Sermon on the Life of Honoratus

Contents

Reading pages: 1–22 · 23–39

1. 1Hilary opens his sermon on the anniversary of Honoratus's death, saying that no words are adequate to such a man.
2. 2Torn between praise and grief, Hilary relies on his hearers' own memories of Honoratus.
3. 3Hilary explains why the dead may be praised and says he speaks of Honoratus not from confidence in his eloquence but from his hearers' love.
4. 4Hilary passes over Honoratus's consular family, since Christians are ennobled only by being sons of God.
5. 5Honoratus sought baptism as a youth against his father's resistance, and even as a catechumen honoured the clergy and gave to the poor.
6. 6Honoratus's father tried to hold him back with worldly pleasures.
7. 7The young Honoratus resolves to flee worldly pleasures and take Christ as his treasure.
8. 8Honoratus is converted to the ascetic life, changing his dress and appearance; his father's opposition fails, for he loves God first.
9. 9Honoratus's elder brother Venantius joined him, and the two vied in asceticism and hospitality, so that their home became a school even for bishops.
10. 10The fame of the two brothers' life spread in spite of their efforts to hide it; fearing vanity, they longed for the desert.
11. 11The brothers resolve to leave their country; their homeland and kin resist in tears, and they sell their property and give it to the poor.
12. 12Honoratus and Venantius leave their homeland like Abraham, taking the elder Caprasius as their guide, and their fame follows them.
13. 13The church of Marseilles nearly kept Honoratus, but he and his brother sailed on to the East, edifying the churches by their example.
14. 14In Greece Venantius died at Methone and was buried with psalms by Hebrews, Greeks, and Latins alike.
15. 15Returning through Italy, Honoratus settled on the island of Lérins near Bishop Leontius of Fréjus; trusting the promises of Scripture, he faced its serpents without harm.
16. 16Honoratus founded a monastery at Lérins and, though he had long avoided it, was ordained presbyter, keeping his monastic humility.
17. 17Lérins grew into a great monastery drawing men from every nation; Honoratus transformed their characters by his exhortation, prayer, and discerning guidance.
18. 18Honoratus watched over each monk's needs, health, and quarrels with fatherly care, lightening the yoke of Christ for all.
19. 19Monks of many nations were united in love for Honoratus, whose moods, as Salvian wrote, were like a sun to the community.
20. 20Honoratus welcomed every visitor to the island with joy, and gave away freely whatever was entrusted to him, keeping only daily food and clothing.
21. 21Once he gave away his last gold coin to a poor man, saying that someone would soon bring more, and within hours a gift arrived; he also distributed alms through many trusted agents.
22. 22Honoratus's letters were treasured; Eucherius said of one written on a wax tablet that he had 'given the wax back its honey'.
23. 23Hilary tells how Honoratus came back to their homeland to win him for Christ, and how, after resisting, he was converted through Honoratus's prayers.
24. 24Honoratus received the converted Hilary with tears, brought him to the desert, and trained him with great love.
25. 25Hilary asks how the church of Arles came to choose as bishop a man unknown to it, and answers that God brought it about.
26. 26Hilary recalls Honoratus's vigilance, serenity, and love, which Eucherius said would be painted in Honoratus's face.
27. 27His exhortations healed every kind of fault; made all things to all, he seemed to possess each grace as though it were his only one.
28. 28As bishop of Arles he first restored concord after a divided election, ruled by love rather than fear, and gave away the church's accumulated treasure.
29. 29Honoratus preached on Epiphany despite his illness and died a few days later, never a burden to others.
30. 30Dying, Honoratus comforted his monks, neither desiring nor fearing death, and settled all his affairs.
31. 31Honoratus rebuked Hilary's weeping and said that great men suffer much to teach others to suffer.
32. 32On his deathbed Honoratus exhorted the officials of Arles not to fear death, to war against the vices of the body, and to despise riches.
33. 33Even at the end Honoratus sent greetings to his friends, foresaw that his community would hold together, and answered his anxious monks with gentle humour.
34. 34Honoratus died peacefully in his sleep; many had visions of the saints coming to meet him, and the church filled at midnight to receive his body.
35. 35At his funeral the people crowded to kiss his body and took fringes of his garments; Hilary trusts in his patronage in heaven.
36. 36Hilary, elected as Honoratus's successor, sees God's hand in the way Honoratus trained him and drew him from the island to Arles, and prays to follow his ways.
37. 37Honoratus's life itself was a continual sign, though he avoided miracles; a martyr in peace, worn by a daily cross, he bore the fruits of the Spirit and ascribed all his good to God.
38. 38Honoratus delighted in prayer and psalms even in sleep, longed for martyrdom, and taught the Trinity with great clarity.
39. 39Hilary closes by asking Honoratus, now with the Lamb, to intercede for his church.