Fragments of the Instruction for Candidates (complete)
Latin text: Migne, PL 52 (Latin text: Migne, Patrologia Latina 52, digitized by Open Greek and Latin (patrologia_latina-dev, University of Leipzig), CC BY-SA 4.0).English: Claude (claude-opus-5-5), public domain (CC0).
Chapter 1
1PL 52:873c–873 c
Nicetas in libro primo ad Competentes. Instructiones igitur necessarias ad fidem currentibus opus est explorare, quas et rusticæ animæ possint advertere pariter et tenere, non ex proprio ingenio compositas, sed ex divinarum Scripturarum praedicatione collectas, quibus edocentur baptismum electi, ut quid dimiserint sciant, et quid desiderant magis intelligant, et quid accepturi sunt, vel quid observare debeant certius recognoscant; quia magnum est quod desiderant, grande est quod inchoant, sive Deus inspiravit, sive homo commonuit et suasit.
Nicetas, in the first book To the Candidates. It is necessary, then, to look for instructions needed by those running to the faith, which even rustic souls can notice and keep alike; not composed from one’s own wit, but gathered from the preaching of the divine Scriptures, by which those chosen for baptism are taught, so that they may know what they have left behind, understand better what they desire, and recognize more surely what they are about to receive or what they ought to observe; because what they desire is great, what they begin is mighty, whether God inspired it or a man admonished and persuaded them.
Notes and citation
Summary: Nicetas says that those preparing for baptism need simple instructions drawn from Scripture on what they renounce, desire, receive and must keep.
- These fragments of Nicetas’s Instructions for the Candidates (competentes, those enrolled for baptism) are preserved as quotations in later writers; the headings (“Nicetas, in the first book …”, “In the same place”) are those of the excerptor. Several OCR slips were corrected.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip; stray note letter; joined words; joined words; OCR slip): Nicetas in libto b primo → Nicetas in libro primo; possintadvertero pariter → possint advertere pariter; sedex divinarum → sed ex divinarum; magis intelligant,et quid accepturi sunt, vel quid observare debeant certiusrecognoscant → magis intelligant, et quid accepturi sunt, vel quid observare debeant certius recognoscant.
Topics: Baptism, Scripture and canon, Catechumens and catechesis
Cite (SBL): Nicetas of Remesiana, Instr. 1 (PL 52:873c–873 c; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/1). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/1
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Migne's Patrologia Latina (very noisy digital text; OCR slips corrected by logged corrections, some readings from Burn, Niceta of Remesiana, 1905). No public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
Chapter 2
2PL 52:873c–873 d
Ibidem. Catechumenus, quasi hospes et vicinus fidelium, deforis audiens mysteria, nec intelligens : audiens gratiam, nec advertens ; ex hoc vero fidelis incipit appellari.
In the same place. The catechumen, as a guest and neighbour of the faithful, hears the mysteries from outside without understanding them; hears of grace without perceiving it; but from this point he begins to be called one of the faithful.
Notes and citation
Summary: Nicetas describes the catechumen as a guest who hears the mysteries from outside until baptism makes him one of the faithful.
- “From this point” (ex hoc) refers to the baptism described in the lost context. Stray note letters were removed.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (stray note letter; stray note letter; joined words): quasi c hospes et vicinus fidelium,deforis → quasi hospes et vicinus fidelium, deforis; ex d hoc vero → ex hoc vero.
Topics: Baptism, Catechumens and catechesis
Cite (SBL): Nicetas of Remesiana, Instr. 2 (PL 52:873c–873 d; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/2). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/2
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Migne's Patrologia Latina (very noisy digital text; OCR slips corrected by logged corrections, some readings from Burn, Niceta of Remesiana, 1905). No public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
Chapter 3
3PL 52:873d–875 a
Ibidem. Non enim ante ad confessionem venitur, nisi prius fuerit diabolo renuntiatum. Sicut nec aurilegus ante aurum mittit in sacculum, nisi prius terram vel limum laverit universum. Ideo oportet prius repudium dicere diabolicæ vanitati, et amara ejus studia abrenuntiando projicere. Abrenuntiare autem oportet non nudo sermone neque solis labiis, sed fide fortissima, et indubitata scientia, id est ut Christo se homo tota animi virtute committat, confidens quia Christi factus desinat timere diabolum. Deinde abrenuntiat et operibus ejus malignis, id est culturis et idolis, sortibus et auguriis, pompis et theatris, furtis et fraudibus, homicidiis et fornicationibus, superbiae et jactantiae, iræ et avaritiae, commessationibus et ebriositatibus, choris atque mendaciis, et his similibus malis. Quid dicimus de his, qui superfluo carnis ornatu jactare se volunt, et videri mirabiles? taceo de exquisitis inutiliter vestimentorum subtilitatibus. Oro vos, quid faciunt in viris capilli acu crispati, comæ retro quidem cervicem cooperientes, ante autem frontem penitus abscondentes, ita ut nec signi Christi locus liber relinquatur in fronte; et unde se putant habere aliquam gloriam vel decorem, inde turpitudinem et ignominiam contrahant? Similiter et mulieres caput ligantes ut scutum, ut frons tamquam vallis inter duos subscidat colles ; ut auribus pondera lapillorum auro ligata dependeant, ut brachia onerentur auro, aut cervicem premant catenæ vel lapides, et pedibus sanguineæ calceamentis flammulæ rutilent. Quis usus in his, quæ utilitas invenitur, nisi sola inanis pompa, et mens desiderio infantili corrupta ?
In the same place. For one does not come to the confession unless the devil has first been renounced. Just as a gold-gatherer does not put the gold into his bag unless he has first washed away all the earth and mud. Therefore one must first declare a divorce from the devil’s vanity and cast away his bitter pursuits by renouncing them. One must renounce not with bare speech nor with the lips alone, but with the strongest faith and undoubting knowledge; that is, that a man commit himself to Christ with all the strength of his mind, trusting that, having become Christ’s, he ceases to fear the devil. Then he renounces his evil works, that is, cults and idols, lots and auguries, processions and theatres, thefts and frauds, murders and acts of sexual immorality, pride and boasting, anger and avarice, revelling and drunkenness, dances and lies, and evils like these. What shall we say of those who wish to show off with superfluous adornment of the flesh and to be seen as wonderful? I say nothing of the needlessly refined subtleties of clothing. I ask you, what are hairs curled with a needle doing on men, locks covering the neck behind and wholly hiding the forehead in front, so that not even a free place is left on the forehead for the sign of Christ; and whence they think they have some glory or beauty, from there they contract disgrace and shame? Likewise women, binding the head like a shield, so that the forehead sinks like a valley between two hills; so that weights of little stones bound in gold hang from the ears, so that the arms are loaded with gold, or chains or stones press the neck, and little blood-red flames glitter on the feet in their shoes. What use is found in these, what benefit, except only empty pomp and a mind corrupted by childish desire?
Gal 5:19–21 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Pet 3:3 (allusion, medium confidence) · 1 Tim 2:9 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Nicetas teaches that before confessing the faith the candidate must sincerely renounce the devil and his works, including pagan cults, shows and vices, and condemns vain male and female adornment.
- “Repudium dicere” (“declare a divorce”) is the legal term for divorce, used figuratively of renouncing the devil. “Fornicationibus” is rendered “acts of sexual immorality”. Allusion: Gal 5:19–21; 1 Pet 3:3; 1 Tim 2:9. The sign of Christ on the forehead is the baptismal sign of the cross. Many OCR slips and stray note letters were corrected.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (OCR slip; OCR slip; joined words; stray note letter; OCR slips; joined words; stray note letter; joined words; joined words; OCR slip; stray mark; stray note letter; OCR slip; stray space): lbidem. Non enim ante ad confessionemvenitur, nisi prius fueritdiabolorenuntiatum.Sicut nec e aurilegusanteaurum mittitin sacculum,nisi prius terram vel limum laverit univerum → Ibidem. Non enim ante ad confessionem venitur, nisi prius fuerit diabolo renuntiatum. Sicut nec aurilegus ante aurum mittit in sacculum, nisi prius terram vel limum laverit universum; Abrenuntiare autem oportetnon nudo → Abrenuntiare autem oportet non nudo; confidens.quia Christi → confidens quia Christi; Deinde abrenuntiatet operibus ejus malignis, id est culturis et idolis,sortibus et auguriis, pompis et theatris,furtis et fraudibus,homicidiis → Deinde abrenuntiat et operibus ejus malignis, id est culturis et idolis, sortibus et auguriis, pompis et theatris, furtis et fraudibus, homicidiis; iræ et avariliae → iræ et avaritiae; de his, quisuperfluo carnis ornatujactarese volunt,etvideri mirabiles?taceo → de his, qui superfluo carnis ornatu jactare se volunt, et videri mirabiles? taceo; exquisitis inutiliter vestimentum subtilitatibus. Oro vos,quidfaciunt in viris capilli f acu crispati → exquisitis inutiliter vestimentorum subtilitatibus. Oro vos, quid faciunt in viris capilli acu crispati; cervicem cooperientes ,ante autem → cervicem cooperientes, ante autem; in fronte; et « unde se putant → in fronte; et unde se putant; contrahant? a Similiter et mun lieres → contrahant? Similiter et mulieres; catenæ vel lapides,et pedibus sanguineæ calceamentis flammulæ ritulent → catenæ vel lapides, et pedibus sanguineæ calceamentis flammulæ rutilent.
Topics: Baptism, Ethics, The devil and demons, Dress and adornment
Cite (SBL): Nicetas of Remesiana, Instr. 3 (PL 52:873d–875 a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/3). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/3
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Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Migne's Patrologia Latina (very noisy digital text; OCR slips corrected by logged corrections, some readings from Burn, Niceta of Remesiana, 1905). No public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
Chapter 4
4PL 52:875a–875 a
Item in lib. II. Certe omne peccatum sine daemonis operatione non fit, quæ omnia opera diaboli vel ejus pompas esse intelligimus. His ergo malis se homo expediens,has catenas post dorsum suum velut in faciem projiciens inimici, jam sincera voce pronuntiat : Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem, et reliqua. De fide enim sicut in eodem symbolo continetur, pleniter ad fidem quisque atque ad baptisma pervenire desiderans, instruendus est pariter et docendus, ut brevitatem symboli in corde memoriter teneat, quod quotidie dicat apud semetipsum, antequam dormiat, cum de somno resurrexit, quod omnibus horis in mente habeat ; similiter et orationem Dominicam, et signaculum crucis quo se contra diabolum muniat.
Likewise in book 2. Certainly every sin is not done without the working of a demon; all of which we understand to be the works of the devil or his pomps. Freeing himself, then, from these evils, casting these chains behind his back as if into the face of the enemy, he now declares with a sincere voice: “I believe in God the Father almighty,” and the rest. For concerning the faith as it is contained in that same creed, everyone who desires to come to the faith and to baptism must be fully instructed and taught alike, so that he may keep the brief creed by heart in his heart, which he should say daily within himself before he sleeps and when he rises from sleep, and which he should have in mind at all hours; likewise also the Lord’s Prayer, and the sign of the cross, with which he may arm himself against the devil.
1 John 3:8 (allusion, medium confidence) · Matt 6:9–13 (allusion, medium confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: After renouncing the devil, the candidate recites the creed, which he must learn by heart and say daily, together with the Lord’s Prayer and the sign of the cross.
- Allusion: 1 John 3:8 (works of the devil); Matt 6:9–13 (the Lord’s Prayer). Several OCR slips and joined words were corrected.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (joined words; joined words; OCR slip; joined words; split word; split word; stray space): quæ omniaoperadiaboli velejus pompas esse intelligimus, His ergo → quæ omnia opera diaboli vel ejus pompas esse intelligimus. His ergo; in faciem projiciens inimici,jam sincera vocepronuntiat → in faciem projiciens inimici, jam sincera voce pronuntiat; in eodem symbolo continetur,pleniter → in eodem symbolo continetur, pleniter; instruendus estpariteret docendus,ut brevita tem symboli in corde memoriterteneat,quod → instruendus est pariter et docendus, ut brevitatem symboli in corde memoriter teneat, quod; apud semetipsum , antequam → apud semetipsum, antequam; contra dia. bolum muniat → contra diabolum muniat.
Topics: Baptism, Prayer, Councils and creeds
Cite (SBL): Nicetas of Remesiana, Instr. 4 (PL 52:875a–875 a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/4). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/4
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-nicetas-instructio-fragmenta-4) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Migne's Patrologia Latina (very noisy digital text; OCR slips corrected by logged corrections, some readings from Burn, Niceta of Remesiana, 1905). No public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
Chapter 5
5PL 52:875a–875 a
In lib. ad Competentes. Symbolum est commonitorium fidei, et sancta confessio, quæ communiter ab omnibus tenetur et discitur.
In the book To the Candidates. The creed is a reminder of the faith and a holy confession, which is held and learned in common by all.
Notes and citation
Summary: Nicetas defines the creed as a reminder of the faith and a common holy confession.
Topics: Baptism
Cite (SBL): Nicetas of Remesiana, Instr. 5 (PL 52:875a–875 a; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/5). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/5
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-nicetas-instructio-fragmenta-5) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Migne's Patrologia Latina (very noisy digital text; OCR slips corrected by logged corrections, some readings from Burn, Niceta of Remesiana, 1905). No public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.
Chapter 6
6PL 52:875a–875 b
In lib. primo. Cur exorcizatur, nisi ad consequendam gratiam præparatur? Per exorcismos enim veluti per ignem purgantur; quia ignita sunt eloquia Domini, ex quibus sunt exorcismi compositi.
In the first book. Why is he exorcized, unless he is being prepared to obtain grace? For through exorcisms they are purged as through fire; because the words of the Lord, of which the exorcisms are composed, are fiery.
Ps 119:140 (118:140 Vulg.) (allusion, medium confidence) · Ps 12:6 (11:7 Vulg.) (allusion, low confidence)
Notes and citation
Summary: Nicetas explains that the exorcisms before baptism purge the candidates like fire, being made of the Lord’s fiery words.
- Allusion: Ps 119:140 (Vulgate 118:140, “your word is fiery”); compare Ps 12:6.
Notes on the original text
- Digital text corrected (joined words; OCR slip; joined words; split word): nisi adconsequen- dam gratiam → nisi ad consequendam gratiam; quia ignitasinteloquiaDomini → quia ignita sunt eloquia Domini.
Topics: Baptism, The devil and demons
Cite (SBL): Nicetas of Remesiana, Instr. 6 (PL 52:875a–875 b; trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/6). (abbreviation not yet checked)
Permanent link: https://sophiascriptura.com/p/nicetas-instructio-fragmenta/6
BibTeX · RIS · CSL-JSON (whole work; this passage's key: sophiascriptura-nicetas-instructio-fragmenta-6) · Report an error
Translation: Translated by Claude from the Latin of Migne's Patrologia Latina (very noisy digital text; OCR slips corrected by logged corrections, some readings from Burn, Niceta of Remesiana, 1905). No public-domain or FOTC English exists, so each batch was re-read against the Latin.