教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 474 章

Gregory to Cyriacus, bishop of Constantinople. We have received the writings of Your Beatitude, which spoke to us words not of the tongue but of the soul. For they opened your mind, which nonetheless was not closed to me, since through my very self I held the experience of its sweetness. Wherefore I render unceasing thanks to Almighty God, because if charity, the mother of virtues, remains toward us in your heart, you never lose the branches of good works, you who hold the very root of goodness.

It behooves you therefore to show to me and to all your brethren the beauty of that same charity, first of all in this work: that you hasten to take away the word of pride, through which grave scandal is engendered in the Churches, fulfilling in every way that which is written: Solicitous to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3). And again: To give no occasion to the adversary for the sake of reproach (1 Tim. 5:14). For then charity is shown to be true, if through the swelling of pride there be no schism among us. For I invoke Jesus as witness in my soul, that from the highest to the lowest I wish to give to no man occasion of scandal.

I desire all to be great and honorable, whose honor, however, does not detract from the honor of Almighty God. For whoever desires to be honored against God is not honorable to me. But that you may know what will I bear toward Your Beatitude, I have sent my most beloved son the deacon Anatolius to the feet of our most pious lords, that he may give satisfaction to their piety and to your fraternity; for I seek to harm no one in this cause, but to keep the humility pleasing to God, and the concord of the holy Church.

And because the enemy of Almighty God, the Antichrist, is near at hand, I earnestly desire that he may find nothing of his own, not only in the morals but even in the title of priests. Let those things, therefore, which have been introduced in a novel manner be taken away by the very order in which they were brought in, and unimpaired peace will remain to us in the Lord. For what sweetness will there be between us, what charity, if we cherish one another with the voice and are pierced in deeds? Let Your Holiness therefore do this, that we may feel in the marrow of the heart the good things which you speak, so that while the hearts of priests are in unanimity, praying for the life of our most pious lords, we may deserve to be heard the more swiftly, inasmuch as peace illumines your prayers before the eyes of God, and no stain of discord darkens them.