Auxilius of Naples
Encyclopedia
Auxilius of Naples was an ecclesiastical writer. To him are attributed a series of writings that deal with the controversies concerning the succession and fate of Pope Formosus
(891-896), and especially the validity of the orders conferred by him. Auxilius was a Frank
, who was ordained a priest, or perhaps only a deacon
, in Rome
by Formosus, and lived later in southern Italy, apparently at Naples
.
, had ruled only fifteen days, Pope Stephen VI
(properly VII), one of the adherents of the party of the Duke of Spoleto, was raised to the Papal Chair. Stephen not only abused the memory of Formosus but also treated his body with indignity.
Stephen was strangled in prison in the summer of 897, and the six following popes (to May 904) owed their elevation to the struggles of the political parties. Christophorus, the last of them, was overthrown by Pope Sergius III
(May, 904-August, 911). Sergius had been a partisan of Stephen VI, and like the latter regarded the elevation of Formosus to the papacy as illegal and the orders conferred by him as null and void.
was the first to publish two of these writings in his "De ecclesiasticis ordinationibus" (Paris, 1665). They are entitled, "Libellus de ordinationibus a papâ Formoso factis", and "Tractatus qui Infensor et Defensor dicitur".
A third work of Auxilius, of similar import, was found by Mabillon and published by him under the title, "Libellus super causâ et negatio Formosi papæ", in his "Vetera Analecta". In his "Auxilius und Vulgarius", quoted below, Ernst Dümmler
published from a Bamberg
manuscript two further writings of Auxilius, one of which is known as "In defensionem sacræ ordinationis papæ Formosi libellus prior et posterior", while the other bears in the manuscript itself the title: "Libellus in defensionem Stephani episcopi et præfatæ ordinationis". (Stephen, Bishop of Naples had been consecrated by Pope Formosus.)
Still another treatise of an unknown author on behalf of Formosus, published by Bianchini
in his edition of the Liber Pontificalis
(1735, IV) is considered by Joseph Hergenröther
to be an extract from the writings of Auxilius, while Dümmler attributes it to Eugenius Vulgarius
, an Italian priest and a defender of Formosus. Two other compositions of Eugenius Vulgarius are known: "De causâ Formosianâ", and "Eugenius Vulgarius Petro Diacono fratri et amico".
All these writings take the position that the orders conferred by sinful and excommunicated bishops are not in themselves invalid. In a necrology of the Abbey of Monte Cassino is noted on 25 January the death of an Auxilius, deacon and monk, author of a commentary on Genesis. This Auxilius may possibly be the author of the works described above.
Pope Formosus
Pope Formosus was Pope of the Catholic Church from 891 to 896. His brief reign as Pope was troubled, and his remains were exhumed and put on trial in the notorious Cadaver Synod.-Biography:...
(891-896), and especially the validity of the orders conferred by him. Auxilius was a Frank
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
, who was ordained a priest, or perhaps only a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
, in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
by Formosus, and lived later in southern Italy, apparently at Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
.
Context
After the successor of Formosus, Pope Boniface VIPope Boniface VI
Pope Boniface VI, pope, a native of Rome, was elected in April 896 as a result of riots soon after the death of Pope Formosus. Prior to his reign, he had twice incurred a sentence of deprivation of orders, as a subdeacon and as a priest...
, had ruled only fifteen days, Pope Stephen VI
Pope Stephen VI
Pope Stephen VI was Pope from May 22, 896 to August 897.He had been made bishop of Anagni by Pope Formosus. The circumstances of his election are unclear, but he was sponsored by one of the powerful Roman families, the house of Spoleto, that contested the papacy at the time.Stephen is chiefly...
(properly VII), one of the adherents of the party of the Duke of Spoleto, was raised to the Papal Chair. Stephen not only abused the memory of Formosus but also treated his body with indignity.
Stephen was strangled in prison in the summer of 897, and the six following popes (to May 904) owed their elevation to the struggles of the political parties. Christophorus, the last of them, was overthrown by Pope Sergius III
Pope Sergius III
Pope Sergius III was a pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 29 January 904 to 14 April 911. Because Sergius III was possibly the only pope known to have ordered the murder of another pope and the only pope to have fathered an illegitimate son who later became pope , his reign has been described...
(May, 904-August, 911). Sergius had been a partisan of Stephen VI, and like the latter regarded the elevation of Formosus to the papacy as illegal and the orders conferred by him as null and void.
Works
Auxilius was a follower of Formosus, and in several works composed about 908-911, he made a courageous and learned defence, both of Formosus and of the validity of his orders and those of his adherents. MorinusMorinus
Morinus may refer to:*Jean-Baptiste Morin , French mathematician and astrologer*Jean Morin , French theologian...
was the first to publish two of these writings in his "De ecclesiasticis ordinationibus" (Paris, 1665). They are entitled, "Libellus de ordinationibus a papâ Formoso factis", and "Tractatus qui Infensor et Defensor dicitur".
A third work of Auxilius, of similar import, was found by Mabillon and published by him under the title, "Libellus super causâ et negatio Formosi papæ", in his "Vetera Analecta". In his "Auxilius und Vulgarius", quoted below, Ernst Dümmler
Ernst Dümmler
Ernst Ludwig Dümmler was a German historian.The son of Ferdinand Dümmler , a Berlin bookseller, Ernst Ludwig was born in Berlin...
published from a Bamberg
Bamberg
Bamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
manuscript two further writings of Auxilius, one of which is known as "In defensionem sacræ ordinationis papæ Formosi libellus prior et posterior", while the other bears in the manuscript itself the title: "Libellus in defensionem Stephani episcopi et præfatæ ordinationis". (Stephen, Bishop of Naples had been consecrated by Pope Formosus.)
Still another treatise of an unknown author on behalf of Formosus, published by Bianchini
Bianchini
Bianchini may refer to:* Bianchini * Angela Bianchini , Italian fiction writer and literary critic* Brian Bianchini , American male model* Francesco Bianchini , Italian philosopher and scientist...
in his edition of the Liber Pontificalis
Liber Pontificalis
The Liber Pontificalis is a book of biographies of popes from Saint Peter until the 15th century. The original publication of the Liber Pontificalis stopped with Pope Adrian II or Pope Stephen V , but it was later supplemented in a different style until Pope Eugene IV and then Pope Pius II...
(1735, IV) is considered by Joseph Hergenröther
Joseph Hergenröther
Joseph Hergenröther was a German Church historian and canonist, and the first Cardinal-Prefect of the Vatican Archives.-Biography:...
to be an extract from the writings of Auxilius, while Dümmler attributes it to Eugenius Vulgarius
Eugenius Vulgarius
Eugenius Vulgarius or Eugenio Vulgario was an Italian priest and poet.Eugenius' epithet may allude to his Bulgar heritage, and he may have been a descendant of the horde of Alzec that settled in the Molise in the seventh century and were still distinguishable by their language in the late eighth...
, an Italian priest and a defender of Formosus. Two other compositions of Eugenius Vulgarius are known: "De causâ Formosianâ", and "Eugenius Vulgarius Petro Diacono fratri et amico".
All these writings take the position that the orders conferred by sinful and excommunicated bishops are not in themselves invalid. In a necrology of the Abbey of Monte Cassino is noted on 25 January the death of an Auxilius, deacon and monk, author of a commentary on Genesis. This Auxilius may possibly be the author of the works described above.