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{{Augustine}}
{{Short description|Bischop of Calama and friend of Augustine}}
{{Infobox saint
|honorific_prefix = [[Saint]]
⚫
|name = Possidius
|birth_date =
|death_date = c. 437
|feast_day = May 16
|venerated_in= [[Catholic Church]]
|image =
|imagesize =
|caption =
|birth_place= Northern Africa
|death_place= [[Apulia]]
|titles = Bishop of Calama
|beatified_date=
|beatified_place=
|beatified_by=
|canonized_date= August 19, 1672
|canonized_place=
|canonized_by= [[Pope Clement X]]
|attributes=
|patronage=
|major_shrine=
|suppressed_date=
|issues=
|prayer=
⚫
}}


'''Possidius''' (5th century) was a friend of [[Saint Augustine of Hippo]] who wrote a reliable biography and an ''indiculus'' or list of his works. He was bishop of [[Guelma|Calama]] in the [[Roman province]] of [[Numidia]].
'''Possidius''' (5th century) was a friend of [[Augustine of Hippo]] who wrote a reliable biography and an ''indiculus'' or list of his works. He was bishop of [[Calama (Numidia)|Calama]] in the [[Roman province]] of [[Numidia]].


==Biography==
==Biography==
{{Augustine}}
[[File:GM Guelma Theatre romain01.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Possidius was bishop of Calama, Numidia]]
[[File:GM Guelma Theatre romain01.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Possidius was bishop of Calama, Numidia]]
The dates of his birth and death are unknown; he was alive and in exile in 437 according to [[Prosper]], who, in his ''Chronicle'', records that Possidius and two other bishops were persecuted and expelled from their sees by the [[Vandals|Vandal]] king, [[Gaiseric]], who was an [[Arianism|Arian]]. Possidius (Vita S. Augustini, xxxi), after describing the death of Augustine, speaks of his unbroken friendship with him for forty years. He also, speaking of himself in the third person, lets it be known that he was one of the clergy of St. Augustine's monastery (ibid., xii).
The dates of his birth and death are unknown. In the ''Vita S. Augustini'' (xxxi), after describing the death of Augustine, Possidius speaks of his unbroken friendship with him for forty years. He also, speaking of himself in the third person, lets it be known that he was one of the clergy of Augustine's monastery.<ref name=Bacchus>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12318a.htm Bacchus, Francis Joseph. "St. Possidius." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 10 January 2020{{PD-notice}}</ref>


The date of his promotion to the episcopate was, according to [[Tillemont]], about 397. He followed St. Augustine's example and established a monastery at Calama. At a council held at [[Carthage]], Possidius challenged Crispinus, the [[Donatist]] Bishop of Calama, to a public discussion which the latter declined. Shortly afterwards one of Crispinus's clergy, bearing the same name as his bishop, attempted to assassinate Possidius. Legal proceedings were instituted against Crispinus, the bishop, who refused to punish his [[presbyter]]. He was condemned for [[heresy]] and was heavily fined, but at the intercession of Possidius the fine was not exacted ("Vita", xii; St. Augustine, "Ep.", cv, 4; "Contra Crescon.", III, xlvi).
The date of his promotion to the episcopate was, according to [[Tillemont]], about 397. He followed Augustine's example and established a monastery at Calama, an area much disturbed by factions. At a council held at [[Carthage]], Possidius challenged Crispinus, the [[Donatist]] Bishop of Calama, to a public discussion which the latter refused. In 404 a party of Donatists dragged Possidius out of his house, beat him, and threatened his life. Donatist extremists set fire to a house where Possidius was visiting.<ref name=midw>[https://www.midwestaugustinians.org/st-possidius "St. Possidius", Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel of the Augustinian Order/ Midwest Augustines]</ref> Legal proceedings were instituted against Crispinus, the bishop, who refused to punish the [[presbyter]] responsible. Crispinus was condemned for [[heresy]] and was heavily fined, but at the intercession of Possidius the fine was not exacted).


In 407, Possidius served, with St. Augustine and five other bishops, on a committee appointed to adjudicate upon some ecclesiastical matter, the particulars of which are not known. In 408 he nearly lost his life in a [[riot]] stirred up by the pagans at Callama (St. Augustine, "Epp.", xc, xci, xciii). In 409 he was one of four bishops deputed to go to Italy to obtain the protection of the emperor against the Donatists. He was one of the seven bishops chosen to represent the Catholic party at the ''collatio'' of 411.
In 407, Possidius served, with Augustine and five other bishops, on a committee appointed to adjudicate upon some ecclesiastical matter, the particulars of which are not known. In 408 he nearly lost his life in a [[riot]] stirred up by the pagans at Calama (Augustine, "Epp.", xc, xci, xciii). In 409 he was one of four bishops deputed to go to Italy to obtain the protection of the emperor against the Donatists. He was one of the seven bishops chosen to represent the Catholic party at the ''collatio'' of 411.<ref name=Bacchus/>


In 416 he assisted at the [[Council of Milevum]], where fifty-nine Numidian bishops addressed a synodal letter to Innocent I, asking him to take action against [[Pelagianism]]. He joined with St. Augustine and three other bishops in a further letter to Innocent on the same subject, and was at the conference between St. Augustine and the Donatist Emeritus. When the Germanic [[Vandals]] invaded Africa, he fled to Hippo and was present at the death of St. Augustine (430).
In 416 he assisted at the [[Council of Milevum]], where fifty-nine Numidian bishops addressed a synodal letter to Innocent I, asking him to take action against [[Pelagianism]]. He joined with Augustine and three other bishops in a further letter to Innocent on the same subject, and was at the conference between Augustine and the Donatist Emeritus. When the Germanic [[Vandals]] invaded Africa, he fled to Hippo and was present at the death of Augustine (430).<ref>[https://catholicsaints.info/butlers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-possidius-bishop-and-confessor/ Butler, Alban. “Saint Possidius, Bishop and Confessor”. ''Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints'', 1866. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 May 2012]{{PD-notice}}</ref>

In 437, according to [[Prosper of Aquitaine|Prosper]], who, in his ''Chronicle'', records that Possidius and two other bishops were persecuted and expelled from their sees by the [[Vandals|Vandal]] king, [[Gaiseric]], who was an [[Arianism|Arian]].<ref name=midw/> Possidius died in [[Apulia]]<ref>[https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-possidius/ Monks of Ramsgate. “Possidius”. ''Book of Saints'', 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 9 December 2016]{{PD-notice}}</ref> shortly thereafter.


==Works==
==Works==
*His ''Vita S. Augustini'', composed before the capture of [[Carthage]] (439), is included in all editions of the works of St. Augustine, and also printed in [[Hurter]]'s "Opusc. SS. Patr.".
*His ''Vita S. Augustini'', composed before the [[Battle of Carthage (439)|capture]] of [[Carthage]] (439), is included in all editions of the works of Augustine, and also printed in [[Hurter]]'s "Opusc. SS. Patr.".
*His ''indiculus'' ('small index') will be found in the last volume of Migne's edition of the works of St. Augustine and in the tenth volume of the Benedictine edition.
*His ''indiculus'' ('small index') will be found in the last volume of Migne's edition of the works of Augustine and in the tenth volume of the Benedictine edition.

==Canonization==
[[Pope Clement X]] confirmed devotion to Possidius on August 19, 1672, along with his contemporary [[Alypius of Thagaste]], another North African bishop who was a friend of Saint Augustine.<ref>[https://www.augustinian.org/saints-1/may-16 Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova. “May 16 - Saints Alypius and Possidius”. augustinian.org. Accessed 12 Aug 2020]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
⚫
{{Catholic|wstitle=St. Possidius}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
⚫
* {{cite book |author=Weiskotten, Herbert T. |title=The Life of Saint Augustine: A Translation of the Sancti Augustini Vita by Possidius, Bishop of Calama |publisher= Evolution Publishing, Merchantville NJ, U.S.A.|year=2008}} {{ISBN|1-889758-90-6}} {{ISBN|9781889758909}}
*[[Ceillier]], ''Hist. des auteurs ecclés.'', XII
*[[Tillemont]], ''Mémoires'', XIII.
⚫
* {{cite book |author=Weiskotten, Herbert T. |title=The Life of Saint Augustine: A Translation of the Sancti Augustini Vita by Possidius, Bishop of Calama |publisher= Evolution Publishing, Merchantville NJ, U.S.A.|year=2008}} ISBN 1-889758-90-6 ISBN 9781889758909


==Source==
{{Portal|Saints}}
{{Portal|Saints}}
⚫
*{{Catholic|wstitle=Possidius}}

==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/possidius_life_of_augustine_02_text.htm English translation of the "Life of St. Augustine"] at the [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers Tertullian Project].
*[http://www.tertullian.org/fathers/possidius_life_of_augustine_02_text.htm English translation of the "Life of St. Augustine"] at the [http://www.tertullian.org/fathers Tertullian Project]
*[http://www.archive.org/details/sanctiaugustiniv00possrich Critical Latin text and English translation of the "Life of St. Augustine" in PDF form at Archive.org]
*[https://archive.org/details/sanctiaugustiniv00possrich Critical Latin text and English translation of the "Life of St. Augustine"] at Archive.org

*[http://www.midwestaugustinians.org/saints/s_alypiuspossidius.html Life of St. Alypius and St. Possidius (Augustinians of the Midwest)]
{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
⚫
| NAME = Possidius
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION = Friend of Augustine of Hippo
| DATE OF BIRTH =
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
⚫
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Possidius}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Possidius}}
[[Category:Christian writers]]
[[Category:Christian writers]]
[[Category:Algerian Roman Catholic saints]]
[[Category:Numidian saints]]
[[Category:5th-century bishops]]
[[Category:5th-century bishops in Roman North Africa]]
[[Category:4th-century births]]
[[Category:4th-century births]]
[[Category:5th-century deaths]]
[[Category:5th-century deaths]]
[[Category:Romans from Africa]]
[[Category:4th-century Romans]]
[[Category:5th-century Romans]]
[[Category:5th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:5th-century Christian saints]]

Latest revision as of 00:31, 3 January 2024

Saint

Possidius
Bishop of Calama
BornNorthern Africa
Diedc. 437
Apulia
Venerated inCatholic Church
CanonizedAugust 19, 1672 by Pope Clement X
FeastMay 16

Possidius (5th century) was a friend of Augustine of Hippo who wrote a reliable biography and an indiculus or list of his works. He was bishop of Calama in the Roman province of Numidia.

Biography

[edit]
Part of a series on
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine in The Four Doctors
of the Western Church
Augustinianism
Works
Influences and followers
Related topics
Related categories
Augustine of Hippo
Possidius was bishop of Calama, Numidia

The dates of his birth and death are unknown. In the Vita S. Augustini (xxxi), after describing the death of Augustine, Possidius speaks of his unbroken friendship with him for forty years. He also, speaking of himself in the third person, lets it be known that he was one of the clergy of Augustine's monastery.[1]

The date of his promotion to the episcopate was, according to Tillemont, about 397. He followed Augustine's example and established a monastery at Calama, an area much disturbed by factions. At a council held at Carthage, Possidius challenged Crispinus, the Donatist Bishop of Calama, to a public discussion which the latter refused. In 404 a party of Donatists dragged Possidius out of his house, beat him, and threatened his life. Donatist extremists set fire to a house where Possidius was visiting.[2] Legal proceedings were instituted against Crispinus, the bishop, who refused to punish the presbyter responsible. Crispinus was condemned for heresy and was heavily fined, but at the intercession of Possidius the fine was not exacted).

In 407, Possidius served, with Augustine and five other bishops, on a committee appointed to adjudicate upon some ecclesiastical matter, the particulars of which are not known. In 408 he nearly lost his life in a riot stirred up by the pagans at Calama (Augustine, "Epp.", xc, xci, xciii). In 409 he was one of four bishops deputed to go to Italy to obtain the protection of the emperor against the Donatists. He was one of the seven bishops chosen to represent the Catholic party at the collatio of 411.[1]

In 416 he assisted at the Council of Milevum, where fifty-nine Numidian bishops addressed a synodal letter to Innocent I, asking him to take action against Pelagianism. He joined with Augustine and three other bishops in a further letter to Innocent on the same subject, and was at the conference between Augustine and the Donatist Emeritus. When the Germanic Vandals invaded Africa, he fled to Hippo and was present at the death of Augustine (430).[3]

In 437, according to Prosper, who, in his Chronicle, records that Possidius and two other bishops were persecuted and expelled from their sees by the Vandal king, Gaiseric, who was an Arian.[2] Possidius died in Apulia[4] shortly thereafter.

Works

[edit]
  • His Vita S. Augustini, composed before the capture of Carthage (439), is included in all editions of the works of Augustine, and also printed in Hurter's "Opusc. SS. Patr.".
  • His indiculus ('small index') will be found in the last volume of Migne's edition of the works of Augustine and in the tenth volume of the Benedictine edition.

Canonization

[edit]

Pope Clement X confirmed devotion to Possidius on August 19, 1672, along with his contemporary Alypius of Thagaste, another North African bishop who was a friend of Saint Augustine.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Bacchus, Francis Joseph. "St. Possidius." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 10 January 2020Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b "St. Possidius", Province of Our Mother of Good Counsel of the Augustinian Order/ Midwest Augustines
  3. ^ Butler, Alban. “Saint Possidius, Bishop and Confessor”. Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints, 1866. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 May 2012Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ Monks of Ramsgate. “Possidius”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info. 9 December 2016Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. ^ Province of Saint Thomas of Villanova. “May 16 - Saints Alypius and Possidius”. augustinian.org. Accessed 12 Aug 2020

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "St. Possidius". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

Sources

[edit]
  • Weiskotten, Herbert T. (2008). The Life of Saint Augustine: A Translation of the Sancti Augustini Vita by Possidius, Bishop of Calama. Evolution Publishing, Merchantville NJ, U.S.A. ISBN 1-889758-90-6 ISBN 9781889758909
[edit]
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