Letter 13040: Observing diligently, most dear brother, how great is the virtue of peace from the Lord's voice, which says, My peace I give unto you John 14:27, it becomes us so to abide in the love thereof as in no wise to give place to discord. But, since we cannot otherwise live in its root except by retaining in mind and in deed the humility which the very...
Pope Gregory the Great→Cyriacus|c. 603 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
friendship
Gregory to Cyriacus, Patriarch of Constantinople.
Most dear brother, when we consider attentively how great is the power of peace -- remembering the Lord's own words, "My peace I give unto you" (John 14:27) -- it is clear that we must so abide in the love of peace as to give no place whatsoever to discord. But since we cannot truly dwell in its root unless we hold fast, in mind and in deed, to the humility that the very Author of peace has taught us, we urge you with fitting charity: trample underfoot with your heart the profane arrogance that is always hostile to souls, and make haste to remove from the Church the offense of that perverse and proud title, lest you find yourself cut off from the fellowship of our peace.
Let there be among us one spirit, one mind, one love, one bond in Christ, who has willed us to be His members. Let Your Holiness consider how harsh it is, how unbecoming, how cruel, how foreign to the calling of a priest, to lack the very peace you preach to others and to refuse, out of pride, to stop offending your brothers.
Rather, devote yourself to this: to strike down with the sword of humility the author of vain and fruitless arrogance. In such a victory, the grace of the Holy Spirit may claim you as His dwelling place, so that what is written may be plainly fulfilled in you: "The temple of God is holy, which temple you are" (1 Corinthians 3:17).
We commend to you in all things the bearer of this letter, our most beloved mutual son, the deacon Boniface, that in whatever may be needed he may find, as is fitting, the assistance of Your Holiness.
Book XIII, Letter 40
To Cyriacus, Patriarch of Constantinople.
Gregory to Cyriacus, etc.
Observing diligently, most dear brother, how great is the virtue of peace from the Lord's voice, which says, My peace I give unto you John 14:27, it becomes us so to abide in the love thereof as in no wise to give place to discord. But, since we cannot otherwise live in its root except by retaining in mind and in deed the humility which the very author of peace has taught, we entreat you with befitting charity, that, treading down with the foot of your heart the profane elation which is always hostile to souls, you make haste to remove from the midst of the Church the offense of a perverse and proud title, lest you should possibly be found divided from the society of our peace. But let there be in us one spirit, one mind, one charity, one bond in Christ, who has willed us to be his members. For let your Holiness consider how hard it is, how indecent, how cruel, how alien from the aim of a priest, not to have that peace which you preach to others, and so abstain from offending your brethren out of pride. But study this rather, how you may prostrate with the sword of humility the author of vain and profitless elation, to the end that in such a victory the grace of the Holy Spirit may claim you as a habitation for Himself, so that what is written may be plainly fulfilled in you; the temple of God is holy, which temple you are 2 Corinthians 6:17
We commend to you in all things the bearer of these presents, our most beloved common son, the deacon Boniface, that in whatsoever may be needful he may find, as is becoming, the succour of your Holiness.
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Gregory to Cyriacus, Patriarch of Constantinople.
Most dear brother, when we consider attentively how great is the power of peace -- remembering the Lord's own words, "My peace I give unto you" (John 14:27) -- it is clear that we must so abide in the love of peace as to give no place whatsoever to discord. But since we cannot truly dwell in its root unless we hold fast, in mind and in deed, to the humility that the very Author of peace has taught us, we urge you with fitting charity: trample underfoot with your heart the profane arrogance that is always hostile to souls, and make haste to remove from the Church the offense of that perverse and proud title, lest you find yourself cut off from the fellowship of our peace.
Let there be among us one spirit, one mind, one love, one bond in Christ, who has willed us to be His members. Let Your Holiness consider how harsh it is, how unbecoming, how cruel, how foreign to the calling of a priest, to lack the very peace you preach to others and to refuse, out of pride, to stop offending your brothers.
Rather, devote yourself to this: to strike down with the sword of humility the author of vain and fruitless arrogance. In such a victory, the grace of the Holy Spirit may claim you as His dwelling place, so that what is written may be plainly fulfilled in you: "The temple of God is holy, which temple you are" (1 Corinthians 3:17).
We commend to you in all things the bearer of this letter, our most beloved mutual son, the deacon Boniface, that in whatever may be needed he may find, as is fitting, the assistance of Your Holiness.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)