Saint Benedict II

Benedict Benoît II Pope mentioned as having received the request for canonization (historically Benedict IX). II was a Roman by birth, and was attached to the service of the Church from his youth. He studied the Holy Scripture with great application, and became very skilled in the science of ecclesiastical chant. He took singular pleasure in singing the praises of the Lord, and regarded this function as an apprenticeship for what the blessed do in heaven. His tender piety and his other virtues led to his elevation to the priesthood: he had a great part in the government of the Church under Popes Agatho and Leo II. After the death of the latter, which occurred in 683, he was elected to succeed him; but his enthronement did not take place until the following year, because it was necessary to wait for the return of the envoys who had gone to Constantinople to as k Emperor Constant Constantin Pogonat Byzantine emperor who reformed the procedures for papal election under Benedict II. ine Pogonatus to confirm his election, according to the custom practiced at that time. Benedict, supported by this prince, worked with great zeal to have the d ecrees of the General Council of Concile général de Constantinople Council that condemned Monothelitism. Constantinop le against t Monothélites Christological heresy supported by Constans II. he Monothelites received everywhere. The bishop Tolède City of origin of Casilda and seat of her father's kingdom. s of Spain assembled in Toledo to subscribe to the decision of faith made at Constantinople, and they sent a copy of their decree with an exposition of their sentiments on the controversial point. Although they recognized two wills in Jesus Christ, Benedict nevertheless found that the expressions they used were not clear enough, and he asked them to explain themselves in such a way as to leave no doubt about their orthodoxy, which they did in the fifte quinzième concile de Tolède City of origin of Casilda and seat of her father's kingdom. enth Council of Toledo. He also worked with all his power to bring back to be tter sentiments Macarius, Patr Macaire, patriarche d'Antioche Patriarch of Antioch deposed for Monothelite heresy. iarch of Antioch, who had been deposed for heresy.

As the custom of asking the Emperor, who resided in Constantinople, for the confirmation of the election of a new Pope caused long delays that were detrimental to the Church, the Saint begged Constantine to provide a remedy, and the prince issued a law addressed to the clergy, the people, and the army of Rome, by which he permitted the immediate enthronement of the one they had elected as Pope. This emperor had great veneration for Benedict: he gave him proof of this by sending him to Rome a lock of hair from his two sons, Justinian and Heraclius. This was a form of adoption used at that time: he who received the hair of a young man was in a way regarded as his father. Benedict II worked hard for the conversion of heretics; he also applied himself to repairing and adorning churches. He illustrated his all-too-short pontificate, which lasted only ten months, with a multitude of good works. Humility, gentleness, patience, mortification, and love for the poor were the principal virtues that shone in this holy Pope. He died on May 7, 685, and was buried in the church of Saint Peter. His dea th was a t saint Pape Pope mentioned as having received the request for canonization (historically Benedict IX). ime of mourning for the poor. Saint Benedict II may be depicted giving église de Saint-Pierre Burial place of the saint in Rome. alms.

Cf. Liber Pontificalis; Artaud de Montor, Hist. des Papes, and Church histories.

As the custom of asking the emperor, who resided in Constantinople, for the confirmation of the election of a new pope, caused long delays that were detrimental to the Church, the Saint prayed to Constantine to provide a remedy, and the prince issued a law addressed to the clergy, the people, and the army of Rome, by which he permitted them to proceed immediately to the enthronement of the one they had elected as pope. This emperor had great veneration for Benedict: he gave him proof of this by sending him to Rome a lock of hair from his two sons, Justinian and Heraclius. This was a kind of adoption used at that time: he who received the hair of a young man was in a way regarded as his father. Benedict II worked hard for the conversion of heretics; he also applied himself to repairing and adorning churches. He illustrated with a multitude of good works his all-too-short pontificate, which was only ten months long. Humility, gentleness, patience, mortification, and love for the poor were the principal virtues that shone in this holy Pope. He died on May 7, 685, and was buried in the church of Saint Peter. His death was a time of mourning for the poor. Saint Benedict II can be represented giving alms.

Cf. Liber Pontificalis; Artaud de Montor, Hist. des Papes, and the Hist. de l'Église.