Diedenhofen, where, on March 4, 835, he dictated the protocol of Ebo’s deposition.^1209 He died at
Orleans in 843 or 844.
His Writings are interesting and important, although few.
- The layman’s rule of life,^1210 in three books, composed in 828 for Mathfred, count of
Orleans, who had requested instruction how to lead a godly life while in the bonds of matrimony.
The first and last books are general in their contents, but the second is for the most part specially
addressed to married people. As might be expected Jonas takes strong ground against vice in all
its forms and so his work has great value in the history of ethics. It is very likely that the second
book was composed first.^1211
- The Kings rule of life,^1212 written about 829 and dedicated to Pepin. Both the
above-mentioned works are little more than compilations from the Bible and the fathers, especially
from Augustin, but the author’s own remarks throw a flood of light upon the sins and follies of his
time.^1213
- The Worship of Images.^1214 This is his chief work, and a very important one. It is in three
books, and was written against Claudius of Turin. It was nearly finished at the time of the latter’s
death (839), and then laid aside since Jonas fancied that the bold position of Claudius would scarcely
be assumed by any one else. But when he found that the pupils and followers of Claudius were
propagating the same opinions he took up his book again and finished it about 842. It had been
begun at the request of Louis the Pious; but he having died in 840, Jonas dedicated the work to his
son, Charles the Bald, in a letter in which the above-mentioned facts about its origin are stated.
Jonas opposes Claudius with his own weapons of irony and satire, gives his portrait in no flattering
colors and even ridicules his latinity. The first book defends the use of images (pictures), the
invocation and worship of the saints, the doctrine of their intercession, and the veneration due to
their relics, but asserts that the French do not worship images. The second book defends the
veneration of the cross, and the third pilgrimages to Rome. - History of the translation of the relics of Saint Hubert.^1215 Hubert, patron saint of hunters,
died in 727 as first bishop of Liége, and was buried there in St. Peter’s church. In 744 he was moved
to another portion of the church, but in 825 bishop Walcand of Liége removed his relics to the
monastery of Andvin which he had reestablished, and it is this second translation which Jonas
describes.
§ 167. Rabanus Maurus.(^1209) Hefele, IV. 87.
(^1210). De institutione laicali. Migne, CVI. col. 121-278.
(^1211) Ebert, l.c. p. 229
(^1212) De institutione regia. Migne, CVI. col. 279-306.
(^1213) The fact that portions of these two books not only agree word for word but also with the Acts of the Paris reform-council
of 829 is proof, as Ebert maintains (pp. 227-29), of the prior existence of the Acts.
(^1214) De cultu imaginum, Migne, CVI. col. 305-388.
(^1215) Historia translationis S. Hucberti, ibid. col. 389-394.