教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 248 章

Gregory to Bishop Columbus. It is known, most beloved brother in Christ, that the ancient enemy, who by cunning persuasion cast down the first man from the delights of paradise into this wretched life, and even then inflicted upon the human race the penalty of mortality in him, now with that same craftiness strives to infect with his poured-out venom the very shepherds of the Lord's sheep — that he may the more easily seize the flock — and to claim them already as of right to his own power. But we, who, though unworthy, have received the Apostolic See to be governed in the stead of Peter, the prince of the apostles, are compelled by the very office of the pontificate to oppose the common enemy with whatever efforts we can.

Therefore, having presented a petition, the bearers of these present letters, Constantius and Mustellus, have informed us and assert that the deacons of the Church of Pudentiana, established in the province of Numidia, allege that Maximian, the bishop of that same Church, in the place where he resides, corrupted by a bribe of the Donatists, permitted a bishop to be made by a novel license — a thing which, even if earlier custom might have permitted, the catholic faith forbids to stand or to persist. For this reason, then, we have judged it necessary by these present writings to exhort your Fraternity that, when Hilarus our secretary comes to you, a universal council of bishops being assembled, and the terror of the coming judgment being set before your eyes, this same case ought to be examined with subtle and diligent investigation.

And if this charge shall be proved against the aforesaid bishop by the bearers of these letters, in his presence, by fitting proofs, let him in every way be degraded from the dignity and office which he exercises, so that he may return to the gains of penance through the acknowledgment of his fault, and that the rest may not presume to attempt such things. For it is just that he who has sold the Lord Jesus Christ our God for money received from a heretic — so to speak, put Him up for sale — should indeed be removed from handling the mysteries of that sacred body and blood.

But if any dispute arises among them apart from this crime, concerning certain damages or private business matters — as the petition of these same deacons contains — let your Fraternity, together with our aforesaid secretary, examine it by proven inquiry, and, with justice proceeding, determine it between both parties. Moreover, from the report of the bearers of these letters we have learned that the heresy of the Donatists, because of our sins, is daily spreading, and that very many, license being given through bribery, are being rebaptized by the Donatists after catholic baptism. How grave this is, brother, we must weigh with the whole attention of our mind.

Behold, the wolf tears the Lord's flock in pieces, no longer secretly by night, but in the open light of day, and we see him raging in the slaughter of the sheep, yet we oppose him with no anxious care, with no darts of words. What fruits of a multiplied flock, then, shall we show to the Lord, if with idle mind we look on while the very flock we undertook to feed is devoured by a beast? Let us therefore strive to kindle our heart by the imitation of earthly shepherds, who, gripped by rain and frost, often pass wintry nights wakeful, lest even one sheep perish, and that too a useless one.

And if the treacherous beast should bite it with devouring mouth, how they bestir themselves, with what heats of heart they pant, into what cries they break forth, rushing under the goad of anguish to rescue the captured beast, lest anything they have lost through negligence be required of them by the Lord of the flock! Let us therefore watch that nothing perish; and if by chance anything be seized, let us by the voices of the divine words lead it back to the Lord's flock, so that He who is the Shepherd of shepherds may in His mercy deign by His judgment to approve that we have kept watch over His fold. This too it is necessary for you carefully to attend: that if any just petition be made against the bearers of these letters by that same bishop, it ought to be examined by subtle investigation;

and if perchance they too, for their own fault, ought by right to be punished, we by no means judge that they should be spared, in return for their having wearied themselves in coming to us. In the month of August, in the tenth indiction.