Letter 11003: Senator [Cassiodorus], Praetorian Prefect, to Various Bishops.

Senator [Cassiodorus], Praetorian Prefect, to Various Bishops. It is natural for earthly fathers to rejoice in their children's advancement, since whatever praise is given to a distinguished child is credited to the parents' instruction. But you are spiritual fathers, who see the Author of all things with illuminated minds. Pray earnestly to the Holy Trinity on my behalf, that the lamp set in a prominent place may be made to shine brightly -- so that I may not lack inner vision, and through me, light may be shed upon others. What good is it for a judge to see clearly on behalf of others if he remains blind to himself? Let the One who has granted me a tribunal also grant integrity of conscience. Let the One who appointed me judge prevent me from straying. May He be graciously present with us, so that destructive vices may be kept far away. May He grant His love, so that in His mercy He shuts out the temptation to sin. Therefore, true parents of the soul, I ask you with heartfelt and earnest petition: proclaim a fast and pray to the Lord -- that He may prolong the lives of our rulers in a flourishing reign, diminish the enemies of the state, grant us quiet and prosperous times to the praise of His name, and, through the tranquility of all things, make me worthy of your affection. And to make your own prayers more readily heard, be attentive toward those officials we send to you. What we do not know should not be blamed on us. Let your testimony follow their conduct, so that the man you praise may find our favor, and the man you accuse may find our displeasure. They cannot blame us if they offend, since they are not ordered to give wrongfully in order to be forced to receive wrongfully. Provide protection pleasing to God for orphans and widows against cruel oppression -- but in such a way that, as sometimes happens through excessive compassion, in trying to help the wretched you do not override the law. And if something in the strict enforcement of law gives offense, counsel everyone so well that you may render the courts idle through lack of cases. Drive out, most holy fathers, the implacable fury of vice as you would unclean spirits. Restrain violence. Banish greed. Suppress theft. Separate from your flock that destroyer of the human race, luxury. You will effectively defeat the author of wickedness if you tear his persuasions from human hearts. Let the bishop teach, so that the judge may find nothing to punish. You have been given authority over innocence itself. If your preaching does not cease, then punitive action must necessarily fall silent. I therefore commend my office to you in every respect, so that our actions may be supported by the prayers of the holy -- since we place little confidence in merely human power. Advise me privately, too, about what is just. I am no cunning evader of duty: what I owe to all, I pay freely. I also offer Your Holiness the courtesy of a respectful greeting, and I close this letter on an affectionate note, so that what is sweetest may linger in your minds -- for the heart remembers best what comes last.

III. DIVERSIS EPISCOPIS SENATOR PPO. [1] Corporalium patrum naturalis mos est de filiorum provectione gaudere, dum eorum institutionibus applicatur quicquid laudis in clara prole conceditur. vos autem spiritales parentes, qui auctorem rerum illuminata mente conspicitis, pro me sanctae trinitati sedulo subplicate, ut splendere laetum faciat in medio positum candelabrum, quatenus nec mihi interior desit visus et de me aliis pandatur aspectus. [2] Numquid proderit iudicem aliis esse perspicuum, si sibi potius reddatur obscurus? dignitatem conscientiae donet, qui tribunalia praestare dignatus est. faciat inoffensum iudicem, ne damnet errantem. sit nobis prosperrime praesens, ut infausta vitia reddantur absentia. amorem suum tribuat, ut peccandi ambitum miseratus excludat. [3] Quapropter, animae veri parentes, affectuosa et probabili petitione vos deprecor, ut indicto ieiunio domino supplicetis, qui vitam principum nostrorum florenti regno protendat, hostes rei publicae defensor imminuat, donet quieta tempora et ad laudem sui nominis copiosa faciatque rerum omnium tranquillitate, ut me vobis reddere dignetur amabilem. [4] Sed quo facilius vestra quoque exaudiatur oratio, estote circa eos quos destinamus attenti. quod nescimus, nobis non debet imputari. actus eorum testimonia vestra prosequantur, ut aut laudatus gratiam aut accusatus apud nos invenire possit offensam. neque enim nobis imputare poterunt, si delinquunt, quando non iubentur male dare, ut perperam cogantur accipere. [5] Orfanis viduisque contra saevos impetus deo placita praestate solacia, ita tamen, ne, quod accidit per nimiam pietatem, dum miseris subvenire quaeritis, locum legibus auferatis. nam si aliquid offendit forte districtum, talia date cunctis monita, ut iura possitis reddere feriata. excludite, sanctissimi, inter immundos spiritus implacabiles vitiorum furores, violentiam temperate, avaritiam depellite, furta removete, depopulatricem humani generis luxuriem a vestro populo segregate. sic auctorem iniquitatis efficaciter vincitis, si eius persuasiones de humanis cordibus auferatis. [6] Episcopus doceat, ne iudex possit invenire quod puniat. administratio vobis innocentiae data est. nam si praedicatio vestra non desinat, necesse est ut poenalis actio conquiescat. et ideo dignitatem meam in omni vobis parte commendo, quatenus actus nostri sanctorum orationibus adiuventur, qui minus in humana potestate praesumimus. [7] Familiariter etiam mihi suadete quod iustum est. non sum callidus abiurator: quod generaliter debeo, incoactus exolvo. dependo etiam sanctitati vestrae honorificae salutationis officium textumque epistulae affectuoso fine concludo, ut in mentem vestram dulciora remaneant, quia bene sibi animus posteriora commendat.