Epistle XCIII.
To Gulfaris, Magister Militum
58
.
Gregory to Gulfaris, &c.
The bearers of these presents, who come
to us from the Istrian parts, have reported
such good things of your Glory as to inflame us ardently to return you
thanks. For we learn that, among the cares of the government of
those parts which has been committed to you, you are especially anxious
to win souls, and that you so take pains to recall the hearts of
wanderers to the unity of the Church that, as far as your desire goes,
you would have no one there separated from the Apostolic Church; and
that so great love of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, inflames you
that you long with all your heart to restore the sheepfold of him to
whom the keys were delivered by the Lord the Creator of all.
Have, glorious son, from such and so great a work, a confident
anticipation of divine retribution, wherein not only our admonition but
also the words of the apostle confirm thee, since he who shall have
caused a sinner to be converted from the error of his way shall save
his soul from death, and cover a multitude of sins (
James v
.). For, however great be temporal
affluence, or at any rate prosperity, it has its end,—the limit
of death. But this pursuit of winning souls, which you have taken
up, retains the certainty of its hope fixed; to wit, the retribution of
eternal life. Wherefore, greeting you with fatherly affection, we
exhort your Glory that you the more earnestly give effect to the zeal
for the unity of our holy faith which the Author of unity Himself has
given you; and that, recalling whomsoever you can from the error of
their schism into the bosom of Mother Church, you cherish them with
continual admonition. And accomplish this also,—so to
protect with the succour of your defence those whom the Lord through
you may grant to be restored to His fold that there may be no quarter
to which those who are still in error may be able to resort for the
accusation of such as return to sound counsels. For, while you
uphold the cause of God on earth, He Himself will prosperously direct
your actions here with the aid of His protection, and there will remain
for you, in the eternal life which you long for, retribution for your
so great well-doing.
58
As to Gregory’s
renewed efforts, now with better hope after the accession of Callinicus
as Exarch of Italy to recover the Istrian schismatics in the matter of
“the Three Chapters,” see above, IX. 9, 10. Gulfaris,
addressed in this epistle, was in military command in Istria, and
appears to have exerted himself to further the aims of Gregory, who
ever gladly availed himself of the aid of the secular arm. Other
letters on the same subject follow.