The Catechumenate in Late Antique Africa (4th-6th Centuries). Augustine of Hippo, His Contemporaries and Early Reception

‎Contents......Page 5
‎Acknowledgements......Page 9
‎Abbreviations......Page 11
‎Introduction......Page 13
‎1. Conversion, Christianisation and the Catechumenate......Page 17
‎2. The Catechumenate and Historical Research......Page 21
‎3. Argument and Approach......Page 33
‎4. Plan of Chapters......Page 41
‎Chapter 1. Augustine the Catechumen: Patterns and Narrative......Page 44
‎1.1. A parentibus: The Role of Augustine’s Household......Page 47
‎1.2. Augustine’s Entrance into the Catechumenate......Page 50
‎2. Superstition, Deception and Failures: Falling into Manichaeism......Page 58
‎2.1. Leaving the Catechumenate Behind? Augustine’s Adhesion to Manichaeism......Page 59
‎2.2. Augustine the Manichaean and Baptism......Page 68
‎3. The Return: Milan and Cassiciacum......Page 73
‎3.1. Augustine’s Return to the Status of Catechumen......Page 74
‎3.2. Augustine’s Catechumenate in Milan and Evidence in Ambrose’s Writings......Page 81
‎3.3. Enrolling for Baptism......Page 84
‎4.1. Passing References in the Confessiones and Ambrose’s Evidence......Page 87
‎4.2. Later Recollections of the Milanese Initiation......Page 92
‎5. Conclusion......Page 97
‎Chapter 2. The Practices and Status of catechumeni in Augustine’s Community......Page 100
‎1. Practices of Admission into the Catechumenate and Their Polemical Background......Page 102
‎1.1. The First Catechesis......Page 104
‎1.1.1. A Parallel in the Contra Faustum......Page 107
‎1.1.2. The Emphasis on Moral Instruction: Further Evidence......Page 110
‎1.2. Rites of Incorporation......Page 114
‎1.2.1. The Giving of Salt......Page 115
‎1.2.2. Other Rites and Polemics against the Donatists......Page 120
‎1.2.3. The Significance of Admission Rites......Page 123
‎1.3. The Catechumenate for Children and the Pelagian Controversy......Page 126
‎1.4. Conclusion......Page 128
‎2. Being a catechumenus: The Main Practices of Christians in the Making......Page 129
‎2.1. Practices of Inclusion: The Sign of the Cross......Page 132
‎2.2. Leaving Catechumens Behind: The disciplina arcani and the Dismissal......Page 139
‎3. Conclusion......Page 149
‎Chapter 3. Catechumens Taking the Step: The Negotiation of Baptism in Augustine’s Pastoral Care......Page 152
‎1. Festina ad gratiam: Calling for Baptism in Sermons......Page 153
‎1.1. Customary Exhortations during Lent......Page 154
‎1.2. The Necessity of Repentance and Baptism......Page 162
‎1.3. Conclusion......Page 166
‎2. Writing to Catechumens......Page 168
‎2.1. Friendship Requires Baptism: Marcianus and Caecilianus......Page 169
‎2.2. Debating Baptism with Firmus......Page 172
‎3. Narratives of Baptism in Augustine’s Works......Page 177
‎3.1. The Confessiones......Page 178
‎3.2. Baptism, Dreams and Miracles in Augustine’s Later Works......Page 181
‎4. Conclusion......Page 187
‎Chapter 4. From catechumenus to fidelis: The Lenten Preparation for Baptism in Hippo......Page 190
‎1. Enrolling as a competens......Page 191
‎1.1. The Time for Enrolment......Page 194
‎1.2. The Selection Process......Page 202
‎1.3. Sermon 216 and the Beginning of the Baptismal Preparation......Page 209
‎2.1. Scattered References on Rituals of Penance, Exorcism and Catechesis......Page 218
‎2.2. The End of the Catechumenate: Learning, Memorising and Reciting the Creed and the Lord’s Prayer......Page 222
‎2.2.1. The Ritual Organisation of the traditio/redditio......Page 223
‎2.2.2. The Calendar of the Ceremonies......Page 228
‎2.2.3. Catechesis on Two Fundamental Texts......Page 232
‎2.2.4. The Importance of Memorisation......Page 234
‎2.2.5. The Limits of the Catechumenate......Page 239
‎3. Conclusion......Page 240
‎Chapter 5. Councils, Preaching and the Catechumenate in Fourth- and Fifth-Century Africa......Page 243
‎1. Canons of Councils......Page 244
‎1.1. Canon 3 in the Breviarium Hipponense......Page 246
‎1.2. Old Interpretations and a New Hypothesis......Page 247
‎1.3. Conclusion......Page 250
‎2. The Sermons Attributed to Quodvultdeus of Carthage and the Baptismal Preparation in Fifth-Century Africa......Page 251
‎2.1. The Attribution to Quodvultdeus......Page 253
‎2.2.1. Presentation of the Sermons......Page 260
‎2.2.2. Context of Composition......Page 262
‎2.2.3. The Rites of Renunciation and Adhesion......Page 264
‎2.3. “Anyone Who Desires the Baptism of Christ Aspires to a New Life”: Catechesis on the Initiation Process......Page 271
‎2.3.1. The Impact of Performance: Initiation Imagery and Community Dynamics......Page 272
‎2.3.2. Commentaries on the Creed and Polemical Debates......Page 279
‎2.3.3. The Mother Church and Fight for Belonging......Page 284
‎2.4. Conclusion......Page 287
‎3. Late Antique Anonymous Sermons of Uncertain African Origin......Page 288
‎3.1. The Rites of traditio and redditio: Teaching and Learning Psalms......Page 290
‎3.1.1. A Dubious Augustinian Sermon......Page 291
‎3.1.2. Sermon 29, Latin Pseudo-Chrysostom “Morin Collection”......Page 293
‎3.2. Psalms and the Catechumenate in the West......Page 296
‎4. Conclusion......Page 298
‎Chapter 6. From Carthage to Rome: Debating the Catechumenate in the Sixth-Century West......Page 300
‎1.1. The Context of the Exchange......Page 302
‎1.2. The Letter Exchange......Page 304
‎1.2.1. Ferrandus’ Description of the Rites of the Catechumenate......Page 307
‎1.2.2. The Problems Raised by the Baptism of Unconscious Adults......Page 310
‎1.2.3. Fulgentius’ Reply......Page 313
‎1.3. Conclusion......Page 318
‎2. The Roman Catechumenate in Ostrogothic Italy: John the Deacon to Senarius......Page 319
‎2.1. Author and Context of Composition......Page 320
‎2.2. Senarius’ Questions and Their Background......Page 323
‎2.3.1. The Rites of the Catechumenate......Page 325
‎2.3.2. Justifying the Catechumenate: Liturgical Performance and Written Tradition......Page 329
‎2.3.3. John’s Use of the Liturgical Argument in Renewed “Post-Pelagian” Polemics......Page 331
‎3. Conclusion......Page 336
‎Epilogue......Page 339
‎Bibliography......Page 343
‎Biblical Index......Page 395
‎Index of Ancient Sources......Page 397
‎Index of Modern Authors......Page 415
‎Index of Names and Subjects......Page 422