Letters329 Letter CCCXXIX. To the bishop of Limoges (Circa A.D. 1140)
Letter CCCXXIX. To the bishop of Limoges (Circa A.D. 1140)
Against the same person, who had been elected to the See of Rodez.
The words which I shall speak to you, I speak not in my own behalf, nor in them do I seek any advantage of my own. The life of man is very short: as long as you are Bishop of Limoges, strive to do honour to your office, by letting us see your good works. I have the consolation of knowing that you have been entrusted by his lordship, the Pope, with the matter of the election of the Bishop of Cahors with full power to decide it canonically without appeal. See, then, what an opportunity you have in this to manifest to the Church how wise a course has been taken by the Pontiff; an opportunity that will be realized if only there is in you the fear of God, a love of justice, and a strict adherence to the canons. As to the Church of Rodez, there is a question debated—whether that church shall receive a true pastor, a Bishop of souls, a successor to Christ, one, I say, who shall raise up offspring to his brother deceased. Who shall be regarded as lit for this? Shall it be one whom his life has defiled, whom his own conscience accuses, whose reputation is a scandal?—a man who has sunk from abbey to abbey, or rather from one depth to another, and who has not scrupled to violate the virgins to whom he had himself given the veil? Would that be taking heed of the precept of the Apostle, A bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God (Tit. i. 7). Do not, then, act in contradiction with yourself, saying one thing and doing another, but let your actions respond constantly to your words, so that the words may not be applied to you, Their own tongues shall be turned against them (Ps. Ixiv. 8). See, the matter is in your hand. But keep your 1 A new Letter; the former No. 329, is now No. 318.
own soul free from stains, nor make yourself liable for the offences of another. With you it will rest to uphold or to annul his election; but in taking the latter course you will make your hands holy to the Lord.
Verba quae ego loquor vobis, non pro me ipso loquor, nec in eis quaero quae mea sunt. Vobis loquor pro vobis. Breves dies hominis sunt. Quandiu estis episcopus Lemovicensis, ministerium vestrum honorificate, ut videamus opera vestra bona. Causam Catinensis electi, a domino Papa vobis commissam, et remota omni appellatione canonico fine terminandam a vobis audientes, facti sumus sicut consolati. Ecce enim prae manibus est tempus, et negotium, in quibus Ecclesia Dei perspiciet utrum sit rationale in pectore pontificis. Jam non erit otiosus, si tamen in vobis est, timor Dei, vigor canonum, amor justitiae. In Ecclesia Rutinensi agitur de pastore, et episcopo animarum, et successore Christi, de illo, inquam, qui suscitet semen fratris defuncti. Et ad haec quis tam idoneus? Numquid ille, quem vita inquinavit, quem conscientia accusavit, quem fama publicavit? numquid ille, qui de abbatia in abbatiam, vel potius de abysso in abyssum descendit, ut idem sit violator virginum, et consecrator? Et ubi erit jam illud, quod dictum est ab Apostolo: Oportet episcopum sine crimine esse, tanquam dispensatorem Dei? (Tit. I, 7) Noli ergo stare contra te ipsum, aliud dicens, et aliud agens: sed opera tua verbis tuis respondeant idem de eodem; ne illud tibi aptari possit, quod de quibusdam dictum est: Infirmatae sunt contra eos linguae eorum. Ecce in manu tua est. Verumtamen animam tuam custodi, neque communicaveris peccatis alienis. Per te stabit, aut per te corruet: sed si per te corruerit, manus tuas consecrabis Domino.