Beloved, the divine condescension has made this present day an honor to me: for in raising my lowliness to the highest rank, it showed that it despises none of its own. Therefore, although it is necessary to tremble for my own merit, it is yet a holy thing to rejoice in the gift; for he who is the author of my burden is himself the helper of my administration, and lest the weak man should sink beneath the greatness of grace, he who bestowed the dignity will give the strength. Therefore, as the day returns in its own course on which the Lord willed that I should take up the beginning of the episcopal office, I have true cause of rejoicing unto the glory of God, who, that I might love him much, forgave me much;
and that he might make his grace wondrous, he bestowed his gifts upon one in whom he found no supporting merits. By this his work the Lord, who instills into our hearts, what does he impress upon us or commend, save that no one should presume upon his own righteousness, and no one should despair of his mercy—which then shines forth the more clearly when the sinner is sanctified and the abject is lifted up? For the measure of heavenly gifts does not depend upon the quality of our works; nor in this present age, in which the whole of life is a temptation (Job 7:1), is it rendered to each according to what he deserves: for if the Lord were to mark iniquities, no one could endure his judgment. Magnify, therefore, beloved, the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together (Ps.
33:3), that the whole purpose of today's solemnity may be referred to the praise of its Author. For as to what properly pertains to the affection of my own soul, I confess that I rejoice greatly in the devotion of you all. And when I behold this most splendid throng of my venerable fellow-priests, I perceive an angelic assembly to be present among us in so many holy ones. Nor do I doubt that we are today visited by a more abundant grace of the divine presence, when there are present together, and shine with one light, so many most beauteous tabernacles of God, so many most excellent members of the body of Christ. Nor is absent, as I am confident, from this assembly the holy condescension and faithful love of the most blessed apostle Peter; nor has he forsaken your devotion, whose reverence has gathered you together.
He too, therefore, rejoices in your affection, and in the partners of his honor he embraces the observance of the Lord's institution, approving that most well-ordered charity of the whole Church which receives Peter in the see of Peter, and does not grow cold from love for so great a shepherd even in the person of so unequal an heir. That this piety, beloved, which you unanimously display toward my lowliness, may attain the fruit of its zeal, beseech as suppliants the most merciful clemency of our God, that in our days he would overthrow those who assail us, fortify our faith, increase love, increase peace, and that he would make me, his little servant, whom for the displaying of the riches
of his grace willed to preside over the helm of the Church—worthy of so great a work, and useful to your edification, and that he would extend the times of our service to this end, that what shall have been bestowed upon length of days may profit devotion; through Christ our Lord. Amen.