教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 780 章

Gregory to Firminus, bishop of Istria. Him whom our Redeemer does not suffer to perish out of the number of His servants, He so illumines his heart by the inspiration of His mercy, that, the darkness of error being forsaken, he returns to the knowledge of the light and to the way of truth. Wherefore, having received the letter of your dearest Fraternity, we rejoice with great exultation in the Lord that divine grace has recalled you to the unity of the Church, from which you had been separated by the instigation of obstinate and unlearned men.

But because the more the ancient enemy beholds himself overcome, the more he ceases not to lie in wait the more fiercely, it altogether behoves you to be solicitous and vigilant, and to prepare the shield of constancy against his darts, that being struck upon it they may be broken and have no force to penetrate within. Let no desires of things, then, dearest brother, no terrors, no blandishments, no seductions—which wound souls with the poisoned arrows of words—soften you from the fervour of your return, or compel you to go back; lest, having valiantly overcome, you be grievously overcome, and—which God forbid—be held captive after your victory.

But rather, that Mother Church, spread throughout the whole world by God's favour, may recognize that you have returned to her bosom not slothful, you must most studiously watch and labour, that with you you may be able to recall others also; so that the losses which you had caused by the example of your turning away you may not only repair by the good of your return, but may even show a gain, so that both for meriting pardon of things past and for laying hold of the rewards of things to come, you may seem to your Lord to have recalled more than you had carried off. To us, therefore, it shall be altogether a care to think, as is fitting, upon the peace of your Fraternity; for after you are now, God protecting, one with us, we regard your interests no otherwise than our own.

But John the subdeacon has written to us some things concerning your necessities; yet we trust, of the power of our God, that Saint Peter, to whom you have returned, does not forsake you. Now, moreover, from the blessing of that same Saint Peter we have sent to your Fraternity one vestment, which you must needs receive with that charity with which it has been sent by us. In the month of May, indiction 5.