Letter 2

From: Remigius, Bishop of Reims To: Clovis I, King of the Franks Date: ~496 AD Context: The famous letter of congratulation after Clovis's Catholic baptism — one of the pivotal moments in Western history, when the Frankish king converted to orthodox Christianity rather than Arianism. Remigius, bishop, to the most glorious King Clovis. Divine Providence has revealed itself in your decision, and I want to tell you what this means — not in the elevated language of panegyric, which this moment might seem to invite, but plainly. By choosing Catholic baptism over Arianism, you have done something more significant than you may yet understand. The Visigoths are Arian. The Burgundians are Arian. The Ostrogoths are Arian. The distinction between the Arian and Catholic churches is not merely a theological abstraction — it is a line that runs through every community in the West, dividing those who follow the old Roman episcopal tradition from those whose faith was shaped by the imperial court of an earlier generation. By placing yourself on the Catholic side of that line, you have allied your kingdom with a tradition that includes the bishop of Rome, the bishops of Gaul, and the majority of the ordinary Christian people in every region you govern or hope to govern. This is not nothing. It is, in fact, politically very significant. But I hope you will not think of it only in political terms. The faith you have accepted is not a political instrument. It is a way of life that will ask things of you — things that a powerful king may find difficult. Begin with what you know. Treat the church with respect. Treat bishops as advisors, not as subordinates. And let the faith you have confessed shape the justice you practice. In Christ's peace, Remigius