Letter 71: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

We know that the spirit of your magnificence is so vigorous with devotion to religion that you wish a benefit to the perfection of the peace of the church to be demanded from you rather than merely requested, judging that it profits the merits of your excellency that it falls to you to offer what the desire of the whole community seeks. Therefore we too presume to seek from you as something owed what we know will be profitable for your merits, and so, my lord and son, greeting you with all affection, we hope that you will press on with the work which, with the Lord's help, you have established, mindful of the divine testimony: "The one who endures to the end will be saved" [Matt. 10:22]. Furthermore, as for the monks whose arrival in Rome you reported in your letter, we wished them to return to their homes at once; but because they said, calling on the power of God as witness, that they could face the danger of death from ambushes prepared along the road, and were unwilling to return to Constantinople, we did not allow them to be expelled by force. Therefore we will find it necessary, when our legates arrive, to inquire into the true cause by which discord was stirred up among them. The relics of the most blessed apostles Peter and Paul, which you sought with most devout affection, we have transmitted through the bearer of this letter with all veneration, hoping that through their prayers the offering and desires of your mind may be acceptable to the grace of the divinity. We also ask that you send us glad tidings by the course of a letter concerning both the progress of matters regarding concord and the blessing of your well-being.

HoiunsDA lusTiNiANO iLLusTRi. Ita maguiiicentiae uestrae animum uigere nouimus religionis affectu, ut beneficium a uobis in perfectione pacis ecclesiae uelitis magis exigi quam rogari, iudicantes meritis excellentiae uestrae proficere, quod uos generalitatis desiderio contingit offerre. unde et nos a uobis praesumpte quaerimus tamquam. debitum, quod 2 meritis uestris nouimus esse profuturum, et ideo, domine fili, sub omni caritate salutantes speramus, ut immineatis operi, quod domino adiuuante fundastis, memores diuini testimonii: qui perseuerauerit in fine, saluus erit. praeterea monachos, quos uenisse Bomam significastis lit- 3, teris uestris, ad propria mox uoluimus reuerti; sed quia sub testificatione potentiae diuinae dicebant per insidias in itinere paratas uitae sese sustinere posse discrimen, nolentes redire Constantinopolim passi non sumus uiolenter eipelli. 21 Matth. 10, 22 1»0. Dat ut ep. 189, Edd. Car. P 52G; Collect, Concil; BTA I 436; Thiel 886; ex parte ^ar, ad a. 519, 18. 17 praesumpte V 21 finem p\ finem <hic> Car, secundum Vulg, 22 roma F, corr. a 25 sese p^: esse V 648 lustinianus Hormisdae; lustinus Hormisdae quapropter necesse habebimus uenientibus legatis nostris inquirere, qua re uera faciente causa inter eos fuerit commota 4 discordia. beatissimorum uero apostolorum Petri et Pauli sanctuaria, sicut religiosissimo quaesistis affectu, per harum portitorem sub omni ueneratione transmisimus, optantes, oratio- nibus eomm mentis uestrae oblatio et desideria gratiae sint 5 diuinitatis accepta. petimus quoque, ut tam de his, quae geruntur pro concordia, quam de incolomitatis uestrae bono nuntietis soUicitudini nostrae gaudium currente pagina litte- rarum. Data IIIl. Nonas Septb. Eutharico cons.