Sulpicius Severus

Who he was

His life is known for the most part from the work of Gennadius (De vir. ill. 19) and the letters of his friend Paulinus of Nola.
He was born into an aristocratic family in Aquitania and studied the classics and law at Bordeaux, where he probably made the acquaintance of Paulinus.
He entered on a forensic career and married the daughter of a wealthy family of consular rank.
Upon his wife’s premature death, Sulpicius abandoned his career and took up the ascetic life.
He was baptized ca. 389.
He was a disciple of Martin of Tours and was greatly influenced by his example.
Of St. Martin in his Vita Martini he wrote: No one ever saw him enraged, or excited, or lamenting, or laughing; he was always one and the same: displaying a kind of heavenly happiness in his countenance...Never was there any word on his lips except Christ…Frequently too, he used to weep for the sins of those who showed themselves his revilers. 7
Gennadius states that he was a priest, but his contemporaries refer to him as a layman.

What he wrote

1. The Chronicles / Sacred History

A brief history of the world from creation to 400.
He omits the history of Christ and the Apostles which he regards as unsuitable for a resume because of its greatness. It is valuable for its treatment of Priscillians.

This biography, written while St. Martin was still alive (ca. 396), is the testimony of a Christian recently converted to asceticism.
It became an exemplar for medieval hagiography. 3. Letters
The Vita Martini was supplemented by three letters written in 397 and 398.
They deal with St. Martin’s death and defend him against detractors. 4. TheDialogues
An account of a conversation between Gallus (an elderly monk and a disciple of St. Martin) and Postumianus (a friend of Sulpicius and a great admirer of the monks of Egypt). Postumianus recounts the deeds of the Egyptian monks, while Gallus speaks of the deeds of St. Martin, modeling them after the accounts of the wonders coming from the East. 8

Who he was