Letter 18: Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Januarius, bishop of Aquileia. Those who renounce heresy and schism and return to the Church must make their recantation very clear: those who are clerics may retain their rank but not be promoted. On reading your letter, brother, we recognized the vigour of your faith, which we already were aware of, and cong...

Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Januarius, bishop of Aquileia. Those who renounce heresy and schism and return to the Church must make their recantation unmistakably clear. Clergy who return may retain their current rank but not be promoted. On reading your letter, brother, we recognized the strength of your faith — which we already knew — and congratulate you on the watchful care you show as a pastor in guarding Christ's flock, so that wolves entering under the guise of sheep cannot tear the innocent apart in their savage fury, nor corrupt those who remain sound. To prevent such deception from succeeding, we think it right to warn you, beloved, and to remind you that it imperils anyone's soul to be received into Catholic communion from a sect of heretics and schismatics — stained as they are by the pollution of heretical communion — without proper and explicit satisfaction being required. It is entirely salutary and full of spiritual healing that presbyters, deacons, sub-deacons, or clergy of any rank who wish to appear reformed and ask to return to the Catholic Faith they had long ago abandoned should first confess without ambiguity that their errors and the very authors of those errors are condemned by them. This way their false opinions may be utterly destroyed, with no hope of recurrence, and no member of the Church may be harmed by contact with them — every point being addressed with its proper renunciation. Regarding these individuals, we also direct that the following canonical rule be observed: they should consider it a great act of mercy if they are allowed to remain undisturbed in their current rank, with no prospect of further promotion — but only on the condition that they have not undergone rebaptism. The Lord imposes no small penalty on anyone who judges a person tainted by such things fit for advancement to Holy Orders. If promotion is granted to those who are without fault only after thorough examination, how much more must it be denied to those who are under suspicion? Therefore, beloved brother, in whose devotion we rejoice, apply your attention to our directives and ensure the careful and prompt carrying out of these commendable and wholesome instructions, which affect the welfare of the whole Church. But do not doubt, beloved, that if what we have decreed for the observance of the canons and the integrity of the Faith is neglected — which we do not expect — we shall be greatly displeased. For the faults of the lower ranks must be laid at the door of none more than the slothful and careless leaders who often allow much disease to spread by refusing to apply the necessary remedy. Dated December 30, in the consulship of the illustrious Calepius and Ardaburis (447).

Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to Januarius, bishop of Aquileia. Those who renounce heresy and schism and return to the Church must make their recantation very clear: those who are clerics may retain their rank but not be promoted. On reading your letter, brother, we recognized the vigour of your faith, which we already were aware of, and congratulate you on the watchful care you bestow as pastor, on the keeping of Christ's flock: lest the wolves, that enter in under guise of sheep, should tear the simple ones to pieces in their bestial fierce ness, and not only themselves run riot without restraint, but also spoil those which are sound. And lest the vipery deceit should effect this, we have thought it meet to warn you, beloved, reminding you that it is at the peril of his soul, for any one of them who has fallen away from us into a sect of heretics and schismatics , and stained himself to whatever extent with the pollution of heretical communion, to be received into Catholic communion on coming to his senses without making legitimate and express satisfaction. For it is most wholesome and full of all the benefits of spiritual healing that presbyters or deacons, or sub-deacons or clerics of any rank, who wish to appear reformed, and entreat to return once more to the Catholic Faith which they had long ago lost, should first confess without ambiguity that their errors and the authors of the errors themselves are condemned by them, that their base opinions may be utterly destroyed, and no hope survive of their recurrence, and that no member may be harmed by contact with them, every point having been met with its proper recantation. With regard to them we also order the observance of this regulation of the canons , that they consider it a great indulgence, if they be allowed to remain undisturbed in their present rank without any hope of further advancement: but only on consideration of their not being defiled with second baptism. No slight penalty does he incur from the Lord, who judges any such person fit to be advanced to Holy Orders. If advancement is granted to those who are without blame, only after full examination, how much more ought it to be refused to those who are under suspicion. Accordingly, beloved brother, in whose devotion we rejoice, bestow your care on our directions, and take order for the circumspect and speedy carrying out of these laudable suggestions and wholesome injunctions, which affect the welfare of the whole Church. But do not doubt, beloved, that, if what we decree for the observance of the canons, and the integrity of the Faith be neglected (which we do not anticipate), we shall be strongly moved: because the faults of the lower orders are to be referred to none more than to slothful and careless governors, who often foster much disease by refusing to apply the needful remedy. Dated 30 Dec., in the consulship of the illustrious Calepius and Ardaburis (447). About this page Source. Translated by Charles Lett Feltoe. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3604018.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.