Leo the Great and the spiritual rebuilding of a universal Rome / by Susan Wessel.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wessel, Susan.

Series:

Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae ; v. 93.

Supplements to Vigiliae Christianae, 0920-623X ; v. 93

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Leo I, Pope, -461.

Leo.

Church history--Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600.

Church history.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (434 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2008.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Leo the Great was a major figure of the late Roman world whose life and work were profoundly intertwined with the political crisis of his day. As the western empire gradually succumbed to the advancing barbarian kingdoms, Leo understood that the papacy needed to expand its authority in order for the church to survive the demise of the political system. This book argues that his achievement was to transform the church not only in the practical level of administrative organization, but in the more fluid realm of thought and idea. The secular Rome that was crumbling was replaced with a Christian, universal Rome that he fashioned by infusing his theology with humanitarian ideals.

Contents:

Introduction to Leo the Great and the late Roman world that was his stage

The study of Leo the Great

Imperial regimes and the Roman Senate

Structure of the empire in Italy and the West

Ecclesiastical administration

Advance of the barbarian kingdoms

Survey of the life of Leo the Great

The relationship between Rome and the western churches

A controversy develops with the See of Arles in Southern Gaul

Eclesiastical law is debated and settled in North Africa

Priscillianis misconfronted in Spain

The Vicariate of Illyricum

Persecution and discipline in Italy

The idea ofjustice and its bearing upon law and mercy

Justice and its human failings

Ecclesiastical law as the expression of justice

The practical manifestation ofjustice in the application of mercy

Suffering, compassion, and the care of the poor

The theology of poverty, charity, and altruism

The humanity of Christ as a model for compassion

Assembling a christology

Polemics shape the development of Christ's human nature

The quality of Christ's humanity

Christ as example

The symmetry of justice

Overturning the Robber Synod and preserving Christ's human nature

Negotiating with the Imperial Court

Enlisting the help of the bishops

Elaboration of the Roman Primacy

The idea of Apostolic succession and the Primacy of Rome

The controversy over the 28th Canon

The focus shifts to Anatolius

Striving for unity after Chalcedon

Eliciting the support of the eastern Imperial Court

The apocrisiarius in Constantinople

Arenewed correspondence with Anatolius

The'City of God' unfolds in history

Christian intellectuals respond to the sack of Rome in 410

Anewidea of his Tory emerges.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

1-282-60240-3

9786612602405

90-474-4310-1

OCLC:

593337378

Publisher Number:

10.1163/ej.9789004170520.i-422 DOI