教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 454 章

Gregory to Cyriacus, bishop of Constantinople. Formerly, while in the royal city I was making the responses of the Apostolic See, I came to know the goodness of your Holiness. And because the care of souls has now been committed to you, I greatly rejoice. And although unworthy, I entreat the Almighty Lord with such prayers as I can, that he may ever increase his grace in you, and make you to gather the gains of souls unto the eternal fatherland. But since you say that you are weak for this work to which you have been brought, we know that the first virtue is the recognition of weakness; and from this we gather that you are able to fulfill well the ministry undertaken, because we see you recognize your own weakness

out of humility. For we are all weak, but he is the weaker who is not able to consider his own weakness. But you, most blessed brothers, are for this reason strong, because, distrusting your own strength, you trust in the power of Almighty God. But how much my mind is bound to your Charity, I cannot fully express in the words of a letter. But I pray that Almighty God may multiply, from the gift of his grace, that same charity which is between us, and take away every occasion of scandal, lest the holy Church, united by the confession of the true faith and thronged by the joined hearts of the faithful, should feel any detriment—which God forbid—through priests disputing among themselves.

Although I, in all that I speak, in all that I contradict in the proud acts of certain persons, out of the bounty of the Almighty Lord never abandon the guardianship of inmost charity; but I so pursue outwardly those things which are of justice, that I by no means set aside those things which within are of love and affection. But do you always render me the return of my love, and keep those things which are of peace and affection, so that, remaining one in mind—whereby we permit no dissension to enter between us—we may the better be able, before the Lord, from the very unity of our hearts, to obtain the things we ask.

Moreover, I commend to your Holiness John the presbyter of Chalcedon and Athanasius of Lycaonia, that no one may creep upon you against them with false-speaking discourse, since I have subtly examined their faith, and found them upright in their confessions, which were also given in writing. But may the Holy Trinity protect you with its hand, and ever render you watchful and solicitous concerning the guardianship of souls, so that in the eternal recompense you may be able to be crowned not only for your own work, but also for the betterment of your subjects. (See above, book VI, letters 14, 15, 16, 17.)