The Presbyters Project

Book VI, Letter 36 = no. 303 in the edition of Vogel

ENNODIVS ADEODATO PRESBYTERO.

Caelestis dispensatio religiosis desideriis numquam negat effectum: nam quod pie cupimus, maturo praestat studio, desideranti enim mihi per litteras orationum vestrarum postulare suffragia perlatorem domesticum vota pepererunt, ut stimulo scriptionis admoniti pro suscepti anima supplicetis, quia doctor gentium clamat: "orate pro invicem". nihil enim est quod deum diligens etiam pro delinquentibus optinere non possit. laborate ergo promissis dudum patrociniis et gaudia mihi per lacrimas conparate. veniat ad me fructus innocentiae meritis ignoratus. haec sunt, de quibus sanctum dei admonere praesumpsi. timeo enim facere prolixa conloquia, quia res necessaria strictis est postulanda sermonibus. nunc in Christo valete, mi domini, et sentire me deprecationis vestrae munera prosperis indicate.

(ed. Vogel 1885: 230)

Book VI, Letter 36 = no. 303 in the edition of Vogel

Ennodius to the Presbyter Adeodatus.

The heavenly generosity never refuses to fulfill religious desires. Therefore, when I wanted to ask through letters for the help of your prayers, my wishes made a messenger out of one of my domestics so that you, inspired by the stimulus of my writing, pray for your client's soul, beacuse the teacher of the Gentiles calls: "pray for one another." [James 5:16] There is nothing that a person who loves God cannot obtain, even for the sinners. Exert then yourself for the promised benefits and bring my joy through your tears. Let the fruit of innocence come to me, although I am without merits. These are the things I dare to ask from the saint of God. I am afraid to protract these conversation because a necessary thing should be postulated in brief words. Now, farewell in Christ, my lord, and make me experience in prosperity the bequests of your prayer.

(trans. M. Szada)

Discussion:

Presbyter Adeodatus here is most probably the same as the addressee of the same name of the other letters of Ennodius (PCBE, Italie, v. 1, Adeodatus 8). It is possibly also the same person as the Presbyter Adeodatus present at the council of Rome in AD 495 [661] and the Presbyter Adeodatus present at the council in Rome in AD 502 (PCBE, Italie, v. 1, Adeodatus 7, 9). It is impossible to say with precision whether we have here one, two, or three different Adeodati.

Place of event:

Region

Italy north of Rome with Corsica and Sardinia
Rome

City

Pavia

About the source:

Author: Ennodius
Title: Letters, Epistulae
Origin: Pavia (Italy north of Rome with Corsica and Sardinia), Rome
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Magnus Felix Ennodius (477/4 - 521) was a Roman noble from the senatorial family, born in Gaul and raised in Northern Italy. He became a cleric in Pavia and was ordained by the bishop of this city, Epiphanius. Later he joined the clergy of Milan where he was promoted to the diaconate around the year 502. In the year 515 (at latest) he was elevated to the episcopal see of Pavia, which he held until his death in 521. Ennodius was involved in many ecclesiastical and political affaires of his time, he also gained the reputation of a good rhetorician and teacher. He maintained the good relations with the Ostrogothic King Theodoric - in 507 he even composed a panegyric for the king. During his episcopacy, he was also sent as an envoy to Constantinople in order to negotiate the ending of the schism between Rome and Constantinople (the Acacian schism). For the general information on Ennodius see PCBE, Italie, v. 1, Magnus Felix Ennodius; Kennel 2000.

Ennodius authored several works of different genres - discourses, lives of saints, poems, and letters directed to various addressees representing the Church and the state. On the collection of his letters see Gioanni 2001, and the Introduction in Gioanni 2010.

Edition:

F. Vogel ed. Magni Felicis Ennodii opera, Monumenta Germaniae Historica. Auctores Antiquissimi 7, Berlin 1885

Bibliography:

S. Gioanni, "La contribution épistolaire d’Ennode de Pavie à la primauté pontificale sous le règne des papes Symmaque et Hormisdas", Mélanges de l’Ecole française de Rome. Moyen-Age 113 (2001), 245–268.

S. Gioanni ed., Ennode de Pavie. Lettres, vols. 1-2, Paris 2010.

S.A.H. Kennell, Magnus Felix Ennodius: a Gentleman of the Church, Ann Arbor 2000.

Categories:

Writing activity - Correspondence

PR428.

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

PR428.

Relation with - Deacon

PR428.

Devotion - Private devotional practice

PR428.

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1501, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1501