Letter 7: To the most holy and apostolic Bishop Symmachus, John the deacon presents his petition.

The libellus [written recantation] of John the deacon, which he presented to the holy pope Symmachus. I, Caelius Johannes, deacon of the Roman church, who separated myself from the Church for a time, acknowledging my error, hope for the mercy of your beatitude and that I may be restored to unity: consenting to what the venerable synod judged and decreed, anathematizing [...] of Altinum and Laurentius, the usurper and schismatic of the Roman church. But if at any time I should attempt similar things in that cause, in which I have earned pardon from your apostleship, then let me be subject to ecclesiastical punishment. This, written out by my own hand, I have presented on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of October, in the consulship of Flavius Messala, a most illustrious man. [Editorial note 1:] Jacobus Sirmondus thinks that the one designated here is Laurentius of Milan, whom he observes to have written to Marcellianus of Aquileia on behalf of Symmachus. For Ennodius, in book 6, letter 31 (Symmachus, letter 19), speaks to Symmachus himself about this same matter thus: "My lord, displaying the humility of my service, content with sparing speech in giving counsel, I leave it to be made plain by the letters of the aforesaid what the lord bishop, your brother, has felt concerning the dispatched [mission]. But if anyone reading should inquire into the cause of this, he is permitted to fish it out from these words of the same Ennodius, book 4, [letter] 29 (Symmachus, letter 18): Unlooked-for gifts are bestowed on those who deserve well of God. [...] the supernal dispensation [grants] even that which human nature does not presume to entreat. The adversaries of your see shall recognize by whose championing they are conquered: which thing our Redeemer recently disclosed concerning Aquileia. This embassy, therefore, was appointed, that it might strive to lead the bishop of Aquileia back to unity; and it happily attained this fruit beyond hope." [Editorial note 2:] Symmachus could not be restored to his place unless that visitor were cast out. From this it is established that not only Laurentius, but even the bishop of Altinum, persisted in the schism at least up to the year 506, [...] advanced.

Beu LibeUusn Johaimis diaooni, quem obtulit sancto papae a. oOCxl. Symmaono. Goelius Johannes diaconus ecclesiae Romanae, qui me ad tem- s abEcclesia separavi, agnoscens errorera meum spero misericor- ^iu beatitudinis vestrae et redintegrari me unitati: consentiens, ae veneranda sjnodus judicavit^) atque constituit, anathematizans ^tirum Altinatem et Laurentium Romanae ecclesiae pervasorem et tdsmaticimi. Quodsi aliquando similia adtemptavero in ea causa, i qua veniam ab^) apostolatu vestro merui, tunc ecclesiasticae sub- ceam ultioni. Quod manu mea perscriptum obtuli sub die XIV Ka- ndarum Octobrium Fl. Messala viro clarissimo consule. 0 Hic designari putat Jac. Sirmondus Laurentium Mediolanensem episco- Qi, quem ad MarceUianum Aquilejensem pro Symmachp scripsisBse observat. ^um Ennodius lib. 6 epist. 31 (Symm. ep. 19) ad ipsununet Symmachum de ratione eadem ita loquitur: Domine mi\ famulatus mei humilitatem exhihens parca ^oadmis elocutione contentus, quid domnus episcopus frater vester super directu ^iane senserit, patefaciendum praefati litteris derelinquo. Si quis autem lega- '^ hiyus^causam quaerat, illam expiscari ei licet ex his ejusdem Ennodii lib. 4 ^ -^- 29 (Symm. epist. 18): Inauspicata bene de Deo mereniibus dona tribuuntur. '*»*£/ supema dispensatio etiam quod supplicare humanitas non praesumit. Agno- '^nt adversarii sedis vestrae, quo propugnante vincantur: quod proxime de Aqui- ^^^ Redemptor nostei^ reseravit. Destinata est igitur ista legatio, ut Aquilejen- ''^ episcopum ad unitatem reducere niteretur) atque hunc fructum felidter ^ter spem consecuta est. Symmachus in locum suum nisi ejecto visitatore illo restitui poterat. Hinc vero lOn Laurentium modo, sed Altinatem etiam episcopum saltem ad annum 506 iiiD provectum in schismate perstitisse compertum habetur.