Letters358 Letter CCCLVIII. To pope Celestine (A.D. 1142)
Letter CCCLVIII. To pope Celestine (A.D. 1142)
He implores the assistance and influence of the Pope to obtain peace for Theobald, Count of Champagne. That which Count Theobald asks of you I ask also; he is a son of peace, and we entreat you that it maybe brought about by your assistance. Your Apostolate is one of peace; the position which you hold is a debtor to peace. All love peace, but few merit it. But it cannot be denied that your son is one of those who love peace; whether he merits it likewise it is for you to judge. And if neither he nor I merit it, the necessity of the Spouse of Christ, that is, the Church, requires it; and the friend of the Bridegroom will not distress her. It belongs to the Apostolic See alone to extend its solicitude over all the Churches, that all may be united under it and in it; it is its duty, then, to be careful for all, to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Give us, then, this peace, send peace to us: if not to acquit yourself of an obligation towards us, at least because you ought to obey [the duty imposed upon you]. Enough for a command.
Quod comes Theobaldus rogat, et ego: filius siquidem pacis est. Et zelum pacis habet, sed a vobis flagitamus effectum. Pacis vester apostolatus, pacis locus, quem tenetis, debitor est. Pacem omnes diligunt, pauci merentur. Porro de amatoribus puer vester se esse fatetur: an et de meritoribus sit, vos judicabitis. Unum est, quod etsi nos non meremur, sponsae Christi, quae est Ecclesia, necessitas exigit: amicus Sponsi non contristabit eam. Ad hoc illi uni Sedi apostolicae incumbit sollicitudo omnium Ecclesiarum, ut omnes sub illa, et in illa uniantur; et ipsa pro omnibus sollicita sit servare unitatem Spiritus in vinculo pacis. Pacem ergo date nobis, pacem mittite nobis: etsi non quia debetis, certe quia obedire debetis. Satis pro imperio.