Praises of Blessed Irenaeus

...scarcity, was it not immediately heard through a miracle performed at her intercession? If Christ promised the authority of the judges of the world to the Apostles and similar men who despised the world, did he not grant the patronage of an advocate to his own Mother? If the excellent titles of Mediators, Saviors, Brothers, and Friends were communicated by God to certain Saints, being neither vain nor ineffective, as is clear from sacred scripture: it is surely a wicked thing to believe that he left nothing of these to his own Mother. We have dealt with this more extensively in our Annotations on that passage of Irenaeus.

Century 2, column 64. Those who hear him preferring the Roman Church to all others in dignity and authority as a mother are, once again, bursting with rage. They say it may seem like some kind of novelty to some, because in the copies of Irenaeus we now have, it stands in Book 3, chapter 3: original: "Ad hanc Ecclesiam, propter potentiorem principalitatem, neceſſe eſt omnem conuenire Eccleſiam" "To this Church, because of its superior authority, it is necessary that every Church agree: that is, those who are faithful everywhere: in which the tradition from the Apostles has always been preserved by those who are everywhere." But this sentence only speaks of consensus in the doctrine handed down by the Apostles, as is manifest from the context of Irenaeus. You hear again the new fraud and malice by which these men attempt to bring all copies of the holy man into suspicion and contempt: as if the Marcionites followers of Marcion, who rejected the Old Testament, Manichaeans followers of Mani, who taught a dualism of light and dark, and other ancient heretics did not say and spread similar things about the books of both Testaments to strip them of all credit. Truly, if Irenaeus speaks only of consensus in the doctrine handed down by the Apostles, why do you call it a novelty? Why do you strive to diminish the authority of the copies because of it? Why, finally, do you depart from this consensus of doctrine? Or, by departing, do you not recognize that you are hardly of the number of the faithful? But those words, "because of its superior authority," most clearly demonstrate that Irenaeus does not speak of doctrinal consensus alone, but also of a certain pre-eminent authority and jurisdiction over the rest of the Churches of the whole world, as we have proven there with many arguments.

Column 67. They also reproach him because in Book 2, chapter 64, he writes that each nation receives a worthy habitation before the judgment. Furthermore, if souls departing from here are received neither into the heavens nor into the lower regions before the judgment, then there is surely a third and middle place where they are admitted, which you greatly abhor: or certainly they are nowhere in the meantime, and thus they do not exist, which tastes plainly of atheism. It remains, therefore, that Irenaeus spoke truly and piously, saying that spirits traveling from here are received into suitable habitations until the judgment: which he also clearly and solidly proves from the spirits of Lazarus and the Rich Man the parable in Luke 16, one of whom enjoys a place of consolation with Abraham, the other in hell with torments. Book 2, chapters 62 and 63. Since Christ promised the soul of the Thief, "Today you shall be with me in Paradise"; and dying, he commended his own spirit into the hands of the Father; and finally, he opened the heavens to the soul of Stephen as it departed from the body: there is no doubt that the souls of the pious receive a worthy habitation before the judgment. On the contrary, when it is established that Dathan, Korah, and Abiram descended into the lower regions, and similar wicked men do not possess the kingdom of God: no one can deny that they are snatched away into Gehenna hell or a place of fiery torment, etc.

Concerning the thousand years after the resurrection of bodies Millenarianism, in which opinion he followed Papias and Justin Martyr, we speak sufficiently at the end of the fifth book. Now it is time to mitigate our indignation of mind, conceived long ago against those slanderous men, and to wipe away the offense by the written Elogia praises or testimonials of the holy and ancient theologians concerning Irenaeus.

PRAISES OF BLESSED IRENAEUS COLLECTED FROM THE ANCIENT FATHERS.

Therefore, against the twenty-six previous accusations of the heretics, we now set forth as many most certain testimonies of the ancient theologians concerning the distinguished piety, wisdom, and sanctity of SAINT IRENAEUS, by which they call him by worthy praises and celebrate him: so that from these, anyone may see how highly the merits and works of this most holy man ought to be valued.

Eusebius, Book 5, history, chapter 4. 1. In the first place, those MARTYRS of the Gauls, who under Marcus Aurelius, around the year of Christ 170 (that is, one thousand four hundred years ago), were held in chains for Christian piety at Lyons and Vienne, highly commend the Blessed IRENAEUS, then still a Priest of the Church of Lyons, in their letters inscribed to Blessed Eleutherius, Bishop of Rome: and they offer very many testimonies of his virtue, just as the words of the letter itself declare in this manner: "We wish you to be well in God in all things perpetually, Father Eleutherius. We have asked our brother IRENAEUS, and fellow servant of the ministry, to bring these letters to you: and we beseech you to embrace him with favor and benevolence, as one BURNING WITH INCREDIBLE ZEAL TOWARD THE TESTAMENT OF CHRIST. If we noticed that a man's rank and degree in the ecclesiastical ministry had the power to impart justice to anyone, we would have commended him to you in the first place as a Priest of the Church (for he holds this office)." Thus far from the letter of the MARTYRS in Eusebius, and likewise Nicephorus.

2. The AUTHOR of the responses to the questions of the Orthodox also writes about him, in the works of Justin, the illustrious philosopher and martyr, question 115: "The custom of not bending the knees during the time of Christ’s resurrection began from the times of the Apostles, just as BLESSED IRENAEUS, MARTYR AND BISHOP OF LYONS, says in the Book on Pascha Easter, etc."

3. TERTULLIAN, in his book against the Valentinians, chapter 5: "Nor shall we say that we ourselves have fashioned the materials from every side, which so many men DISTINGUISHED BY SANCTITY AND EXCELLENCE, being not only our predecessors but contemporaries of the heresiarchs themselves, have both published and reported in MOST LEARNED VOLUMES,

such as Justin, philosopher and martyr, Miltiades, the sophist of the Churches, and IRENAEUS, THE MOST CURIOUS EXPLORER OF ALL DOCTRINES."

4. and 5. EUSEBIUS, and NICEPHORUS who imitated him, frequently praise him, and never without an honorable preface, as these sentences manifest: "What [is known] down to these times Nicephorus, book 3, chapter 4. (namely of Emperor Trajan) is manifest. I learn the life of John from two certain and faithful witnesses, Book 3, history, chapter 17. IRENAEUS and Clement of Alexandria, which may be confirmed by their opinion. To them, indeed, because of their DEFENSE OF THE TRUE AND RIGHT ECCLESIASTICAL OPINION, credit must rightly be joined." And elsewhere, men Book 4, history, chapter 10. admiring and proclaiming his subtle genius, say: "IRENAEUS, as if digging out with THE SHARPEST EDGE OF THE MIND the matter of Valentinus regarding the deep and immense cavern of error, which was divided into so many manifold and twisting forms, and bringing it into the light, denuded its hidden destruction, which was like a serpent hiding itself among lairs in the innermost recesses." Elsewhere again, commemorating his labors, they write: Book 5, chapter 19. "IRENAEUS wrote a book about the Ogdoad the Gnostic grouping of eight primary divine emanations: in which he clearly enough declares that he FOLLOWED VERY CLOSELY TO THE TIMES OF THE APOSTLES."

6. EPIPHANIUS, against heresy 24, which is that of the Basilidians, says: "Furthermore, BLESSED IRENAEUS, SUCCESSOR OF THE APOSTLES, treating this subtly, refuted it by the wickedness and inefficacy of this [heresy]." And later: Against Heresies, 31. "I did not wish to compose the rest of his (Valentinus's) trifles from myself, since I found them in THE MOST HOLY IRENAEUS, that ancient man, etc." And much later: "Thus far Irenaeus. And these things indeed, and such as these, the aforementioned old man IRENAEUS, ADORNED IN ALL THINGS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT, BROUGHT FORTH BY THE LORD AS A NOBLE ATHLETE, AND ANOINTED WITH HEAVENLY GRACES AND GIFTS, HAVING STRUGGLED ACCORDING TO THE TRUE FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE, fights against their entire delirious argument, and reviews those things which are vainly brought forward by them word for word." And again elsewhere: "It is necessary for you to be content with these things which were treated by the MOST BLESSED AND MOST HOLY IRENAEUS Against Heresies, 34. against them (the Marcosians). For that HOLY IRENAEUS speaks concerning them by declaring the things said by them, etc." And after many things: "The BLESSED OLD MAN IRENAEUS made this entire and exact investigation, etc."

7. and 8. BASIL the Great, and EUTHYMIUS repeats from him, among the ancient and blessed men by whose testimonies he proves the Holy Spirit is truly God, listing IRENAEUS, Book on the Spirit, chapter 29, in the Panoply. writes thus: "But that IRENAEUS, WHO WAS NEAR TO THE TIMES OF THE APOSTLES, let us hear how he makes mention of the Spirit, disputing against heresies, etc."

9. CYRILL of Jerusalem: "All the most impious heretics sharpened their Catechesis 16. tongues even against the Holy Spirit and dared to say unspeakable things, just as IRENAEUS the interpreter writes in his instructions against heresies."

10. 11. 12. and 13. JEROME, and his Greek interpreter SOPHRONIUS, in the Catalogue, and after both TRITHEMIUS and SIXTUS of Siena, weave together the life and works of BLESSED IRENAEUS thus: "IRENAEUS, a Priest under Pothinus the Bishop, who governed the church at Lyons in Gaul, was sent to Rome as a legate by the martyrs of that place regarding certain questions of the Church, and carried honorable letters concerning his name to Bishop Eleutherius. Later, when Pothinus, nearly ninety years old, was crowned with martyrdom for Christ, he was substituted in his place. It is certain, moreover, that he was a disciple of Polycarp, the priest and martyr. He wrote five books against heresies: and a short volume against the gentiles: and another on discipline: and to his brother Marcian, on the Apostolic preaching: and a Book of various treatises: and to Blastus, on Schism: and to Florinus, on the Monarchy, or That God is not the author of evils: and peri ogdoados On the Ogdoad: and an excellent commentary, at the end of which See the fragment at the end of the work. signifying that he was near to the times of the Apostles, he subscribed thus: I adjure you, etc. Other letters of his are also carried to Victor, Bishop of Rome, concerning the question of Pascha, in which he warns him that he should not easily sever the unity of the college. Indeed, Victor had believed that many Bishops of Asia and the East, who celebrated Pascha on the fourteenth moon, were to be damned. In which opinion, although they differed from them, hands were not lacking to Victor meaning he had support for his position. He flourished chiefly under the prince Commodus, who had succeeded M. Antoninus Verus in the empire."

The same JEROME again writes elsewhere of the same man: "Concerning these (the feigned Aeons of the Valentinians), IRENAEUS, AN APOSTOLIC MAN, BISHOP Interpretation of Isaiah, chapter 64. OF LYONS AND MARTYR, writes most diligently, expressing the origins of many heresies, etc." And again elsewhere: Letter to Theodorus. "IRENAEUS, a man OF THE APOSTOLIC TIMES, AND BISHOP OF LYONS, A FOLLOWER OF PAPIAS THE DISCIPLE OF THE EVANGELIST JOHN, reports that a certain Marcus had first come to the Gauls, and had stained those parts through which the Rhone and Garonne flow with his doctrine, etc. This man wrote nearly three hundred years ago. And he wrote in these Books, which he composed against all heresies in MOST LEARNED AND ELOQUENT DISCOURSE."

14. AUGUSTINE, when Irenaeus is set with others against the Pelagians, prefixes this: "You who so frequently Volume 7, book 1, against Julian the Pelagian. oppose us with the name of the Manichaeans, if you wake up, look at WHAT SORT OF MEN, AND HOW GREAT THE DEFENDERS OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH ARE, whom you attack with such execrable accusation: etc. IRENAEUS BISHOP OF LYONS WAS NOT FAR FROM THE TIMES OF THE APOSTLES. This man says, 'Men are not otherwise saved from the ancient wound of the serpent,' etc. Do you see THE ANCIENT MAN OF GOD, what he feels concerning the ancient wound of the serpent?" And after many things: "If you demand those as supporters of whom something can even be found in writing, AND WHOSE DOCTRINE IS ILLUSTRIOUS, behold, here is the MEMORABLE AND VENERABLE CONSENSUS of supporters. SAINT IRENAEUS says that the ancient wound of the serpent is healed by the faith and cross of Christ, and that by the sin of the first-formed man we were bound as if by chains, etc."

15. Pope GREGORY, Book 9 of the Register, chapter 10, to Aetherius, Bishop of Vienne: "The deeds or writings of BLESSED IRENAEUS are things we have sought solicitously for a long time, but thus far nothing of them has been able to be found."

16. THEODORET, prefixing him with certain others, speaks thus: "Hear the men sounding the Apostolic Dialogue 1. doctrine: Our IRENAEUS, who was the auditor and disciple of Polycarp, and the principal light of the Gauls."