Joseph Anthelmi
Encyclopedia
Joseph Anthelmi (b. at Fréjus
, 25 July 1648; d. in the same city, 21 June 1697) was a French ecclesiastical historian.
, where he entered on the study of theology under the Jesuit Père Lachaise.
On being ordained, he returned to Provence, and was soon made canon of the Cathedral of Fréjus, though he preferred study. His uncles, Pierre and Nicolas, had published a work on the former incumbents of the See of Fréjus; Joseph resolved to devote himself especially to the history of the French Catholic Church, beginning with his own diocese.
In 1694, Anthelmi was made vicar-general to the Bishop of Pamiers; but his health was bad, and he returned to his native city in a vain attempt to recuperate. Here he died in his forty-ninth year.
, was then at the height of his reputation, and was agitating France on the question of the real author of the De vocatione gentium, the Responsiones pro Augustino ad Capitula Gallorum and the Epistola ad Demetriadem (Patrologia Latina
, LI, 647,158; LV, 162). In his opinion these had been written by Leo the Great. Against him Anthelmi supported the authorship of St. Prosper of Aquitaine. The contest was maintained by both parties, their letters being published in the Journal des Savants, in 1689.
Toward the close of the same year Anthelmi vindicated his position by the publication at Paris of his work De veris operibus SS. Patrum Leonis et Prosperi. The opposition between Anthelmi and Quesnel burst cut anew in regard to the authorship of the Athanasian Creed. Quesnel thought it the work of Vigilius, Bishop of Thapsus, in Africa, who towards the end of the fifth century was driven from his see by Huneric
, King of the Vandals, and taking refuge in Constantinople wrote against the Arians
, Eutychians, and Nestorians
, attributing his own works to Augustine of Hippo
and Athanasius. Anthelmi, on the contrary, inclined to the view of Pithou
, who attributed it to Vincent of Lérins
; and in 1693 he published his Nova de symbolo Athanasiano disquisitio. In this work Anthelmi sought to prove that the Creed cannot be the production of Athanasius, as it was composed not earlier than the fifth century; and that its author was a Gaul. St. Vincent was known to have had the intention of filling out at length a confession of faith in the mysteries of the Trinity and the Incarnation; this, taken in conjunction with the similarity of style and expression between the Athanasian Creed and the writings of St. Vincent, is the foundation of Anthelmi's argument.
Fréjus
Fréjus is a commune in the Var department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It neighbours Saint-Raphaël, effectively forming one town...
, 25 July 1648; d. in the same city, 21 June 1697) was a French ecclesiastical historian.
Life
Several of his ancestors had occupied canonries in Fréjus, the history and traditions of which they had investigated and preserved. Joseph, feeling himself called to the priesthood, betook himself to LyonLyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, where he entered on the study of theology under the Jesuit Père Lachaise.
On being ordained, he returned to Provence, and was soon made canon of the Cathedral of Fréjus, though he preferred study. His uncles, Pierre and Nicolas, had published a work on the former incumbents of the See of Fréjus; Joseph resolved to devote himself especially to the history of the French Catholic Church, beginning with his own diocese.
In 1694, Anthelmi was made vicar-general to the Bishop of Pamiers; but his health was bad, and he returned to his native city in a vain attempt to recuperate. Here he died in his forty-ninth year.
Controversy
His first work appeared in 1680, De inito ecclesiae Forojuliensis dissertatio chronologica, critica, profano-sacra. Pasquier QuesnelPasquier Quesnel
Pasquier Quesnel was a French Jansenist theologian.He was born in Paris, and, after graduating from the Sorbonne with distinction in 1653, he joined the French Oratory in 1657...
, was then at the height of his reputation, and was agitating France on the question of the real author of the De vocatione gentium, the Responsiones pro Augustino ad Capitula Gallorum and the Epistola ad Demetriadem (Patrologia Latina
Patrologia Latina
The Patrologia Latina is an enormous collection of the writings of the Church Fathers and other ecclesiastical writers published by Jacques-Paul Migne between 1844 and 1855, with indices published between 1862 and 1865....
, LI, 647,158; LV, 162). In his opinion these had been written by Leo the Great. Against him Anthelmi supported the authorship of St. Prosper of Aquitaine. The contest was maintained by both parties, their letters being published in the Journal des Savants, in 1689.
Toward the close of the same year Anthelmi vindicated his position by the publication at Paris of his work De veris operibus SS. Patrum Leonis et Prosperi. The opposition between Anthelmi and Quesnel burst cut anew in regard to the authorship of the Athanasian Creed. Quesnel thought it the work of Vigilius, Bishop of Thapsus, in Africa, who towards the end of the fifth century was driven from his see by Huneric
Huneric
Huneric or Honeric was King of the Vandals and the oldest son of Genseric. He dropped the imperial politics of his father and concentrated mainly on internal affairs. He was married to Eudocia, daughter of western Roman Emperor Valentinian III and Licinia Eudoxia. She left him, probably in 472...
, King of the Vandals, and taking refuge in Constantinople wrote against the Arians
Arianism
Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius , a Christian presbyter from Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of the entities of the Trinity and the precise nature of the Son of God as being a subordinate entity to God the Father...
, Eutychians, and Nestorians
Nestorianism
Nestorianism is a Christological doctrine advanced by Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople from 428–431. The doctrine, which was informed by Nestorius's studies under Theodore of Mopsuestia at the School of Antioch, emphasizes the disunion between the human and divine natures of Jesus...
, attributing his own works to Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
and Athanasius. Anthelmi, on the contrary, inclined to the view of Pithou
Pithou
Pithou is a surname, and may refer to:* François Pithou* Jean Pithou* Nicolas Pithou* Pierre PithouThe above were all brothers....
, who attributed it to Vincent of Lérins
Vincent of Lérins
Saint Vincent of Lérins was a Gallic author of early Christian writings.In earlier life he had been engaged in secular pursuits, whether civil or military is not clear, though the term he uses, "secularis militia," might possibly imply the latter...
; and in 1693 he published his Nova de symbolo Athanasiano disquisitio. In this work Anthelmi sought to prove that the Creed cannot be the production of Athanasius, as it was composed not earlier than the fifth century; and that its author was a Gaul. St. Vincent was known to have had the intention of filling out at length a confession of faith in the mysteries of the Trinity and the Incarnation; this, taken in conjunction with the similarity of style and expression between the Athanasian Creed and the writings of St. Vincent, is the foundation of Anthelmi's argument.