Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 376
Braulio, bishop of Saragossa (Iberian Peninsula) answers to the letter of Taio, presbyter and abbot in Saragossa concerning the relics of Christ`s blood (AD 649-651).
XLII
 
UENERABILI ET IN MEMBRIS CRISTI REUERENTISSIMO IN CRISTO FRATRI TAIO PRESBITERO ET ABBATI, BRAULIO SERUORUM INUTILIS SERUUS
 
Braulio apologises for the delay in responding to Taio's letter.
 
Quid enim aut quantulum in me est, ut imago tantorum taliumque uirorum a nobis a te expectetur, quum et eorum lectio pro etate a te habeatur uisitata et intelligentia rimetur adsidua adque in pectore tuo, ut ita dixerim, nidauerint ipsorum eloquia? Otia etenim tibi sunt sancta et nobis uite presentis fluctibus anxia [...].
 
Braulio makes allusion to complaints of some kind that Tajo expressed in his letter.
 
Unde et te queso, carissime, ut minus conqueraris de circumhabitantium tibi tepore seu cupiditate, quoniam patienter debes omnia tolerare. Quid enim probis male morigeratio aliena nocet? [...] Humilium quidem uirtus est de scientia non gloriari, quia communis est homnibus. Ualet enim hoc multum ad reprimendam mentis audaciam, ut et alios contemptibiles non reputemus et singularem nobis scientiam uel sanctitatem non adrogemur, ne superno audiamus oraculo 'Reliqui mici septem milia uirorum' et cetera.
   Hec causa amoris tui me dixisse caritas tua, queso, censeat. Ceterum de questione qua me consulere decreuisti, noueris non me aliut de resurrectione mortuorum credere aut expectare quam que[so] a sancto Augustino per diuersa opuscula sua, que ad manus uenerunt meas, prudenti ingenio et eliganti sunt dissertata sermone, que ad laborem meum euitandum ideo non replicabi, quia et te per epistolam tuam ea didici indubitanter tenere.
 
Then Braulio discusses at length the question of whether all a man's blood is reassumed after resurrection of the body and whether the bodily relics of Christ (blood, but also sweat, water from Jesus's side) can be authentic - Braulio himself is sceptical, but not because of the theological impossibility, but rather because of lack of proof and the dangers of inquisitions of that kind. He mentions the Eucharist as a source of the true Body and Blood of Christ.
 
Hec, ut occurrit et prout tempus exegit, paucis tibi, carissime, rescribsisse sufficiat; et quamuis ingenti ardori tuo non ut dignum est responderim, tamen, ut occupatio non siuit, uolumtati tue parere studu<i>. De cetero beatitudinis tue orationes ut mihci [!] suffragenetur uehementissime queso.
Et hunumque, pene quod mici et pre omnibus necessarium et hic fuerat pretermissum, peto, ita Cristus cursum propositi tui efficiat gloriosum, ut mihi codices sancti pape Gregorii in expositos, qui necdum in Hispania erant tuo[s]que studio et sudore de Roma huc sunt delati, ad transcribendum ocius mittas; nam non solus ego huiuscemodi rei sum petitor set ed dominus germanusque meus, tuus amator. Quapropter ambobus satisfacies, si uni prestaueris adque ambos contemnes, si spreueris. Credat certe mici caritas tua, quodices ipsos remittam quo tempore institueris.
 
There follow the final salutations.
 
(ed. Riesco Terrero 1975: 155-162)
Letter 42
 
Braulio, worthless servant of servants, to the venerable Tajo, priest and abbot, most revered in the members of Christ and brother in Christ.
 
Braulio apologises for the delay in responding to Taio's letter.
 
What can there be in me, even to a small degree, that you expect from me the imitation of so many and such great men? You read them constantly yourself as befits your age, you are always searching them for knowledge, and their words are, if I may use the phrase, nested in your heart. Leisure is a blessed possession for you, but a burden to me amid the waves of my present life [...].
 
Braulio makes allusion to complaints of some kind that Tajo expressed in his letter.
 
Therefore, I beg you, my dearest friend, to make less complaint of the weakness and desires of those who live around you, since you should bear all things patiently. What harm can another's compliance with evil do to those who are virtuous? [...] the virtue of the humble is not to boast of their knowledge, since it is common to all. In repressing the mind's audacity, it is very helpful not to despise others, nor to assume a special knowledge or holiness ourselves, lest we hear in the words of the divine oracle: 'I have left for myself seven thousand man [who have not bowed the knee to Baal]' (Romans 11:4).
   Your charity must believe, I beg, that I have said this because I love you. As to the question on which you decided to consult me, you must know that, concerning the resurrection of the dead, I do not believe or expect otherwise than what has been expressed with prudent thought and elegant language by St. Augustine in several of his works, which I have not sought out because I wanted to save myself the trouble and because I learned from your letter that you clearly have them yourself.
 
Then Braulio discusses at length the question of whether all a man's blood is reassumed after resurrection of the body and whether the bodily relics of Christ (blood, but also sweat, water from Jesus's side) can be authentic - Braulio himself is sceptical, but not because of the theological impossibility, but rather because of lack of proof and the dangers of inquisitions of that kind. He mentions the Eucharist as a source of the true Body and Blood of Christ.
 
It must be enough, my dearest friend, for me to have answered you briefly, as the thoughts came to me and as the time allowed; although I may not have answered sufficiently to match your immense eagerness, still, I tried to comply with your desires, as my leisure permitted. Finally, I must earnestly request to be favoured in your beatitude's prayers.
   There is one thing which is necessary for me above all others and I had forgotten to mention it; if you grant it, may Christ make the course of your life glorious. Please send me quickly to be copied the books of the holy Pope Gregory which previously did not exist in Spain, but which have been brought here from Rome by your zeal and effort; for I am not the only petitioner in this matter, but also, my lord and brother, your friend. Therefore, you satisfy both if you do one a favour, and you hurt both if you spurn one. Your charity must believe that I will return the books at any time set by you.
 
There follow the final salutations.
 
(trans. by C. Barlowe 1969: 88-95; lightly adapted)
 

Discussion:

The friend and brother (germanus) mentioned in the end of the letter is Fronimian, presbyter and Braulio's brother ([81]) to whom he dedicated the Life of St Emialian ([448]; Barlowe 1969: 95, n. 32).
 

Place of event:

Region
  • Iberian Peninsula
  • Rome
City
  • Saragossa

About the source:

Author: Braulio of Saragossa
Title: Letters, Epistularium
Origin: Saragossa (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
Letter 42 of Braulio answers to the letter Taio, presbyter and abbot, preserved in the collection in a fragmentary form ([375]). The Taio`s journey to Rome mentioned in the Braulio`s letter 42 and in the continuations of the History of Goths of Isidore of Seville (Cont. Hisp. Isid. 28). It must have taken place after 646 (it is mentioned just after the seventh council in Toledo in 646 by the Isidore`s continuator), but before 649 (Braulio`s letter 42; Lynch 1938: 62). Madoz (1941: 55-56) gives more precise dates 649-650.
 
Edition:
Edition:
Riesco Terrero, Luis ed. Epistolario de san Braulio. Annales de la Universidad Hispalense. Serie Filosofía y Letras, v. 31. Sevilla, 1975.
 
Translation:
C.W. Barlowe, Iberian Fathers, v. 2, Braulio of Saragossa, Fructuosus of Braga, Washington D. C. 1969.
Bibliography:
C.H. Lynch, Saint Braulio, bishop of Saragossa (631-651) his life and writings, Washington, D.C 1938 (see also Spanish translation revised by P. Galindo: C.H. Lynch, P. Galindo, San Braulio, obispo de Zaragoza: (631 - 651). Su vida y sus obras, Madrid 1950).
J. Madoz, Epistolario de San Braulio de Zaragoza: ed. crít. según el cód. 22 del Archivo capitular de León, Madrid 1941.
 

Categories:

Writing activity - Correspondence
Food/Clothes/Housing - Objects of luxury
Travel and change of residence
Described by a title - Presbyter/πρεσβύτερος
Described by a title - Abba
Described by a title - Titles of respect
Monastic or common life - Monastic superior (abbot/prior)
Reverenced by
Conflict
Relation with - Another presbyter
Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
Relation with - Brother/Sister
Education
Education - Theological interest
Devotion - Veneration of saints and relics
Devotion - Reading the Bible and devotional literature
Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER376, http://presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=376