Saint Braulio, Bishop of Saragossa (631-651): His Life and Writings

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A Dissertation, submitted to the faculty of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences of the Catholic University of America in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. The seventh century of the Christian era was undeniably a dark age. No matter what the column one may consult in an historical chart of civilization from 500 B.C. on, the years 600-700 A.D. are the least productive in names and events, both in the East and in the West. Of the countries in that period, the one that showed the most sustained intellectual effort was Spain. Civilization there was relatively far advanced due principally to an internal solidarity of Hispano-roman and Visigoth, of Church and State, with the numerous Toledan church councils of a quasi-civil nature constituting the chief unifying force. Although one’s thoughts turn instinctively to St. Isidore of Seville as the individual responsible for this condition, the truth is that such an advance follows in the wake of many leaders. Some of the Visigothic kings played an enlightened part, but particularly it was the bishops who led: John of Biclar, John of Saragossa, Braulio, Eugene II, Tajo, Fructuosus, Ildefonse, and Julian. Among these bishops the figure of St. Braulio stands out in relief and he has been made the subject of the present study. This bishop of Saragossa, because of his innate ability and because of the prestige he enjoyed as the friend and counsellor of Isidore, should be considered second only to Isidore in his influence on the Spanish civilization of his century. Braulio succeeded Isidore as the outstanding figure in Spanish ecclesiastical and civil circles from 636-651. His influence extended beyond his death and was felt through the persons of leaders he had formed, notably Eugene II of Toledo and Tajo of Saragossa. Preface vii PART ONE. Life CHAPTER I. Early Life 3 Family 3 Place of Birth 12 Date of Birth 17 Education 19 His Years as Archdeacon 27 Elevation to the See of Saragossa 30 CHAPTER II. Correspondence with Isidore: Their Friendship and the Problem of the Etymologies 33 CHAPTER III. Other Correspondence 55 With the Clergy 55 With the Laity 78 CHAPTER IV. The Theologian 86 Dogmatic theology 86 Liturgy 111 The Bible 119 CHAPTER V. The Canonist 125 The Councils 125 The Jewish Question 131 The 'Forum judicum' 135 Political Philosophy 140 CHAPTER VI. The Scholar 149 His Library 149 Scholarly Pursuits 158 CHAPTER VII. The Saint 168 Asceticism 168 Monasticism 176 Virtues 182 Death 189 Canonization 192 PART TWO. Writings CHAPTER VIII. The Letters and the 'Praenotatio Librorum D. Isidori' 199 Literary History of the Letters 199 Contents 204 Chronology 207 Style 209 The 'Praenotatio' 211 CHAPTER IX. Braulio’s Life of Saint Emilian 220 The 'Vita' 220 Literary History 222 Contents 228 The 'Hymn' 236 CHAPTER X. Alleged Works 241 'Acta de Martyribus Caesaraugustanis' 241 Other 'Acta' 246 'De Viris Illustribus' 248 'Chronicle' and Epitaph of Maximus 250 Other Pieces 251 Conclusion 253 Bibliography 259 Index 267