Auspicius of Toul

Auspicius of Toul († in the 5th century ) is considered as the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Toul. His writing is known to the younger Arbogast. Later, he was venerated as a saint.

Life

Auspicius of Toul belonged to the family of the branched Auspicier. These were part of the Gallo-Roman aristocracy and had turned to early Christianity. For these high officials and bishops have emerged.

About Auspicius of Toul even exist just a few source documents. Some hints are Sidonius Apollinaris. Both were in contact by correspondence.

Sidonius emphasized the learning of Auspicius and compared these with that of the Lupus of Troyes. Auspicius has been described as the father and teacher of Gaul. Auspicius then had reached at that time a very great age, and was possibly the oldest at that time bishop of Gaul. It should be born in the first years of the 5th century.

Auspicius is known for his epistle which he wrote to the Swiss franc comes Arbogast von Trier. Arbogast came from a Romanized family and dominated Trier at the end of the Roman period. He had a position between an autonomous Frankish rulers and Roman officials. This had turned to Sidonius, to better understand some spiritual writings. Sidonius referred him among other things to Auspicius. Whether this has answered the theological questions of the prince, is not known. Narrated however, is a rhythmic epistle.

It was not until much later, he is one of the saints. His feast day is July 23.

Work

The above-mentioned epistle originated by different dating 460-475. In the letter Auspicius Arbogast praised because of its Latin language skills. He has also indicated the end of Roman rule. " ... as long as you live and talk pflegst, come, although at the border Latin supremacy has fallen, the ( Latin ) words do not falter. " He praised the high lineage and noble mind of the prince. He was bigger than his eponymous ancestor, since he died a pagan, but Arbogast was a Christian. But he also warns him against the greed. This may be, wherever you look, forfeited the great ones of the world. He is confident that Arbogast heeded this Auspicius saw in him but a future bishop. In fact, this was later possibly bishop of Chartres. Finally, he exhorts him a bishop of Trier Jamblichus to meet respectfully.

The text is written in poem form from 164 iambic Dimetern. He is regarded as an early example of rhythmic Hymnenstrophik, prevails in the word accent.

The poem is preserved in various Austrasia authored or then -sent letter in a collection, the 585 has put together. The only surviving manuscript is Cod Vaticano - Palatinus 869 s.IX