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'''Saint Caesarius of Arles''' (468''Arelatensis''), 469/470–[[August 27]] 542), sometimes called "of Chalon" (''Cabillonensis'' or ''Cabellinensis'') from his birthplace [[w:Chalon-sur-Saône|Chalon-sur-Saône]] but more usually known as Caesarius of Arles (''Arelatensis'') from the [[see]] that he occupied for forty years, was certainly a Bishop, Abbott, and writer, and the foremost ecclesiastic of his generation in Gaul, less so for his theological achievements than for his efforts as a pastor to promote a Christian system of values, practices, and beliefs among his people.<ref>William Klingshirn. ''Caesarius of Arles.'' '''Encyclopedia of Early Christianity'''. Ed. Everett Ferguson. New York & London: Graland Publishing Inc., 1990. p.167.</ref> In all the Christian West, only [[Gregory the Dialogist|Gregory the Great]] and [[Gregory of Tours]] overshadow him.
== Life ==
Caesarius was born at Chalon-sur-Saône of pious parentsinto a wealthy Gallo-Roman family. His sister Caesaria afterwards presided over the [[Monasticism|convent]] which he founded, and to her he addressed his ''Regula ad Virgines''. At the age of thirteen he betook himself to the famous monastery of [[w:Lérins Abbey|Lerins]] (Lerinum), where he rapidly became master of all that the learning and discipline of the place could impart. He proved unpopular at Lerins when, as cellarer of the monastery, he withheld food from monks because he felt they were insufficiently austere. As a result, the abbot Porcarius removed Caesarius from his post whereupon he began starving himself; the abbot intervened and sent Caesarius to Arles ostensibly for medical care. Upon arriving in the city, the ''Vita Caesarii'' claims that Caesarius discovered, completely to his surprise, that the bishop of Arles - Aeonius - was a kinsman from Chalon (''concivis pariter et propinquus'' - "at once a fellow citizen and a relative"). Aeonius later ordained his young relative [[deacon]] and then [[presbyter]]. For three years he presided over a monastery in Arles; but of this building no vestige is now left.
At the age of thirteen he betook himself to the famous monastery of [[w:Lérins Abbey|Lerins]] (Lerinum), where he rapidly became master of all that the learning and discipline of the place could impart. He proved unpopular at Lerins when, as cellarer of the monastery, he withheld food from monks because he felt they were insufficiently austere. As a result, the abbot Porcarius removed Caesarius from his post whereupon he began starving himself; the abbot intervened and sent Caesarius to Arles ostensibly for medical care. Upon arriving in the city, the ''Vita Caesarii'' claims that Caesarius discovered, completely to his surprise, that the Bishop of Arles, Bp. Aeonius, was a kinsman from Chalon (''concivis pariter et propinquus'' - "at once a fellow citizen and a relative"). Caesarius studied with the rhetorician Julianus Pomperius, and was later ordained first a [[deacon]] and then a [[presbyter|priest]] by his relative Bishop Aeonius, in his eighteenth year. In 499, Carsarius was named abbott of a monastery in the suburbs of Arles, where he remained until chosen Bishop of Arles in 502. ===Bishop of Arles (502-542)===At the death of Aeonius the clergy, citizens, and persons in authority proceeded, as Aeonius himself had suggested, to elect Caesarius to the vacant see although . However Klingshirn suggests that there may have been considerable local hostility, that Caesarius' election may have been heavily disputed , and that another cleric, Iohannes, (who appears in the episcopal ''fasti'' of Arles ) may have been elected bishop. Caesarius was consecrated in 502, being probably about 33 years of age. In the fulfilment of his new duties he was courageous and unworldly, but yet exhibited great power of kindly adaptation. He took great pains to induce the laity to join in the sacred offices, and encouraged inquiry into points not made clear in his sermons. He also bade the people study [[Holy Scripture]] at home, and treat the word of God with the same reverence as the sacraments. He was specially zealous in redeeming captives, even selling church ornaments for this purpose.
A notary named Licinianus accused Caesarius to Alaric II as one who desired to subjugate the [[w:civitas|civitas]] of Arles to the Burgundian rule. Caesarius was exiled to Bordeaux, but on the discovery of his innocence, was speedily allowed to return. He interceded for the life of his calumniator. Later, when Arles was besieged by Theodoric around the year 512, he was again accused of treachery and imprisoned. An interview with the Ostrogothic king at [[Ravenna]] the next year speedily dispelled these troubles, and the remainder of his episcopate was passed in peace.
Some rivalry appears to have existed in the sixth century between the sees of Arles and Vienne, but was adjusted by [[Leo the Great|Pope Leo]], whose adjustment was confirmed by [[w:Pope Symmachus|Pope Symmachus]]. Caesarius was in favour at Rome. A book he wrote against the semi-Pelagians, entitled ''de Gratiâ et Libero Arbitrio'', was sanctioned by [[w:Pope Felix IV|Pope Felix IV]]; and the canons passed at Orange were approved by [[w:Pope Boniface II|Pope Boniface II]]. The learned antiquary [[w:Louis Thomassin|Louis Thomassin]] believed him to have been the first Western bishop who received a [[w:pall|pall]] from the pope. [[w:François Guizot|François Guizot]] in ''Civilisation en France'' cites part of one of Caesarius' sermons as that of a representative man of his age; while [[w:August Neander|August Neander]] eulogizes his "unwearied, active, and pious zeal, ready for every sacrifice in the spirit of love," and his moderation on the controversy concerning semi-Pelagianism.
===Legacy===
He was particularly well known for the women's monastery that he founded in Arles and for the rule that he composed for it. Also for the several regional councils over whic he presided, including those of Agde (506) and Organge (529). Most of all for the sermons that he regularly delivered, ''"suitable to different festivals and places but also against the evils of drunkenness and lust, discord and hatred, wrath and pride...and other devices" (Vita 1.55)''. These Sermons - now numbering almost 250 - are Caesarius' most important writings, and include both orginal compositions and revisions of other Patristic sermons, especially those of Augustine, having a wide circulation in his own time and throughout the Middle Ages.<ref>William Klingshirn. ''Caesarius of Arles.'' '''Encyclopedia of Early Christianity'''. Ed. Everett Ferguson. New York & London: Graland Publishing Inc., 1990. p.167.</ref>
== Authorities ==
==Notes==
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