Leo The Great: Sermons (Fathers of the Church Patristic Series)

As the vestiges of the Roman political machine began to collapse in the fifth century A.D., the towering figure of Pope St. Leo the Great came into relief amid the rubble. Sustained by an immutable doctrine transcending institutions and cultures, the Church alone emerged from the chaos. Eventually, the Roman heritage became assimilated into Christianity and ceased to have a life of its own. It would be practically impossible to understand this monumental transition from the Roman world to Christendom without taking into account the pivotal role played by Leo the Great. In this regard, his sermons provide invaluable data for the social historian. It was Leo--and not the emperor--who went out to confront Attila the Hun. It was Leo who once averted and on another occasion mitigated the ravages of barbarian incursions. As significant as his contribution was to history, Leo had an even greater impact on theology. When partisans of the monophysite heresy had through various machinations predetermined the outcome of a council held at Chalcedon in 450, Leo immediately denounced it as a latrocinium (robbery) rather than a concilium (council). A year later-- with cries of "Peter has spoken through Leo!"--the ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, a pillar of Catholic Christianity, adopted in its resounding condemnation of monophysitism the very language formulated by Leo. Pope Leo also developed the most explicit and detailed affirmations known up to that time of the prerogatives enjoyed by successors of St. Peter. Many theological principles find their clearest, and certainly their most eloquent, expression in his sermons. Leo spoke with all the refinement of a Roman orator, less the pagan trappings, and thus epitomized a Christian appropriation of the classical heritage. In the midst of it all, however, Pope St. Leo thought of himself simply as the humble servant of those entrusted to his care. This volume presents the first English translation of the complete Sermons. Sr. Jane Patricia Freeland earned a Ph.D. in medieval studies from Rutgers University. She is retired from her position as headmistress of St. John Baptist School in Mendham, N.J. Sr. Agnes Josephine Conway received her M.A. and Ph.D. from The Catholic University of America. She retired from her teaching position at Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia in 1993. Sermons CONTENTS Abbreviations Select Bibliography General Studies on Leo Bibles Texts Translations Translations: Sermons Studies on the Sermons Literary and Stylistic Aspects Leo and the Roman Liturgy INTRODUCTION Life and Times of Pope Leo the Great Before Leo's Pontificate Leo' s Pontificate (440–461) Chronological Outline of Events Surrounding Leo' s Pontificate Outline of Heresies Referred to in the Sermons Works of Pope Leo the Great Style of Leo's Sermons SERMONS His Elevation to the See of Peter Sermon 1: 29 September 440 Sermon 2: 29 September 441 Sermon 3: 29 September 443 Sermon 4: 29 September 444 Sermon 5: 29 September (After 445?) Annual Collections Sermon 6: November 440 Sermon 7: November 441 Sermon 8: November 442 Sermon 9: November 443 Sermon 10: November 444 Sermon 11: November 445 Days of Fast in December Sermon 12: 17 December 450 Sermon 13: 15 December 440 Sermon 14: 14 December 441 Sermon 15: 13 December 442 Sermon 16: 12 December 443 Sermon 17: 17 December 444 Sermon 18: 16 December 451 Sermon 19: 14 December 452 Sermon 20: After 445? Christmas Sermon 21: 25 December 440 Sermon 22: 25 December 441 (Recension A)[fn24] Sermon 23: 25 December 442 Sermon 24: 25 December 443 Sermon 25: 25 December 444 Sermon 26: 25 December 450 Sermon 27: 25 December 451 Sermon 28: 25 December 452 Sermon 29: 25 December 453 Sermon 30: 25 December 454 Epiphany Sermon 31: 6 January 441 Sermon 32: 6 January 442 Sermon 33: 6 January 443 (Recension A)[fn25] Sermon 34: 6 January 444 (Recension A)[fn47] Sermon 35: 6 January 445 Sermon 36: 6 January 451 Sermon 37: 6 January 452 Sermon 38: 6 January 453 Days of Fast in Lent Sermon 39: 9 February 441 (Recension A)[fn1] Sermon 40: I March 442 (Recension A)[fn23] Sermon 41: 21 February 443 Sermon 42: 12 March 444 (Recension A)[fn54] Sermon 43: 25 February 445 Sermon 44: 25 February 451 Sermon 45: 10 February 452 Sermon 46: 1 March 453 Sermon 47: 21 February 454 Sermon 48: 13 March 455 Sermon 49: (17 February 457)? Sermon 50: (9 March 458)? Lenten Sermon on the Transfiguration Sermon 51: 445 Passion of the Lord Sermon 52: 16 March 441—Palm Sunday Sermon 53: 19 March 441—Wednesday of Holy Week Sermon 54: 5 April 442—Palm Sunday Sermon 55: 8 April 442—Wednesday of Holy Week Sermon 56: 28 March 443—Palm Sunday Sermon 57: 31 March 443—Wednesday of Holy Week Sermon 58: 16 April 444—Palm Sunday (Recension A)[fn98] Sermon 59: 19 April 444—Wednesday of Holy Week (Recension A)[fn126] Sermon 60: 1 April 445—Palm Sunday Sermon 61: 4 April 445—Wednesday of Holy Week (Recension A)[fn191] Sermon 62: 16 March 452—Palm Sunday Sermon 63: 19 March 452—Wednesday of Holy Week Sermon 64: 5 April 453—Palm Sunday Sermon 65: 8 April 453—Wednesday of Holy Week Sermon 66: 10 April 453—Good Friday Sermon 67: 28 March 454—Palm Sunday Sermon 68: 31 March 454—Wednesday of Holy Week Sermon 69: 4 April 454—Holy Saturday Vigil Sermon 70: 2 April 443—Good Friday Sermon 71: 3–4 April 443—Holy Saturday Vigil Sermon 72: 21 April 444—Good Friday Ascension Sermon 73: 1 June 444 Sermon 74: 17 May 445 Pentecost Sermon 75: 23 May 443 Sermon 76: 2 June 444 (Recension A)[fn12] Sermon 77: (31 May 442)? Sermon 78: (2 May 441)? Sermon 79: 31 May 453 Sermon 80: (June 442)? Sermon 81: (27 May 445)? Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul Sermon 82: 29 June 441 (Recension A)[fn1] Sermon 83: 29 June 443 Commemorating Alaric's Invasion of Rome Sermon 84: 30 August or 6 September 442 Martyrdom of the Maccabees Sermon 84B: 1 August (446–461?) Feast of St. Lawrence Sermon 85: 10 August (446–461?) Days of Fast in September Sermon 86: 441 Sermon 87: 442 Sermon 88: 443 Sermon 89: 444 Sermon 90: 445 (Recension A)[fn30] Sermon 91: 453 Sermon 92: 454 Sermon 93: (457)? Sermon 94: (458)? On the Beatitudes Sermon 95: (446–461)? Against Eutyches Sermon 96: 25 December 457 INDICES General Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V W Z Index of Holy Scripture Old Testament Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy 1 Samuel 1 Kings Tobias Job Psalms Proverbs Wisdom Sirach Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Micah Habakkuk Zechariah Malachi 2 Maccabees New Testament Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John Jude Revelation As The Vestiges Of The Roman Political Machine Began To Collapse In The Fifth Century A.d., The Towering Figure Of Pope St. Leo The Great Came Into Relief Amid The Rubble. Sustained By An Immutable Doctrine Transcending Institutions And Cultures, The Church Alone Emerged From The Chaos. Eventually, The Roman Heritage Became Assimilated Into Christianity And Ceased To Have A Life Of Its Own. It Would Be Practically Impossible To Understand This Monumental Transition From The Roman World To Christendom Without Taking Into Account The Pivotal Role Played By Leo The Great. His Sermons Provide Invaluable Data For The Social Historian. It Was Leo - And Not The Emperor - Who Went Out To Confront Attila The Hun. It Was Leo Who Once Averted And On Another Occasion Mitigated The Ravages Of Barbarian Incursions. As Significant As His Contribution Was To History, Leo Had An Even Greater Impact On Theology. When Partisans Of The Monophysite Heresy Had Through Various Machinations Predetermined The Outcome Of A Council Held At Ephesus In 450, Leo Immediately Denounced It As A Latrocinium (robbery) Rather Than A Concilium (council). A Year Later - With Cries Of Peter Has Spoken Through Leo!--the Ecumenical Council Of Chalcedon, A Pillar Of Catholic Christianity, Adopted In Its Resounding Condemnation Of Monophysitism The Very Language Formulated By Leo. Pope Leo Also Developed The Most Explicit And Detailed Affirmations Known Up To That Time Of The Prerogatives Enjoyed By Successors Of St. Peter. Many Theological Principles Find Their Clearest, And Certainly Their Most Eloquent, Expression In His Sermons. His Elevation To The See Of Peter -- Annual Collections -- Days Of Fast In December -- Christmas -- Epiphany -- Days Of Fast In Lent -- Lenten Sermon On The Transfiguration -- Passion Of The Lord -- Ascension -- Pentecost -- Feast Of Sts. Peter And Paul -- Commemorating Alaric's Invasion Of Rome -- Martyrdom Of The Maccabees -- Feast Of St. Lawrence -- Days Of Fast In September -- On The Beatitudes -- Against Eutyches. St. Leo The Great ; Translated By Jane Patricia Freeland, Agnes Josephine Conway. Includes Bibliographical References (p. Ix-xii) And Indexes. As the vestiges of the Roman political machine began to collapse in the fifth century A.D., the towering figure of Pope St. Leo the Great came into relief amid the rubble. Sustained by an immutable doctrine transcending institutions and cultures, the Church alone emerged from the chaos. Eventually, the Roman heritage became assimilated into Christianity and ceased to have a life of its own. It would be practically impossible to understand this monumental transition from the Roman world to Christendom without taking into account the pivotal role played by Leo the Great. His sermons provide invaluable data for the social historian. It was Leo - and not the emperor - who went out to confront Attila the Hun. It was Leo who once averted and on another occasion mitigated the ravages of barbarian incursions. . As significant as his contribution was to history, Leo had an even greater impact on theology. When partisans of the monophysite heresy had through various machinations predetermined the outcome of a council held at Ephesus in 450, Leo immediately denounced it as a latrocinium (robbery) rather than a concilium (council). A year later - with cries of "Peter has spoken through Leo!" - the ecumenical Council of Chalcedon, a pillar of Catholic Christianity, adopted in its resounding condemnation of monophysitism the very language formulated by Leo. Pope Leo also developed the most explicit and detailed affirmations known up to that time of the prerogatives enjoyed by successors of St. Peter. Many theological principles find their clearest, and certainly their most eloquent, expression in his sermons. These are the translated sermons of St Leo, the great Pope who played a pivotal role in the transition from the Roman world to Christendom.