Letter 115: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Thanks be to the heavenly power, which through the words of your piety has deigned to end a long silence, granting such a beginning of conversation that we may both rejoice at the prosperity of your clemency and be confident that the holy Church can, by God's gift, return to unity. This is the work of heavenly clemency, and this was always the prayer of our predecessors, whom the very course of events declares to have been ministers of the paternal tradition and guardians of the right faith. For peace is the beginning of all goodness, than which nothing, as far as the worship of the catholic faith is concerned, should be judged stronger, nothing should be esteemed higher: for this indeed it is fitting to do and to endure all things, for whoever desires to be an approved disciple of the holy Scriptures. Christ our Lord is known to have preached this mother and nurse of all good things to his disciples, saying: "My peace I give to you, my peace I leave with you" [John 14:27]. This peace you, with the care of a religious purpose and the Lord inspiring you, providently consider, and you think about the concord of the orthodox Church in reverence for the blessed apostle Peter, especially keeping the divine precepts. This fact procures for your empire a greater defense of heavenly favor. For rightly offered veneration of God grants an impregnable wall of defense to devoted minds. Therefore we beseech almighty God with outpoured prayers, that he who has granted you the zeal for seeking the peace of the churches may himself also, under the consecration of the catholic faith, grant fulfillment to your desire in this matter. Furthermore, in the sacred communications directed to us, your piety has deigned to make mention of a holy council. On this matter we shall be able to provide the fullest response when it shall have pleased you to make the reason for the gathering clearly known to us. Now, however, since by the gift of our Lord the opportunity for conversation has been given, we shall with fitting veneration render the duties of the discourse that is owed.

seu Besponsoria*) Hormisdae papae ad Anastasium imperatorem. ^ '?^^.?- 4 Apnl. liiius pro pare ecclesiarum studium iaudat. Decessorum suorum constantiam upprobat (m. 1). De conciiio convocando respondere differt^ quoad causam ejus pienius perspectam habuerit («. -). Hormisda Anastasio Augusto. 1. Gratias supernae virtuti, quae per vestrae pietatis affatus op. 2: diuturnum dignata est terminare silentium, tale praestans collocutio- uis exordium, ut et de vestrae clementiae prosperitate laetemur, et ad unitatem Deo donante reverti posse sanctam confidamus Eccle- siam. Hoc opus supernae clementiae, haec et decessorum nostro- runi fuit semper oratio; quos etiam rermn actus paternae traditionis ininistros et rectae fidei (feclarant fuisse custodes. Pax est enim totius bonitatis initium, qua nihil, quantum ad catholicae fidei cul- tum, validius, nihil aestimari oportet excelsius: pro hac scilicet facere et cuncta sustinere convenit, qui sanctarum Scripturarum probabilis cupit esse discipulus. Hanc omnium bonorum matrem et nutricem Christum Dominum nostrum suis constat praedicasse disci- pulis^ dicentem : Pacem meam do voMs, pacem relinquo vohis, Quam ^^ .^? vos religiosi cura propositi Domino adspirante providentes, de ortho- doxae concordia eogitatis Ecclesiae in beati apostoli Petri reverentia. a. 515. divina specialiter praecepta servantes. Quae res majorem supenii favoris defensionem vestro procurat imperio. Recte enim oUita Deo veneratio inexpugnabilem devotis mentibus murum defensi^mis indulget. Proinde omnipotentem Deum fusis precibus exoramns, ut qui vobis studium quaerendae ecclesiarum pacis indulsit, ipse qaoqiie sub^) consecratione catholicae fidei desiderio vestro super hac parte praestet effectum. 2. Praeterea directis ad nos sacris affatibus commemorationem sancti coucilii facere pietas vestra dignata est. De qua re tonc plenissimum poterimus praebere responsum^ quum causam CQngre- gationis nos voluerit evidenter agnoscere. Nunc vero quia prae- stante Domino nostro data est facultas alloquio^ congrua veneratione debiti praebebimus sermonis officia. Data pridie Nonas Apiili&, Florentio viro clarissimo consule. Per^) Patrioium.