Folio 94

Council of Chalcedon, 451

printed p. 62 · pdf p. 94

The Primacy of the Roman Pontiff1

[From the epistles of the Synod "Repletum est gaudio" to Leo the Pope, at the beginning of November, 451]

149. For if where two or three are gathered together in His name, there He says He is in the midst of them, how great an intimacy did He show with regard to the five hundred and twenty consecrated men, who preferred to both native land and to labor the knowledge of confession for Him. Over these you ruled as a head over the members, among those holding office, displaying your good will.

[The more ancient version.] For if where two or three are gathered together in his name, there he says he is in the midst of them [cf. Matt. 18:20], how great an intimacy will He show in regard to the five hundred and twenty priests, who have preferred to both native land and to labor the knowledge of confession for Him. Over these you ruled as a head over the members, among those holding office, displaying your good will.

149*. The words of St. LEO himself regarding the primacy of the Roman Pontiff, see Kch n. 891–901

The Ordination of the Clergy2

[From "Ancient Statutes of the Church," or "Ancient Statutes of the East"]

150. Can. 2 (90). When a bishop is ordained, let two bishops place (expose) and hold the book of the Gospels above his head, and while one pours forth the benediction upon him, let all the remaining bishops, who are present, touch his head with their hands.

151. Can. 3 (91). When a priest is ordained, while the bishop is blessing

  1. ML 54, 952 B (Greek text) 959 C (Latin text); cf. Hrd II 655 f.; Msi VI 147 ff. 155; Hfl II 545 ff. ↩

  2. ML 56, 887 C f. (Ball. Append. Opp. Leon. I); Msi III 951 A f. (Hrd I 979).— These canons were once falsely ascribed to a certain Council of CARTHAGE IV (398), which is now considered as certainly never to have been held. They seem to have arisen after the beginning of the Pelagian and Monophysite heresies, but before the end of the sixth century. In fact they are cited as "Instituta seniorum" in the acts which are said to be of some Council of Arles but which was not held. Their author or composer is now thought to be Caesarius, Bishop of Arles (502–542). —Cf. the prayer, used on Feria VI in Holy Week, in which the same series of orders is placed in such a way, however, that the psalmists or cantors are called "confessor": "Let us pray for all Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Subdeacons, Acolytes, Exorcists, Lectors, Porters, Confessors, Virgins, Widows." ↩