Letter 9161: My representatives have given me a very favorable account of your efforts in bringing schismatics back to the unity...

From the report of our envoys [responsales] we have learned that, for love of the unity of the Church, so great an ardor of divine zeal has kindled you that you do not cease to call back to the bosom of mother Church whomsoever you have been able, and that, like a good and faithful servant, you do not desist from daily making a profit from the gift you have received, for our Lord and Redeemer, with the utmost intentness of mind. And indeed, when you came to us, we came to know you, as far as we could, by the outward appearance of your bodily countenance; but the good that, by divine inspiration, remained hidden in the charity of your mind we now recognize more desirably by the witness of your work. Therefore, rendering thanks to the divine mercy with unspeakable praise, we exhort your beloved self and, with such admonitions as we are able, we strengthen you, so that, just as the punishment of the one who hides disturbs you with the thought of concealing the talent received, so the invitation of the Lord's voice may strengthen you to seek desirably the gain of those who make a profit and who, through this, rejoice in the attainment of the heavenly kingdom. For you ought to know, most beloved son, that the fruit of this zeal which you have taken up will not lack the end of its own reward. And therefore no opposition of those who hinder you, or if there be any, ought to disturb you, because, as much as you shall have availed to accomplish the good out of the difficulty of the matter, with the Lord working together with you, so much the more glorious will be your hope of reward for you. For the more exalted is the victory that is born of desperation, whatever has been won by the sweat of exceeding labor. We have also learned that Theodosius, our son, your follower and good fellow worker, watches diligently together with you alike in the same zeal, in the care of winning souls. For him we trust that almighty God will be the more speedy rewarder, through the intercession of blessed Peter, chief of the apostles.

liesponsalium nostrorum relatione compcrimus, quod pro amore unitatis ccclesiae tantus voB divini zcli ardor accc'nderit, ut, quoscumque valucritis, non desinatis in Binum matris ccclesiae revocare atquc ut bonus fidelisque famulus lucnim cotidic de accvpto dono tuo domino redemptori nostro cum* summa mentis intcntione facere non desistasV £t quidem venientem ad nos, ut potuimus, ex corporalis visuB oHteusione didicimus, bonum vero, quod ex divina inspiratione in mentis tuac caritatc manebat occultum, desidcrabilius nunc operis attcstatione ^* cognoscimus. Unde" divinae misericordiae gratiaB inelfabili laude redderites hortamur dilectionem tuam atque quibus valeraus am- monitionibus confortamua, ut quantum de accepti talcnti occultatione'' occultantis pocna pcrturbat, tantum lucrum facientium atquc pcr hoc dc caeleatis regni pcrccptione laetantium doroinicac vocis invitatio te desidcrabilitcr appetenda corroborct, Scire < namquo tc convenit, dilectissimc fili, quod fruetus huius qucm apprehcndisti studii ro- tributionis suae careat fine. Et idcirco pracpedicDtium te nulla, vcl si cst, debct contrarietas pcrturbarc, quia, quantura ex difficultate causae bonum perBci Domino co- opcrante valuerit, tanto tibi erit et gloriosior" rctributionis spcs. Extollcntior' □amquc nascitur ex dcBperationc victoria, quaecumque laboris nimii fuerit adcpta sudoribus. TiilueritU Ct.3; pirtueritii Vatk. A (ed. M). ') «cismsticiB C2.3. >") aduralioiiB C7; Hdurstiunem C3; abortatiuue C2, *ed cott. m. 2; amore rel nni. coiii. i/omnweii. ") coutiuua C'2. ") buos C/. '') amplLun hMailare Vat.A (ed.M). ■») disp. ope C3. ') hoc verb. om., led m. 2 add. C2. •) exiBlel, tU videtur, Cl, IX, lei. •) om. verba cui I edd.; ut de eodd. n. ^) ita mc in excflUentioT eorr. C2. IX, 161. Moitalo aHas igitoli JUg. Grio. 11. -. m HltMt. Cl.2. «) ila H mCt: gtorioBius C2; glorioKi C luK «ri,- noWia quidam in Uigtria fiiit iM adetar. - Cf. ep. IX, 148 ,GoogIe 162 GBEGORII I. EEGISTRI CogDOTimue etiara, quods TheodoBius'' filius noatcr tui' sequax boDlquc cooperator^ etudii pariter tccum in sollicitudine lucrandarum animarum eoUerter invigilet. Cui omDipotentem Deum interceseione bcati Petri apoatolurum priucipie retributorem citiue eese confidimue.