Letter 2014: The enemy might count it a profit if, among the dangers that Christians face, the voices of those who share their...

The enemy would perhaps consider it a profit if, amid the perils he proclaimed against Christians, he had subjugated the spirits of believers, and if, with the Lord's flock scattered in various directions, there remained not even a few by whom he might be trampled with persevering faith. He still reigns in your number, who took pleasure not so much in multitude as in devotion. For it is written that power was given to Satan to sift the servants of Christ, so that what could be found of wheat might be joined to the granaries, and what of chaff might pass to the fuel of fires. To you especially it was said: "Fear not, little flock: it has pleased your Father to give you the kingdom." Among you has come the sword of the faithless, which was to cut away the diseased members of the church and lead the sound ones to heavenly glory. What soldiers Christ has, the contest has shown: who may deserve triumph is known through wars. Do not fear that they have taken from you the insignia of the pontifical dignity. With you is that priest and victim who is accustomed to rejoice not so much in honors as in hearts. Greater are the rewards of confession than the gifts of named dignity. To the latter, even persons of lesser merit are often brought by human favor: the former only heavenly grace bestows. For he himself both fought and conquered in you, whom faith merits to be joined even amid the torments of men. There is no need to animate the heavenly fervor in you with lengthy discourse. The fire of divine power has its own increase. Nor is it necessary to exalt with praises those already placed in triumph who conquered without a guide. Whatever the blandishments of praise bring burdens the conscience of a Christian. What you have done is indeed a thing of virtue, but to be surpassed by the restitution of the highest reward. Yet what you hoped for through letters sent to our son the deacon, seeking the blessing of the blessed martyrs Nazarius and Romanus, we do not deny to the faithful. Receive the venerable patronage of unconquered soldiers, because your emperor has already recognized your faith in battle: happily bring to completion the gifts of confession. God will give, when it pleases him, a returning peace to the churches, that the sorrow which adversity brought may be consoled by the sweetness of peace.

XIIII. AFRIS. Lucrum forsitan putaret inimicus, si inter pericula, quae Christianis indixit, credentium animos subegisset et perdiuersa domini grege disperso non superesset uel inter paucos a quibus possit fide perseuerante calcari. regnat adhuc ille in numero uestro, qui sibi non tam in multitudine quam in deuotione conplacuit. scriptum enim est datam Satanae potestatem, ut seruos Christi cribraret, ut quod de tritico inueniri posset horreis iungeretur, quod de paleis ad ignium alimenta transiret. ad uos specialiter dictum est: nolite timere, pusillus 27 Luc. 12, 32 1 estimatnr Tl ut uidetwr quo* T ofo m mg. add. T captiaas B 2 ego] ergo Sirm . 4 fibolam B 14 si quae b 16 pec∗∗toris L, peccatoris TVl XlIII. 18 afria om. T1; cohortatio ad constaDtiam add . m. rec. T 22 posset fort . 28 qui sibi non tam T in ras. m. 2 24 Mtane BL, sathane PT 25 cribaret BxV1 ut] et B posset Sirm., posBit BLPTVb 26 horręis L ingnium L grex: conplacuit patri uestro dare uobis regnum. uenit inter uos gladius perfidorum, qui marcidae ecclesiae membra resecaret et ad caelestem gloriam sana perduceret. quos habeat Christus milites certamen ostendit: qui triumphum mereantur per bella cognoscitur. nolite metuere, quod pontificalis a uobis apicis infulas abstulerunt. uobiscum est sacerdos ille uel hostia, qui non tam honoribus consueuit gaudere quam mentibus. maiora sunt confessionis praemia quam nominatae munera dignitatis. ad illa plerumque etiam minoris meriti personas fauor humanus adducit: ista nisi gratia superna non tribuit. ipse enim in uobis et pugnauit et uicit, quem fides meretur et inter hominum tormenta sociari. prolixis non est opus feruorem in uobis caelestem animare conloquiis. habet incrementa sua diuinae uirtutis incendium. nec opus est eos in tropaeo iam positos adtolli laudibus, qui sine monitore uicerunt.- grauat conscientiam Christiani quicquid adferunt blandimenta praeconii. res quidem uirtutis est, quam fecistis, sed summi praemii restitutione superanda. quod tamen directis ad filium nostrum diaconum litteris sperastis, beatorum martyrum Nazari et Romani benedictionem poscentes, fidelibus non negamus. accipite ueneranda patrocinia inuictorum militum, quia et uestram iam fidem in proeliis imperator agnouit: feliciter confessionis munera consummate. dabit deus, cum ipsi placuerit, reducem ecclesiis quietem, ut maerorem, quem induxit aduersitas, pacis dulcedine consoletur. 1 grex ex rex L post cdplacuit ras. 10—12 litt. L 2 membra eccleaie T in ras. m. 2 eclesiae B 4 quod P, quot Sirm . 5 pontificales B 6 apices B infolaa B abuit stulerunt u. eet T in ras. m. 2 9 a*d (b eras.) L 11 pugna. L Q eras . 13 opos Lx ut uidetur 15 tropeo B, tropheo LP TV attollit L si L 16 quidquid BPb 19 post nostrum spatium, 8-9 litt. uacuum m V, -H. add. Pb; nomen intercidisse non uidetur diač BL 20 nazarii T, nazarqi b 22 et quia Sirm . iam] piam add. ed. Crabb . imperator. T 23 munera in muoia corr. T m . 2 consummatQ V, consumate PT, consummare ed. Labbei acum T 24 reducSin ex reducere T m. 2, reducare ed. Labbei eclesiis B merorem BPTVb, memorem L . indixit Pb 25 consuletar B