\ 155. ST. ISIDORE OF SEVILLE. GG3
At all events lie was educated by his brother Leaiider. Iii the year GOO he succeeded his brother in the archiepiscopate of Seville. In this position he became the great leader of the Spanish Church, and is known to have presided at two councils, the second council of Seville, opened November 13, 619, and the fourth council of Toledo, opened December 5, G33.1 The first of these was of local interest, but the other was much more important. It was the largest ever held in Spain, being attended by all the six metropolitans, fifty-six bishops and seven bishops' deputies. It has political significance be cause it was called by King Sisenand, who had just deposed Suintila, the former king. Sisenand was received by the council with great respect. He threw himself before the bishops and with tears asked their prayers. He then exhorted them to do their duty in correcting abuses. Of the seventy-five canons passed by the council several are of curious interest. Thus it was forbidden to plunge the recipient of baptism more than once under the water, because the Arians did it three times to indicate that the Trinity was divided (c. 6). It was not right to reject all the hymns written by Hilary and Ambrose and employ only Scriptural language in public worship (c. 13). If a clergyman is ever made a judge by the king he must exact an oath from the king that no blood is to be shed in his court (c. 31). By order of King Sisenand the clergy were freed from all state taxes and services (c. 47). Once a monk always a monk, although one was made so by his parents (c. 49). 2 AVhile compulsory conversion of the Jews was forbidden, yet no Jew converted by force was allowed to return to Judaism (c. 57). Very strenuous laws were passed relative to both the baptized and the uubaptized Jews (c. 58-66). The king was upheld in his government and the deposed king and his family perpetually excluded from power. When Isidore's position is
1 The canons of these councils are given by Hefele, III. 72, 73 ; 79-88. a This has its bearings on the case of Gottschalk.
664 FOURTH PERIOD. A. D. 590-1049.
considered it is a probable conjecture that these canons express his opinions and convictions upon the different matters.
Warned by disease of death's approach, Isidore began the distribution of his property. For the last six months of his life he dispensed alms from morn till night. His end was highly edifying. Accompanied by his assembled bishops he had himself carried to the church of St. Vincent the Martyr, and there, having publicly confessed his sins, prayed God for forgive ness. He then asked the pardon and prayers of those present, gave away the last thing he owned, received the Holy Qornmunion, and was carried to his cell, in which he died four days later, Thursday, April 4, 636.1 He was immediately enrolled among the popular saint s and in the 15th council of Toledo (688) is styled "excellent doctor," and by Benedict XIV. (April 25, 1722) made a Doctor of the Church.
Isidore of Seville was the greatest scholar of his day. He was well read in Latin, Greek and Hebrew, in profane as well as in sacred and patristic literature. He was also a vigorous and dignified prelate, admired for his wondrous eloquence and be loved for his private virtues. He did much for education, especially of the clergy, and established at Seville a highly suc cessful school, in which he himself taught. But his universal fame rests upon his literary works, which embrace every branch of knowledge then cultivated, and which though al most entirely compilations can not be too highly praised for their ability and usefulness. He performed the inestimable service of perpetuating learning, both sacred and secular. It is a striking testimony to his greatness that works have been attributed to him with which he had nothing to do, as the re vision of the Mozarabic Liturgy and of "Spanish ecclesiastical and secular laws, and especially the famous Pseudo-Isidorian decretals.
' Vita S. Imdori, \\ 33-36, in Migne, LXXXIL col. 45-49.