November 10
Saints of the Day...and Events
 

Pope St. Leo the Great, 400-461, Doctor of the Church
His work, holiness and the doctrine on the Petrine supremacy justifies the application to him of the title of the first pope, guiding his fellow bishops as "equals in the episcopacy and infirmities."
 
    During the disintegration of the Western Empire, when heresy was rife and all moral values were threatened by the barbarian invasions, Pope Leo I stands out as the resolute champion of the faith. His courage and sagacity lifted the prestige of the Holy See mightily, and earned for him the title of "The Great," a distinction bestowed on but one other pope, Gregory I.
 
    The significance of Leo's pontificate lies in the fact of his assertion of the universal episcopate of the Roman bishop, which comes out in his letters, and still more in his ninety-six extant orations. This assertion is commonly referred to as the doctrine of Petrine supremacy   Pope Leo the Great and Papal Supremacy  Pope Leo on Papacy

    According to him the Church is built upon Peter, in pursuance of the promise of Matt.16:16-19. Peter participates in everything which is Christ's; what the other apostles have in common with him they have through him. The Lord prays for Peter alone when danger threatens all the apostles, because his firmness will strengthen the others. What is true of Peter is true also of his successors. Every other bishop is charged with the care of his own special flock, the Roman with that of the whole Church. Other bishops are only his assistants in this great task.

    Through the see of Peter, Rome has become the capital of the world in a wider sense than before. For this reason, when the earth was divided among the apostles, Rome was reserved to Peter, that here, at the very center, the decisive triumph might be won over the earthly wisdom of philosophy and the power of the demons; and thus from the head the light of truth streams out through the whole body.

    In Leo's eyes the decrees of the Council of Chalcedon acquired their validity from his confirmation. The wide range of this theory justifies the application to him of the title of the first pope.

    With all this apparent strong conviction of the importance of the Bishop of Rome in the Church, and of the Church as the ongoing sign of Christ’s presence in the world, Leo the Great displayed endless dedication in his role as pope. Elected in 440, he worked tirelessly as "Peter’s successor," guiding his fellow bishops as "equals in the episcopacy and infirmities."

    Leo is known as one of the best administrative popes of the ancient Church.

    His work branched into four main areas, indicative of his notion of the pope’s total responsibility for the flock of Christ.
    1- He worked at length to control the heresies of Nestorianism, Monophysitism, Manichaeism, and Pelagianism, placing demands on their followers so as to secure true Christian beliefs.
    2- A second major area of his concern was doctrinal controversy in the Church in the East, to which he responded with a classic letter setting down the Church’s teaching on the nature of Christ.
    3- With strong faith, he also led the defense of Rome against barbarian attack, taking the role of peacemaker. When Attila marched on Rome, Leo went out to meet him and pleaded for leave. As Leo spoke, Attila saw the vision of a man in priestly robes, carrying a bare sword, and threatening to kill the invader if he did not obey Pope Leo. As Leo had a great devotion to Saint Peter, it is generally believed the first pope was the visionary opponent to the Huns. When Genseric invaded Rome, Leo's sanctity and eloquence saved the city again.
    4- His growth to sainthood has its basis in the spiritual depth with which he approached the pastoral care of his people, which was the fourth focus of his work. He is known for his spiritually profound sermons. An instrument of the call to holiness, well-versed in Scripture and ecclesiastical awareness, Leo had the ability to reach the everyday needs and interests of his people. One of his Christmas sermons is still famous today.
    He avoided an "angelism" that tries to live without the body, as well as the "practicality" that deals only in externals.
More Information: Leo the Great
Born 400 at Tuscany, Italy
Died 11 April 461 at Rome, Italy
Writings
  • Sermon on his Day of Ordination
  • Sermon Delivered on the Anniversary of His Consecration
  • Letter to the Bishop of Aquileia
  • Letter to the Bishops Appointed in Campania, Picenum, Etruria, and all the Provinces
  • Letter to Proterius, Bishop of Alexandria
  • Leo the Great, some writings
    •  - Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife. from Pope Saint Leo the Great

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