教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 611 章

If in worldly affairs each one's right and proper order must be preserved, how much more in ecclesiastical arrangements ought no confusion to be introduced, lest discord find place there, whence the good things of peace ought to proceed? And this will be preserved by this principle, if nothing is granted to power, but all to equity. For it has been brought to us that our most beloved brother Ursicinus, bishop of the city of Turin, after the captivity and pillaging which he grievously endured, has suffered prejudice in his parishes which are said to be situated within the borders of the Franks; namely, that another was there set up as prelate against ecclesiastical statutes, no crime of his demanding it.

And lest perhaps the prejudicial deed of this matter should seem light, something even of grief was added, that the goods of his Church which he was able to have were taken from him. And if these things stand in truth — since it is exceedingly cruel and openly hostile to the sacred canons that ambition should remove an innocent priest from his own altar, who deserves no successor from any crime — let all in his case consider their own cause in this prejudice, and let them take care lest what they do not wish to endure be imposed upon others. For if the entrance to an evil deed is not closed before it long lies open, by usage it grows wider; and that will become licit by custom which is established to be prohibited by reason.

But above all others let the solicitude of your fraternity, for the sake of our commendation and out of regard for the divine reckoning, exert itself the more strenuously in his defence, and not permit him to be any longer removed against reason from his parishes. But both by yourself and by supplicating the most excellent kings — whom we believe you in no way to sadden — bring it about that both what has been ill done may be corrected, and that what has been violently taken away may, truth being its advocate, be restored; for since it is written, A brother that helps a brother shall be exalted (Prov. 18:19), your charity should know that it will receive so much from Almighty God, as it shall have willingly and constantly carried out His precepts in helping a brother.