Letter 133: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Your affection has done a thing consonant with charity and faith, in that you indicated your arrival in Italy to us by letters sent, and showed what is the sum of devout purpose in you. And would that for the fuller satisfaction of our affection the joys of your presence had come to us, so that we might rejoice in the enjoyment of the discourse of one whom we have so embraced through writings! But you have also shown, most beloved brother, with what affection you venerate the Christian faith, since you desire those things which pertain to the rules of the fathers and to the catholic mandates to be preserved without any transgression — hoping that by extending to the churches of Spain the general constitutions, those things which are done either more negligently or more irreligiously may be corrected by ecclesiastical disciplines. We have embraced the opportunity thus offered for this desire. For what is either sweeter to us than to speak with the faithful, or more blessed than to recall those who deviate from error? [The letter continues with Hormisdas informing Bishop John of Illici (in Spain) that he has sent general constitutions and specific instructions regarding the Greek controversy to the Spanish churches through the deacon Cassianus, and commits his own authority to John, with the privileges of the metropolitans reserved.]

Hormisdae papae ad Johannem Illicitanum episcopum. a.5i7d. S- Libenter se de illius in lialiani adventu audivisse ei probare ejus pro fidei in- tegritate studium. Pei' Cassianum diaconum se generalia constituta et certas in- strtictiones de Graecorum causa ad Hispanas ecclesias direxisse significai. De- nique vices ei suas reservatis privilegiis metropolitanorum committit. Dilectissimo fratri Johanni Hormisda. 1. Fecit dilectio tua rem caritati et fidei congnientem, ut^) adventum ad Italiam suum nobis directis litteris indicaret, et quae in te sit summa religiosae voluntatis ostenderet. Atque utinam ad plenioris affectus satietatem praesentiae tuae nobis gaudia contigis- sent, ut^) gratularemur nos ejus eloquio frui, quem ita sumus per scripta complexi! Verum etiam probasti, dilectissime frater, quo Christianam fidem venereris affectu, dum ea, quae ad regulas patrum pertinent et ad mandata catholica, sine aliqua cupis transgressione servari: sperans, ut prorogatis generalibus ad Hispanienses ecclesias constitutis, quae^) aut negligeutius aut irreligiosius fiunt, ecclesia- sticis disciplinis congruentia sanciamus. Amplexi"*) sumus captatam istius desiderii facultatem. Quid enim aut nobis dulcius, quam cum fidelibus loqui, aut-^) beatius, quara deviantes ab errore revocare? Salutantes igitur, caritate ") qua jungimur, per Cassianum diaconum tuum significamus, nos direxisse generalia constituta, quibus vel ea quae juxta canones servari debeant competenter ediximus, vel circa eos, qui ex clero Graecorum veniunt, quam haberi oporteat cautio- nem, sufficienter instruxiraus. Sed et causae ipsius ordinem in- «tructiones ') adjunctae de scriniis ecclesiasticis vos docebunt, ut aguoscentes et impiorura transgressionera et apostolicae sedis curara 24 *) J* et adventum ad It. suum n. diieciis ... indicare ... tendere. cc ut adven- ium tuum, * 3) 0*** add. superius forte pro super iis. J' constiiulis super quia nut ... san- iiamus. 50* "»: 788 8. HOKMISDAE PAPAE a. 517. pro patrum reguHs excubantem, ostendatis vos per odia^) d torum consortia amare fidelium. 2. Et quia per insinuationem dilectionis tuae hujus nobis via^) patefacta providentiae , remuneramus soUicitudinem tuam, servatis privilegiis metropolitanorum vices vobis apostolicae eatenus delegamus, ut in speculis ^^) sitis, et sive ea, quae ad canon pertinent et^*) a nobis sunt imper mandata, serventur, sive quid ecclesiasticis causis dignimi relatione contigerit, sub tua nobis i sinuatione pandantur. Erit hoc studii ac soUicitudinis tuae, ut tale te in his quae injuuguntur exhibeas, ut fidem integritatemque ej cujus curam suscipis, imiteris. Data IV Nonas Aprilis Agapito clarissimo consule. Era*^) DLV. el les de m us. "^ro a. 517 d. 2 April.