Main Points
Incarnation, Hypostatic Union, Two Natures, Petrine Primacy, and Church Unity.
Description
'Letters and Sermons' by St. Leo the Great is a profound collection of his papal letters (often called "tomes") and homilies, composed during his pontificate (440–461 AD), which address pressing ecclesiastical controversies, pastoral guidance, and liturgical reflections. The main themes revolve around the defense of Catholic orthodoxy, particularly the doctrine of Christ's Incarnation—affirming His true divine and human natures united in one Person against heresies like Eutyches' Monophysitism and Nestorianism—while emphasizing the primacy of the Apostolic See of Peter and the unity of the Church's faith. Theologically, these writings hold immense significance as they articulate precise Christological formulas that influenced the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD), providing enduring clarity on the hypostatic union and safeguarding the deposit of faith drawn from apostolic tradition.
