Letter 138: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

[Editorial heading, partly damaged:] A Commonitorium [admonitory memorandum] of Pope Hormisdas to all the bishops of the East. [...] He shows that [...] those who, content with their own faith and justice, allowed the decrees of the fathers to be undermined by others with impunity, are not free from blame, and he sharply spurs them to defend the faith freely. Hormisdas, to all the bishops established in the regions of the East. 1. Even if the care of my admonition were to cease, it would still befit you, out of your own office, not to omit negligently those things which it is fitting earnestly to observe for the salvation of one's own soul: so that the discipline of the heavenly commandments might be evident to be within you not by another's zeal, but by your own resolve. For although he does not lack praise who complies with good counsels, yet he is so much the more excellent in the honor of wisdom who anticipates what is right than he who follows what has been instituted, by as much as it is more illustrious to teach than to learn. Let each one consider in what calling he has been called by the Lord, and let him give heed to what is expected of him by Him. It is wretched to lie beneath one's standing [merit], when that which is set forth by name is not displayed in action. We have earned [it], if we fulfill what the things granted [the duties of pastoral dignity] require. He who rejoices that he has been admitted to feed the sheep of the Lord's flock, let him reflect upon the judgment concerning the governance entrusted to him. A vigilant safeguard must be applied, [vigilant] custody maintained: no place must be given to ravening wolves, none [...] must be left to them; because the neglected straying of the sheep will return as the fault of the shepherds, who will examine the accounts of the stewardship committed to them. For it is established that the justice of all stands firm, and that unpunished license to sin lies open to no one; but who does not know that there are degrees of merits, and that, just as [the deeds] are not equal, so the punishments are diverse? Stripes are multiplied for those who know: lighter scourgings are appointed for ignorance. What then, if it is so as it is not [right] to be, must be reckoned what conduct it befits to be in him to whom the errors of others also must of necessity be imputed? The Holy Spirit cries out through the prophet: O shepherds of Israel: do the shepherds not feed themselves? [Ezekiel 34] It is established that more is to be exacted from him to whom more is entrusted; and that we become liable in so much greater measure as it has fallen to us to be honored with more abundant grace. The good Master, teaching also through obscure things light, and through the riddles of parables the truth, did not accuse the servant of the talent handed over by Him as faithless apart from the increase, but condemned him as useless. [Matthew 25] Whence it is clear in what fear it befits him to be who has lost the Lord's coin, if that one was found blameworthy who kept what he received without diminution. Let no one be content with his own innocence, because to our God all [Year 517.] things [...] We owe the account also of another's resolve [salvation] through the assiduity of preaching. Ample knowledge befits teachers. The Christian faith does not love secrecy; and whoever does not pour it forth into increase, hides it. Through all nations the preaching of the word is enjoined upon the apostles; and how can anyone keep silent, to his excuse, concerning the things committed to him? 2. What does it profit anyone to preserve the reverence of the fathers' rules, if he patiently accepts that these be shaken by others, that they be handled without honor? He shows a feeble affection who does not protect what he loves. The holy ordinances are everywhere assailed by the faithless, and from time to time, out of things suppressed and out of excesses, a revived wickedness rises again. How, I ask, does he prove his piety toward God who connives at such abominable things? Let us recall with what a throng of catholic priests those councils, upon which we rely, were celebrated, as we have learned; how many neither did infirmity hinder, nor burdensome old age delay. The intervals of spacious regions seemed slight, and the labors themselves were pleasant by a certain consolation, while, with the Spirit governing the wisdom of the holy assemblies, advanced age might receive what it should preserve. And against the impious who assail it, after the perfidy has been condemned at its root, he is silent who knows that this command is laid upon him: Lift up your voice, you who bring good tidings to Jerusalem; lift it up, do not fear! [Isaiah 40:9] Was it not having these things before his eyes that the teacher of the Gentiles so instructed his disciple, that he should not cease to preach in season, out of season, admonishing: Take heed to yourself and to doctrine, be urgent in these things: for in doing this you will both save yourself and those who hear you? [2 Timothy] 3. Therefore, whether stirred by the goads of the prophets or instructed by the norms of apostolic teaching, take up the care of saving preaching. Love and vindicate the sentences approved by the pious, hostile to the faithless. And returning to the rock upon which the Church is founded, absolve yourselves also in the presence of the spirit of those fathers whose venerable ordinances are wickedly being undermined: reckoning that, when the Lord shall have come to that examination which is awaited, of what sort He was entrusted to the apostles, of what sort He was found by the doubting of certain temptations, of what sort He was promised by the announcement of the angel, [it must be considered] whether it is better to be reproved by them, or to be joined with their company; whether to confess the Lord such as He will appear, or such as He is denied to be by the impious. Let nothing draw you back from salvation: return to the way with swift steps. A fall does not weigh down one who rushes, if he rises again. The teaching of the Lord's clemency is bountiful; harmful are the bonds of error, while they hold fast. Justice hates the obstinate; clemency cherishes those who correct themselves. Given on the ninth day before the Nones of April, in the consulship of Agapitus, most illustrious man.

seu nisdae papae Commonitoria ad universos episcopos Orientis. ^^^[^^11 iUiites, qui propria fide ac Justiiia conienii pairum consiiiuia impune ah aliis efaciari sinebant, a culpa liberos non esse osiendit, eosque ad fidem libere iuendam acriter siimulat. Hormisda universis episcopis in Orientis partibus constitutis. 1. Etsi admonitionis meae cura desisteret, vos tamen proprii ores conveniret officii, non negligenter omittere, quae enixe ?s decet pro animae suae salute servare: ut mandatorum coele- 1 disciplina non alieno studio, sed ipso vobis clareret inesse Jsito. Nam licet laude non careat qui bonis consiliis obsecun- tanto est tamen potior in honqre sapientiae qui praevenit recta, L qui sequitur instituta, quanto est illustrius docere quam discere. rdetur unusquisque, in qua vocatione a Domino sit vocatus, et ab eo exspectetur advertat. Miserum est intra meritum jacere >8iti, quum id quod praefertur nomine, non ostenditur aetione. la meruimus, si quod indulta*) postulant impleamus. Qui se ad Midas dominici gregis oves gaudet adscitum, cogitet de com- k sibi gubernatione judicium. Pervigil adhibenda tutela est, nuanda custodia: non dandus lujns rapacibus locus, non ullis^) ns relinquendus ; quia neglectus error ovium culpa pastorum Teniet, qui rationes creditae dispensationis examinet. Omnium im constat esse justitiam, nec uUi impunitam licentiam patere indi; sed quis gradus nesciat esse meritorum, et sicut non aeque aua, ita diversa esse supplicia? Multiplicantur scientibus plagae : a flagella leguntur inscitiae. Quid, si ita est sicuti esse non am est, aestimandum, quid in eo deceat esse propositi, cui os quoque errores necesse est imputari? Clamat sanctus Spiritus >rophetam: 0 pastores Israel: numquid semetipsos pascunt pastores? ^'f^^' lam est, plus ab eo, cui plus creditur, exigendum; et tanto is nos obnoxios fieri , quanto efiusiore gratia contigerit honorari. Lster bonus et docens per obscura lucem, per similitudinum gmata veritatem, servum talenti a se traditi praeter augmenta J**^*'^- >dem non arguit infidelem,. sed condemnavit inutilem. Unde perto est, in quo metu esse deceat eum, qui dominicum numisma iderit, si culpatus est ille, qui acceptum sine imminutione ser- b. NuUus conteutus sit innocentia sua, quia Deo nostro universa ) Supple pasioralis digniiatis munia. b cc ad marg. indicia^ quod tamen B aptum. ) Ed. ullius . . . qui gradus . . . Quod si ita est» rSTOLAE BOMAN. POSTIF. I, 51 a. 517. cementi per praedicationis assiduitatem rationem quoque propositi debemus alieni. Largam scientiam decet esse doctorum. Nonamat fides Christiana secretum; quam quisquis in^) augmenta non effan- dit, abscondit. Per universas gent^s verbi praedicatio mandatar apostolis, et quam excusabiliter^) hoc quisquam pot^st sibi tacere commissis? • 2. Quid prodest cuilibet patemarum reverentiam servare regu- larum; si concuti haec ab aliis; si sine honore tractari patienter accipiat? Infirmum ostendit affectum^), qui quod diligit non tuetur. Incursantur passim sancta a perfidis constituta, et rediviva subinde de compressis et excessibus resurgit improbitas. Quemadmodum, rogo, pietatem in Deum probat, qui tam nefanda dissimulat? Re- cordemur, qua catholicorum frequentia sacerdotum illa, quibus niti- mur, celebrata /lidicerimus esse concilia; quautos nec debilitas im- pedivit, nec senectus onerosa tardavit. Exigua visa sunt spatiosa- rum intervalla regionum, et labores ipsi pro quadam consolatione jucundi, dum Spiritu sanctarum congregationum regente sapientiam, sera*) aetas quod servaret acciperet. Et haec insectantibus impiis post^damnatam in radice perfidiam tacet, qui scit sibi esse manda- Jes. 40, 9. tum : Exalta voccm tuam, qui cvangelizas Jerusalem; exaltaj noii timere! Nonne haec ante oculos habens, discipulum ita gentium doctor instituit, ut oj^portune importune') evangelizare non cesset, 2Tim. admonens: Atiende tibi et doctrinae, insta in illis: hoc enim faciens et ' * teipsum salvum facies, et eos qui te audiunt? 3. Ergo vel propheticis stimulis excitati vel normis apostolicae institutionis instructi, curam salutaris praedicationis assumite. Dili* gite et vindicate sententias probatas piis, infidelibus inimicas. £t ad petram, supra quam est fundata Ecclesia, revertentes, apud illo- rum etiani vos patmm spirituS; quorum veneranda constituta im- probe labef actantur, absolvite ^) : aestimantes, quum Dominus ad illud ') b cc in aure iantum effundity a^ guisguis in augmenta effundit, G' qtai^ ,in augmenta ea effudil, Pro voce ea particulam negantem refititaenteSf tBnctnfy rem, ut nobis videtur, exhibemus lectionem, qua in simijitudine talenti propter augmcntum crediti perseveratur. ') G' inoportune; b cc omittunt. EPISTOLAE 29. 30. 803 quod exspectatur examen advenerit^ qualis apostolis creditus^ qualis a. 517. aliquorum tentantiom dubitatione compertus^ qualis angelo praenun- tiante promissus: utrum ab illis melius sit argui^ an cum eorum cohorte conjungi ; utrum talem qualis videbitur, aut qualis ab impiis negatur^ Dominum confiteri. Nil vos retrahat a salute: velocibus ad viam redite vestigiis. Lapsus ruentem non gravat; si resurgat. Larga est dominicae doctrina clementiae^ noxia sunt erroris vincula, dum retinent. Odit justitia pertinaces, fovet clementia corrigentes. Data m Nonas ApriliS; Agapito viro clarissimo consule.