Thus once Peter, the head of the apostles (cf. Matt. 16), that is, the prince of princes, though he dreaded the sea stirred by the winds, yet, holding the path of the flood he had seized, unfolded it as victor; and, the waves of the raging deep being overcome as though the masses of hostile whirlwinds, he crushed by faith the blast of the adverse temptation before it should reach the seat. There the serenity followed the journey accomplished. Here too, no less for the dwelling than for the image, the security which had not preceded follows Peter's house founded on faith. But let the same apostle now renew a seat worthy of his name. Let him with the same keys open this place, with which he opens the kingdom. Let him now loose the fetters of crimes that shall be shown to him. And a little above.
The solidity which is sought at the beginnings for buildings to be made, here obtains even the summit. By the most firm foundation of other buildings our pinnacles are safer. Why should the ancient one praise to me his Moses, who sweetened the waters bitter from of old by chastising them with wood (Exod. 15:23)? Why Elisha (2 Kings 4:41), not unequal in power, who seasoned the pot full of the bitterness of wild food by the infusion of healing meal? Who indeed does not know that these were deeds of admirable example? But no less has been granted today to your priest, whom a like variety of happy outcome will prove equal to their equals. Since it is of almost lesser power to convert creatures by praying, than, the enemy being driven off, to have invited the Creator into buildings.
Moreover here the turbid envy of the neighbouring Arians fills the place of the heathen. And if perhaps the pagan is now lacking here who would have many gods worshipped, the heretic groans who sees one adored. For the divider of the Trinity loves a multitude of gods; and by a kindred affection for separation, the solidity being likewise broken through, he acquiesces that many gods be made by his associates, under whose favour he may as though excusably reckon three. Why should the empty namer of Christ lament that a place shut off from the deities has obeyed the virtues? No one is forbidden from the fellowship of salvation. Let there be common to them together with the saved that which hitherto we were unwilling should be ours together with the lost.
To profane cults we condemn the enclosures; to worshippers about to be converted we throw open the temples. Let him therefore here seek the solid, whoever had before loved the divided; let him now recognize Christ the Rock, whoever here of late venerated stones. By sacrileges the altar perishes, by sacrifices the altar comes. The name is one, the cause diverse. The brazen serpent heals, wherewith the fiery one bit (cf. Num. 21). There is cause for rejoicing with general exultation, that, the sceptres of catholic power flourishing, the places of prayers, the temples of martyrs, the sanctuaries of thresholds, are adorned—towns are adorned no less with buildings than with patrons: nay rather, illumined by patronages, cities are made from towns.
But if we touch also the joy of the special feast, with the proclamation running on, the present building is indeed pleasant in its site, overhanging the river, and chastises the rugged tumult of the neighbouring torrent, as though by the terror of impending reverence. The narrowed stream is restrained by its venerable banks, and spreads beneath the hanging pathway of the interposed bridge, toward the places of the sacred summits to be sought on either side. The building, sufficient for a wide gathering, has been made narrow for the assembly: and thus, by the pleasantness of its habitation soliciting things both earthly and heavenly, though it scarcely suffices for its own people, it suffices as regards the fabric.
Gleaming with the manifold genius of its craftsmen, it has driven out the night, has brought in the light; and the day, long banished by the sad shadows through their artifice, now more joyful within a certain prison of brightness, is shut up in a happy custody. Thus once the prison of the fisherman Peter shone forth with the ray of his precious bonds illuminating it (Acts 12:7): when the iron fitted for punishments gleamed more than the more precious metals, the bars fled with the entrance open, the chains fell with a resounding clang. Rejoice therefore, unconquered merchant, in the stewardship committed to thee; bring forth from thy treasure things new and old (Matt. 13:52), instructor of the untutored, restorer of the falling; let there be one solemnity in a manifold consecration. Thou hast raised up with the engines of tears what the enemy had dashed down:
the form of the temples which had perished has returned; let holiness too return. Thou (Luke 19:20) hast not buried in earthly pits the mina delivered to thee, condemning it with the napkin; nor content only to render back what had long since been consigned, but restoring the one and offering the other, that thou mightest better hold forth the produce of the firstfruits, thou hast first striven to pay what thou owest. Wherefore, most beloved, pray for what remains, that, if adversity steal anything sacred, it may so return, with God avenging. Let the grain of wheat which was thought ripe grow up into manifold fruits. As Job's wealth (Job 42:10), lost amid the battles of temptation, let it restore the merit of victory, patience doubling it.
And to conclude all briefly, let him acknowledge, by present and past successes, both in doing and in enduring, how salubrious in eternity our tears will be to bestow, which we see do not perish for the faithful even in temporal things. In the glory of the present age it is a small thing, if we are said to be permitted to build these things: that is a higher thing, that we are impelled to such endeavours, even if we should wish to be idle. For the sceptres of our age know well wherein lies the strength of their time: by whom, as we rightly and confidently trust, this city is defended more inexpugnably by basilicas than by ramparts. On every side the rich approach is girded by the safeguard of sacred buildings, and to the safer thresholds of the gates, however open, one comes not save by the holy doorkeepers.
Let the use of arms here cease altogether at the nod from on high. That no enemy assault may here prevail, it suffices to have provided these guardians. Thus may this one, marked out by the vigour of his merits, either lead the way to the native approaches, or, set as a barrier, repel ambushes. Let it raise up these towers for itself round about, like Jerusalem which is built as a city (Ps. CXXI, 3 ff.): where, as we rejoice as often as we go into the house of the Lord, may these towers be attained by the worship of the saints, and this abundance of peoples in the towers; and so may there be for it peace in strength and strength in peace: strength, that is, for the rulers, peace for the ruled; the former for those who preside, the latter for those who serve;
yet, since our princes desire either of the two, and shall merit both, may the assembly of devoted subjection foster peace for them and add strength. Now to you a freer discourse, O present one—if such exist anywhere—father of the catholic peoples, light of religion, pillar of the region, power of examples, pledge of the Churches, glory of the times, exalted in civility, terrible in fellowship, in the reverence with which you are venerated by the people. You who, on the tribunal alone before all, at the altar one among all, surrounded by throngs of your subjects, are distinguished not by the gleam of a diadem but by the light of your mind. Now you recognize: it is time; your gifts are in our hands. We indeed obey you when you command, that they be kept secret when they are given;
but you cry out, by conferring such things as none but a prince could possess. For most gloriously have you acted in these buildings too; yet your people's joys reserve themselves for something more sublime. Your offering has here indeed brought forth a common gladness today; but it is still greater than our expectation had conceived. Here is set forth, foreshadowing by conjecture the things present, the contemplation of the things to follow. Justly is that much esteemed in us which you shall be the more mighty in through you in the total sum. Assuredly, as there we weigh the account of works, here of gifts; you do not indeed alone behold among things present what may delight, but you alone shall be able among things to come to bring forth what may surpass.
A proclamation of the happy army, in whose most blessed gathering none perished while none escaped, when the justice of the lot, as it were, adjudged the unjust death of the holy martyrs, whereby the fruit, a hundredfold, increased upon the tithed, scattered twice over a gentle battle-line, and with hatred lending aid unto prosperity, individuals were chosen even until the elect were gathered together. According to the debt of custom, the series of the chosen passion has unfolded. Its entrance is not closed by night, because it has no night; its gates, ever ready, open to the just, unapproachable to the impious, are not alternated by bolts, but by merits. Its foundation is Christ, faith its framework, the wall its crown, the pearl its gate, gold its street, the Lamb its lamp, the choir its Church.
For it, amid the divine praises, all necessity of labour being shut out, the only rest shall be the sincerity of action. Many things there are, most pious prelate—younger than some on the tribunal, first of all at the altar—many things there are, I say, in your works, for which we may say we have thus far owed you thanks. Enriched with gifts, poor in words, we have received great things, we have repaid few. You have adorned your churches with a heap of treasures, with a multitude of peoples. You have built with your outlays the altars you would heap up with your gifts. Never indeed have we matched words to virtue; but when we have come to the present psalm-singing solemnity, I think it too little if I say our words: today you have besides surpassed even your own works. And after other matters: Let our Gaul flourish. Let the world desire what this place has brought in.
Let eternity begin today for the burnt offering, and dignity for the region. To those who praise God in the present age, and shall likewise praise Him in the age to come, may death rather renew than end their action. May you recognize in heaven the custom of rewards which you shall carry hence from this earth; and may so great an honour follow your perseverance, that what shall be for you in the exercise of the work may be paid out in reward, as recompense of your wage.