Letter 154: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Hormisdas to Justin Augustus. 1. To the venerable first-fruits of your reign, most glorious son, the Catholic Church sends its congratulation in place of a gift, through which it trusts to find, after so great a weariness of discord, the repose of peace. Nor is there any doubt that for this reason you have, by heavenly providence, come to the summit of affairs: that the injury inflicted upon religion for so long a time in the regions of the East may be abolished. You have rendered to the blessed apostle Peter the due first-fruits of your reign, which we have devoutly received on this account, because we believe without hesitation that through you the concord of the churches is now soon to come. May God, who has granted to the dispositions of your piety the desire of addressing us, Himself, as we hope, bestow [upon you] devotion toward the sincere worship of His religion. 2. You have signified that the weight of empire was imposed upon you against your will and your refusal; by which reasoning it is established that you were chosen by the heavenly judgment, according to the apostle who says: There is no power but from God; and those which are, are ordained by God. It remains that you who were chosen by God, as we also believe, extend the comfort of your hand to the Church which you perceive to be in distress. Let those cease who oppose its peace, let those be still who, in the guise of shepherds, attempt to scatter the flock of Christ! The correction of these men strengthens the powers of your empire; for where God is rightly worshipped, adversity shall have no effect. We have not failed to send this page of congratulation by Alexander, a most distinguished man, hoping that, with the help of our God, we shall, through Gratus, a most distinguished man, our son, furnish to your clemency our reply concerning the several matters that pertain to the unity of the Church.

(a. 518 c. Hormisdae papae ad Justinum impertttorem. nn. vel initio a. Justino initia imperii gratulatur, utque Ecclesiae manus suae solatia porrigat precainr. p. 519.) Hormisda Justino Augusto. 1. Venerabilis regni vestri primitiis, fili gloriosissime, loco muneris gratulationem suam catholica transmittit Ecclesia^ per quos') se post tantam discordiae fatigationem requiem pacis invenire con- fidit. Nec est dubium, ideo ad rerum summam coelesti vos provi- dentia pervenisse, ut tantis temporibus impacta religioni in Orientis partibus aboleatur injuria. Debitas^) beato Petro apostolo imperii vestri primitias reddidistis, quas hac ratione devote suscepimos, quia ecclesiarum per vos proxime futuram credimus sine dubitatione con- cordiam. Deus, qui pietatis vestrae sensibus alloquendi nos vota concessit, ipse circa sincerum religionis suae cultum praestahit, sicnt optamus, aftectum^). ep. -11. 2. Significastis, nolentibus et recusantibus vobis imperii pondofi ') b quaque. Superiore Justini epistola 42 Hormisda tantum ut ad regiaa lurbem mittat sacerdotes, non ut ipse veniat, rogatur. — Ibidem ed. fmod /feri non debet, "*) b cc effectum ... ordinata sunt. EPISTOLAE 4^ — 46. 835 impositmii; qua ratione electos vos coelesti constat esse judicio 8e-(a. 518.) cnndum apostolum dicentem: Non est potestas nisi a Deo; quae autem ^^' sunt, a Deo ordinatae sunt. Superest, ut a Deo electi, sicut et cre- dimuS; Ecclesiae, quam laborare cernitis, manus vestrae solatia por- rigatis. Cessent qui paci ejus obsistunt, quiescant^) qui in forma pastorum conantur gregem Christi dispergere^)! Istorum correctio vires vestri firmat imperii; quia ubi Deus recte colitu#, adversitas non habebit eflFectum. Hanc gratulationis paginam per Alexandrum virum clarissimum non omisimus destinare, sperantes cum Dei no- stri adjutorio per Gratum virum clarissimum filium nostrum de sin- gulis, quae ad unitatem Ecclesiae pertinent, nos clementiae vestrae praebituros esse responsum.