Letter 59: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

We bless the ineffable aid of the divinity, because we have learned that the desire of the whole world for the peace of the churches has been fulfilled in tranquility. This indeed did not happen beyond our expectation, because from the character of the most religious Augustus we always held hope for peace and believed that what was desired regarding reunion would be accomplished under a Christian emperor. Therefore the glorious emperor will have from this cause the titles of triumphs — not those into which the forgetfulness of mortality may intrude, but those which the grace of the divinity confirms in perpetuity — and for you too there will not be lacking the reward of heavenly recompense, you who have aided the purpose of a good emperor and with fitting zeal have brought about the exclusion of the horror of separation. "Blessed be the Lord God, for he has visited and redeemed his people!" [Luke 1:68]. It remains now that, since it is certain that this duty has been laid upon you by divine providence, you gird up your loins, as the saying goes [cf. Isa. 32:11], and with the strength of peaceful exhortation pursue those from whom you see that peace is not acknowledged, especially since it detracts from your glory if anything in this cause has been less than fully accomplished. Look carefully at all things with the faith by which you live and the diligence with which you flourish; meet all the assaults by which you see that reverence for the Christian religion has been vexed, so that we may say with exultation of your constancy: "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord" [Ps. 22:28]. Since these things are so, you who have made the beginning of the tranquility of the catholic church ought to bring about its completion: the favor of our Savior will not be lacking in the perfection of what he has inspired you to begin.

HORMiSDA lusTiNiANO ILLU8TRI. Benedicimus inelfabile diui- nitatis auxilium, quia de ecclesianim pace uniuersitatis desi- derium sub tranquillitate agnouimus fuisse completum. quod 5 quidem non praeter opinionem nostram contigit fieri, quia rellgiosissimi Augusti praesumpti genere spem semper gessimus de quiete et credidimus faciendum sub principe Christiano, <quod> de adunatione erat in uoto. quare habebit gloriosus 2 imperator de hac causa triumphorum titulos, non quibus se 10 obliuio mortalitatis interserat, sed quos diuinitatis gratia sub perpetuitate confirmat, et uobis quoque caelestis remunerationis non deerit praemium, qui adiuuistis boni principis institutum atque obsequio conuenienti desiderio horrorem segregationis fecistis excludi. benedictus dominus deus noster, i5qui uisitauit et fecit redemptionem plebis suae! superest nunc ut, quia uobis huiusmodi officium certum est 3 prouidentia diuinitatis iniunctum, adcingatis, ut ait, lumbos et pacificae adhortationis uiribus persequamini, a quibus pacem non uidetis agnosci, maxime quia gloriae uestrae detra- M hitur, si quid in hac causa fuerit minus impletum. circum- inspicite omnia fide qua uiuitis et diligentia qua uigetis occurrite omnibus incursibus, quibus religionis Christianae reuerentiam uidetis esse uexatam, ut instantiae uestrae boni possimus cum exultatione dicere: reminiscentur et con- U Luc. 1, 68 17 cf. Esai. 32, 11 24 Psalm. 21, 28 176. Dat ut ep, 168. Edd. Car. I* 503; CoUect. Concil; BTA I 426; Thiel 881. 6 agusti psumti V 7 et <quod> Car. 8 quod inserui uoium F, correxi; id quod restitui, requiritur etiam exeuntium syllaharum consonantia (auzilium . . desiderium . . completuni, genere . . quiete, Christiano . . uoto etc.) 10 sq. super petuitate F, corr. a man. rec. II confirmet edit. reg. euersa syllabarum consonantia (interserat . . con- firmat) 12 descrit F, corr. adiuuisti F, corr. Car. 13 con- uenientis F, corr. edit. reg. 16 huiuscemodi uulgo cum a 19 ga quod ante gloriae exliibet V del. Hartel: gra (= gratia) a, gratiae Car. 22 hoc currite F, corr. o 23 boni V: bene o* 634 Hormisda Grato, lalianae Aniciae, Anastasiae 4 uertentur ad dominum omnes fines terrae. quae cum ita sint, uos qui ecclesiae catholicae tranquillitatis fecistis initium, procurare decet effectum : non deerit saluatoris nostri fauor in perfectione, qui uobis hoc opus inspirauit incipere. Data die quo (supra) cons. ss.