In the East he zealously maintained his jurisdiction over the ecclesiastical provinces of Illyricurn, of which the Patriarch of Constantinople was trying to secure control on account of their becoming a part of the Eastern empire. The Bishop of Thessalonica had been constituted papal vicar in this territory, exercising jurisdiction over the metropolitans and bishops. By letters to Rufus, the contemporary incumbent of the see, Boniface watched closely over the interests of the Illyrian church and insisted on obedience to Rome. In 421 dissatisfaction expressed by certain malcontents among the bishops, on account of the pope's refusal to confirm the election of Perigines as Bishop of Corinth unless the candidate was recognized by Rufus, served as a pretext for the young emperor Theodosius [name of Roman emperors; Theodosius I (379–395) made Christianity the state religion] II to grant the ecclesiastical dominion of Illyricurn to the Patriarch of Constantinople (14 July, 421). Boniface remonstrated with Honorius against the violation of the rights of his see, and prevailed upon him to urge Theodosius to rescind his enactment. The law was not enforced, but it remained in the Theodosian (439) and Justinian [Byzantine emperor 527–565] (534) codes and caused much trouble for succeeding popes. By a letter of 11 March, 422, Boniface forbade the consecration in Illyricum of any bishop whom Rufus would not recognize. Boniface renewed the legislation of Pope Soter, prohibiting women to touch the sacred linens or to minister at the burning of incense. He enforced the laws forbidding slaves to become clerics. He was buried in the cemetery of Maximus on the Via Salaria, near the tomb of his favorite, St. Felicitas, in whose honor and in gratitude for whose aid he had erected an oratory over the cemetery bearing her name. The Church keeps his feast on 25 October.

Liber Pontificalis, ed. DUCHESNE (Paris, 1886), 1, pp. lxii, 227-229; JAME, Regesta Romanorum Pontificum (Leipzig, 1885), 1, 51-54; Acta SS., XIII, 62*; LIX, 605—616; BARONIUS, Annales (Bar-le-Duc, 1866), VII, 152-231; TILLEMONT, Mémoires (Venice, 1732), XII, 385-407; 666-670; P.L., XVIII, 397-406; XX, 745-792; HEFELE, Conciliengeschichte and translation, §§ 120, 122; DUCHESNE, Fastes Episcopaux de l'Ancienne Gaul (Paris, 1894), I 84-109; Les Eglíses Séparées (Paris, 1905), 229-279; BUCHANAN in Dict. Christ. Biog., s.v.; GREGORIUS-HAMILTON, Hist. of Rome in the Middle Ages (London, 1894), I, 180-181.

Baring-Gould’s sources: Modem Roman Martyrology. The Martyrology of Jerome has only the day of his Ordination, Dec. 29. Not in Ado or Usuardus. Authorities: — Anastasius Bibliothecarius, a rescript of Symmachus, &c.] The death of Pope Zosimus, December 26, 418, gave occasion to the third contested election for the see of Rome. The unsettled form of the election, and the undefined rights of the electors, could not but give rise to strife. The absolute nomination by the clergy would have been no security against contested elections; for in every double election a large party of the clergy was ranged on either side, and formed the rival factions. A certain assent of the people was still considered necessary, but to some extent their right as electors had probably been curtailed since the bloody and unseemly conflicts which had desecrated the election of Damasus. But still the people exercised great power in an election, had a voice, and used both at times with violence and noise.

On the death of Zosimus, some of the clergy chose the Archdeacon Eulalius in the Lateran [St. John Lateran, the pope’s cathedral in Rome] Church; on the same day, a larger number met in the church of S. Theodora, and elected the priest Boniface. Three bishops, among whom was the Bishop of Ostia, either compelled, it was said, or yielding through the weakness of old age, consecrated Eulalius. Boniface was inaugurated by nine bishops in the presence of seventy priests, in the church of S. Marcellus. Rome might apprehend the return of those terrible and bloody days which marked the elevation of Damasus. The prefect of Rome was Symmachus, son of the eloquent orator who had defended with so much energy the lost cause S. Boniface [English missionary to Germany, martyred 754].

of paganism. He wrote to Honorius, the emperor, then at Milan, asking instructions, but showing an inclination towards Eulalius. Honorius, swayed by Placidia, then enjoying the smiles of her senseless brother and directing his counsels, ordered Boniface at once to appear before the imperial court at Ravenna. The mandate reached him when he was performing his sacred functions outside the city. The people mistook the purpose of the approach of the officers of the prefect, and maltreated them. The gates of Rome were closed upon Boniface, and Eulalius, in great state, amid the acclamations of part, at least, of the people, took possession of S. Peter’s.

But the party of Boniface had found a mouthpiece in the ambitious Placidia. A petition was forwarded to Ravenna from the priests of the party of Boniface, announcing that they were ready to accompany him to the throne of the emperor and submit to his judgment the rival claims of the candidates.

Honorius issued a rescript, which required both Boniface and Eulalius to remain outside Rome till the cause could be decided by a synod of bishops from Italy, Gaul [roughly modern France and Belgium], and Africa.

In the meantime, as the Roman people could not be deprived of the solemn rites of Easter, Achilleus, Bishop of Spoleto, was ordered to officiate during the vacancy. Eulalius, with ill-considered precipitancy, burst by night into the Lateran church, at the head of his party, and, in contempt of the emperor’s orders, celebrated therein the Easter rites. This act sealed his fate. It was too flagrant a defiance of imperial commands to be passed over. Symmachus abandoned the cause of one whom he regarded as rebellious, forcibly drove him from the city, and threatened his followers with confiscation, banishment, and death. The party of Eulalius melted away through fear of the penalties, and Boniface took possession of the pontifical throne without further contest. He was the son of a Roman priest, Jueundus, amiable and mild, advanced in age, and blameless of life. Wisely anxious to prevent, as far as possible, the scandals, and even crimes, in which he had been so nearly involved, he addressed the emperor, urging him to enact a law, a civil law, which should restrain ecclesiastical ambition, and coerce those who aspired to obtain by intrigue what ought to be the reward of piety and sanctity. Honorius issued an edict, that in the case of a contested election, both the rival candidates should be excluded from office, and a new appointment be made.

Boniface promulgated a decree that no woman or nun should touch the altar-pall or handle a censer. No slave or debtor was thenceforth to be invested with the clerical office. He founded an oratory in the cemetery of S. Felicitas, and adorned her sepulchre with marble, and supplied it with crowns of light and silver vessels for the Eucharist. After a brief pontificate of three years and eight months he died, and was buried in the oratory of S. Felicitas he had built. S. Boniface first introduced the “ Gloria in Excelsis ” into the mass, to be said on Maundy Thursday in thanksgiving for the reconciliation of penitents which took place on that day. In the Sacramentary of Gregory the Great it was afterwards ordered to be said only by a bishop on Sundays and festivals, and by priests never except at Easter. S. Mar nock —.S’. Goeznou.