Venantius

[JB]

I'm not entirely sure where on TheologyWeb this particular inquiry would be appropriate, but as I examine various possibilities, this looks like the closest thing. :smile:

In The Ante-Nicene Fathers, the seventh volume (http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/007/index.htm) professes to feature the writings of Church Fathers from the third and fourth centuries. One of those listed in the volume is a Venantius, regarding whom no information is really provided in any sort of introductory notes. Only one work of his is included, that being On Easter (http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/007/0070368.htm). According to that page, this Venantius was an "Italian presbyter and poet" whose fuller name was Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus.

The problem I'm having is that wherever I search for information on this character, his life is placed in the sixth century, and On Easter (alternatively titled De Resurrectione) is not listed among his works. So either this is the same Venantius, or they are different individuals. If the same, then why is Venantius listed as having been an Ante-Nicene Father from the third or fourth century, and why do most lists of his work not include the one included in the seventh volume of The Ante-Nicene Fathers? On the other hand, if the earlier Venantius is not the later sixth-century Venantius, then where might I be able to locate some very basic information on the Venantius who authored On Easter?

In Christ,
JB

[JB]

:bump:

[Anoetos]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venantius_Fortunatus

[JB]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venantius_Fortunatus

That was one of the pages I checked out first in an attempt to figure out what was going on. It definitely affirms that Venantius Fortunatus wrote in the sixth century, but it doesn't help me understand how he (if this is the same Venantius) would appear as one of the Ante-Nicene Fathers in what I take to be a well-informed work on the subject. I find it implausible that the compilers of The Ante-Nicene Fathers would have gotten the matter so wrong, but I find it equally odd that an earlier Venantius who authored On Easter would have no mention anywhere else.

But I do thank you for responding and attempting to lend some help. :smile:

[furay]

That was one of the pages I checked out first in an attempt to figure out what was going on. It definitely affirms that Venantius Fortunatus wrote in the sixth century, but it doesn't help me understand how he (if this is the same Venantius) would appear as one of the Ante-Nicene Fathers in what I take to be a well-informed work on the subject. I find it implausible that the compilers of The Ante-Nicene Fathers would have gotten the matter so wrong, but I find it equally odd that an earlier Venantius who authored On Easter would have no mention anywhere else.

But I do thank you for responding and attempting to lend some help. :smile:
They goofed. It happens. Venantius Fortunatus wrote the Easter poem and he was not ante-nicene. You can read a basic biography of him in the Catholic Encyclopedia. (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06149a.htm)

[JB]

They goofed. It happens. Venantius Fortunatus wrote the Easter poem and he was not ante-nicene. You can read a basic biography of him in the Catholic Encyclopedia. (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06149a.htm)

Thank you, Furay. :smile:

[furay]

Thank you, Furay. :smile:
You are very much welcome. :smile: