Rusticus of Narbonne
Encyclopedia
Saint Rusticus of Narbonne (in French Saint Rustique) (d. 26 October perhaps 461) was a bishop of Narbonne and Catholic saint
of Gaul
, born either at Marseilles or at Narbonne
.
According to the Roman Martyrology
, when he had completed his education in Gaul, Rusticus went to Rome
, where he soon gained a reputation as a public speaker, but he wished to embrace the contemplative life. He wrote to Jerome
, who advised him to continue his studies, commending him to imitate the virtues of St. Exuperius
of Toulouse
and to follow the advice of Procule, then Bishop of Marseille.
Thus Rusticus entered the monastery
of St. Vincent of Lérins
. He was ordained at Marseilles, and on October 3, 430 (or 427) was consecrated Bishop of Narbonne. He was present at the First Council of Ephesus in 431 With all his zeal, he could not prevent the progress of the Arian
heresy which the Goths
were spreading abroad; there is evidence that an Arian rival bishop was established in Narbonne.
The siege of Narbonne by the Goths in 436 and dissensions among the Catholics so disheartened him that he wrote to Pope Leo I
, renouncing the bishopric
, but St. Leo dissuaded him (Epistle CLXVII).
Rusticus then endeavored to consolidate the Catholics. In 444-448, he rebuilt the church in Narbonne dedicated to Saint Genès of Arles
, which had burned in 441; in 451, he assisted at the convocation of forty-four bishops of Gaul and approved St. Leo's letter to Flavian
, concerning Nestorianism
; he was present also at a Council of Arles, with thirteen bishops, to decide the debate between Theodore, Bishop of Fréjus, and the Abbey of Lérins. He was one of the twelve bishops who assembled to elect Ravennius bishop of Arles in 449; a letter from Ravennius to Rusticus, proves the high esteem in which he was held. Rusticus' own letters are lost, with the exception of the one to St. Jerome and two others to St. Leo, written either in 452 or 458.
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
of Gaul
Gaul
Gaul was a region of Western Europe during the Iron Age and Roman era, encompassing present day France, Luxembourg and Belgium, most of Switzerland, the western part of Northern Italy, as well as the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the left bank of the Rhine. The Gauls were the speakers of...
, born either at Marseilles or at Narbonne
Narbonne
Narbonne is a commune in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. It lies from Paris in the Aude department, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Once a prosperous port, it is now located about from the shores of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
According to the Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology
The Roman Martyrology is the official martyrology of the Roman Rite of the Roman Catholic Church. It provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church.-History:...
, when he had completed his education in Gaul, Rusticus went to 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...
, where he soon gained a reputation as a public speaker, but he wished to embrace the contemplative life. He wrote to Jerome
Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome is a Christian church father, best known for translating the Bible into Latin.Saint Jerome may also refer to:*Jerome of Pavia , Bishop of Pavia...
, who advised him to continue his studies, commending him to imitate the virtues of St. Exuperius
Exuperius
Saint Exuperius was Bishop of Toulouse at the beginning of the 5th century.His place and date of birth are unknown. Upon succeeding Saint Sylvius as bishop of Toulouse, he completed the Basilica of St. Sernin, begun by his predecessor...
of Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
and to follow the advice of Procule, then Bishop of Marseille.
Thus Rusticus entered the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of St. Vincent of Lérins
Lérins Abbey
Lérins Abbey is a Cistercian monastery on the island of Saint-Honorat, one of the Lérins Islands, on the French Riviera, with an active monastic community....
. He was ordained at Marseilles, and on October 3, 430 (or 427) was consecrated Bishop of Narbonne. He was present at the First Council of Ephesus in 431 With all his zeal, he could not prevent the progress of the Arian
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
heresy which the Goths
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
were spreading abroad; there is evidence that an Arian rival bishop was established in Narbonne.
The siege of Narbonne by the Goths in 436 and dissensions among the Catholics so disheartened him that he wrote to Pope Leo I
Pope Leo I
Pope Leo I was pope from September 29, 440 to his death.He was an Italian aristocrat, and is the first pope of the Catholic Church to have been called "the Great". He is perhaps best known for having met Attila the Hun in 452, persuading him to turn back from his invasion of Italy...
, renouncing the bishopric
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, but St. Leo dissuaded him (Epistle CLXVII).
Rusticus then endeavored to consolidate the Catholics. In 444-448, he rebuilt the church in Narbonne dedicated to Saint Genès of Arles
Genesius of Arles
Saint Genesius of Arles was a notary martyred under Maximianus in 303 or 308. His Feast day is celebrated on August 25. He is honoured as the patron saint of notaries and secretaries, and invoked against chilblains and scurf...
, which had burned in 441; in 451, he assisted at the convocation of forty-four bishops of Gaul and approved St. Leo's letter to Flavian
Flavian
Flavian may refer to:* Any member of the Flavian dynasty of three Roman rulers of the late 1st century CE- Religious leaders:** Flavian of Ricina , bishop in Italy** Bishops or patriarchs in Asia:*** Flavian I of Antioch Flavian may refer to:* Any member of the Flavian dynasty of three Roman rulers...
, concerning Nestorianism
Nestorianism
Nestorianism is a Christological doctrine advanced by Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople from 428–431. The doctrine, which was informed by Nestorius's studies under Theodore of Mopsuestia at the School of Antioch, emphasizes the disunion between the human and divine natures of Jesus...
; he was present also at a Council of Arles, with thirteen bishops, to decide the debate between Theodore, Bishop of Fréjus, and the Abbey of Lérins. He was one of the twelve bishops who assembled to elect Ravennius bishop of Arles in 449; a letter from Ravennius to Rusticus, proves the high esteem in which he was held. Rusticus' own letters are lost, with the exception of the one to St. Jerome and two others to St. Leo, written either in 452 or 458.
Further reading
- Marrou, Henri-IreneeHenri-Irénée MarrouHenri-Irénée Marrou was a leading French historian of the mid-twentieth century. A Christian humanist in outlook, his work was primarily in the spheres of Late Antiquity and the history of education...
, "Le dossier epigraphique de l'eveque Rusticus de Narbonne," Rivista di archeologia cristiana 3-4 (1970) pp 331– 349.