Letter 123: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

You mention, most clement emperor, that your spirit is troubled with restless eagerness until the restoration of the hoped-for unity should come to pass. The desires of salvation are good, and praiseworthy is the intention that commends itself to God by such means. For it is a special mark of prudence when one impatiently seeks what he believes is beneficial to himself. For if a slow cure is harmful in bodily diseases, how much more gravely in the salvation of the soul must the sluggish pursuit of faithful remedies be endured? Since we are admonished by spiritual teachings that nothing which can be done today should be deferred to the morrow, as wisdom cries out: "Do not delay to turn to the Lord, and do not put it off from day to day" [Sir. 5:7]; just as the times of life are uncertain, so it is fitting to keep the remedies of the soul in a safe place, so that he may enter into the joy of his lord whom the lord on his coming finds doing what is pleasing to him. Therefore I confess that I was surprised why the promised legation tarried so long, when what must be done is such that the kingdom of heaven is seized by force. Nevertheless, the very impulse which the address of your gentleness declares promises the hope of heavenly mercy; for even the willing of what is good comes from above. And I am confident that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion [Phil. 1:6]. Therefore persist in the way you have begun, and spurning the tricks of those who err, hold your footing with us upon the solid rock. Make, lord emperor, the fulfillment of deeds prove the faith of words. For the hearts of men are known not by speeches but by deeds, since even Abraham our father pleased God not by naked faith but by works commending his faith [cf. James 2:21].

(a.5i6p. Horniisdae papao ad Anastasiiiin imperatorem. m. Ang.) C/i viae, quam ingressus videalur, insistatf et fidem verborum suorum effeciu r comprohct (n. X et2,). Nam per ipsum stare, ut pax ecclesiarum restituatur (n. Hormisda Anastasio Augusto per Theopompu: Severianum. 1. SoIUcitari animumtuum, clementissime imperator, ambifc^ aviditate commemoras, donec speratae unitatis redintegratio oi>^fli^ contingat. Bona sunt desideria salutis, et laudabilis qnae se hmr/o»- modi Deo commendat intentio. Prudentiae siquidem spedale doeff- mentimi est, quum id, quod sibi utile credit, impatienter inqnuKl Nam si in corporum morbis noxia est tarda curatio, quaDto nufBi in salutc animae gravius est ferendus remediorum fidelium wfW appetitus? Quum moneamur spiritualibus institutis, ne qiiaeppode»f possunt in diem posterum differantur , clamante sapientiagiiiiO ^ ') Ed. concurrat; moxqne G* muUum ... Judicarc, ubi cuni ed. corf«B>»* EPISTOLAE 12. 13. 767 -- iV(? tardes converti ad Dommum, et ne differas de die in diem:(^^\^) ^xcut in incerto vitae tempora, ita in tuto animae convenit ^g* ^^media, ut intret in»gaudium domini sui, quem veniens domi- ^^ quae sibi placent invenerit operari. Unde et fateor me fuisse **^^=vun, cur tamdiu legatio promissa tardaverit, quum focienda *) ^f^^^ ^'^^'t, ut regna coelestia rapiantur. Verumtamen instinctus ipse, ^^ mansuetudinis vestrae declarat alloquium, spem supemae mi- "i^^OTdiae poUicetur; desuper est enim et ipsum velle quod bonum • Confido autem, quoniam qui coepU in vobis opus bonum, perficietrhili.G. fuc in finem. Ergo viae cui coepistis insistite, et spretis errantium >ricis nobiscum supra petram solidam tenete vestigia. Tali crevit clesia sancta consensu, quod his verbis apostolicorum actuum tatur historia: Multitudinis credentium crat cor unum et anima una. Act.4,32. un quemadmodum connecti poterunt gratiae vinculis, quorum »taiit corda sententiis? 2. Fac, domine imperator, etfectum rerum fidem probare ver- rum. Non enim sermonibus cognoscuntur hominum corda sed ictibus, quum et Abraham pater noster non nuda Deo fide sedjac.2,21. ere fidem commendante placuerit. Unde vel pro dispensatione lii credita vel pietatis vestrae circa me beuignitate perpensa, do- ne fili, hortor et supplico, ut studium pacis, quod per scripta ^fertis, ad componenda nobiscum adjutore Deo ea in his, quibus orant ecclesiae, dirigatis, quia secundum prophetam pax muItaPBahn. ^ffcntibus nomen tuum, et non est illis scandalum, Non sunt incognita ^^^»^^^- i^d mansuetudinem vestram, quae nos ab ea, quam redintegrare >iinus, unitate discernant. Date operam, ut laudando, quae pro- rnini, compleantur effectu, et apostoli, cujus communionem cre- »s expetendam, totis viribus sequimini disciplinam. In totum per- ^ noxiorum declinate contagia, scientes, non habere cum religiosis ?ios portionem, nec uUum fidei cum perfidia esse consortium. cisequens est, ut qui errorum detestatur principes, oderit secta- ^. Exsecrabile habeatur in flore, quod damnatur in semine. ^rte hoc munus Deo, pro vestris, precor, offerte temporibus : jam ^ hanc a vobis hostiam pro tantis quae vobis contulit Christus*^) *pectat. 3. Quid opus est apud illum preces adhibere, qui supplicat? ^B senatui urbis Romae, ut me ad pacem hortaretur, injungitis. 50 non solum cum his ad vos supplicationis verba converto, sed ^giis vestris cum universali advolvor Ecclesia. Audite me pro • *) G* a* fncienda jusaitj b cc facienda ista sint. Niillis apicibus miitatiR, Bed (loeBomanuB editor male copulavorat, debite separatis, genuina redditur scn- ^tia Hormisdae, alludentis ad illud Matth. 11, 12: Heynum coelorum vim pati- T, et violenti (adeoque non pigri aut negligentes) rapiunt illud. )OIiristo legatione fungenteip: non patiamini ab improhis cti Christi membra diseerpi; quae insanabilia Yidetia, absdditey et aegra^ curate. Cur quae sana sunt inv^lidis eonjuncta qoatia] Servate ordinem; quem reritas^) ipsa praefinit^ et paeem m quam pc^citis^ reddidistis. Haec et sub praesenti occasione de et rursum ac saepius supplicare curabo^ sperans, importonil hanc meam et Deo esse placituram et apud vos quoque per duas petitioneS; quoniam id nos Dominus docuit, yacuam non ram. Data^).