E00724: Anonymous Latin sermon preached at Lérins (southern Gaul) in the 5th century in commemoration of *Honoratus (founder of Lérins and bishop of Arles, ob. 429/430, S00438), insists that the possession of his body by the church at Arles is worth less than his spiritual legacy to Lérins. Part of the collection of Gallic sermons known as 'Eusebius Gallicanus'.

Eusebius Gallicanus, Sermon 72: On the Burial of the Holy Bishop Honoratus (De depositione sancti Honorati episcopi), § 12

Nec inde aliquid nos minus de eo habere credamus, quod sibi Arelatensis ciuitas pignus sacri corporis uindicauit. Teneant illi tabernaculum beatae animae in cineribus suis, nos ipsam teneamus animam in uirtutibus suis; teneant illi ossa, nos merita; apud illos uidetur remansisse quod terra est, nos studeamus nobis cum habere quod caeli est; amplectantur illi quod sepulcro includitur, nos quod paradiso continetur.

'Nor let us believe ourselves to have any less of him because the city of Arles has gained for itself the surety of his sacred body. Let them possess the container of his blessed soul in his remains; let us possess his soul itself in his virtues; let them possess his bones, us his merits; let what is earth appear to have stayed with them, let us strive to have with us what is of heaven; let them embrace what is enclosed in his tomb, us what is contained in paradise.'

Text: Glorie 1971, 779. Translation: David Lambert.