jeudi 26 novembre 2015

Saint SIRICE (SIRICIUS), Pape


Saint Sirice

Pape (38 ème) de 384 à 399 ( 399)

Pape qui, par ses nombreuses lettres aux Eglises d'Afrique, d'Espagne, de Gaule et d'Italie signifiait qu'en lui "le bienheureux Pierre de Rome portait le fardeau de tous ceux qui ont charge d'âmes". On dit que ce fut lui qui introduisit la prière du "communicantes" dans la liturgie eucharistique. Peut aussi s'écrire Cirice.

À Rome, au cimetière de Priscille sur la nouvelle voie Salarienne, en 399, saint Sirice, pape, dont saint Ambroise a fait l’éloge comme d’un maître, parce que, portant le fardeau de tous les évêques, il leur enseigna les décisions des Pères, qu’il sanctionna de l’autorité apostolique.


Martyrologe romain


Saint Sirice (384-399)

Né à Rome. Il fut le premier à adopter le surnom de pape.

Il prescrit le célibat pour les prêtres et diacres. Ce fui encore qui décida que l’ordination des prêtres ne pourrait être célébrée que par des évêques.

Sirice fut un homme énergique qui se fit respecter de tous et en toutes circonstances.

SOURCE : http://eglise.de.dieu.free.fr/liste_des_papes_03.htm

Saint Sirice, élu pape le 1er janvier 385, fils de Tiburce, et Romain de naissance, succéda à saint Damase. Son élection fut approuvée par Valentinien Ier, qui résidait alors à Milan. Il avait eu pour compétiteur Ursin ou Ursicin, qui avait déjà annoncé ses prétentions sous le pontificat précédent, mais qui fut écarté tout d'une voix. Saint Sirice ne tarda pas à justifier la préférence qu'on lui avait donnée, en répondant à Ilimerius, évêque de Tarragone, sur plusieurs points de doctrine qu'il avait soumis à la décision de saint Damase, avec une pureté de foi et une fermeté de principes qui ne laissaient rien à désirer. Cette lettre est la première des décisions de ce genre émanées de l'autorité du souverain pontife ; elle contient des préceptes remarquables sur l'administration des sacrements du baptême, de la pénitence et de la prêtrise. Ils ont servi de base à tout ce qui a été pratiqué depuis.

      Saint Sirice eut à combattre les hérésies qui, de son temps, affligeaient l'Eglise catholique, telles que celles des novatiens, des donatiens et des priscillanistes. Il contribua beaucoup, avec l'empereur Théodose, à réprimer les manichéens. Le schisme de l'Eglise d'Antioche l'affligea vivement ; et sa prudence autant que sa fermeté contribuèrent efficacement à l'éteindre. Saint Sirice gouverna dignement l'Eglise pendant treize ans huit mois dix-neuf jours, et mourut dans une extrême vieillesse, le 03 novembre 399. On lui reproche néanmoins de n'avoir pas conservé auprès de lui saint Jérôme, ainsi que l'avait fait saint Damase, et de n'avoir pas poursuivi avec assez de rigueur les erreurs d'Origène. Baronius l'accuse aussi très injustement d'avoir négligé les choses de la foi. Toutes ces accusations ont été pleinement réfutées. Il assembla plusieurs synodes, un à Rome, un à Capoue et un troisième à Milan. Plusieurs de ses épîtres ont été conservées. L'Eglise honore sa mémoire le 26 novembre. Il eut pour successeur saint Anastase Ier.  (Biographie universelle ancienne et moderne - Tome 39 - Page 413)



Siricius
384-399

Le pape Sirice succéda à Damase 1er, et fut ainsi le trente-huitième pape.

Son père, romain, s’appelait Tiburtius.

Siricius avait débuté sous le pape Libère et servi sous Damase.

Il fut occupé par différentes questions, tant en Occident qu’en Orient, validement aidé et conseillé par l’alors évêque de Milan, saint Ambroise.

En Occident, il adressa à l’évêque de Tarragone un document qui commence ainsi : Nous portons le fardeau de tous ceux qui sont chargés ; ou plutôt c’est le bienheureux apôtre Pierre qui le porte en nous. L’expression est heureuse pour illustrer la fonction du Primat romain.

Dans la question du priscillianisme, Sirice se prononce contre le supplice des priscillianistes, mais accepte leur conversion et demande aux évêques espagnols de recevoir les pénitents.

En Orient, Sirice (et Ambroise) travaillèrent à la pacification lors du schisme de Mélèce d’Antioche ; le pape condamne ensuite l’hérésie d’un certain Bonose, évêque de Naïssus dans les Balkans, qui prétendait que Marie avait eu d’autres enfants que Jésus-Christ.

Il y eut aussi une fameuse diatribe entre saint Jérôme et Rufin à propos d’Origène ; Sirice prudemment ne voulut pas s’immiscer dans cette querelle exégétique : il respecta Jérôme, mais ne condamna jamais Rufin.

Sirice ordonna trente-deux évêques, trente-et-un prêtres et seize diacres, et procéda à la dédicace de la basilique Saint-Paul-hors-les-murs.

Il mourut le 26 novembre 399, après un pontificat de près de quinze ans et fut inhumé au cimetière de Priscilla, sur la via Salaria.

Son successeur fut saint Anastase 1er.

Saint Sirice est au Martyrologe romain depuis 1748, le 26 novembre. 

SOURCE : http://www.samuelephrem.eu/article-siricius-111976303.html

Pape Saint Sirice 

( 384-398 )


En l’an 385, dans sa lettre à l'évêque de Tarragone, le pape saint Sirice montre aussi comment la croyance dans l'Eglise primitive rejetait toute notion de baptême de désir.

Pape Saint Sirice, Lettre à Himérius, 385 :

« Sans vouloir cependant amoindrir le respect sacré qui s'attache à Pâques, Nous prescrivons d'administrer sans délai le baptême aux enfants qui, du fait de leur âge, ne peuvent pas encore parler, ou aux personnes qui se trouvent dans une nécessité quelconque de recevoir l’EAU du saint baptême, de peur qu'il ne s'ensuive un détriment pour nos âmes si, par suite de notre refus de la fontaine du salut à ceux qui le désiraient, certains mourants venaient à perdre le Royaume et la vie. Quiconque de même se trouve menacé d'un naufrage, d'une invasion ennemie, ou de quelque maladie mortelle, demandent ce qui dans leur foi est leur seul aide, qu'il soit admis, aussitôt qu'il le demande, au bénéfice de la régénération sollicitée. L'erreur jusqu'ici dans ce domaine doit suffire ; à présent que tous les prêtres s'en tiennent à la règle susdite, s'ils ne veulent pas être arrachés à la solidité du roc apostolique sur lequel le Christ a construit toute l'Eglise. » [1]
[ Note de la-foi.fr : Même si l’édition de la version française du Denzinger d’où est tirée la citation ci-dessus a bien traduit le mot latin ‘fonte salutari’ par ‘fontaine du salut’ – qui indique clairement la présence d’eau, elle n’a toutefois pas écrit le mot ‘EAU’ dans la phrase ‘recevoir l’EAU du saint baptême’ . C’est une erreur de traduction ( ou une volonté de l’auteur de ne pas confirmer cette vérité ? ). Car la phrase originale en latin de cette portion mal traduite ‘de recevoir le saint baptême’ est ‘opus fuerit sacri unda baptismatis’ . Le mot latin ‘unda’ veut dire ‘eau’. http://fr.wiktionary.org/wiki/unda ]

Cette citation du pape St Sirice est frappante car elle montre encore clairement que l’ Église primitive rejetait la croyance du concept du baptême de désir. Le pape commence par affirmer que le respect du temps pascal ne devrait pas être amoindri. ( Il fait référence au fait que les baptêmes étaient historiquement conférés durant la période pascale ). Après avoir affirmé que cette tradition devait être maintenue, il prévient que les nourrissons et ceux se trouvant dans n’importe quelle nécessité ou danger devaient être immédiatement baptisés pour ne pas perdre le Royaume et la vie pour s’être fait refusés la fontaine du salut qu’ils désiraient. Car le latin de ce passage critique ‘si, par suite de notre refus de la fontaine du salut à ceux qui le désiraient, certains mourants venaient à perdre le Royaume et la vie’ est ‘... ne ad nostrarum perniciem tendat animaram, si negato desiderantibus fonte salutari exiens unusquisque de saeculo et regnum perdat et vitam[2]

En d'autres termes, l'homme qui désire le baptême d'eau et sollicite ( supplie ) la régénération, se verra toujours refusé le ciel s'il ne le reçoit pas ! Rien ne peut rejeter plus clairement la théorie du baptême de désir ! ( ça prouve aussi que le retard pris pour baptiser les adultes consistait à l'instruction et à l'essai des catéchumènes ; non pas parce qu’il était cru que ces catéchumènes pouvaient être sauvés sans baptême ).

Ce point est réappuyé par le pape dans la seconde moitié de la citation, où il dit que lorsque ces personnes non-baptisées : ‘demandent ce qui dans leur foi est leur seul aide, qu'il soit admis, aussitôt qu'il le demande, au bénéfice de la régénération sollicitée.’ Ça signifie que recevoir le baptême d'eau est la seule aide au salut de ces personnes qui souhaitent ardemment recevoir le baptême ! Il n'y a aucune aide au salut de ces personnes dans leur désir ou leur martyre : c’est seulement en recevant le sacrement du baptême !

Notes :

[1] Denzinger – Symboles et définitions de la Foi catholique – Enchiridion Symbolorum , éditions du Cerf, 1996, référence 184.

[2] Latin dans Denzinger – Symboles et définitions de la Foi catholique – Enchiridion Symbolorum , éditions du Cerf, 1996, référence 184.

Frère Peter Dimond - du livre : Hors de l’Eglise Catholique = Absolument Pas de Salut’


Siricius, Pope (RM)

Born in Rome, Italy; died there, November 26, 399; added to the Roman Martyrology by Pope Benedict XIV. Son of Tiburtius, Siricius became a deacon, known for his learning and piety. He was elected pope in December 384, succeeding Pope Saint Damasus. Siricius's pontificate was marked by his denunciation of the monk Jovinian who denied the perpetual virginity of Mary and for a decretal Siricius sent to Bishop Himerius of Tarragona (Spain) requiring married priests to desist from cohabitation with their wives; this is the earliest insistence on clerical celibacy and also the earliest papal decree that has survived in its entirety. He supported Saint Martin of Tours by excommunicating Felix of Trier for his role in bringing about the execution of Priscillian by the emperor (Attwater, Benedictines, Coulson, Delaney, Encyclopedia)


Pope St. Siricius

(384-99).

Born about 334; died 26 November, 399, Siricius was a native of Rome; his father's name was Tiburtius. Siricius entered the service of the Church at an early age and, according to the testimony of the inscription on his grave, was lector and then deacon of the Roman Church during the pontificate of Liberius (352-66). After the death of Damasus, Siricius was unanimously elected his successor (December, 384) and consecrated bishop probably on 17 December. Ursinus, who had been a rival to Damasus (366), was alive and still maintained his claims. However, the Emperor Valentinian III, in a letter to Pinian (23 Feb., 385), gave his consent to the election that had been held and praised the piety of the newly-elected bishop; consequently no difficulties arose. Immediately upon his elevation Siricius had occasion to assert his primacy over the universal Church. A letter, in which questions were asked on fifteen different points concerning baptism, penance, church discipline, and the celibacy of the clergy, came to Rome addressed to Pope Damasus by Bishop Himerius of Tarragona, Spain. Siricius answered this letter on 10 February, 385, and gave the decisions as to the matters in question, exercising with full consciousness his supreme power of authority in the Church (Coustant, "Epist. Rom. Pont.", 625 sq.). This letter of Siricius is of special importance because it is the oldest completely preserved papal decretal (edict for the authoritative decision of questions of discipline and canon law). It is, however, certain that before this earlier popes had also issued such decretals, for Siricius himself in his letter mentions "general decrees" of Liberius that the latter had sent to the provinces; but these earlier ones have not been preserved. At the same time the pope directed Himerius to make known his decrees to the neighbouring provinces, so that they should also be observed there. This pope had very much at heart the maintenance of Church discipline and the observance of canons by the clergy and laity. A Roman synod of 6 January, 386, at which eighty bishops were present, reaffirmed in nine canons the laws of the Church on various points of discipline (consecration of bishops, celibacy, etc.). The decisions of the council were communicated by the pope to the bishops of North Africa and probably in the same manner to others who had not attended the synod, with the command to act in accordance with them. Another letter which was sent to various churches dealt with the election of worthy bishops and priests. A synodal letter to the Gallican bishops, ascribed by Coustant and others to Siricius, is assigned to Pope Innocent I by other historians (P.L., XIII, 1179 sq.). In all his decrees the pope speaks with the consciousness of his supreme ecclesiastical authority and of his pastoral care over all the churches.

Siricius was also obliged to take a stand against heretical movements. A Roman monk Jovinian came forward as an opponent of fasts, good works, and the higher merit of celibate life. He found some adherents among the monks and nuns of Rome. About 390-392 the pope held a synod at Rome, at which Jovinian and eight of his followers were condemned and excluded from communion with the Church. The decision was sent to St. Ambrose, the great Bishop of Milan and a friend of Siricius. Ambrose now held a synod of the bishops of upper Italy which, as the letter says, in agreement with his decision also condemned the heretics. Other heretics including Bishop Bonosus of Sardica (390), who was also accused of errors in the dogma of the Trinity, maintained the false doctrine that Mary was not always a virgin. Siricius and Ambrose opposed Bonosus and his adherents and refuted their false views. The pope then left further proceedings against Bonosus to the Bishop of Thessalonica and the other Illyrian bishops. Like his predecessor Damasus, Siricius also took part in the Priscillian controversy; he sharply condemned the episcopal accusers of Priscillian, who had brought the matter before the secular court and had prevailed upon the usurper Maximus to condemn to death and execute Priscillian and some of his followers. Maximus sought to justify his action by sending to the pope the proceedings in the case. Siricius, however, excommunicated Bishop Felix of Trier who supported Ithacius, the accuser of Priscillian, and in whose city the execution had taken place. The pope addressed a letter to the Spanish bishops in which he stated the conditions under which the converted Priscillians were to be restored to communion with the Church.

According to the life in the "Liber Pontificalis" (ed. Duchesne, I, 216), Siricius also took severe measures against the Manichæans at Rome. However, as Duchesne remarks (loc. cit., notes) it cannot be assumed from the writings of the converted Augustine, who was a Manichæan when he went to Rome (383), that Siricius took any particular steps against them, yet Augustine would certainly have commented on this if such had been the case. The mention in the "Liber Pontificalis" belongs properly to the life of Pope Leo I. Neither is it probable, as Langen thinks (Gesch. der röm. Kirche, I, 633), that Priscillians are to be understood by this mention of Manichæans, although probably Priscillians were at times called Manichæans in the writings of that age. The western emperors, including Honorius and Valentinian III, issued laws against the Manichæans, whom they declared to be political offenders, and took severe action against the members of this sect (Codex Theodosian, XVI, V, various laws). In the East Siricius interposed to settle the Meletian schism at Antioch; this schism had continued notwithstanding the death in 381 of Meletius at the Council of Constantinople. The followers of Meletius elected Flavian as his successor, while the adherents of Bishop Paulinus, after the death of this bishop (388), elected Evagrius. Evagrius died in 392 and through Flavian's management no successor was elected. By the mediation of St. John Chrysostom and Theophilus of Alexandria an embassy, led by Bishop Acacius of Beroea, was sent to Rome to persuade Siricius to recognize Flavian and to readmit him to communion with the Church.

At Rome the name of Siricius is particularly connected with the basilica over the grave of St. Paul on the Via Ostiensis which was rebuilt by the emperor as a basilica of five aisles during the pontificate of Siricius and was dedicated by the pope in 390. The name of Siricius is still to be found on one of the pillars that was not destroyed in the fire of 1823, and which now stands in the vestibule of the side entrance to the transept. Two of his contemporaries describe the character of Siricius disparagingly. Paulinus of Nola, who on his visit to Rome in 395 was treated in a guarded manner by the pope, speaks of the urbici papæ superba discretio, the haughty policy of the Roman bishop (Epist., V, 14). This action of the pope is, however, explained by the fact that there had been irregularities in the election and consecration of Paulinus (Buse, "Paulin von Nola", I, 193). Jerome, for his part, speaks of the "lack of judgment" of Siricius (Epist., cxxvii, 9) on account of the latter's treatment of Rufinus of Aquileia, to whom the pope had given a letter when Rufinus left Rome in 398, which showed that he was in communion with the Church. The reason, however, does not justify the judgment which Jerome expressed against the pope; moreover, Jerome in his polemical writings often exceeds the limits of propriety. All that is known of the labours of Siricius refutes the criticism of the caustic hermit of Bethlehem. The "Liber Pontificalis" gives an incorrect date for his death; he was buried in the cæmeterium of Priscilla on the Via Salaria. The text of the inscription on his grave is known (De Rossi, "Inscriptiones christ. urbis Romæ", II, 102, 138). His feast is celebrated on 26 November. His name was inserted in the Roman Martyrology by Benedict XIV.

Sources

Liber Pontif., ed; DUCHESNE, I, 216-17; COUSTANT, Epist. Roman. Pont., I; JAFFÉ, Reg. Pont. Rom., I, 2nd ed, 40-42; BABUT, La plus ancienne Décrétale (PARIS, 1904); LANGEN, Gesch. der röm. Kirche, I (Bonn, 1881), 611 sqq.; RAUSCHEN, Jahrb. der christl. Kirche (Freiburg, 1897); GRISAR, Gesch. Roms u. der Päpste, I, passim; HEFELE, Konziliengesch., II, 2nd ed., 45-48, 51.

Kirsch, Johann Peter. "Pope St. Siricius." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 26 Nov. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14026a.htm>.


Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Kenneth M. Caldwell. Dedicated to the memory of Jun Ho Park.


Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. July 1, 1912. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.

SOURCE : http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14026a.htm

San Siricio Papa


Sec. IV

(Papa dal 12/384 al 26/11/399)

Romano, è considerato il primo Papa ad affermare il primato e l'autorità del <maggior Pietro> su tutta la Chiesa. Promosse la ricostruzione della basilica di San Paolo.

Martirologio Romano: A Roma nel cimitero di Priscilla sulla via Salaria nuova, san Siricio, papa, che sant’Ambrogio loda come vero maestro, in quanto, portando il fardello di tutti coloro che sono gravati della responsabilità episcopale, li istruì negli insegnamenti dei Padri, che confermò anche con la sua autorità apostolica.

La figura di San Siricio Papa, venne a lungo offuscata dal giudizio negativo che, sul suo conto, emerge dalle opere del grande San Girolamo, cioè di un personaggio per molti versi eccezionale soprattutto per la sua prodigiosa cultura ma facile ai giudizi avventati, ispirati a personale simpatia o antipatia, come ben sa chi ne abbia letto le vivacissime Lettere.

Si può dire che la scarsa simpatia del grande studioso sul conto del Papa Siricio abbia pesato su questo personaggio per quasi quattordici secoli, perché soltanto nel 1748 San Siricio fu accolto nel Martirologio Romano dal Papa Benedetto XIV.
Questi era abbastanza ferrato, come storico e come canonista, da poter dissentire dalle secolari prevenzioni di San Girolamo!

Siricio fu successore di San Damaso, e resse il pontificato dal 383 al 399.Damaso era stato il grande protettore di San Girolamo, ma Siricio ebbe anch'egli un fortissimo campione al quale appoggiarsi, e la sua scelta fu quanto mai saggia, perché cadde su Sant'Ambrogio, Vescovo di Milano.

Milano era ormai la capitale dell'Impero di Occidente, e il Vescovo Ambrogio vi aveva raggiunto un'autorità senza precedenti. Un Papa più meschinamente geloso avrebbe esitato a rafforzare il prestigio di quel personaggio dinanzi al quale il Vescovo di Roma rischiava di passare in seconda linea.

Invece, il romano Siricio, desideroso soprattutto del bene della Chiesa, affidò ad Ambrogio buona parte della direzione degli affari ecclesiastici, facendone quasi un socio nel governo della Chiesa. Da parte sua, Ambrogio non approfittò di tale posizione e restò sempre in deferente atteggiamento nei confronti del Vescovo di Roma.

San Siricio, da parte sua, fu il Pontefice della moderazione e dell'equilibrio. Si sentiva veramente padre - o meglio servo - di tutti i fedeli, e rifuggiva dai particolarismi che spesso dividevano le varie Chiese. " Noi - diceva con bellissima espressione - portiamo il fardello di tutti coloro che sono gravati; o piuttosto è il beato Apostolo Pietro che lo porta in noi ".

Il focoso San Girolamo, che si lanciava come una catapulta contro gli avversari veri o supposti, non poteva andar d'accordo con quel Papa nemico degli estremismi e dell'intemperanze. Si allontanò infatti da Roma per ritirarsi, asceta macerato e studioso insonne, in una grotta presso Betlemme, dove a buon conto ebbe per compagno, simbolico animale!, un ringhioso leone.

Eppure anche Girolamo, nel suo giostrare di infaticabile polemista, si trovava al fianco, di quando in quando, proprio il Papa Siricio, moderato e moderatore, ma non per questo tardo a difendere la verità e la giustizia.

Questo Papa non ambizioso né invidioso che sentiva veramente, sulle sue vecchie spalle, il fardello della universale comunità dei credenti, l'eredità gravosa di Pietro, di colui cioè che scioglie, ma è legato; che apre, ma è prigioniero.


SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/90423

Fonte:
Archivio Parrocchia