23 Oct: St. Severinus Boethius

Posted on 23 October 2012 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

“A man content to go to heaven alone will never go to heaven” – Boethius

Today is the feast of St. Severinus Boethius (+525), the author of the Consolation of Philosophy.  He was a pivotal figure at the cusp of late Antiquity and what are called the Middle Ages.

Here is his entry in the Martyrologium Romanum:

6*. Papiae in Liguria, commemoratio sancti Severini Boetii, martyris, qui, scientia ac scriptis praeclarus, in carcere detentus tractatum scripsit de consolatione philosophiae et Deo usque ad mortem a Theodorico rege inflictam cum integritate servivit.

Who wants to take a crack at the Latin?

Take note that the entry calls him “Saint” Boethius.  So does the official Vatican Curia’s calendar.

You may be interested to know that Boethius’ tomb is in the crypt of the same church where St. Augustine’s remains are interred:  San Pietro in Ciel d’oro in Pavia, south of Milan.

Boethius and Lady Philosophy

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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6 Comments

  1. Suburbanbanshee says:
    23 October 2012 at 12:47 AM

    The Consolation of Philosophy is a darned good book, especially if you’re feeling down. Like a few other fine works of extremely creative people, it has the added charm of alternating poetry with prose dialogue scenes. A great book for understanding the Middle Ages, because everybody who could read, would read it.

  2. kallman says:
    23 October 2012 at 2:17 AM

    Here goes my attempt:

    At Pavia, in Liguria, the commemoration of St. Severinus Boethius, martyr, who, famous in knowledge and in writings, while held in prison wrote a treatise on the Consolation of Philosophy, and even until death inflicted by the king Theodoricus, served God with integrity.

  3. asperges says:
    23 October 2012 at 1:44 PM

    “At Pavia in Liguria, commemoration of St Severinus Boethius, martyr, renowned for his learning and script, during his imprisonment wrote a tract on the Consolation of Philosophy. He served God unswervingly until he was put to death by King Theodoricus.”

  4. AnAmericanMother says:
    23 October 2012 at 2:23 PM

    Notice that St. Boethius is playing the monochord . . . there’s another charming medieval illustration of Guido d’Arezzo teaching Bishop Theobald how to use one.

  5. BarbW says:
    23 October 2012 at 5:26 PM

    Greetings all! There is a wonderful (I’m predjudiced) new translation of The Consolation of Philosophy as an Ignatius Critical Edition just out this summer . . . completed by yours truly and a colleague . . . check it out!
    http://www.ignatius.com/IProducts/144421/the-consolation-of-philosophy.aspx

  6. KAS says:
    30 October 2012 at 10:22 AM

    Thanks to this blog post and Amazon.com I have now completed my Christmas shopping with copies of the Ignatius edition of the Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius–YAY!!

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