Canons of Hippolytus 30–38

Translated by Claude from D. B. Haneberg (Latin translation of the Arabic)'s Latin translation (1870) of the Arabic; neither is shown

XXX. The thirtieth canon. On catechumens and (certain matters) that concern them. Let the catechumens hear the instruction that concerns the faith, and only the great teaching (nothing profane). Let (the catechumen) turn himself away from his near relatives and bear all the troubles that fall on him because of religion, and take up his cross, following the Savior, and be ready to suffer death for the confession of Christ. For there is no escape: a man who seeks perfection will be tempted, as our Lord was tempted with these three temptations, namely desire, pride, and avarice (literally, love of gold). For the tempter attacked our Savior while he was fasting with his deceit and said: "If you are the Son of God, say that this stone become bread." You too, therefore, O ascetic, if you have chosen fasting for yourself of your own accord, take care not to admit his thoughts (those suggested by the tempter); for he will persuade you to break the resolve of your devotion, especially if it is a fast prescribed by law. Answer your own thoughts in the same way, saying like your Lord: "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Moreover, this saying, "that this stone become bread," has its own allegory: for those who love treasures go astray and so arrange (their pursuits) that it can be said that stones are treasures; for they love treasures, which become dung; (little by little) they are so affected that they think life is provided for them from them, as from bread. Therefore there comes to mind the saying of the Lord in which he says: "When a man's treasures are multiplied, yet he does not find his life in them." Do not therefore love silver, O lovers of God, for the root of all evils is in the love of money; and lead your life without anxiety, for (the apostle) says: "But having food and that with which we are covered, with these we are content." Hear therefore what blessed David advises: "Cast your care upon the Lord and he will nourish you"; and above all (hear) the apostle Peter saying: "Casting all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you." When the adversary sees a man growing strong in this way (and advancing to higher virtues), he attacks him with the second kind of temptation. For he set him on the pinnacle of the temple, that is, in great perfection of virtues. When this has happened, he persuades the soul to cast away all zeal for virtue, which is signified by the counsel to throw himself down from that (high pinnacle). For (the tempter) says to the man: "Virtue is too hard, and you will not be able to bear the labor for the whole earth." So he keeps him from remembering the Savior, who says: "Do not be anxious about tomorrow." For of everyone who is raised to virtue by the devil (this holds) which (Scripture) says, that he was brought into the holy city. Yet they do not persevere, because they did not acquire their virtues for God's sake but for vain glory, which is the serpent, and only to be honored by people. These are afterwards cast down to the depths from the pinnacle of the temple, and their inward parts burst open, and what was hidden within appears outside, and the greater part of what they did (well) becomes void. Therefore at the hour when a man binds himself by a covenant before God (to the pursuit of perfection), and afterwards as well, let him take the greatest care not to fall into what is written: "You shall not tempt the Lord your God." For unless a man keeps watch and perseveres every hour in continual remembrance of God, he slips into idolatry; yet a man does not usually know what that idolatry is, but only turns over in his thoughts that he is chosen above others and better than other people. But this is pride, foul before God. When the devil persuades someone that he is better than all other people, he has in truth already obtained from him that he falls down and worships him, not knowing the voice of the Lord in which he says: "For I am gentle and lowly in heart." Nor does he understand the voice (of the Lord, in which) he says: "You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve." Therefore, my dearest ones, flee from the worship of idols, which is pride. And let us love one another, let us love strangers too, let us love teaching, and let us flee from every evil companion; but let us run quickly to the servants of God and gladly keep festivals with them, according to what Abigail once said to David: "Behold, your handmaid is ready to be a maidservant, to wash the feet of my lord's servants." Let us too, then, wash the feet of the saints, so that we may hear him who is greater than David, Jesus Christ our Lord (the angels have their stations), who loves everyone who keeps his commandments with the greatest zeal, saying thus: "Well done, good and faithful servant; because you have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many; enter into the joy of your lord." It is truly to come that he will say to each of us who are gathered in his name: "Come, you blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; I was hungry and you gave me to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you visited me." He continues: "Then the righteous will answer him, saying: When did we see you hungry and feed you," and the rest that follows, "did we do for you?" "And answering he will say: Truly I say to you, whatever you did to one of these little ones, you did to me." But the one whose work and zeal are not guarded by watchfulness will be destroyed by fire, because he has no life in virtue but is dead in perversity; and these are destined for the furnace, that is, they will be the devil's laughingstock, who first (at baptism) said with their mouth, "I renounce you, Satan," but now run back to him by their evil works. Truly the devil does not seem to rejoice greatly over those who are with him and belong to him, as he does over those who are with us in body but with him in soul. Of these the apostle said: "They profess to know God, but deny him by their deeds"; and of the same it is said in Proverbs: "As a dog that returns to its vomit, so is the fool who repeats his sins." And blessed Peter said of them that they are like a pig which, after it has been washed, wallows in its mire. And of this kind there are not a few; (for it often happens) that someone says before God, "I will indeed do all your will," but at the same time by his evil intentions turns also to the service of the devil. He is like a soldier who receives the military clothing (the military insignia), yet cares nothing for the military duty and dress, but is disgraced when his crimes are uncovered; and though he alone calls himself a soldier, he has nothing but the outward form of the service which he has put on, and by which he can claim (this name) for himself. So some glory that they are Christians, yet are not clothed with works; they are called demons both by God and by people, for they do not hate the works of Satan but are fixed in them. Such people, therefore, obtain their (the devils') name here (in earthly life), and in the other place (in eternal life) become sharers of their lot; for the Savior will say to them on that day: "Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels." For as they loved his works on earth and remained his associates through their life, so they will also be his associates in hell, if they die in their unclean intentions. For it befits a Christian to walk in the commandments of Christ, made like God, as beloved sons are made like Christ in everything. For they do not blaspheme, nor commit sexual immorality, nor are they mockers or slanderers; they do not live viciously with idle women; they are strangers to lies; they do not desire the things that perish; they are not stubborn, nor lovers of wind, nor do they keep anger against anyone; they are not grumblers, nor do they judge the affairs of others (of strangers), nor do they spend their inheritance on business in which there is no salvation, nor do they do what does not agree with the law, nor do they cast away mercy; they do not utter false testimony, nor are they gluttons, drinkers, greedy, lovers of the world, or lovers of women, but are joined to one wife in lawful marriage; not envious, not negligent in frequenting the churches; they bring up their sons in the fear of God and do not flee from persecutions. They devote themselves to reading and meditating on (the word of God) which they have heard (in church); they abstain from injuries; their hands are not quick to strike, but they quickly pay their debts, so that the name of the Lord is not blasphemed because of them. They are not lazy; they do not forget the needy who ask them (for help); they do not divulge secrets entrusted to them; they do not move boundaries; they do not seek usury; rather they are lovers of strangers, they do not insult those who come from far away, but hold them among their own sons; they are not hard in giving and receiving (in trade they do not use the injustice of taking more than is just and giving less than is just); they do not use a double measure for weighing and measuring; nor do they act hesitantly and negligently in receiving holy communion and in worship. They do not use oaths at all, nor do they live familiarly with strangers, serving God and fulfilling the works (his commandments); they do not transgress the command of the Gospel, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven. A Christian who perseveres in all these things bears the image of Christ himself, and will shine at his right hand like the angels, and will obtain from him the crown of glory, as he obtained the crown of virtue, the noblest perfection and the guarding of the faith. (Such people) will obtain the crown of life which has been promised to his friends. But if a Christian aspires to the rank of the (heavenly) kingdom, let him withdraw altogether far from women and firmly resolve in his heart that he will not look at them nor take food with them. Without delay let him distribute all his treasures to the poor and take on himself an angelic kindness, with humility of heart and body, and let him be sufficient to himself alone; let him be like a little bird that has no weapons; let him give to the needy from his labor. Let him love communions and much prayer with fasting. This is the precious stone which, as John testifies, no one knows except the one who has received it. On the Lord's day let the bishop at the time of Mass, if he can, distribute communion with his own hand to all the people; if a presbyter is sick, let the deacon bring him the sacrament, and let the presbyter alone receive it.

Translated by Claude from D. B. Haneberg (Latin translation of the Arabic)'s Latin translation (1870) of the Arabic; neither is shown

XXXI. The thirty-first canon. On a bishop or presbyter who orders a deacon to distribute communion. Let the deacon distribute communion to the people if the bishop or presbyter permits it.

Translated by Claude from D. B. Haneberg (Latin translation of the Arabic)'s Latin translation (1870) of the Arabic; neither is shown

XXXII. The thirty-second canon. That virgins and widows ought to devote themselves to fasting and prayer in church; that the clergy may fast at their own discretion; that the bishop ought not to bind himself to a fast except with the clergy, because of an agape or vigil held for the benefit of the poor. It belongs to virgins and widows to fast often and pray in church; let the clergy be free to fast voluntarily; but let the bishop not bind himself to a fast unless the clergy fast with him. If someone intends to receive (literally, to make) holy communion at a time when the presbyter is not present in church, let the deacon take his place in all things, with the sole exception of the offering of the great sacrifice and the prayer. If communion is distributed, let alms for the poor also be distributed, and let this be divided among the poor by the people before sunset; if anything of what is needed is left over, let it be distributed the next day; and if something still remains, on the third day. From the one in whose house (the alms are distributed and the remainder) is kept, let nothing be reckoned (as payment for his labor) from those things (that were given for the poor); let mercy alone, and all of it, bring the reckoned reward to the one who shows it. Let the one who distributes obtain nothing (from it) when the bread of the poor stays too long in his house through negligence. If an agape is held, or a supper is prepared by someone for the poor, on the Lord's day, at the time of lighting the lamp, in the presence of the bishop, let the deacon rise to light the lamp, and let the bishop pray over them (those invited) and over the one who invited them. Let the poor be present when the eucharist is held at the beginning of the Mass. Let (the bishop or the inviting benefactor) dismiss them, so that they depart separately before darkness falls. Let them recite psalms before they depart.

Translated by Claude from D. B. Haneberg (Latin translation of the Arabic)'s Latin translation (1870) of the Arabic; neither is shown

XXXIII. The thirty-third canon. On commemorations for the dead; it is forbidden that they be held on the Lord's day. If commemorations are held for those who have died, let them first receive the sacraments before they sit down, but not on the Lord's day. After communion let the bread (of blessings) be distributed to them before sunset, before they sit down. Let no catechumen sit with them at the agapes. Let them eat and drink to satisfaction but not to drunkenness, but in the divine presence with the praise of God.

Translated by Claude from D. B. Haneberg (Latin translation of the Arabic)'s Latin translation (1870) of the Arabic; neither is shown

XXXIV. The thirty-fourth canon. On avoiding much talk and shouting. On the saints entering the dwellings of the faithful. Let no one talk much or shout, lest perhaps (unbelievers) mock you, and lest you be (literally, they be) a stumbling block to people, so that your invitation is turned into disgrace when it appears that you stray from good order. But let each one continually, with his whole household, take this (good order) for himself and claim it, so that the modesty of each of us may appear and great esteem may be won by the examples seen in us. Let each one pray that the saints (the angels) may enter under his roof; for our Savior says: "You are the salt of the earth." When the bishop speaks sitting down, the others will have (spiritual) profit, and he himself will not be without profit. If in the bishop's absence a presbyter is present, let all turn to him, because he is superior to the others in the Lord, and let them honor him as the bishop is honored, and not stubbornly oppose him. Let him distribute the bread (of blessings), breaking it before sunset, before they sit down, so that God may preserve their agape from fear of the enemy, and that they may rise safe in good health.

Translated by Claude from D. B. Haneberg (Latin translation of the Arabic)'s Latin translation (1870) of the Arabic; neither is shown

XXXV. The thirty-fifth canon. On a deacon present at an agape in place of an absent presbyter, and that he may perform his office in the prayer and the breaking of the bread of blessing, but not in the body (of the Lord). On widows. At an agape, in the absence of a presbyter, let the deacon take the presbyter's place as far as the prayer and the breaking of the bread are concerned, which he is to distribute to those invited. It is not fitting for a layman to sign the bread, but only to break it; let him do nothing more. If no cleric at all is present, let each eat his own portion with thanksgiving, so that the Gentiles may see your life with envy (and admiration). If anyone wishes to prepare a supper for widows, let him see that they have the supper and are dismissed before the sun sets. If they are many, care must be taken that there is no confusion and that they are not prevented from being dismissed before evening. Let sufficient food and drink be given to each of them. But let them depart before night falls.

Translated by Claude from D. B. Haneberg (Latin translation of the Arabic)'s Latin translation (1870) of the Arabic; neither is shown

XXXVI. The thirty-sixth canon. On the firstfruits of the fruits of the earth, and the firstfruits of the threshing floors and winepresses, of oil, honey, milk, wool, and the like, which are to be brought to the bishop that he may bestow a blessing on them. Whoever has firstfruits of the fruits of the earth, let him bring them to the bishop in the church; likewise the firstfruits of the threshing floor and the firstfruits of the winepresses, of oil, honey, milk, wool, and the firstfruits of the wage for the labor of his hands. Let all these be brought to the bishop with the firstfruits of the trees. Let the presbyter who receives them first of all give thanks to God over them, outside the veil, while the one who brought them stands by. Let the presbyter pray thus: "We give you thanks, almighty God, because you have made us worthy to see these fruits which the earth has produced this year. Bless them, O Lord, as the crown of your year according to your kindness, and let them be for the satisfying of the poor of your people; (bless) also your servant N., who has offered these from your riches, because he fears you; bless him from your holy heaven, together with his house and his sons, and pour out on them your mercy and your holy grace, that they may know your will in all things; and grant that he may receive as an inheritance what is in heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, and the Holy Spirit, to the ages of ages. Amen." And all the vegetables of the earth, all the fruits of the trees, and all the fruits of the earth (of the cucumber fields), bless them, and bless also those who brought them.

Translated by Claude from D. B. Haneberg (Latin translation of the Arabic)'s Latin translation (1870) of the Arabic; neither is shown

XXXVII. The thirty-seventh canon. That whenever the bishop wishes to celebrate the holy mysteries, he ought to gather the deacons and presbyters clothed in white garments, more beautiful than (the garments) of the people. The same holds for the readers. Whenever the bishop wishes to celebrate the sacraments, let the deacons and presbyters gather with him, clothed in white garments more beautiful than (the clothing) of all the people, and above all clean. Yet (it is to be expected) of them rather that they be clothed with integrity, for good works surpass all garments. Let the readers also have festal garments like them, and stand at the ambo (literally, at the place of reading), and let one take up from another until all the people are gathered. Afterwards let the bishop pray and complete the Mass.

Translated by Claude from D. B. Haneberg (Latin translation of the Arabic)'s Latin translation (1870) of the Arabic; neither is shown

XXXVIII. The thirty-eighth canon. On the night in which our Lord Jesus Christ rose: that all ought to spend that night in vigil and then wash with water. On those who commit sins after baptism; a discussion of this, followed by a discussion of what ought not to be done, and lastly of what is to be observed. The night of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is to be observed with the greatest zeal, for it is great. Let all therefore keep vigil that night until dawn; then let them wash their bodies with water before they keep the Pascha, and let all the people be in light. For on that night the Savior won freedom for every creature; therefore the things of heaven and earth, and all that is in heaven and on earth, keep festival, because he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, from where he is to come in the glory of his Father and his angels, to repay each one according to his works. Those who have done good (will be assigned) to the resurrection of life, those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment, as it is written. We must therefore be watchful at all times, not granting our eyes slumber. We must take care that drowsiness does not overcome us until we find a place for the Lord, and that no one says, "I have both been baptized and fed (sacramentally) with the body of Christ," and, relying on such help, now longs for rest, saying, "I am a Christian," and is found to be a lover of pleasures, turned away from the commandments of Christ. Such a one would be like a man full of filth who entered a bath but came out of it before he was well scrubbed, so that filth is found on him even afterwards. For he did not use the burning of the Spirit of which blessed Paul speaks, warning us to be fervent in the Spirit at all times. Whoever keeps these rules, may the peace of the Lord come down on them and on all (the people of) Israel. Let the enemy gain nothing (in them), but may they one day rest with the saints in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom be glory to God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and always and to the ages of ages. Amen. And praise be to God always and forever. Here end the canons of the holy patriarch Hippolytus, first patriarch of the great city of Rome, which he composed. Their number is thirty-eight canons.