Letter 7031: Gregory to Cyriacus, Bishop of Constantinople. We have received the letters of your Blessedness, which speak to us in words not of the tongue but of the soul. For they open to me your mind, which, however, was not closed to me, since of myself I retain experience of the same sweetness.
Pope Gregory the Great→Cyriacus|c. 596 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
grief death
Military conflict; Personal friendship
Gregory to Cyriacus, Bishop of Constantinople.
Your Blessedness, I received your letter -- and it spoke not just in words but from the heart. It opened your mind to me, though in truth your mind was never closed to me; I carry the memory of that same warmth myself. For this I give constant thanks to Almighty God. If charity, the mother of all virtues, lives in your heart toward us, you will never lose the fruits of good works, since you hold the very root of goodness itself.
Here, then, is how you can show that charity to me and to all your brothers: act quickly to set aside that title of pride [the title "Ecumenical Patriarch," which Gregory considered an arrogant overreach that undermined the equality of bishops] that has caused such grave offense throughout the churches. As Scripture says, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3), and again, "Give the enemy no opportunity for slander" (1 Timothy 5:14). True charity will be on display only when pride creates no division among us.
For my part -- I call Jesus as my witness -- I have no desire to give offense to anyone, high or low. I want everyone to be great and honorable, so long as that honor does not diminish the honor of Almighty God. Anyone who seeks to be honored at God's expense earns no honor from me.
To show you my good will, I have sent my son the deacon Anatolius to our most pious lords, to assure both their Piety and your Fraternity that I wish to harm no one in this matter. I seek only the humility that pleases God and the unity of the holy Church. And because the Antichrist, the enemy of God, is near, I am determined that he should find nothing of himself -- not in the conduct of priests, and not even in their titles. What has been newly introduced must be set aside, so that no trace of contention disturbs the peace of the Church.
Book VII, Letter 31
To Cyriacus, Bishop.
Gregory to Cyriacus, Bishop of Constantinople.
We have received the letters of your Blessedness, which speak to us in words not of the tongue but of the soul. For they open to me your mind, which, however, was not closed to me, since of myself I retain experience of the same sweetness. Wherefore I return thanks continually to Almighty God, since, if charity the mother of virtues abides in your heart towards us, you will never lose the branches of good works, seeing that you retain the very root of goodness. You ought, then, to show the beauty of this charity to me and to all your brethren by this good work in the first place — your hastening to discard that word of pride whereby grave offense is engendered in the Churches, thus fulfilling in all ways what is written, Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace Ephesians 4:3: and again, Give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully 1 Timothy 5:14. For then will true charity be displayed, if there is no schism among us through an example of pride. For, as for me, I call Jesus to witness in my soul, that to no one among men from the highest to the lowest do I wish to give occasion of offense. I desire that all should be great and honourable, yet so that their honour detract not from the honour of Almighty God. For whoever covets to be honoured against God to me is not honourable. But, that you may learn what good will I have towards your Blessedness, I have sent my son the deacon Anatolius to the feet of our most pious lords, for satisfying their Piety and your Fraternity that I desire to injure no man in this matter, but to keep the humility that is pleasing to God, and the concord of holy Church. And because Antichrist, the enemy of God, is near at hand, I studiously desire the he may not find anything belonging to himself, not only in the manners, but even in the titles of priests. Let then what has been introduced after a new fashion be removed in like manner as it was brought in, and peace in the Lord will remain with us inviolate. For what pleasantness, what charity, will there be among us, if we cheer ourselves up with words, while we are galled by facts? Let then your Holiness so act that we may feel in our inmost hearts the good things you speak of, to the end that, the hearts of priests being in unanimity, when we supplicate for the life of our most pious lords, we may be counted worthy to be heard all the more as peace illuminates your prayers before the eyes of God, and no stain of discord darkens them.
Your Blessedness, I received your letter -- and it spoke not just in words but from the heart. It opened your mind to me, though in truth your mind was never closed to me; I carry the memory of that same warmth myself. For this I give constant thanks to Almighty God. If charity, the mother of all virtues, lives in your heart toward us, you will never lose the fruits of good works, since you hold the very root of goodness itself.
Here, then, is how you can show that charity to me and to all your brothers: act quickly to set aside that title of pride [the title "Ecumenical Patriarch," which Gregory considered an arrogant overreach that undermined the equality of bishops] that has caused such grave offense throughout the churches. As Scripture says, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4:3), and again, "Give the enemy no opportunity for slander" (1 Timothy 5:14). True charity will be on display only when pride creates no division among us.
For my part -- I call Jesus as my witness -- I have no desire to give offense to anyone, high or low. I want everyone to be great and honorable, so long as that honor does not diminish the honor of Almighty God. Anyone who seeks to be honored at God's expense earns no honor from me.
To show you my good will, I have sent my son the deacon Anatolius to our most pious lords, to assure both their Piety and your Fraternity that I wish to harm no one in this matter. I seek only the humility that pleases God and the unity of the holy Church. And because the Antichrist, the enemy of God, is near, I am determined that he should find nothing of himself -- not in the conduct of priests, and not even in their titles. What has been newly introduced must be set aside, so that no trace of contention disturbs the peace of the Church.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
Gregorius Cyriaco episcopo Constantinopolitano.
Scripta beatitudinis vestre suscepimus, que no- bis * non linguz, ssed anime verba loquebantur. Aperiebant etenim mentem, que lamen mihi clausa non erat, quia per memetipsum suavitatis ipsius experimentum teneham. Unde omnipotenti Deo in- cessanter gratias reſero, quia si erga nos in corde vestro virtutum mater charitas permanet, bonorum operum ramos nunquam _amitititis, qui ipsam bonitatis radicem tenelis. - Oportet ergo ut mihi atque omnibus fratribus vestris ejusdem charitatis pulchritudinem in hoc primum opere monstrelis, ut verbum superbiz, per quod grave scandalum in Ecclesiis generatur, auferre ſestinetis, hoc modis omnibus implentes quod scriptum est : Solliciti 8er- vare unilatem 8piritus in vinculo pacis (Ephes. v, 5). Et rursus : Nullam occasionem dare adversario ma- ledicti gratia (I Tim. v, 14). Tunc enim ostensa charitas vera est, si Þ per typum superbiz inter nos schisma non fuerit. Ego enim Jesum testem invoco in anima mea, quiaasummoYg79 usque ad ultimum nulli hominum dare scandali occasion-m volo. Ome nes magnos esse_ et honorabiles cup, quorum ta- men honor honori omnipo entis Dei non detrabat. Nam quisquis se contra Deum honorari appeti!, mihi honorabilis non est. Sed ut cognoscatis quam erga vesiram beatitudinem habeam voluntatem, dilectis- Simum filium meum Anatolium diaconum ad piissi- morum dominorum vesligia transmisi, qui eorum pietati ac vestre ſraternit:ti salisfaciat, quia nulli in hac causa nocere appeto, sed humilitatem Deo placitam, et sanctze Ecclesizz concordiam eustodire. Et quia hostis omnipotentis Dei Antichristus juxta est, Studiose cupio ne proprium quid inveniat non
et Graci recen: iores hanc vocem usurpont pro veste,
6 ini zaugrwr yirwy, Codinus de Lectoribus loquens : Mera Toy Lunt val Emipp tnIapiny wrav popolvres xet x42i7'« i7etvw Toy ipatiuy. Et alibi de Feallis ; Etripxovrat uai of akrut erg Thy Emporttupiuy 7a Xaproiuy avrwy, CC. In dialogis Sancli Gregorii legi- mus vnozauioioy, pro tunica interiori. Victor Ulicen- Sis, de persecutione Vandalica , camisias memorat. Gussaxv. Vide card. Bona, de Rebus liturgicis, lib. 1,c. 24,68 4.
L Orarium hic sudarium ext seu linteum quo facirs abstergitur. Longum erat magis quam 1:itum, inslar fascize. Ex hac autem forma oblonga translatum hc vocabulum in Ecclesiam et sacrz st0/a tribuinmn SuSpicatur car, Bona, lib. 1, de Rebus Liturgicis, Cc. 24, F, 6, ubi de orario plura. Ve ipso ut Stolam st- guilicat vide notam 705, ad Librum Sacram.
EPISTOLARUM LIB. VH. — INDICT. XV. — £etPIST. XXXIL. l
890
solum in moribus, sed etiam in vocabulo sacerdotum. A tur, ad ima ammus mergitur, quia curis discerpen-
Ea ergo que novo modo introducta sunt ips0_ordi- ne quo illata sunt auferantur, et pax nobis illibata in Domino permanebit. Nam quz erit inter nos dul- cedo, que charitas, si-nosmetipsos voce reſovemus, et rebus pungimur? Hoc ergo vesira sanctitas agat, ut bona que dicitis nos in cordis medulla sentiamus qualenus dum in unanimitate corda fuerint sacer- dotum, pro piissimorum dominorum vita deprecantes, lanto citius exaudiri- mereamur, quanto et orationes ves!ras ante Dei oculos pax illuminat, et discordie macula non obscurat. EPISTOLA XXXIl. AD ANASTASIUM PRESBYTERUM.
De contentione tollenda que inter patrem monas!erii,
quod Neas dicitur, et Jerosolymorum episcopum exorta- eral,
Gregorius ®* Anastasio presbybero.
Quia bonus homo de bono tnesauro cordis sui bo- na proferat (Malth. x11, 35; Luc. vi, 45), boe tua charitas et Þ semper vivendo, et modo mihi in epis- tola 81a loquendo monstravit; in qua inveni duos quosdam de virtutibus litigantes, te videlicet pro eharitate, atque alium pro timore et humilitate contendere. Et quamvis in multis occupatus , quamvis Graeczx lingue nescius, in contentione tamen vestra -judex resedi; sed, requisita veri- tale, in meo judicio contradictorem tuum ipse vicis!i per apostolicam gententiam, quam vobis eonlendentibus protuli : Quia timor 'non est in charilale, sed perſecta charitas ſoras miltit timorem. Quoniam timor penam habet; qui aulem timet, non est perfectus in charitate, Tua itaque fraternilas quantum in charitate perſecta s1t scio. Et quia om- nipolentem Deum mulium diligit, oporlet ut de pro - xzimo multum presumat. Non enim loca vel ordines Creatori nosiro nos - proximos faciunt, sed ei nos aut merita hona jungunt, aut mala disjungunt. Quia ergo adhuc incertum est quis interius qualis sit, cur non audebas scribere, dum inter me et te quis sit Superior ignores? Et quidem bene te vivere scio, me autem multis oneratum peccatis novi. Sed etsi ipse peccater es, me tamen multo melior, quia tu tua lantummodo, ego vero et eorum qui mihi commissi sUnt peccata porto. In hoc ergo te altum, in hoc te
magnum aspicio, FFQ quia ante humanos oculos
in magno atque in alto loco minime profecisti ; in
quo sxpe dum exterius ab hominibus honor tribui-
Eeisr, XXXIT[Al. 29]. — *In Edit. Guss., Atha-
aasio, reluclantibus Mss. et aliis super. Excusis.
F-(ellit Gus+anvilleyum quod in Vulgatis legitur, presbytero Isaurie, Nempe non dubitavit quin is es<et Alhanasius, Isavriz presbyler, ad quem exstat epi>t. 67, I:b. vi. At ille in Mss. constanter appella- tur Athanasius, Eralque laurie presbyter; iste vero de quo nunc agimus miro Mss. consensu appellatur A4nas/asius; et quidem Ecclesiz Jerosolymitanz po- lus presbyter quam lsaurie censendus videltur.
riacum epi m Congslaniinopoluanam, qui universalem 8e- nominat, reprehenderit.
Gregorius Mauricio Augusto.
Dominorum pietas provida, ne quid ſortlasse scandali in unitale sanctz Ecclesiz ex sacerdotum dissensione generari potuisset, semel ac bis etetF1 me admonere dignata est ut responsales ſratris et consacerdotis mei Cyriaci benigue susciperem eosque ad remean- dum citius relaxarem. Et licet, piissime domine, aple et provide cuncta przcipiatis, ego tamen invenio quia eorum judicio indiseretus esse ex hac tali admonitione reprehendor. Nunquidnam si ex superbo ac profano vocabulo meus non in modico est animus vulneratus, tantz indiscretionis esse potui ut nesci- rem *® quid unitati fidei, quid concordiz ecclesiastice deberem, et fratris mei responsales et synodicam epistolam suscipere cujuslibet cause amaritudine interveniente recusarem ? Absit hoc. Nimis mihi ſue- rat desipuisse vic sapere. Aliud namque est quod conservande unitati fidei, atque aliud quod debemus compescendz elationi. Distinguenda ergo erant tem- pora, ne preadieti fratris mei ex quolibet articulo d novitas turbaretor. Unde et responsales ejus cum magno afffecta suscepi. Quidquid debui charitatis ex- hibnj, meliusque eos quam consuetudo prisca fuerat honoravi, et mecum feci eos sacra missarum solem- nia celebrare, quia sicut meus diacenus ad exhiben- da gancta mysteria illi non debet ministrare, qui clationis culpam aut commisit, aut commissam ab aliis ipse non corrigit, ita ministri illius in celebra- tione missarum mihi adesse debuerunt, qui, custo- diente Deo, in superbiz errorem non cecidi. Eum- dem vero fratrem et coepiscopum meum Studiose admonere curavi, ut si habere pacem omniam con- cordiamque desiderat, ad stuhti yocabuli se appellatio- ne compescat. De qua re mihi in 8uis jussionibus dominorum pietas prxcepit, dicens, ut pro appella- tione frivoli nominis inter nos scandalum generari non debeat. Sed rogo ut imperalis pietas penset quia alia sunt frivola valde innoxia, atque alia vehementer nociva. Nunquid non cum se Antichristus veniens Deum dixerit, frivolum valde erit, sed tamen nimis perniciosum ? Si quantitatem sermonis altendimus, quz smnt syliabz; si vero pondus iniquilatis, universa pernicies. Ego autem fidenter dico quia quisquis se -univers