INCIPIT CONCILIUM URBIS ROMAE SUB DAMASO PAPA DE EXPLANATIONE FIDEI

HERE BEGINS THE COUNCIL OF ROME UNDER POPE DAMASUS "ON EXPLAINING THE FAITH"

I. Dictum est:

I. It was said:

1. Prius agendum est de spiritu septiformi, qui in Christo requiescit:

spiritus sapientiae: 'Christus dei virtus et dei sapientia'.
spiritus intellectus: 'Intellectum dabo tibi et instruam te in via, in qua ingredieris'.
spiritus consilii: 'Et vocabitur nomen eius magni consilii angelus'.
spiritus virtutis: ut supra 'Dei virtus et dei sapientia'.
spiritus scientiae: 'Propter emninentiam Christi scientiae Iesu apostoli.
spiritus veritatis: 'Ego sum via et vita et veritas'.
spiritus timoris dei: 'Initium sapientiae timor domini'.

1. Firstly the seven-fold Spirit which remains in Christ should be discussed:

the spirit of wisdom: 'Christ the power and wisdom of God'.
the spirit of understanding: 'I will give you understanding, and I will instruct you in the way you will go'.
the spirit of counsel: 'And his name is called the messenger of great counsel'.
the spirit of virtues: as above, 'The power of God and the wisdom of God'.
the spirit of knowledge: 'Because of the eminence of the knowledge of the apostle of Christ Jesus'.
the spirit of truth: 'I am the way the life and the truth'.
the spirit of the fear of God: 'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom'.

2. Multiformis autem nominem Christi dispensatio:
dominus, quia spiritus;
verbum, quia deus;
filius, quia unigenitus ex patre;
homo, quia natus ex virgine;
sacerdos, quia se obtulit holocaustum;
pastor, quia custos;
vermis, quia resurrexit;
mons, quia fortis;
via, quia rectus;
ostium, quia per ipsum ingressus in vita est;
agnus, quia passus est;
lapis, quia structio angularis;
magister, quia ostensor vitae;
sol, quia inluminator;
verus, quia a patre;
vita, quia creator;
panis, quia caro;
Samaritanus, quia custos et misericors;
Christus, quia unctus;
Iesus, quia salvator;
deus, quia ex deo;
angelus, quia missus;
sponsus, quia mediator;
vitis, quia sanguine ipsius redempti sumus;
leo, quia rex;
petra, quia firmamentum;
flos, quia electus;
propheta, quia futura revelavit.

2. However the dispensation of Christ has a name of many forms:
God, who is spirit;
the word, who is God;
the Son, who is only-begotten of the Father;
the man, who was born of the virgin;
the priest, who offered himself as a sacrifice;
the shepherd, who is the guard;
the worm, who rose from the dead;
the mountain, which is strong;
the way, which is straight;
the harbour, which one may pass through into life;
the lamb, which was slain;
the stone, which is the cornerstone;
the master, who is the bringer of life;
the sun, which is the illuminator;
the true, which is of the Father;
the life, which is the creator;
the bread, which is dear;
the Samaritan, who is the guard and the merciful;
the Christ, who is the anointed one;
Jesus, who is the saviour;
God, who is from God;
the messenger, who was sent;
the bridegroom, who is the mediator;
the vine, by whose own blood we are redeemed;
the lion, who is king;
the rock, which is the foundation;
the flower, which is chosen;
the prophet, who revealed the future.

3. Spiritus enim sanctus non est patris tantummodo aut filii tantummodo spiritus, sed patris et filii spiritus; scriptum est enum: 'Si quis dilexerit mundum, non est spiritus patris in illo'; item scriptum est; 'Quisquis autem spiritum Christi non habet, hic non est eius'. nominato ita patre et filio intelligitur spiritus sanctus, de quo ipse filius in evangelio dicit quia spiritus sanctus 'a patre procedit' et 'de meo accipet et adnuntiabit vobis'.

3. For the Holy Spirit is not of the Father only or of the Son only, but of the Father and the Son; for it is written: 'He who delights in the world, the Spirit of the Father is not in him'; again it is written; 'However anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ, does not belong to him'. So the Holy Spirit is understood to be called of the Father and the Son, [and] of whom the Son himself in the gospel says that the Holy Spirit 'proceeds from the Father' and 'he will receive from me and he will make known to you'.

II. Item dictum est: Nunc vero de scripturis divinis agendum est, quid universalis catholica recipiat ecclesia vel quid vitare debeat.

II. Likewise it was said: Now indeed the issue of the divine scriptures must be discussed, which the universal Catholic church receives or which it is required to avoid.

1. INCIPIT ORDO VETERIS TESTAMENTI:

1. THIS IS THE ORDER OF THE OLD TESTAMENT:

2. Item Ordo Prophetarum:

2. Also the list of the Prophets:

3. Item Ordo Historiarum

3. Also the list of the Histories:

4. ITEM ORDO SCRIPTURARUM NOVI TESTAMENTI quem sancta et catholica Romana suscipit et veneratur ecclesia:

4. LIKEWISE THE ORDER OF THE SCRIPTURES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT which the holy and catholic Roman church upholds and is venerated:

III. Item dictum est:

INCIPIT DECRETALE DE RECIPIENDIS ET NON RECIPIENDIS LIBRIS QUI SCRIPTUS EST A GELASIO PAPA SEPTUAGINTA VIRIS ERUDITISSIMIS EPISCOPIS IN SEDE APOSTOLICA URBIS ROMAE

III. Likewise it was said:

The manuscripts of the shorter recension begin at this point, with the following heading:

HERE BEGINS THE DECRETAL 'ON BOOKS TO BE RECEIVED AND NOT TO BE RECEIVED' WHICH WAS WRITTEN BY POPE GELASIUS AND SEVENTY MOST ERUDITE BISHOPS AT THE APOSTOLIC SEAT IN THE CITY OF ROME

Both versions then continue as follows:

1. Post has omnes propheticas et evangelicas atque apostolicas quas superius depromsimus scripturas, quibus ecclesia catholica per gratiam dei fundata est, etiam illud intimandum putavimus quod, quamvis universae per orbem catholicae diffusae ecclesiae unus thalamus Christi sit, sancta tamen Romana ecclesia nullis synodicis constitutis ceteris ecclesiis praelata est, sed evangelica voce domini et salvatoris nostri primatum obtenuit: 'tu es Petrus' inquiens 'et super hanc petram aedificabo ecclesiam meam et portae inferni non praevalebunt adversus eam; et tibi dabo claves regni caelorum, et quaecumque ligaveris super terram erunt ligata et in caelo et quaecumque solveris super terram erunt soluta et in caelo'.

1. After all these [writings of] the prophets and the evangelical and apostolic scriptures which we discussed above, on which the catholic church is founded by the grace of God, we also have thought necessary to say what, although the universal catholic church diffused throughout the world is the single bride of Christ, however the holy Roman church is given first place by the rest of the churches without [the need for] a synodical decision, but from the voice of the Lord our saviour in the gospel obtained primacy: 'You are Peter,' he said, 'and upon this rock I shall build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it; and to you I give the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you shall bind upon Earth shall be bound also in heaven and whatever you release upon Earth shall also be released in heaven'.

2. Addita est etiam societas beatissimi Pauli apostoli 'vas electionis', qui non diverso, sicut heresei garriunt, sed uno tempore uno eodemque die gloiosa morte cum Petro in urbe Roma sub Caesare Nerone agonizans coronatus est; et pariter supradictam sanctam Romanam ecclesiam Christo domino consecrarunt aliisque omnibus urbibus in universo mundo sua praesentia atque venerando triumpho praetulerunt.

2. In addition there is also the presence of the blessed apostle Paul, 'the chosen vessel', who not in opposition, as the heresies jabber, but on the same date and the same day was crowned in glorious death with Peter in the city of Rome suffering under Nero Caesar; and equally they made the above-mentioned holy Roman church special in Christ the Lord and gave preference in their presence and veneration-worthy triumph before all other cities in the whole world.

3. Est ergo prima Petri apostoli sedes Romana ecclesia 'non habens maculam nec rugam nec aliquid eiusmodi'.

Secunda autem sedes apud Alexandriam beati Petri nomine a Marco eius disciplulo atque evangelista consecrata est, ipseque in Aegypto directus a Petro apostolo verbum veritatis praedicavit et gloriosum consummavit martyrium.

Tertia vero sedes apud Antiochiam beatissimi apostoli Petri habetur honorabilis, eo quod illic priusquam Romae venisset habitavit et illic primum nomen Christianorum novellae gentis exortum est.

3. Therefore first is the seat at the Roman church of the apostle Peter 'having no spot or wrinkle or any other [defect]'.

However the second place was given in the name of blessed Peter to Mark his disciple and gospel-writer at Alexandria, and who himself wrote down the word of truth directed by Peter the apostle in Egypt and gloriously consummated [his life] in martyrdom.

Indeed the third place is held at Antioch of the most blessed and honourable apostle Peter, who lived there before he came to Roma and where first the name of the new race of the Christians was heard.

IV. Et quamvis 'aliud fundamentum nullus possit ponere praeter id quod positum est, Christus Iesus', tamen ad aedificationem sancta idem Romana ecclesia post illas veteris velo novi testamenti quas regulariter superius enumeravimus etiam has suscipi non prohibet scripturas:

IV. And although 'no other foundation can be established except that which has been established, Christ Jesus', however for edification likewise the holy Roman church after the books of the Old and New Testaments which we have enumerated above according to the canon also does not prohibit the reception of these writings:

sanctam synodum Nicenam secundum trecentos decem et octo patres mediante maximo Constantino Augusto,

the holy synod of Nicaea of 318 fathers chaired by the Emperor Constantine the Great,

in qua Arrius hereticus condemnatus est; sanctam synodum Constantinopolitam mediante Theodosio seniore Augusto, in qua Macedonius hereticus debitam damnationem excepit;

at which the heretic Arius was condemned; the holy synod of Constantinople chaired by Theodosius the senior Augustus, at which the heretic Macedonius escaped his deserved condemnation;

sanctam synodum Ephesinam, in qua Nestorius damnatus est consensu beatissimi Caelestini papae mediante Cyrillo Alexandrinae sedis antiste et Arcadio episcopo ab Italia destinato;

the holy synod of Ephesus, at which Nestorius was condemned with the consent of the blessed pope Caelestinus chaired by Cyril of Alexandria in the magistrate's seat and by Arcadius the bishop sent from Italy;

sanctam synodum Calcedonensem mediante Marciano Augusto et Anatolio Constantinopolitano episcopo, in qua Nestoriana et Eutychiana hereses simul cum Dioscoro eiusque conplicibus damnatae sunt.

the holy synod of Chalcedon chaired by Marcian Augustus and by Anatolius Bishop of Constantinople, at which the Nestorian et Eutychian heresies together with Dioscorus and his sympathisers were condemned.

sed et si qua sunt concilia a sanctis patribus hactenus instituta post istorum quattuor auctoritatem, et custodienda et recipienda decrevimus. Iam nunc subiiciendum de opusculis sanctorum patrum, quae in ecclesia catholica recipiuntur.

but also if there are councils hitherto held by the holy fathers of lesser authority than those four, we have decreed [that] they must be both kept and received. Here added below is on the works of the holy fathers, which are received in the catholic church.

Item opuscula beati Caecilii Cypriani martyris et Cathaginensis episcopi;
item opuscula beati Gregorii Nanzaneni episcopi;
item opuscula beati Basilii Cappadociae episcopi;
item opuscula beati Iohannis Constantionipolitani episcopi;
item opuscula beati Theophili Alexandrini episcopi;
item opuscula beati Cyrilli Alexandrini episcopi;
item opuscula beati Hilarii Pictaviensis episcopi;
item opuscula beati Ambrosii Mediolanensis episcopi;
item opuscula beati Augustini Hipporegiensis episcopi;
item opuscula beati Hieronimi presbyteri;
item opuscula beati Prosperi viri religiosissimi;

Likewise the works of blessed Caecilius Cyprian the martyr and Bishop of Carthage;
likewise the works of blessed Gregory Nanzanensis the bishop;
likewise the works of blessed Basil Bishop of Cappadocia;
likewise the works of blessed John Bishop of Constantinople;
likewise the works of blessed Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria;
likewise the works of blessed Cyril Bishop of Alexandria;
likewise the works of blessed Bishop Hilary of Poitiers;
likewise the works of blessed Ambrosius Bishop of Milan;
likewise the works of blessed Augustine Bishop of Hippo;
likewise the works of blessed Jerome the priest;
likewise the works of blessed Prosper a most religious man;

item epistulam beati papae Leonis ad Flavianum Constantinopolitanum episcopem destinatam, de cuius textu quispiam si usque ad unum iota disputaverit et non eam in omnibus venerabiliter receperit, anathema sit;

item opuscula atque tractatus omnium patrum orthodoxorum, qui in nullo a sanctae Romanae ecclesiae consortio deviarunt, nec ab eius fide vel praedicatione seiuncti sunt sed ipsius communicatione per gratiam dei usque in ultimum diem vitae suae fuere participes, legendos decernit;

item decretales epistulas, quas beatissimi papae diversis temporibus ab urbe Roma pro diversorum patrum consultatione dederunt, venerabiliter suscipiendas esse;

likewise the letter of blessed pope Leo sent to Flavian Bishop of Constantinople, of which text however if any portion is disputed and it is not that anciently received by all, let it be anathema;

likewise the works and every treatise of all the orthodox fathers, who deviated in nothing from the common [teaching] of the holy Roman church, neither separated from its faith or worship but remained in communion by the grace of God to the last day of their life, we decree are to be read;

likewise the decretal/official letters, which blessed popes gave for the consideration of various fathers at various times from the city of Rome, are to be upheld reverently;

item gesta sanctorum martyrum, quae multiplicibus tormentorum cruciatibus et mirabilibus confessionum triumphis inradiant. quis catholicorum dubitet maiora eos in agonibus fuisse perpessos nec suis viribus sed dei gratia et adiutorio universa tolerasse? sed ideo secundum antiquam consuetudinem singulari cautela in sancta Romana ecclesia non leguntur, quia et eorum qui conscripsere nomina penitus ignorantur et ab infidelibus et idiotis superflua aut minus apta quam rei ordo fuerit esses putantur; sicut cuiusdam Cyrici et Iulittae, sicut Georgii aliorumque eiusmodi passiones quae ab hereticis perhibentur conpositae. propter quod, ut dictum est, ne vel levis subsannandi oriretur occasio, in sancta Romana ecclesia non leguntur. nos tamen cum praedicta ecclesia omnes martyres et eorum gloriosos agones, qui deo magis quam hominibus noti sunt, omni devotione veneramur;

likewise the deeds of the holy martyrs,  who are glorious from the manifold tortures on the rack and their wonderful triumphs of steadfastness. Who of the catholics doubts that most of them would be enduring still in agonies with their full strength but would bear it by the grace of God and the help of everyone? but according to old custom by the greatest caution they are not read in the holy Roman church, because the names of those who wrote are not properly known and separate from unbelievers and idiots or [the accounts] are thought less attached to the order of events than they should have been; for instance the [accounts of] Cyricus and Julitta, like Georgius and the sufferings of others like these which appear to have been composed by heretics. On account of this, as  it was said, so that no pretext for casual mockery can arise, they are not read in the holy Roman church. However we venerate together with the aforesaid church all the martyrs and their glorious sufferings, which are well known to God and men, with every devotion;

item vitas patrum Pauli Antonii Hilarionis et omnium heremitarum, quas tamen vir beatissimus descripsit Hieronimus, cum honore suscipimus;

likewise the lives of the fathers Paul, Antony and Hilarion which with all the hermits described by that blessed man Jerome we receive with honour;

item actus beati Silvestri apostolicae sedis praesulis, licet eius qui conscripserit nomen ignoretur, a multis tamen in urbe Roma catholicis legi cognovimus et pro antiquo usu multae hoc imitantur ecclesiae;

likewise the acts of blessed Silvester bishop of the apostolic seat, although the name of him who wrote [them] is unknown, [but] we know to be read by many catholics however in the city of Rome and because of the ancient use of the multitude this is imitated by the church;

item scriptura de inventione crucis et alia scriptura de inventione capitis beati Iohannis Baptistae novellae quidem relationes sunt et nonnulli eas catholici legunt; sed cum haec ad catholicorum manus advenerint, beati Pauli apostoli praecedat sententia: 'omnia probate, quod bonum est tenete'.

likewise the writings on the finding of the cross and certain other novel writings on the finding of the head of the blessed John the Baptist are romances and some of them are read by catholics; but when these come into the hand of catholics, the saying of Paul the blessed apostle should be [considered] first: 'prove all things, hold fast to what is good'.

item Rufinus vir religiossimus plurimos ecclesiastici operis edidit libros, nonnullas etiam scripturas interpretatus est; sed quoniam venerabilis Hieronimus eum in aliquibus de arbitrii libertate notavit, illa sentimus quae praedictum beatum Hieronimum sentire cognoscimus; et non solum de Rufino, sed etiam de universis quos vir saepius memoratus zelo dei et fidei religione reprehendit.

likewise Rufinus, a most religious man, work many books of ecclesiastical works, also some interpreting the scriptures; but since the venerable Jerome noted that he took arbitary liberties in some of them, we think those [acceptable] which we know the aforesaid blessed Jerome thought [acceptable]; and not only those of Rufinus, but also [those] of anyone whom that man often remembered for his zeal for God and for the religion of faith criticised.

item Origenis nonnulla opuscula, quae vir beatissimus Hieronimus non repudiat, legenda suscipimus, reliqua autem cum auctore suo dicimus renuenda.

likewise some works of Origen, which the blessed man Jerome does not reject, we receive to be read, but we say that the rest with their author must be refused.

item chronica Eusebii Caesariensis atque eiusden historiae ecclesiasticae libros, quamvis in primo narrationis suae libro tepuerit et post in laudibus atque excusatione Origenis scismatici unum conscripserit librum, propter rerum tamen singularum notitiam, quae ad instructionem pertinent, usque quaque non dicimus renuendos.

likewise the chronicle of Eusebius of Caesarea and the books of his church history, however much he fell flat in the first book of his narration and [although he also] afterwards wrote one book in praise and to excuse Origen the schismatic, however on account of his narration of remarkable things, which are useful for instruction, we do not say to anyone that it must be refused.

item Orosium virum eruditissimum cinlaudamus, quia valde necessariam nobis adversus paganorum calumnias ordinavit historiam miraque breviatet contexuit.

likewise we praise Orosius a most erudite man, who wrote a very necessary history for us against the calumnies of the pagans and  and with marvellous brevity.

item venerabilis viri Sedulii opus paschale, quod heroicis descripsit versibus, insigni laude praeferimus.

likewise the paschal work of that venerable man Sedulius, which was written in heroic verses [hexameters], we give preference to with manifest praise.

item Iuvenci nihilominus laboriosum opus non spernimus sed miramur.

likewise the laborious work of Iuvencus we nevertheless do not spurn but are amazed by.

V. Cetera quae ab hereticis sive scismaticis conscripta vel praedicata sunt, nullatenus recipit catholica et apostolica Romana ecclesia; e quibus pauca, quae ad memoriam venerunt et a catholicis vitanda sunt, credidimus esse subdenda:

V. The remaining writings which have been compiled or been recognised by heretics or schismatics the Catholic and Apostolic Roman Church does not in any way receive; of these we have thought it right to cite below a few which have been handed down and which are to be avoided by catholics:

ITEM NOTITIA LIBRORUM APOCRYPHORUM

LIKEWISE A LIST OF APOCRYPHAL BOOKS

inprimis Ariminensem synodum a Constantio Caesare Constantini filio congregatum mediante Tauro praefecto ex tunc et nunc et in aeternum confitemur esse damnatam.

firstly we confess that the synod of Sirmium called together by Constantius Caesar the son of Constantine through the Prefect Taurus is damned then and now and for ever.

Haec et his similia quae Simon Magus, Nicolaus, Cerinthus, Marcion, Basilides, Ebion, Paulus etiam Samosatenus, Photinus et Bonosus qui simili errore defecerunt, Montanus quoque cum suis obscenissimis sequacibus, Apollinaris, Valentinus sive Manicheus, Faustus Africanus, Sabellius, Arrius, Macedonius, Eunomius, Novatus, Sabbatius, Calistus, Donatus, Eustatius, Iovinianus, Pelagius, Iulianus Eclanensis, Caelestius, Maximianus, Priscillianus ab Hispania, Nestorius Constantinpolitanus, Maximus Cynicus, Lampetius, Dioscurus, Eutyches, Petrus et alius Petrus, e quibus unus Alexandriam, alius Antiocham maculavit, Acacius Constantinopolotanus cum consortibus suis nec non et omnes heresei hereseorumque disciplui sive scismatici docuerent vel conscripserunt, quorum nomina minime retinuimus, non solum repudiata verum ab omni Romana catholica et apostolica ecclesia eliminata atque cum suis auctoribus sequacibus sub anathematis insolubili vinculo in aeternum confitemur esse damnata.

These and those similar ones, which Simon Magus, Nicolaus, Cerinthus, Marcion, Basilides, Ebion, Paul of Samosata, Photinus and Bonosus, who suffered from similar error, also Montanus with his obscene followers, Apollinaris, Valentinus the Manichaean, Faustus the African, Sabellius, Arius, Macedonius, Eunomius, Novatus, Sabbatius, Calistus, Donatus, Eustasius, Jovianus, Pelagius, Julian of Eclanum, Caelestius, Maximian, Priscillian from Spain, Nestorius of Constantinople, Maximus the Cynic, Lampetius, Dioscorus, Eutyches, Peter and the other Peter, of whom one disgraced Alexandria and the other Antioch, Acacius of Constantinople with his associates, and what also all disciples of heresy and of the heretics and schismatics, whose names we have scarcely preserved, have taught or compiled, we acknowledge is to be not merely rejected but eliminated from the whole Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church and with their authors and the followers of its authors to be damned in the inextricable shackles of anathema forever.