Prosper of Aquitaine - Writings

Writings

Prosper of Aquitaine’s most influential writings are admired for their classical qualities, but have been criticized for being flat and dull. This lack of interest is proof that technical competence is not sufficient to make a poet. His writings come mostly from the second quarter of the fifth century.

De vocatione omnium gentium (Calling of All Nations)

This was Prosper’s attempt to reconcile Augustine of Hippo’s teaching on grace in which he suggests that God wishes all men to be saved. The argument is that although all human beings do not receive the grace that saves, they do receive God’s general grace. Written in AD 450, the Calling of All Nations was Prosper’s most original contribution to theology.

Epitoma Chronicon

This was Prosper’s version of the history of the World. In it he sought to give his own version of the Pelagian controversy and in his own interpretation of recent history. The Epitoma Chronicon ends in 455.

Capitulla

This was a simple list of ten doctrinal points asserting the efficacy and necessity of God’s Grace, each separately supported by papal statements. It was a strong defense of an essential Augustinian doctrine, but most moderate one to its date. Prosper did not mention Augustine’s name in the doctrine, but also did not reject any of his thoughts on predestination. It was written between 435 and 442.

Sententia and Epigrammata

The Sententia was a collection of 92 maxims drawn up against the writings of Augustine of Hippo. The epigrammata was a compilation of 106 epigrams of florilegium in verse. Both were intended to be used as handbooks for the serious Christian, drawn from an Augustinian point of view. The work was devoted to the discussion of doctrines of grace and the incarnation. The motto of the florilegia was monastically influenced, urging the reader to patience through adversity, exercise of virtue, and constant striving to perfection.

Liber contra Collatorem

This writing represents the final opinion of Prosper on the problem of necessity of grace. It was written during the reign of Pope Sixtus III (link) and is a step-by step response to Conference XIII of the Conlationes of John Cassian.

Carmen de Providentia Divina (Poem on Divine Providence)

The problem of providence is discussed in the context of God’s creation of the World and in relation to the invasion of Gaul by the Vandals and the Goths. This work has been attributed to Prosper of Aquitaine in the past, but this theory has been discredited.