The Presbyters Project

Letter 25

V,8. De fermento vero, quod die Dominica per titulos mittimus, superflue nos consulere voluisti, cum omnes ecclesiae nostrae intra civitatem sint constitutae. Quarum presbyteri, quia die ipsa propter plebem sibi creditam nobiscum convenire non possunt; idcirco fermentum a nobis confectum per acolythos accipiunt, ut se a nostra communione, maxime illa die, non judicent separatos. Quod per paroecias fieri debere non puto; quia nec longe portanda sunt sacramenta (nec nos per coemeteria diversa constitutis presbyteris destinamus) et presbyteri eorum conficiendorum jus habeant atque licentiam.

(ed. Coustant 1845: 556-557)

Letter 25

V,8. It was not necessary to ask about the fermentum, which we send on every Sunday to the titular churches (tituli), because all our churches are inside the city. Their presbyters cannot celebrate with us on that day because of the [needs] of the people entrusted to them, and therefore we send them fermentum prepared by us via the acolytes, lest they should consider themselves separated from our communion, especially on that day. I do not think it should be done for the parishes, because the sacraments should not be carried a long way (this is why we do not send them to the presbyters appointed to various cemeteries), and the presbyters have the right and permission to make them.

(trans. S. Adamiak)

Discussion:

The letter was sent to Decentius, the bishop of Gubbio in Umbria (Italy) on 19 March 416.

"Fermentum" was a small part of Eucharistic bread sent from the altar of the bishop's Mass to other churches in the city, where the presbyters presided.

The passage mentions the Roman presbyters who were assigned to live and pray in the suburban cemeteries.

Place of event:

Region

Rome

City

Rome

About the source:

Author: Innocent I
Title: Letters, Epistulae
Origin: Rome (Rome)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Innocent I was the bishop of Rome from AD 401 to 417. Several of his letters, especially to the bishops of Gaul and Spain, are "decretals": authoritative letters containing papal rulings, usually in response to questions raised by the bishops.

Edition:

P. Coustant ed., S. Innocentii Papae Epistolae et Decreta, Patrologia Latina 20, Paris 1845, 463-608.

Bibliography:

R. Cabié, La lettre du Pape Innocent Ier à Décentius de Gubbio. Texte critique, traduction et commentaire, Louvain 1973.

N. Mitchell, Cult and Controversy: The Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass, Collegeville 1990, 34-37.

Categories:

Functions within the Church - Parish presbyter

Functions within the Church - Urban presbyter

Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος

Ritual activity - Eucharist

Ritual activity - Burying the dead

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Ritual activity - Praying for the dead

Ecclesiastical administration - Selling tombs/Administering graveyards

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1718, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1718