Letter 6016: Seeing that in you, most Christian of princes, uncorrupt soundness of faith shines as a beam sent down from heaven, and that it is known to all that your Serenity embraces fervently and loves with entire devotion of heart the pure profession in which by God's favour you are powerful, we have perceived it to be very necessary to make request for ...
Pope Gregory the Great→Mauricius Augustus|c. 595 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
christologygrief deathimperial politics
Theological controversy; Imperial politics; Church council
Gregory to the Emperor Mauricius.
In you, most Christian of rulers, the uncorrupted soundness of faith shines like a beam from heaven. All know that Your Serenity embraces with fervor and wholehearted devotion the pure profession of faith in which, by God's favor, you are strong. I have therefore thought it essential to make this request on behalf of those whom that same faith enlightens, so that the Piety of our lords may protect them with favor and defend them from all harassment. When certain people reject the confession of faith of such persons, they effectively contradict the true faith itself. For since the Apostle declares that "confession of the mouth is made unto salvation," whoever refuses to accept a right profession accuses himself in rejecting others.
Now, all the proceedings against John, priest of the church of Chalcedon, have been read in council and reviewed in order, and I have found that he suffered grave injustice. When he declared and demonstrated himself to be Catholic, it was not proven guilt but vague accusations of long standing that crushed him -- to the point where his accusers openly admitted in their testimony that they did not even know what the Marcionist heresy they invoked actually was. They should have been dismissed from the very start of the trial, yet they were allowed, insubstantial as they were, to remain in court and press their accusation. He produced a written confession of faith to make clear that he was a believer and follower of the true faith. But the judges appointed by our most holy brother and fellow bishop John unreasonably disregarded it, and in doing everything they could to bring him down, they made themselves more culpable than the man they accused. No one can doubt that it is faithless to refuse to believe a right confession of faith.
I therefore commend this priest to Your Piety's protection, and ask that you ensure he suffers no further persecution for a faith that has been examined and found sound.
Book VI, Letter 16
To Mauricius, Augustus.
Gregory to Mauricius, etc.
Seeing that in you, most Christian of princes, uncorrupt soundness of faith shines as a beam sent down from heaven, and that it is known to all that your Serenity embraces fervently and loves with entire devotion of heart the pure profession in which by God's favour you are powerful, we have perceived it to be very necessary to make request for those whom one and the same faith enlightens, to the end that the Piety of our lords may protect them with its favour, and defend them from all molestation. When certain men scorn the confession of faith of such persons they are shown to contradict the true faith. For, since the Apostle declares that confession of the mouth is made unto salvation, he who will not consent to believe a right profession accuses himself in rejecting others Romans 10:10.
Now all the proceedings against John, presbyter of the church of Chalcedon, having been read in council and considered in order, we have found that he has suffered the greater injustice in that, when he declared and showed himself to be a Catholic, it was not his guilt, but an uncertain accusation of long standing, that crushed him; and this to such an extent that his accusers declared in their open reply that they did not know the heresy of the Marcionists which they referred to. And, whereas they ought therefore to have been rejected from the very beginning of the trial, they were allowed, vague as they were, to remain in court for his accusation. But, lest at any rate alleged report might injure him, he produced a written confession of his faith with the purpose of showing evidently that he was a professor and follower of the right faith. But this the judges deputed by the most holy John, our brother and fellow bishop, unjustly and unreasonably disregarded; and so, in doing all they could to put him down, showed themselves more to blame than he. For no one doubts that it is unfaithfulness not to have faith in the faithful. Seeing then that, everything having been thoroughly enquired into and considered, the decision of the holy Council with me, by the revealing grace of Divine power, has declared the above-written John the presbyter to be a Catholic, and that no spot of heretical pravity has been found in him, I entreat that the pious protection of your Serenity may order him to be kept unharmed from all annoyance, nor allow a professor of the Catholic faith to suffer any molestation. For not to believe one who professes truly is not to purge heresy, but to make it. If this should be allowed, occasion of infidelity will arise, and people will themselves incur the guilt which they would correct unwarily.
These things therefore let the most Serene lord with pious precaution consider, and, as I have already requested, with profuse entreaties I again implore, that he allow not an innocent man to be afflicted anew as though he were guilty; to the end that Almighty God, who sees your Clemency love and defend the purity of Catholic rectitude, may cause you both to rule over a pacified republic with your foes subdued, and to reign with His saints in life eternal.
In you, most Christian of rulers, the uncorrupted soundness of faith shines like a beam from heaven. All know that Your Serenity embraces with fervor and wholehearted devotion the pure profession of faith in which, by God's favor, you are strong. I have therefore thought it essential to make this request on behalf of those whom that same faith enlightens, so that the Piety of our lords may protect them with favor and defend them from all harassment. When certain people reject the confession of faith of such persons, they effectively contradict the true faith itself. For since the Apostle declares that "confession of the mouth is made unto salvation," whoever refuses to accept a right profession accuses himself in rejecting others.
Now, all the proceedings against John, priest of the church of Chalcedon, have been read in council and reviewed in order, and I have found that he suffered grave injustice. When he declared and demonstrated himself to be Catholic, it was not proven guilt but vague accusations of long standing that crushed him -- to the point where his accusers openly admitted in their testimony that they did not even know what the Marcionist heresy they invoked actually was. They should have been dismissed from the very start of the trial, yet they were allowed, insubstantial as they were, to remain in court and press their accusation. He produced a written confession of faith to make clear that he was a believer and follower of the true faith. But the judges appointed by our most holy brother and fellow bishop John unreasonably disregarded it, and in doing everything they could to bring him down, they made themselves more culpable than the man they accused. No one can doubt that it is faithless to refuse to believe a right confession of faith.
I therefore commend this priest to Your Piety's protection, and ask that you ensure he suffers no further persecution for a faith that has been examined and found sound.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
Gregorius Mauricio Augusto.
Cem sincera in vobis, Christiauissime principum, velut emissum ccolitus jubar, fidei rectitudo res- plendeat, cumque notum sit omnibus serenitatem vestram integram proſessionem qua Deo pollet pro- piltio vehewenter amplecti et tolo corde diligere, necessarium esse valde perspeximus pro his quos una eademque fides illustrat snggerendo deposcere, quatenus dominorum pietas sSua eos gratia protegat, el ab omni moleslia tueatur. Quorum dum coules- sionem quidem despiciunt, vere fidei contradicere videntur. Nam cum oris conſessionem fieri clamet Apostolus ad salutem, qui rectz proſessioni credere non consentit, in eo quod alium improbat se ac- cusat (Rom. x, 10).
« Relectis igitur in concilio quz contra Joannem Chalcedonensis presbyterum Ecclesizz acta cunt, Simul et Serie jud:cati, majorein illum jnjustitiam SuSinuisse cognovimus, quippe quem clamantem s6 alque monstrantem catholicum esse, noun reatus culpa Sed diu accusalio incerta contrivit, in lantum, quia accusalores ipsius Marcianistarum quam com- memorabant hxresim se nescire aperia responsione prolessi sunt. Þ Et qui illico in ipso ſuerant judic-i
nullum auctorem legi. toaHarum.
v tur Joannes, libellum suz fidei offert, jud- ces tantur, et ſacto concilio absoivitur, ut appa- ret ex his sequeoltis epistulz verbis : sancti concilit mecum definitio, etc. ldem epist»la Sequenle iu>ius recenset, docens infidelitatem esse fidem fidelibus non babere, et veraciter confitenti non credere, 109 exse haresim purgare, sed facere. In epistulis 16 et 17 eadem versalur quxzstio. Gussaxv. Vide lib. Ms episl. 44, al. lib. 1x, epist. 59.
EFPISTOLARUM LIB. VI. — INDICT. XIV. — EPIST. XIX. - _;
limine repellendi, in accusatione ejus FOG perma- A rect lidei, Deo miserante, profess0r ac cultor app -
nere incerti permissi sunt. Sed ne dicta eum sSallem lacerare polnisset opinio, libellum fidei protulit, in quo se palenter cstendere lidei rectzz profſessorem studuit et sequacem. Sed hunc a sanctissimo Joanne ſratre et coepiscopo nvstro judices deputali, injuste ac. irrationabiliter negligentes, dum in ejus se nite- rentur occupare gravamine, * se potius reprehensi- biles ostenderunt. Nam nullus ambig't infidelitatem esse, ſfidem (idelibus non habere. Quia ergo omnibus subtiliter rimatis atque traclatis, catholicum Supra- scriptum Joannem presbyterum sancti concilii me- cum deſinitio, divine potentie revelanle gratia , de- claravit, nec quirdam in ips0 k:retice macula pra- vitatis inventa 2st, obsecro ut pia serenitatis veslr:e protectio illzsum illum ab omni molestia servari przecipiat, nec catholice fidei conſessorem aliquam Sinal inquietudinem sustinere. Nam veraciter profi- tenti non credere, non est hxresim purgare, sed facere. Quod si licuerit, surget inſidelitatis occasio, et ipsi in eas quas incaule volunt emendare cuipas jacurrunt.
Hec igitur Serenissimus Dominus pia provisione consideret, el sicut poposci, profusis iterum preci- bus rogo, ut affligi denuo innocentem velut obnoxium non permi:tat, quatenus Deus omnipotens, qui pla- citam si: catholic rectitndinis integritatem clemen- tiam ves|ram amare cernit atque deſendere, et hic devictis hoslibus pacatz vos imperare reipublicze et cum sanctis Suis in #terna ſaciat vita reguare. (Cf. Joan. Diac. {, 1v, n. 36.)
EPISTOLA XVIL.
AD THEOTISTUM. Joannem presbyterum, ab imposito 8ibi hereseos crimine facto concilio absolutum, lueatur ab omni moleslia.
Gregorius Theotisto cognalo imperatoris.
Scimus excellentie vesire Christianitatem bonis intentam semper operibus; et idcirco mercedis yobis causas, quas vos diligere cerium est, providemus, ut nos veslris meritis providendo jungamur.
Indicamus itaque vobis Joannem presbyterum Ja- torem presentium liberum ab his quibus accusatus ſuerat exslitisse. Cujus fidem facto concilio subtili examinatione , * ut peliit, perscrulantes, nullam in eo culpam pravz conſessionis invenimus. Sed quia
ptioners, quz contineat nomen accusati et accusan- tis, crimen, criminis locum, diem, horam, etc. De- bet etiam accusator paratas habere probationes; alioquin pcenas calumnjatoris luere. AUGET.