Letters 42
42 To Ravennius, Bishop of Arles PL 54, 816
Leo the Pope to his well-beloved brother Ravennius.
He asks him to deal with the imposture of a certain Petronianus.
We wish you to be circumspect and careful lest any blameworthy presumption should put forth undue claims: for, when it once finds an entrance by crafty stealth, it spreads itself into greater rashness in the name of the dignity it has assumed. We have learnt, on the trustworthy evidence of your clergy, that a certain wandering and vagabond Petronianus has boasted himself throughout the provinces of Gaul as our deacon, and under cover of this office is going about the various churches of that country. We desire you, beloved brother, so to check his abominable effrontery, as to disclose his imposture, by warning the bishops of the whole district, and to expel him from communion with all the Churches, lest he continue his claim. The Lord keep you safe, dearly beloved brother. Dated 26th, August, in the consulship of the illustrious Asturius and Protogenes (449).
De Petroniano vago et diaconum se Leonis mentiente admonet, eumque ab omnium Ecclesiarum communione expelli postulat.
Dilectissimo fratri RAVENNIO LEO papa.
Circumspectum te volumus esse atque sollicitum ne quid sibi plectenda possit vindicare praesumptio; quae cum aditum falsa subreptione repererit, ad majorem se 893 temeritatem nomine usurpatae dignitatis extendit. Petronianum quemdam vagum et semper erroneum, certa nos clericorum tuorum suggestione didicimus per Gallias se nostrum esse diaconum jactitasse, et sub hujus honoris obtentu diversas ejus provinciae Ecclesias circuire. Cujus audaciae tam nefandae dilectionem tuam, frater 894 charissime, ita volumus obviare, ut eum, admonitis etiam totius provinciae episcopis, in sua falsitate detectum, ab omnium Ecclesiarum communione, ne ulterius hoc usurpet, expellas. Dominus te incolumem custodiat, frater charissime. Data sub die VII kalendas Septembr., Asturio et Protegene, vv. clarissimis consulibus.