medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Hello Benjamin,
I'm no expert in this area, but given the fraught situation in northern Italy at that time between "Arians" and "orthodox" bishops, the term "chief points of teaching" would make a lot of sense.
Cheers,
Jim
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From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Benjamin Lewis <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: June 3, 2019 9:18:10 AM
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Subject: [M-R] Ambrose, Vigilius, and the meaning of "institutionis insignia"
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Dear Colleagues,
Good morning! I realize this is a bit early to count as "medieval religion", but I'm wondering about the meaning of institutionis insignia in Ambrose Ep. 62 (Maur. 19), written to Vigilius shortly after his episcopal election, to offer him advice in his new office: Poposcisti a me institutionis tuae insignia, quoniam novus adscitus es ad sacerdotium (CSEL, v. 82.2, p. 121). The first clause of this has been translated as “You have asked me what should be the chief points of your teaching” (M. M. Beyenka, FOC v. 26, p. 174). According to McLynn, “The insignia institutionis which a newly consecrated bishop, Vigilius of Trent, obtained from Ambrose consisted of a letter devoted largely to a disquisition…upon the dangers of mixed marriages” (N. B. McLynn, Ambrose of Milan, p. 282). But as C. Sotinel points out, the expression is unclear: “L'institutio en question est-elle, comme le choisit le traducteur italien, l'enseignement de Vigile, qui demanderait alors à Ambroise des conseils pour son œuvre pastorale, ou son établissement dans la fonction épiscopale?” (C. Sotinel, Identité civique et christianisme, 2005, p. 192).
In other words, is this a general expression for "chief points of teaching" or is it something more specific and official, such as “insignia of the episcopal office” that Vigilius is requesting from his metropolitan, Ambrose? Does anybody know of any specific scholarly discussions of this question, or any general resources on late antique (or medieval) episcopal policies and procedures?
Many thanks,
Benjamin
--
B. A. Lewis, Ph.D.
Staff Translator
International Commission on English in the Liturgy
1100 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036
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