Letter 140: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Hearing of the excellent constancy of your charity and recognizing the path of the right faith which you vindicate without tumult, we give thanks to our God without ceasing: that you may both persist in that disposition and be able to furnish to others an example for them to follow. These are heavenly gifts, these are the signs of divine recompense, these are the judgments of God, who did not wish you to be separated from the catholic fellowship of priests. Therefore, dearest brother, we urge you with the present address to persevere in that constancy in which you were chosen, and to add increase to your commendable beginnings: because a good work, especially one that pertains to the teaching of the faith, unless it always grows, seems to diminish. And if worldly tribulation should occur, placing future rewards before our eyes, let us console ourselves with the apostolic admonition, saying: "The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us" [Rom. 8:18]. We hope for better things, however, because God, who said through the blessed apostle, "He will not let you be tested beyond your strength" [1 Cor. 10:13], will himself in his own piety — those whom he has chosen to be his own — both free them from the snares of their adversaries and grant them the consolation of his protection.

Hormisdae papae ad Possessorem ^piscopnm. a.5i7d. •j i\.pru. Fide iUius laudata, ul in ea crescat et constanter perseoeret, hortatur. Hormisda^) Possessori episcopo. Optimam vestrae caritatis audientes instantiam, et cognoscentes ectae fidei'^) tramitem, quem sine strepitu vindicatis, Deo nostro p*atias sine cessatione persolvimus: ut et in ea dispositione per- istas, et ceteris quod sequantur tribuere possis exemplum. Ista unt dona coelestia, ista sunt divinae retributionis indicia, ista sunt )ei judicia, quae te a catholico sacerdotum noluerunt separari con- ortio. Unde, frater carissime, praesentibus hortamur alloquiis, ut n ea constantia, qua^) electus es, perseveres, et augmenta proba- dlibus initiis subministres : quia bonum opus, praecipue quod ad loctrinam fidei pertinet, nisi semper creverit, videtur imminui. Et i tribulatio mundana contigerit, ante oculos nostros^) futura prae- aia ponentes, apostolica nos admonitione consolemur, dicentes: Non^^^- uni condignae passiones hujus temporis ad fuluram gloriam, quae re- ' elabitur nobis. Meliora tamen speramus, quia Deus, qui per beatum .postolum dixit: Qui vos non dimisit tentari super quod poiestis; ipsel^'^^. iro sua pietate, quos suos elegit esse, et de laqueis adversariorum, ' ®) b cc haud temere hic addunt: Dala ut supra Agapito v. c. cons. l ') PoBsessor Africanus episcopus is, ut videtur, qui in catalogo episcojjorum !arthagine anno 484 jussu regis Hunerici cougregatorum appellatur Zabensis in fauritania Sitifensi episcopus, jam Constantiuopoii pro negotiis Ecclesiae ver- abatur, quum eo primum Ennodius ac socii pervenerunt. Hos ille in propu- uauda catholica fide constanter adjuvare non contentus, etiam libello remeanti- •ag dato, summum pontificem de fidei suae siuceritate certiorem fecit; hinc ata epistolae higus occasio. ') Non displiceret quod apud Baron. qua exorsus es, si id ciun auctoritate OfluiBset. \ a. 517. sicut semper, oripiet. Libellum dilectionis tuae de confessioue reci fidei per legatos uostros remeantes accepimus, et in eo sinceritatt tuae fraternitatis agnovimus : quia quod recte credit, sub attestatioiK=r-ie publica praedicare non distulit. Data III Nonas Aprilis, Agapil \Tro clarissimo consule.