shaving (48); for just as they ought to be discreet in their conduct, so ought they to appear discreet in their tonsure and in all their attire. These things we send to you, brothers, as you requested, to be observed; and we enjoin you to observe them, "so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father," B to whom be honor and dominion forever and ever. Given on the eighth day before the Kalends of June, in the consulship of the most illustrious men Gallicanus and Ruffinus.
By the shaving of the head is signified the open and pure life to which ecclesiastics ought to aspire. The second reason, according to Bede, book V of his *History of the English*, chapter 22, is that the thorny crown of Christ, which clergy ought especially to keep in memory, might be represented. The third is [that of] Isidore in his book *On the Offices of the Clergy*, and Rabanus, book II of his *On the Institution of the Clergy*, chapter 4, that it might signify the royal priesthood of Christ, whose stewards ought to be adorned with such a crown; or even that the ecclesiastical mind—which is in man as the crown of the head—ought to be denuded of vices, spoiled of the affection for superfluities, and finally open and ready to readily perceive divine inspirations. See Valentia on the aforesaid passages. But another cause, different from these, regarding the clerical tonsure is brought forward by Germanus, bishop of Constantinople, in these words: "The double crown placed around the head of the priest, by the significance of the hair, refers to the image of the venerable head of the Apostle Peter, for when he had been sent to preach the Lord and Master, it was shaved by those who did not believe his sermon, that he might be mocked by them; and Christ the Master blessed him; and He turned the infamy into honor, and the mockery into glory, C and placed a crown upon his head," etc. Whence it is evident that that which was inflicted upon the prince of the apostles as a cause of derision and ignominy has yielded to the honor of the whole Church. See Baronius, Bellarmine, Valentia, etc., in the cited places.
POPE SOTER
NOTICE
(From the *Pontifical Book* of Pope Damasus, in Mansi, *Concilia*, I, 687. — See *Patrologia Latina*, vol. CXXVII, col. 1240.)Soter, by nationality a Campanian, from his father Concordius, of the city of Fundi, sat for 9 years, 7 months, and 21 days. He existed in the times of Verus and Marcus, from the consulship of Rusticus and Aquilinus, up to [the time of] Cethegus and Clarus. He decreed that no nun should touch the sacred pallium, nor put incense in the holy church. He performed 3 ordinations, during the month of December, [ordaining] 18 presbyters, 9 deacons, and 11 bishops for diverse places. He was buried in the cemetery of Callistus, on the Appian Way, on the 10th day before the Kalends of May. And the episcopate ceased for 11 days.
POPE SOTER
FIRST EPISTLE
TO THE BISHOPS OF CAMPANIA
On the faith and incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ
Soter, D archbishop of the apostolic see, to all the Campanians, greeting in the Lord.
It behooves you to rejoice, brothers, that, by the bounty of divine grace, you are called the familiars of the Lord, and fulfill the dignity of His priesthood. Now, however, I ask you that you deign to labor for the peoples committed to you, and strive to bring back fruitful sheaves to the Lord. For the Apostle Paul speaks thus concerning the faith...
saying: "Which He had promised before by His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was made to Him of the seed of David according to the flesh." A Likewise, he says to the Galatians: "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent His Son, made of a woman, made under the law." And to the Philippians: "In the likeness of men made, and in habit found as man." And in Psalm XXIX: "My strength is weakened in poverty, and my bones have been disturbed, and I am become a reproach unto mine enemies." Likewise, there: "I am forgotten, as one dead from the heart. I am become as a lost vessel." And in the Septuagint: "I am become as a prodigy unto many, and Thou art my strong helper." And in the Seventy-second: "I am become as a beast before Thee, and I am always with Thee." And in the LXXXVI: "Mother Sion shall say, Man, and man is made in her, and the Highest Himself hath founded her." And in the LXXXVII: "I am become as a man without help, free among the dead." And in the CVII: "And I am become unto them a reproach; they have seen me, and have shaken their heads." And in the CI: "I have watched, and am become as a sparrow solitary on the house top." And in the Gospel: "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." B The Son, therefore, is said to be made according to the flesh. For according to His divinity, it is nowhere read that the Father was made, but begotten. For when the Father speaks, the Son speaks, and when the Son speaks, the Father is proven to be the one speaking in Him, with the Apostle Paul attesting, who says: "In many ways and in many manners at sundry times God spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all has spoken to us by His Son." And so that I may teach that the same Son, except by the command of the Father, was He who spoke, we bring forward the document from the volume of the prophet Isaiah: "Thus saith the Lord: In that day my people shall know that I am He who spoke with my servants the prophets, evangelizing the good tidings of peace, and lo, I am here." C Likewise, there: "I am the Lord who speak justice, and announce truth." Likewise, there: "I have thought, and I have spoken, and I have brought, and I have created, and I have made." And the Apostle: "Do you seek an experiment of Him that speaketh in me, Christ?" And in Psalm CXVIII: "I have spoken of Thy testimonies in the sight of kings, and I was not ashamed." And the Lord Himself in the Gospel says to the blind man once enlightened by Him: "And thou hast seen Him, and He that speaketh with thee, He it is." And to the Samaritan woman He says: "I am He, who speaketh with thee." And to the disciples: "The words that I have spoken to you, are spirit and life." And to the Father: "I am coming to Thee, and these things I speak in the world." D And again He says to the Jews: "I speak to you, and you do not believe. But if another shall come, him you will receive." And again: "This the Lord spoke in the treasury, teaching in the temple: and no man apprehended Him, because His hour was not yet come." Behold, in all these things which have been said above, it is not taught that the Son spoke by the command of the Father, but rather that He exercised His own word in speaking. Isaiah the prophet also says: "Thus saith the Lord: I have made the earth by My judgment, and man upon it: I have established the heaven with My hand, and I have commanded all their stars, that they should shine in heaven." Likewise, there: "I have set all My counsel, and all things whatsoever I have thought, I have done." Likewise, there: "Thus saith the Lord: Who established heaven and earth, and made it, and founded it." Likewise, there: "I am the first, and I am forever: My hand hath founded the earth, and My right hand hath established the heaven." And in Jeremiah: "I have made the earth in My great power and in My outstretched arm." Likewise, there: "The Lord hath made the earth by His great power, and hath raised up the orb of the earth in His wisdom, and by His prudence He hath stretched out the heaven, and hath placed the sound of water in heaven." Defend, most beloved, I beseech you, against malevolent men, the unshaken state of the Church, so that the right hand of Christ may defend you unto eternity. Given the Nones of May, in the consulship of the most illustrious men Rusticus and Aquilinus.
LETTER II
AD EPISCOPOS ITALIAE.
Ne feminæ sacra vasa vel sacras pallas contingant vel altaria incendant.To the most beloved brethren, the bishops constituted throughout the provinces of Italy, Pope Soter.
We are informed by divine precepts and apostolic warnings to watch with tireless affection for the state of all the Churches; and if anything anywhere is found to be subject to reproof, we recall it with swift solicitude from the ignorance of error and the usurpation of presumption. It has been reported to the apostolic see that women or nuns consecrated to God handle sacred vessels or sacred cloths among you, and offer incense around the altars; all of which is full of reproof and vituperation, and it is doubted by no one of sound judgment that this is wrong. Wherefore, by the authority of this holy see, we decree that you suppress all these things from the root as quickly as you are able; and lest this plague be divulged more widely through all the provinces, we command it to be wiped out most speedily. For the Apostle says: "For I have espoused you to one...
man, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." A For if the Church is a virgin, the spouse of the one man, Christ, who suffers herself to be corrupted by no error nor by any dishonorable reproach, so that throughout the whole world we may have one integrity of chaste communion. Wherefore arise, dearly beloved, with God, and stand your ground, putting on the armor of the Spirit against those who malign you against His faith; and let the spirit be tested wisely—that is, whether those words are from God. For it is written in Jeremiah: "I have set thee as a powerful trier in my people, and thou shalt know, and shalt prove their way." For vigilance, and the wisdom of discernment, are very necessary to us in such a mystery, which reveals the hidden things of darkness to the investigation of such a matter; for in a way it lies hidden and concealed, and is scarcely comprehended, being a crafty malice, because it cunningly flatters itself with piety, that it may be able to hide from the mind of those who are examining it. Knowing which same thing, the blessed Apostle says: "For such false apostles are deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder; B for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light; it is no great thing, therefore, if his ministers also transform themselves as the ministers of justice, whose end shall be according to their works." But even the Lord, in warning us of this, says: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. By their fruits you shall know them." Therefore, concerning this same matter, out of your whole heart, before all else, offer up your entreaty, and say with David: "Open my eyes, and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law. Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my paths." Because, as the blessed prophet Daniel says: "His wisdom and strength are such. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and hidden things, and knows what is set in darkness, and light is with him. Because thou hast given me wisdom and strength, and hast showed me what I asked of thee." C
Given on the 10th of the Kalends of June, in the consulship of Cethegus and Clarus, most illustrious men.
Decrees of Pope Soter, according to Gratian, which are not found in the earlier decretal
epistles.
An evil oath which is rashly sworn is not to be kept.
17. If it should happen that we have sworn anything too rashly, which, if observed, would result in a worse outcome, we must know that it is to be altered by wholesome counsel, and that it is better in the face of necessity to perjure ourselves than, because of the oath taken, to divert into another, greater crime.
Whoever is celebrating the sacrifice should have a priest who can complete the
initiated sacraments, if necessity should arise.
18. In order that each may guard against that divine oracular warning, where it is written: "Woe to him that is alone, for when he falls, he has not another to lift him up," we must above all take care and guard against this, that in those hours and times when God is being praised or sacrifice is being offered, should any harmful affliction or any bodily infirmity occur to anyone who is individually occupied in divine offices—the kind which might cause the body to collapse suddenly, or upset the mind with alienation or terror—we judge it necessary to ordain that, wherever the availability of time or of the clergy permits, whoever it is that is singing to God and sacrificing should have a local helper of solitude behind him, so that if by any chance he who comes forward to perform the D offices should be disturbed or laid low to the ground, he may always have someone behind him who can follow in his place without fear and finish the begun office. We have therefore judged it fitting that, when the sacred mysteries are being consecrated by priests at the time of the Mass, if any event of sickness happens, whereby the mystery that has been begun cannot be completed, it should be free for a bishop or presbyter or another to complete the consecration of the office begun. For nothing else is suitable for the completion of the mysteries once initiated than the benediction of the priest who is either initiating or succeeding: because they cannot be seen as perfect unless they are completed in the order of perfection; for since we are all one in Christ, diversity forms nothing contrary, where the unity of faith represents the efficacy of prosperity. And that this is also intended—that it is a matter of command to all the order of the clergy, and that it is not something left to doubt—but, as has been premised in what precedes, let others immediately succeed for the completion. Yet, lest that which is consulted for the sake of the weakness of nature be turned into the ruin of presumption, let no one offer Masses after bread and drink, or anything whatsoever that has been consumed, and let no minister or priest, without the arrival of manifest trouble, dare to leave the offices imperfect. If anyone shall have rashly presumed these things, he shall sustain the sentence of excommunication.