ON ST. ISIDORE, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR, IN EGYPT.
Fourth Century.
CommentaryIsidorus, Bishop and Confessor in Egypt (St.)
[1] St. Jerome testifies in his Epistle 27 to Eustochium (that is, in the Life of St. Paula the widow), St. Isidore meets St. Paula. January 26, chapter 12, that when she was visiting the dwellings of the Egyptian Fathers, the holy and venerable Bishop Isidore the Confessor came to meet her with innumerable crowds of monks, among whom many were elevated to the priestly and Levitical ranks.
[2] Venerated on January 2. The memorial of this Isidore appears in the Roman Martyrology on January 2: "At Nitria in Egypt, Blessed Isidore, Bishop and Confessor." On which Baronius comments thus: Since St. Jerome calls him a Confessor, lest anything lie hidden, one must know that this word was used by our predecessors with a meaning quite different from present usage. Who were formerly called Confessors. For they applied that name to no one unless he had, when summoned, confessed the faith of Christ before the enemies of the faith. If, however, he had experienced some form of torment yet had not died as a martyr, he was then also called a Martyr, and at the same time was sometimes also termed a Confessor — because he had not yet completed his martyrdom. Although, if you weigh the force of these words, they are the same; nevertheless, both in Tertullian and also in Cyprian and most of the other ancients, it is sufficiently well known and established that these words were customarily understood in the sense we have described. Consult, if you wish to know these matters more precisely, especially Cyprian's Epistles 7, 9, 10, 15, 30, 35, 52, and 81 in the edition of Pamelius, who noted the same in his commentary on Epistle 9 — a man, though unknown to me personally, well known for his learning.
[3] Who were Professores. According to the same Cyprian's view, one who offered himself for martyrdom without being summoned was called a Professor. If, moreover, someone, seized by fear lest he betray the faith, abandoned his goods and his family and lived far from his homeland in voluntary exile, he was called an Extorris ("Exile"): Who were Extorres. whose condition was not to be despised, for he too was to be counted among the Martyrs One who died in flight was also a Martyr. if he had met death for this cause. All this according to the practice and ancient manner of speaking of the early Christians. Later, usage prevailed that all who had lived a holy and praiseworthy life and had at length died a holy and approved death, Who are now called Confessors. resting in the Lord, were called Confessors. Thus far Baronius.
[4] Some think that this Isidore is the same as the one who is said to be venerated at Antioch in the Roman Martyrology, of whom we treated above on this same day.