Letter 3012: For the firmness of a divine promise, let what you first granted stand as your "Yes, yes!

From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne To: Viventiolus, bishop; and Constantius, bishop Date: ~503 AD Context: Two brief notes — one playfully holding Viventiolus to a promise, the other sternly rebuking Constantius for mistreating a fellow bishop Avitus had recommended. Bishop Avitus to Bishop Viventiolus. For the firmness of a divine promise, let what you first granted stand as your "Yes, yes!" and what you later repeated as your "No, no!" [Matthew 5:37]. For if the nature of our present obligations is properly considered, the agreement between us — even if it should not have been interrupted then — would now especially deserve to be fulfilled. Bishop Avitus to Bishop Constantius. I received Your Holiness's letter at Easter — but it was not an Easter letter, carrying nothing of love or concern. You commanded that our brother and fellow bishop Candidianus, whom I had commended to you as my own particular friend, should not only be denied his place among the clergy but expelled.

Avitus episcopus Viventiolo episcopo. Ad firmitatem promissionis divinae sit, quod antea concessistis Est est! quod postea repetistis Non non! quia, si bene occupatione praesentium qualitas pertracta- tur, condicionem inter nos habitam, etiam si tunc non debuisset interseri, modo spe- cialiter deceret impleri. Avitus episcopus. Constantio episcopo. Litteras sanctitatis tuae in pascha quidem, sed non paschales accepi, nihil utique de caritate aut sollicitudine praeferentes: Iubebas, ut fratrem et consacerdotem nostrum Candidianum, quem ego quasi peculiarem commendaveram, non solum ad clericorum, verum etiam ad laicorum audientiam destinarem, a quibus constat diaconum eius pro civili causa servili custodiae mancipatum. Et ideo, si censetis omnia de clericis vestris laicorum testimonio credenda, rescribite. Consequens erit, ut tum saecularium noti- tiam ex omnibus, quae in rumorem veniunt, consulamus. Illud tamen quasi amator tuus suggerere ac monere praesumo, ne propter leves causas et non ad deum, sed ad sae- culum pertinentes ne laici quidem, non dicam clerici, sancta communione priventur, quia nescit, cuius dignitatis ipsa communio sit, qui non eam omni animositate seposita et cum magno dolore suspendit et cum maxima festinatione restituit. Apollinaris episcopus Avito episcopo. Cogitans atque pertractans, inofficiositatem vestram qua ultione percellerem, nil dignius iudicavi, quam si declinatam iniuriam nihil segnius intentarem. Nequaquam igitur in posterum vereamini, qui cernitis praesentem noxam protinus expiari.