Epistolae Duae Anastasio Perperam Attributae

APPENDIX. TWO LETTERS FALSELY ATTRIBUTED TO SAINT ANASTASIUS. (From Labbé, Councils, vol. II.) a THE FIRST LETTER. TO ALL THE BISHOPS OF GERMANY AND BURGUNDY. I. That all should hear the holy Gospel standing, not sitting. — II. How those from across the sea should be received into the clergy. — III. Concerning the Manichaeans found in the city of Rome. Anastasius the bishop to all the bishops of the region of Germany and Burgundy, greeting in the Lord. Your love demands, dearest ones, that we should respond to your inquiries by the authority of the apostolic see. And although we would hasten to do this not at length, but succinctly, on account of certain other occupations, yet, if it should be necessary, do not hesitate to send charitably again, as to a head, for these or other needs, because we hold your petitions acceptable both now and then. I. For you have indicated that certain priests in church, when the Gospels are read, sit, and hear the words of the Lord and Savior not standing, but sitting, and they relate that they received this from the tradition of their elders: which we command by apostolic authority that you permit to be done in no way henceforth. But when the holy Gospels are recited in church, let the priests and all others present, not sitting, but reverently bowed, standing in the sight of the holy Gospel, intently hear the Lord's words and faithfully adore them.

II. Likewise, do not receive men from across the sea, about whom you have consulted us, into the honor of the clergy unless they have been designated by the chirographs of five or more bishops; for many things are accustomed to happen through surreption. Therefore these things also are to be especially guarded against. III. But as for the Manichaeans, whom we have found in the city of Rome, and their followers, do not receive them, nor communicate with them, nor have any participation with them, until they are converted to the right faith; lest their evil, sprouting seeds, which are being extinguished by us in the City, be sown or germinate among you with the worst roots. Indeed, our investigation has discovered very many of them, and their followers in impiety, and their teachers; vigilance has divulged them; authority and censure have restrained them. Those whom we were able to amend, we have corrected: and we have compelled them, by public profession in church and by the subscription of their own hand, to condemn Manichaeus together with his preaching and his disciplines; and thus, having confessed them from the abyss of their impiety, by granting penance, we have raised them up.

Some, however, who had sunk so low that no remedy of twofold assistance could aid them, being subject to the laws, according to the constitutions of Christian emperors, lest they pollute the holy flock with their contagion, have been relegated to perpetual exile through public judges; and all things, whether in their writings or in their secret traditions, which they hold as profane or shameful, so that the people might know what to flee or avoid, we have proven (or perhaps: made public) by clear demonstration before the eyes of the Christian populace, to such an extent that he who was called their bishop, being held by us, betrayed the shameful things in his mysteries (or perhaps: mystic rites) which he held, as the series of acts will be able to instruct you. For your instruction, we have also sent these very things; upon reading them, you will be able to know all that has been discovered by us. And because some of those whom a more severe (or perhaps: more atrocious) guilt had entangled, lest they be absolved, we have learned have fled, we have sent this letter to your belovedness, so that, once informed, your holiness may deign to act more diligently and cautiously, lest the men of Manichaean perversity find the opportunity to harm your flocks and the teachers of this sacrilege. For we cannot otherwise govern those entrusted to us unless we, with zeal for the Lord’s faith, pursue those who are perverse teachers (or perhaps: traitors) and lost, and keep them from sound minds (lest this plague spread more widely).

with the severity we can, let us cut them off. Hence I exhort your belovedness, I implore and admonish you, that with the vigilance you ought and are able, you watch to seek them out, lest they find any opportunity to hide themselves. These men, brothers, are greatly to be guarded against, lest they be able to contaminate the Lord’s flock with whatever perversities they can. For some of them, while outwardly signifying sheep by their garb, are inwardly ravenous wolves: whom (according to the voice of truth) we ought to recognize by their fruits (Matthew 7:16). But when they begin to assume impiety, that which was hidden in them is opened, and every deceit becomes manifest to all. There are also found men of weak faith, and those who are ignorant of the divine readings, who hurl themselves with them into perdition. For they destroy and disparage the disciplines of the fathers, and abandon the holy Scriptures to their own perdition. These, as was said before, we ought to foresee, and greatly beware of them, lest any, caught up in their malice, fall from their own steadfastness. Therefore I greet you, brothers, and all the churches that think rightly with you. I also ask that you, as you now do, address me more frequently by letters, and more often gladden me concerning your faith and good intention and well-being, so that we may have common joy and faithfully serve the Lord with like resolve. Given on the Nones of October, in the consulship of Arcadius and Bauto, most illustrious men.

EPISTLE II. TO NERIANUS. He consoles Nerianus, a religious man, on the loss of his parents. To his most beloved brother Nerianus, Anastasius. There is much in all the letters of your faith and goodness that gives me cause for joy, because you show such zeal in the practice of religion and strive to assist the Lord's priests in your regions. Hence I also give thanks to God, who incites you to this, and I pray that He may make you persevering in good works. Yet it is fitting for you to praise God magnificently both in prosperity and in adversity, humbling yourselves under His powerful hand: so that in a time of tribulation (according to the apostle Peter) He may strengthen and exalt you (1 Pet. 5:6). Therefore, the affliction of your fraternity, which we have heard you suffered from the loss of your parents, has caused us such great sorrow that, because charity made us one from two, we felt our own heart burn especially in your tribulations. But in this grief, the fact that your sanctity has brought the matter back to mind has greatly consoled me, because it is fitting both to bear sadness patiently and not to have prolonged grief over the death of your people. Lest any tribulation still remain in your mind, however, I urge you to rest from sorrow; for it is unbecoming for you to be bound by the weariness of affection to those whom we must believe attain true life by dying.

Perhaps they have a just excuse for prolonged grief who know of no other life, who do not trust that there is a passage from this world to a better one. But we, who know, who believe and who teach, ought not to be excessively saddened by the dying, lest what among others bears the appearance of piety be for us rather a fault. For it is in some way a kind of distrust; contrary to which every preacher who loves justice complains, as the Apostle says: "But we do not wish you to be ignorant concerning those who sleep, that you may not be saddened, as are the rest who have no hope." Therefore, most dear brother, with this reasoning in view, we must strive not to be afflicted (as we have said) over the dead, but to bestow our affection upon the living, to whom both piety is for benefit and love is for fruit. Therefore, dearest one, put aside grief, and assume the spiritual fruit of joy for the benefit of the holy Church of God and the advancement of her servants; and strive to illuminate whatever spans of this life there are with eternal and divine offices, so that He who made you outstanding may render you more illustrious through the ages. Given on the seventh day before the Ides of June, in the consulship of Theodosius Augustus for the seventh time and Palladius, most distinguished men.