Letter 59: Part of the papal correspondence surrounding the Acacian Schism (484-519), the major breach between Rome and...

Hormisdas to Justinian, the illustrious one [Justinian, then a high-ranking official, later emperor]. We bless the ineffable aid of the Godhead, because we have learned that the desire of the whole world for the peace of the churches has been fulfilled under tranquil conditions. This indeed did not happen contrary to our expectation, since, from the very character of the most religious Augustus, we have always borne the hope of quiet, and we believed that under a Christian prince there would be accomplished what was our wish concerning reunion. Therefore the glorious emperor will have from this cause titles of triumph -- not such as the oblivion of mortality may insinuate itself into, but such as the grace of the Godhead confirms in perpetuity; and to you too there will not be lacking the reward of heavenly recompense, you who have aided the good prince's design and, by fitting compliance, have brought it about that the horror of division is shut out, in accordance with that wish. Blessed be the Lord our God, who has visited and brought about the redemption of his people! It remains now that, since an office of this kind has surely been enjoined upon you by the providence of the Godhead, you gird up, as it is said, your loins, and with the strength of peaceable exhortation pursue those by whom you see that peace is not acknowledged -- especially because something is detracted from your glory if anything in this cause should be left less than fully accomplished. Look about upon all things with the faith by which you live and the diligence in which you flourish; meet all the assaults by which you see the reverence of the Christian religion to be harassed, so that we may be able, with exultation, to speak of your earnestness as good: They shall remember and be converted to the Lord, all the ends of the earth. Which things being so, it is fitting that you, who have made a beginning of the catholic Church's tranquillity, see to its accomplishment: the favor of our Savior will not be lacking in the completion, he who inspired you to begin this work. Given on the day as above stated, in the consulship of the same persons mentioned above.

HORMiSDA lusTiNiANO ILLU8TRI. Benedicimus inelfabile diui- nitatis auxilium, quia de ecclesianim pace uniuersitatis desi- derium sub tranquillitate agnouimus fuisse completum. quod 5 quidem non praeter opinionem nostram contigit fieri, quia rellgiosissimi Augusti praesumpti genere spem semper gessimus de quiete et credidimus faciendum sub principe Christiano, <quod> de adunatione erat in uoto. quare habebit gloriosus 2 imperator de hac causa triumphorum titulos, non quibus se 10 obliuio mortalitatis interserat, sed quos diuinitatis gratia sub perpetuitate confirmat, et uobis quoque caelestis remunerationis non deerit praemium, qui adiuuistis boni principis institutum atque obsequio conuenienti desiderio horrorem segregationis fecistis excludi. benedictus dominus deus noster, i5qui uisitauit et fecit redemptionem plebis suae! superest nunc ut, quia uobis huiusmodi officium certum est 3 prouidentia diuinitatis iniunctum, adcingatis, ut ait, lumbos et pacificae adhortationis uiribus persequamini, a quibus pacem non uidetis agnosci, maxime quia gloriae uestrae detra- M hitur, si quid in hac causa fuerit minus impletum. circum- inspicite omnia fide qua uiuitis et diligentia qua uigetis occurrite omnibus incursibus, quibus religionis Christianae reuerentiam uidetis esse uexatam, ut instantiae uestrae boni possimus cum exultatione dicere: reminiscentur et con- U Luc. 1, 68 17 cf. Esai. 32, 11 24 Psalm. 21, 28 176. Dat ut ep, 168. Edd. Car. I* 503; CoUect. Concil; BTA I 426; Thiel 881. 6 agusti psumti V 7 et <quod> Car. 8 quod inserui uoium F, correxi; id quod restitui, requiritur etiam exeuntium syllaharum consonantia (auzilium . . desiderium . . completuni, genere . . quiete, Christiano . . uoto etc.) 10 sq. super petuitate F, corr. a man. rec. II confirmet edit. reg. euersa syllabarum consonantia (interserat . . con- firmat) 12 descrit F, corr. adiuuisti F, corr. Car. 13 con- uenientis F, corr. edit. reg. 16 huiuscemodi uulgo cum a 19 ga quod ante gloriae exliibet V del. Hartel: gra (= gratia) a, gratiae Car. 22 hoc currite F, corr. o 23 boni V: bene o* 634 Hormisda Grato, lalianae Aniciae, Anastasiae 4 uertentur ad dominum omnes fines terrae. quae cum ita sint, uos qui ecclesiae catholicae tranquillitatis fecistis initium, procurare decet effectum : non deerit saluatoris nostri fauor in perfectione, qui uobis hoc opus inspirauit incipere. Data die quo (supra) cons. ss.