Letter 42: He asks him to deal with the imposture of a certain Petronianus. Leo the Pope to his well-beloved brother Ravennius. We wish you to be circumspect and careful lest any blameworthy presumption should put forth undue claims: for, when it once finds an entrance by crafty stealth, it spreads itself into greater rashness in the name of the dignity it...

To Ravennius, Bishop of Arles. He asks him to deal with the imposture of a certain Petronianus. Leo the Pope to his beloved brother Ravennius. We want you to be watchful and careful so that no blameworthy presumption leads to unwarranted claims — for once such a thing finds an opening through cunning stealth, it grows into ever greater boldness under the cover of the rank it has assumed. We have learned from the reliable testimony of your clergy that a certain wandering vagabond named Petronianus has been boasting throughout the provinces of Gaul that he is our deacon, and under cover of this office has been going around the various churches of the region. We ask you, beloved brother, to put a stop to his outrageous fraud by exposing his imposture. Warn the bishops of the entire district and expel him from communion with all the churches, so that he cannot continue his pretense. The Lord keep you safe, dearly beloved brother. Dated August 26, in the consulship of the illustrious Asturius and Protogenes (449).

To Ravennius, Bishop of Arles. He asks him to deal with the imposture of a certain Petronianus. Leo the Pope to his well-beloved brother Ravennius. We wish you to be circumspect and careful lest any blameworthy presumption should put forth undue claims: for, when it once finds an entrance by crafty stealth, it spreads itself into greater rashness in the name of the dignity it has assumed. We have learned, on the trustworthy evidence of your clergy, that a certain wandering and vagabond Petronianus has boasted himself throughout the provinces of Gaul as our deacon, and under cover of this office is going about the various churches of that country. We desire you, beloved brother, so to check his abominable effrontery, as to disclose his imposture, by warning the bishops of the whole district, and to expel him from communion with all the Churches, lest he continue his claim. The Lord keep you safe, dearly beloved brother. Dated 26th, August, in the consulship of the illustrious Asturius and Protogenes (449). About this page Source. Translated by Charles Lett Feltoe. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3604042.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.