Jovinianus
From the Catholic Encyclopedia
An opponent of Christian asceticism in the fourth century, condemned as a heretic (390). Our information about him is derived principally from the work of St. Jerome in two books, "Adversus Jovinianum". He was a monk at one time in his life, but subsequently an advocate of anti-ascetical tendencies. He became the head of a party, and in the act condemning him Auxentius, Genialis, Germinator, Felix, Prontinus, Martianus, Januarius and Ingeniosus are designated as his disciples. His views were promulgated in writings which were condemned at a synod held in Rome under Pope Siricius, and subsequently at a synod convened at Milan by St. Ambrose. The writings of Jovinianus were sent to St. Jerome by his friend Pammachius; Jerome replied to them in a long treatise written in 393. From this work it would appear that Jovinianus maintained
- that a virgin as such is no better in the sight of God than a wife;
- abstinence is no better than the partaking of food in the right disposition;
- a person baptized with the Spirit as well as water cannot sin;
- all sins are equal;
- there is but one grade of punishment and one of reward in the future state.
HEFELE, Konziliengeschichte, II, 50; HALLER, Jovinianus, die Fragmente seiner Schriften, die Quellen zu seiner Geschichte sein Leben und seine Lehre (Leipsig, 1897); Texte und Untersuchungen, new series, II, 2; BROCHET, St. Jerome et ses Ennemis (Paris, 1906); GRUTZMACHER, Hieronymus, Eine biographische Studie zur alten Kirchengeschichte, II (Berlin, 1906).
PATRICK J. HEALY