gallic society in the sixth century CE. The amount of Christian doctrine treated in these writings is considerable, and provides a fascinating perspective on late sixth-century Gallic theological thought and how it fit into broader Christian discussions of doctrine across the Mediterranean world. This approach to studying Fortunatus' writings is different from previous scholarship on the poet, and in addition to shedding light on Gallic society's approach to doctrinal issues will also serve to illumine Fortunatus' own capacity for theological discourse. Part 1 of this thesis explores his two extant sermons, one on the Apostles' Creed (The Expositio symboli) and the other on the Lord's Prayer (The Expositio orationis dominicae). The Expositio symboli of Fortunatus, when considered in the context of both the text from which it was adapted, Rufinus of Aquileia's fifth-century Expositio symboli, and other sermons on the same subject from the fifth and sixth centuries, showcases his skill at shaping and transmitting Christian doctrine. The Expositio dominicae orationis also does this, but has the additional facet of containing a strong polemic against semi-Pelagianism. It becomes clear from this polemic that Fortunatus held to a strongly iii Augustinian doctrine of the freedom of the will. Part 2 of this thesis looks at Fortunatus' interaction with the Christological controversies of the sixth century, centring around the Three Chapters schism fomented by the decisions of the Second Council of Constantinople held in 553. Fortunatus' writings that touch on the subject display a careful attitude towards the schism that sought to reconcile the two sides. Venantius Fortunatus shows himself to be adept at doctrinal exposition amidst a late sixth-century Gallic church that retained a vibrant interest in these matters. Herren stepped in at a time of need and has been an excellent co-supervisor. His insightful comments on my text and enthusiasm for this project have been invaluable. Alexander Murray has been a supportive and wise co-supervisor whose expertise has been equally invaluable. Nicholas Everett rounded out my advisory committee, and I am grateful to have benefited from his thoughtful critiques and advice throughout my degree. Michael Roberts and Jesse Billett were very helpful external and internal readers. The broader scholarly community at the Centre for Medieval Studies and the University of Toronto has been a pleasure to be a part of. Special thanks are due to William Robins,

Lactantius, Diocletian, Constantine and Political Innovations in the Divine Institutes

Interface, 2023

In Book 5 of the Divine Institutes, the fourth century rhetor Lactantius provides an attack on Roman jurists. The starting point of Lactantius’s attack is a criticism of the Golden Age. This paper argues that Lactantius’s deployment of the myth of the Golden Age in the Divine Institutes does not carry a purely literary, philosophical or even theological dimension; rather, Lactantius is explicitly critical of the emperor Diocletian, who had claimed in his propaganda to restore the res publica. Couching his criticism in language of innovation, Lactantius carefully lays out a diatribe meant to recast Diocletian as Jupiter a reformer and, by extension, to place the emperor Constantine as the restorer of the divine res publica

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A Tale of History, Dogma, and Tradition. Jesus in Caesar Baronius' Annales Ecclesiastici (c. 1560-1588)

In Texts, Practices, and Groups. Multidisciplinary Approaches to the History of Jesus' Followers in the First Two Centuries, First Annual Meeting of Bertinoro (2-5 October 2014), eds. A. Destro - M. Pesce, Turnhout, Brepols, 2017, 829-53