Roman Council of 745 – Case of Aldebert and the eight apocryphal names of angels (Mansi vol. 12)

Contexto Histórico

The Roman Council of 745, under the pontificate of Pope Saint Zachary, addressed a significant theological issue related to the spread of heretical practices in Gaul (present-day France). The focus was on Saint Aldebert, a pseudo-bishop from France who promoted devotion to angels with apocryphal names.

Detalhes do Caso

• São Aldebert: Um clérigo francês não ordenado que, no século VIII, estabeleceu uma seita semi-cristã na Gália. Ele se apresentava como bispo e atraía seguidores construindo capelas em locais “aparescidos” e distribuindo supostas relíquias.
• Práticas Heréticas: Aldebert compôs uma oração invocando oito anjos por nomes específicos, alegando ter recebido relíquias desses “próprios anjos”.
• Denúncia: São Bonifácio, o apóstolo da Alemanha, alertou o Papa São Zacarias sobre as atividades de Aldebert.
• Condenação: O Concílio Romano de 745 condenou formalmente São Aldebert e seu seguidor Clemens, depondo-os de qualquer função religiosa, excomungando-os até sua conversão, ordenando a queima de suas supostas relíquias e proibindo sua oração aos oito anjos.

Os Oito Nomes Apócrifos

Texto Latino Original (Atos do Concílio)

“I beseech you, and I conjure you, and I entreat you, Angels Uriel, Raguel, Tubuel, Michael, Inias, Tubuas, Sabaoc, and Simiel…”

Tradução Portuguesa

“Rogo-vos, e conjuro-vos, e suplico-me a vós, Anjos Uriel, Raguel, Tubuel, Miguel, Inias, Tubuas, Sabaoc e Simiel…”

Decisão do Concílio

O Conselho Romano tomou as seguintes medidas:

1. Depôs São Aldebert e Clemens de qualquer função religiosa.
2. Excomungou-os até que se convertessem.
3. Ordenou a queima das suas “relíquias”.
4. Proibiu a oração aos oito anjos mencionados.
5. Orientou que os fiéis enganados retornassem às suas paróquias canônicas.

Texto Latino da Decisão do Concílio

“Because Aldebertus, having completed the prayer, invoked the names of angels who are not angels of God but rather demons; namely, except for Michael, the names of the other seven are not found among the Fathers of the Church or in the canonical books of Holy Scripture. Therefore, by the judgment of the holy Church, such a prayer is rejected and those eight names of angels are no longer to be used.”

Tradução Portuguesa da Decisão

“Because Saint Aldebert, in his prayer, invoked names of angels that are not angels of God but rather demons; with the exception of Michael, the other seven names are not found among the Fathers of the Church nor in Holy Scripture. Consequently, by the judgment of the Holy Church, this prayer and the names of the eight angels are rejected.”

Quote

“Because Aldebert, in his composite prayer, invoked names of angels that are not angels of God, but demons. Except for Michael, the names of the other seven do not appear in either the Fathers of the Church or in the canonical Sacred Scriptures. Therefore, by the judgment of the Holy Church, such a prayer is rejected and the names of these eight angels must no longer be used.”

The Eight Angels: Analysis

Magisterial Meaning

The case of Aldebert establishes several important principles:

1. Only three angels are named in the canonical Sacred Scriptures: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
2. Other names (Uriel, Selafiel, Yegudiel, Barachiel) come from apocryphal literature.
3. In public devotion: Only the three canonical can be invoked by name.
4. In private devotion: Other names may be known but with extreme caution.
5. Risk of improper invocation: Apocryphal names might mask demonic entities.

Continuity in Magisterial Teaching

The case of Aldebert sets a precedent that will be repeated:

• Council of Aachen (798-799): Prohibits depicting angels with non-Biblical names.
• Bull Sublimis Deus (1537): Pope Paul III against practices involving magical invocation of angels.
• Roman Catechism (1566): Reaffirms rule of the three archangels.
• CDF Decision on Opera Angelorum (1983): Modern application of the same principle.
• Current liturgical calendar: Feast of the Three Archangels (Michael, Gabriel, Raphael) on September 29: Only these three.

The Orthodox Church

Note that in the Byzantine Orthodox Churches, seven archangels are traditionally invoked in liturgy: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Selafiel, Yegudiel, and Barachiel. This tradition originates from Pseudo-Areopagita and Eastern Fathers. The Catholic Church recognizes this Eastern tradition as legitimate within the Eastern Catholic Churches (which retain the Byzantine Rite), but in the Latin Rite adheres to Aldebert’s rule of the three canonical archangels.

Pastoral Application

The principles from the Aldebert case are applicable today to:

• New Age movements that invoke “angels” with invented names.
• Alleged mediums who claim to “contact” angels with specific names.
• New Age literature featuring angel charts for invocation.
• “Angelology spiritual” classes mixing non-Catholic paradigms.

Supplementary Reading

• Saint Michael
• Saint Gabriel
• Saint Raphael
• CDF Decision Opera Angelorum 1983
• Council of Laodicea, canon 35

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See our complete guide to Catholic Angelology.