CAESARIUS Bishop of Arles.
CAesarius born at Chalons upon the River Sone, a Monk and Abbot of Lerina, and afterwards Bi∣shop of Arles, was one of the most famous Bishops of France in his time. He was honour'd with divers Letters from the Popes, who made him their Vicar. He assisted at many Councils of France, in which he caused very excellent and useful Canons to be made. He govern'd the See of Arles from the Year 501, to the Year 543. He is mention'd in Gennadius's Book of Ecclesiastical Writers; but 'tis certain that this place was added: For besides that, it is not found in some Editions, and ma∣ny Manuscripts of Gennadius, 'tis evident that Caesarius was not yet Bishop of Arles, when Gennadius wrote this Book: Yet this Chapter being written by an ancient Author, we may give credit to what he says in it, that Caesarius composed some Books very useful for Monks. Sigibert of Gemblours calls them Homilies proper for the Monastical Life. We have many Homilies which go under his Name, which are publish'd in the Bibliotheque of the Fathers, in the Collection of M. Baluzius, and among the Sermons of St. Austin. Some of them perhaps are none of his, and 'tis certain that several pla∣ces are added in them: But these Homilies are not Discourses to Monks, but Sermons to the People. He compos'd a very great number of them, not only to serve for Preaching in his own Church, which he did very often Morning and Evening; but also to send them to his Brethren of France, Italy and Spain, that they might use them for the Instruction of their People: From hence it is, that a great number of them are restor'd to him in the last Edition of St. Austin's Sermons. He often-times transcribed the Sermons of others, and chiefly those of St. Austin.
He founded a Monastery of Nuns at Arles, whereof his Sister Caesaria was Abbess: He drew up a Rule for them which is in the Collection of Benedict of Aniane, where is found also a Discourse exhorting them to Chastity; a Letter which he wrote to the Abbess, about the manner of govern∣ing her Nuns, and the Testament of this Bishop. His Life was written by his Disciple Cyprianus, by the Priest Messianus, and by the Deacon Stephen. These Lives are extant in the first Benedictine Age; but I question whether they be altogether genuine, and such as they were made by their first Authors. The Author who plac'd his Name in Gennadius, attributes to him a Collection of Passages out of the Holy Scripture and the Fathers about Grace, which is approv'd by Pope Felix; which is to be understood of the Canons of the second Council of Orange, at which Caesarius assist∣ed.