Paulinus, patriarch of Aquileia, was born about 726^1082 in Forum Julii, now Friuli, near Venice.
He entered the priesthood, was employed in teaching and arrived at eminence as a scholar. He
played a prominent part in the affairs of his country, and his services in suppressing a Lombard
insurrection met, in the year 776, with recognition and reward by Charlemagne, who gave him an
estate and in 787 elevated him to the patriarchal see of Aquileia.^1083 He carried on a successful
mission among the Carinthians, a tribe which lived near Aquileia, and also another among their
neighbors, the Avari (the Huns).^1084 He opposed with vigor the Adoptionists, and his writings
contributed much to the extinction of the sect. He lived entirely for God and his church, and won
the hearts of his spiritual children. Perhaps the most striking proof of his virtue is the warm friendship
which existed between himself and Alcuin. The latter is very, enthusiastic in his praise of the
learning and accomplishments of Paulinus. Charlemagne seems to have valued him no less.^1085
With such encouragement Paulinus led a busy and fruitful life, participating in synods and managing
wisely his see until his death on January 11, 804.^1086 Very, soon thereafter he was popularly numbered
among the saints,^1087 and stories began to be told of his miraculous powers.^1088 His bones were
deposited in the high altar of the collegiate church of Friuli, or as the place was called Civitas
Austriae. The church underwent repairs, and his bones were for a time laid by those of the martyr
Donatus, but at length on January 26, 1734, they were separated and with much pomp placed in
the chapel under the choir of the great basilica of Friuli.^1089
The writings of Paulinus comprise (1) Brief treatise against Elipandus,^1090 archbishop of
Toledo and primate of Spain, who is generally regarded as the father of Adoptionism. It was issued
in the name of the council of Frankfort-on-the-Main (794), and sent into Spain. It was first published
by Jean de Tillet, in 1549. (2) Three books against Felix of Urgel,^1091 also against the Adoptionists.
It was prepared in 796 by order of Charlemagne, and probably submitted to Alcuin, agreeably to
the author’s request.^1092 It is the most important work of Paulinus, though by no means the best in
point of style. The Felix addressed was bishop of Urgel and the leader of the Adoptionists. Paulinus
refutes the heretics by quotations of Scripture and the Fathers. The work is elaborately annotated
by Madrisius, and thus rendered much more intelligible.^1093 (3) A deliverance by the council of
Friuli, held in 796, upon the Trinity and the Incarnation.^1094 (4) An exhortation to virtue,^1095 addressed
(^1082) Migne, l.c. Vita II. v. (col. 30, 1. 4).
(^1083) Jaffè, Mon. Alc., p. 162.
(^1084) At the request of Alcuin he wrote explicit directions for their conversion and baptism. Ebert ii. p. 89. Mon. Alc., ed.
Jaffè, p. 311-318. Alc. Epist. 56. Ed. Migne, Epist. 39 (C. col. 198).
(^1085) Madrisius devotes a chapter of his biography to Paulinus’ friendships with the illustrious men of his time. Migne, l.c.
Vita, XVI. (col. 109-117).
(^1086) Migne, l.c. col. 149, 1. 2
(^1087) Vita XVII. iii. (col. 118).
(^1088) Ibid. XIV. xvi. (col 100).
(^1089) Ibid. XVII. vii viii. (col. 123-126). Madrisius prints the oration delivered on the latter occasion (col. 133-142).
(^1090) Libellus sacrosyllabus contra Elipandum, Migne, XCIX. col. 151-166.
(^1091) Contra Felicem Urgellitanum episcopum libri tres., ibid. col. 343-468.
(^1092) Ibid. col. 468, 1. 12.
(^1093) The writings of Felix and Elipandus are found in Migne, Patr. Lat. XCVI.
(^1094) Concilium Forojuliense, Migne, XCIX. col. 283-302.
(^1095) Liber exhortationis, ibid. col. 197-282.