Letter 5013: We know that the sacraments of a religious vocation free those who hold them from the entanglements of sin — not...

Ennodius to Hormisdas. We know that the sacraments of a religious calling are set apart from the multitude that is liable to sins by innocence and faith, and that the titles of a venerable office distinguish character rather than bodies. Who would seek good conscience among men, if worldly necessity is to be applied to the decrees of pontiffs, if a priest's promise is to be kept only with the circumspect caution of the world? A man never had constancy in his affection who was not permitted to do otherwise than what he had promised. The conduct of the world is held in check by fear of the laws: but it is fitting that the servants of God display what is good not out of dread but out of love. Some time ago, while fear pressed upon us and we hung in suspense over an uncertain estimation of our merits regarding the clemency of the devout king, we handed over so many of our camels, to be given to the lord pope, on this condition of reverence to you: that, if those animals themselves should not be necessary to us, a just price for them should be sent; and since your holiness knows full well that we, as long as we were able, relieved the interests of the holy Roman Church through your representation, now in return render a benefit out of truth. We also ask, with the aforesaid greeting, that you indicate what your deliberation holds upon this matter, because we believe that neither the aforesaid prelate of the apostolic see nor you, who stand as mediators, are thinking anything other than what accords without doubt both with our purpose and with justice.

XIII. ENNODIVS HORMISDAE. Scimus religiosi sacramenta propositi ab obnoxia peccatis multitudine innocentia et fide separari et titulos uenerabilis officii mores potius insignire quam corpora. quis bonum conscientiae inter homines quaerat, si mundi adhibenda est circa pontificum statuta necessitas, si sacerdotum promissio circumspecta cautione seruabitur? jnumquam habuit in affectu constantiam cui facere aliud de pollicitatione non licuit. saeculi conuersatio legum metu retinetur: dei famulos quod bonum est exhibere conuenit non formidini sed amori. dudum dum nobis metus instaret et de clementia pii regis dubio meritorum aestimatione penderemus incerto, camelos nostros tot dandos domno papae tali reuerentiae uestrae condicione tradidimus, ut, si nobis animalia ipsa non essent necessaria, iustum pro ipsis pretium mitteretur, et quia nouit optime sanctitas uestra, nos dum potuimus per allegationem tuam utilitates sanctae Romanae ecclesiae subleuasse, nunc uicissitudine facite de ueritate beneficium. quaesumus etiam salutatione praefata, ut quid super hac parte deliberatio uestra habeat indicetis, quia 4 mihi BL V 5 uel om. T hac LV 6 desederati Bl formam L eloquii P; eiplc add. B XIII. 13 querat BLl 14 ponticum T\' 16 pollitione T1 17 famulus B 18 formidinisad (s in ras.) B 20 penderimus B nostros om. Sirm . 21 domino Bb ueatra L 22 ne- I cessara B 24 nos L in ras., fuerat primo fort . n tuam] no- stram Pb utilitatis B 26 su quaemus L su 8. 2. m. atIt . 27 deliberatio (at in ras.) Y credimus nec praefatum sedis apostolicae praesulem nec uos, qui mediatores existitis, aliud cogitare, nisi quod et proposito et iustitiae sine dubitatione conueniat.