Letter 140: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Hormisdas to Bishop Possessor. Hearing of the excellent persistence of your charity, and recognizing the path of the upright faith which you uphold without clamor, we render thanks to our God without ceasing: that you may both persevere in this resolve, and be able to furnish to the rest an example for them to follow. These are heavenly gifts, these are the tokens of divine recompense, these are the judgments of God, which have not allowed you to be separated from the catholic fellowship of priests. Wherefore, dearest brother, we exhort you with the present words, that you persevere in that steadfastness in which you have been chosen, and that you supply increase upon your praiseworthy beginnings: because a good work, especially that which pertains to the doctrine of the faith, unless it always grows, seems to be diminished. And if any worldly tribulation should befall, setting future rewards before our eyes, let us console ourselves with the apostolic admonition, saying: The sufferings of this present time are not worthy [to be compared] with the future glory which shall be revealed in us. Yet we hope for better things, because God, who through the blessed Apostle said: He who has not let you be tempted beyond what you are able [to bear]; He Himself, by His own mercy, [will deliver] those whom He has chosen to be His own, both from the snares of the adversaries [...]. [A.D. 517.] As always, [...]. We have received through our returning legates the petition of your beloved self concerning the confession [of the faith], and in it we have recognized the sincerity of your fraternity: because what it rightly believes, it has not delayed to proclaim under public attestation. Given on the third day before the Nones of April, Agapitus the most illustrious being consul.

Hormisdae papae ad Possessorem ^piscopnm. a.5i7d. •j i\.pru. Fide iUius laudata, ul in ea crescat et constanter perseoeret, hortatur. Hormisda^) Possessori episcopo. Optimam vestrae caritatis audientes instantiam, et cognoscentes ectae fidei'^) tramitem, quem sine strepitu vindicatis, Deo nostro p*atias sine cessatione persolvimus: ut et in ea dispositione per- istas, et ceteris quod sequantur tribuere possis exemplum. Ista unt dona coelestia, ista sunt divinae retributionis indicia, ista sunt )ei judicia, quae te a catholico sacerdotum noluerunt separari con- ortio. Unde, frater carissime, praesentibus hortamur alloquiis, ut n ea constantia, qua^) electus es, perseveres, et augmenta proba- dlibus initiis subministres : quia bonum opus, praecipue quod ad loctrinam fidei pertinet, nisi semper creverit, videtur imminui. Et i tribulatio mundana contigerit, ante oculos nostros^) futura prae- aia ponentes, apostolica nos admonitione consolemur, dicentes: Non^^^- uni condignae passiones hujus temporis ad fuluram gloriam, quae re- ' elabitur nobis. Meliora tamen speramus, quia Deus, qui per beatum .postolum dixit: Qui vos non dimisit tentari super quod poiestis; ipsel^'^^. iro sua pietate, quos suos elegit esse, et de laqueis adversariorum, ' ®) b cc haud temere hic addunt: Dala ut supra Agapito v. c. cons. l ') PoBsessor Africanus episcopus is, ut videtur, qui in catalogo episcojjorum !arthagine anno 484 jussu regis Hunerici cougregatorum appellatur Zabensis in fauritania Sitifensi episcopus, jam Constantiuopoii pro negotiis Ecclesiae ver- abatur, quum eo primum Ennodius ac socii pervenerunt. Hos ille in propu- uauda catholica fide constanter adjuvare non contentus, etiam libello remeanti- •ag dato, summum pontificem de fidei suae siuceritate certiorem fecit; hinc ata epistolae higus occasio. ') Non displiceret quod apud Baron. qua exorsus es, si id ciun auctoritate OfluiBset. \ a. 517. sicut semper, oripiet. Libellum dilectionis tuae de confessioue reci fidei per legatos uostros remeantes accepimus, et in eo sinceritatt tuae fraternitatis agnovimus : quia quod recte credit, sub attestatioiK=r-ie publica praedicare non distulit. Data III Nonas Aprilis, Agapil \Tro clarissimo consule.