Letter 13: Hilary, bishop of Rome, to Leontius, most beloved brother.

Pope Hilary to Leontius of Arles. (462 AD.) To the most beloved brother Leontius, Hilary the pope [bishop of Rome]. 1. To my love, which abounds toward the Gallican churches and all the Lord's priests set among them, even those placed in a lower rank, much increase is added by the fact that through the honorable man Pappolus, our son, the opening words of your discourse have been delivered to me. From this, however, I conjecture that my page, which I sent some time ago concerning the beginnings of my episcopate, had not yet been handed over to you when you were writing; for about this you certainly would not have kept silent, had not some cause delayed the bearer. Therefore I make known that I long ago carried out what both custom and charity required, and this by those very copies of the letter which I desire you to know more fully: so that you may understand that I have been in no way slothful in the brotherly duty, and that we may thus strive in turn to exchange letters frequently, so that the care of writing may furnish us with the equivalent of our common presence, most dear brother. 2. And so you have not allowed the favor of our mutual affection to perish. For I recognize that you are intent with this same concern, namely that you desire me to be zealous in keeping the rules of the paternal canons. Than which desire nothing more wholesome can be conceived, than that in one Church, in which there ought to be neither any spot nor wrinkle, there should be one observance of discipline in all things. And if anything of instruction or of correction is to be added to it, it will most rightly be provided for through your diligence, if, just as you have deigned to write, a person so well instructed be directed to us as can fully inform our inquiry on all points. For I promise, as far as the grace of God grants that I should promise, that I will see to this for the universal concord of the Lord's priests, that all may dare not to seek their own interests, but may be zealous to obtain the things that are Christ's. May God keep you safe, most dear brother.

Uilari papae ad Leontium Arelatensem. (a.462.) ^spondet Leontio ad proximas Htteras, quas scripseraty quum praec^entes Hilari nondum acceperat. Dilectissimo fratri Leontio Hilarus papa^). i- Dilectioni meae, quae^) circa ecclesias Grallicanas omnesque m eis Domini sacerdotes etiam in inferiori gradu positos abundat, multum accedit augmenti, quod per virum^) spectabilem Pappolum ubnm nostrum sermonis tui ad me sunt delata principia. Ex qiio tamen conjicio, paginam meam, quam dudum de episcopatus mei pnmordiis misi, necdum traditam tibi fuisse, quum scriberes: de qna utique non siluisses, nisi perlatorem aliqua causa tardasset. tinde quod et consuetudo poscebat*) et caritas, jampridem me ex- secutam fuisse significo, et hoc ipsis litterarum exemplaribus, quae ^^9 plenius nosse vos cupio: ut officio fraterno in nullo intelli- 8*w8 fuisse me desidem, et ita vicissim frequentandis studeamus ^oquiiB^ ut vicem nobis communis praesentiae scribendi cura com- P^^t, frater carissime. ^* AfFectus*) itaque communis tui gratiam perire no?i passus es. ^ **^t;er eorum numerum, qui etiamtunc ecclesiae ArelatenBis privilegia ^^ ^^i^bant, prae omnibus episcopus Yiennensis erat; cf. infra epist. 10 et 11. ' ^' ' qui, suppleto ad marg. eorumy moxque ex ms. nota chronica obliterata ••• ^^^ero Aug. cons. expiscatuB est. ' *J^c epistola Hilarus proximae rescribit, quare non multo post data est. ' *tH a* a* «• L^b 0* c". At a^ ex a aliam laudat lectionem ^condnniorem Romanis pontificibus, ut w ^^^Uiatioue sua primarios regionum episcopos certiores fEicerent, qui eam eobixide ceteris significarent; cf. s. Cyprian. in Com. epist. 2 n. 3. ) tt< a* ce* L^ b accepiis Uaque communis ttd gratiam perire non passus es et <I«<^ **• soUicitudine. c* affectus itaque tui ... ei solliciiudini, c** affectus itaque com- vui^) hocque suadent illa superioriB epiBt. 5: ut et sic affectus, qui inter tuam to^atem et nos jamdiu coaMt, in Domino corroboraretur. a. 462. quod ei sollicitudiiii iiitentiuu te esse cognosco, ut custodiendis pa- ternorum canonuni regulis studere me cupias. Quo desiderio nihil eoncipi salubrius potest, quam ut in una Ecclesia, cui oportet nec Kp^- maculae aliquid inesse nec rugae, mia sit in omnibus observantia*) *" ' disciplinae. Cui si aliquid eruditionis aut correctionis'') addeudum est, rectissime per vestram diligentiam consuletur, si quemadmodum es dignatus scribere, tam instructa ad nos fuerit persona directa, quae inquisitionem nostram plene ex onmibus possit instruere. Spondeo^) enim, quantum gratia Dei donat ut spondeam, hoc me ad imiversalem sacerdotum Domini concordiam provisurum, ut onmes non sua audeant quaerere, sed quae sunt Christi studoant obtinere. Deus te incolumem custodiat', frater carissime. •