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The great emperor also wrote an account of the transactions of the
council to those bishops who were unable to attend. And I consider it
worth while to insert this epistle in my work, as it clearly evidences
the piety of the writer.
"CONSTANTINUS AUGUSTUS to the Churches.
"Viewing the common public prosperity enjoyed at this moment, as the
result of the great power of divine grace, I am desirous above all
things that the blessed members of the Catholic Church should be
preserved in one faith, in sincere love, and in one form of religion,
towards Almighty God. But, since no firmer or more effective
measure could be adopted to secure this end, than that of submitting
everything relating to our most holy religion to the examination of
all, or most of all, the bishops, I convened as many of them as
possible, and took my seat among them as one of yourselves; for I
would not deny that truth which is the source of my greatest joy,
namely, that I am your fellow-servant. Every point obtained its due
investigation, until the doctrine pleasing to the all-seeing God,
and conducive to unity, was made clear, so that no room should remain
for division or controversy concerning the faith.
"The commemoration of the most sacred paschal feast being then
debated, it was unanimously decided, that it would be well that it
should be everywhere celebrated upon the same day. What can be more
fair, or more seemly, than that that festival by which we have
received the hope of immortality should be carefully celebrated by all,
on plain grounds, with the same order and exactitude? It was, in the
first place, declared improper to follow the custom of the Jews in the
celebration of this holy festival, because, their hands having been
stained with crime, the minds of these wretched men are necessarily
blinded. By rejecting their custom, we establish and hand down to
succeeding ages one which is more reasonable, and which has been
observed ever since the day of our Lord's sufferings. Let us,
then, have nothing in common with the Jews, who are our adversaries.
For we have received from our Saviour another way. A better and more
lawful line of conduct is inculcated by our holy religion, Let us with
one accord walk therein, my much-honoured brethren, studiously
avoiding all contact with that evil way. They boast that without their
instructions we should be unable to commemorate the festival properly.
This is the highest pitch of absurdity. For how can they entertain
right views on any point who, after having compassed the death of the
Lord, being out of their minds, are guided not by sound reason, but
by an unrestrained passion, wherever their innate madness carries
them. Hence it follows that they have so far lost sight of truth,
wandering as far as possible from the correct revisal, that they
celebrate a second Passover in the same year. What motive can we have
for following those who are thus confessedly unsound and in dire error?
For we could never tolerate celebrating the Passover twice in one
year. But even if all these facts did not exist, your own sagacity
would prompt you to watch with diligence and with prayer, lest your
pure minds should appear to share in the customs of a people so utterly
depraved. It must also be borne in mind, that upon so important a
point as the celebration of a feast of such sanctity, discord is
wrong. One day has our Saviour set apart for a commemoration of our
deliverance, namely, of His most holy Passion. One hath He wished
His Catholic Church to be, whereof the members, though dispersed
throughout the most various parts of the world, are yet nourished by
one spirit, that is, by the divine will. Let your pious sagacity
reflect how evil and improper it is, that days devoted by some to
fasting, should be spent by others in convivial feasting; and that
after the paschal feast, some are rejoicing in festivals and
relaxations, while others give themselves up to the appointed fasts.
That this impropriety should be rectified, and that all these
diversities of commemoration should be resolved into one form, is the
will of divine Providence, as I am convinced you will all perceive.
Therefore, this irregularity must be corrected, in order that we may
no more have any thing in common with those parricides and the murderers
of our Lord. An orderly and excellent form of commemoration is
observed in all the churches of the western, of the southern, and of
the northern parts of the world, and by some of the eastern; this form
being universally commended, I engaged that you would be ready to
adopt it likewise, and thus gladly accept the rule unanimously adopted
in the city of Rome, throughout Italy, in all Africa, in Egypt,
the Spains, the Gauls, the Britains, Libya, Greece, in the
dioceses of Asia, and of Pontus, and in Cilicia, taking into your
consideration not only that the churches of the places above-mentioned
are greater in point of number, but also that it is most pious that all
should unanimously agree in that course which accurate reasoning seems
to demand, and which has no single point in common with the perjury of
the Jews.
"Briefly to summarize the whole of the preceding, the judgment of all
is, that the holy Paschal feast should be held on one and the same
day; for, in so holy a matter, it is not becoming that any difference
of custom should exist, and it is better to follow the opinion which
has not the least association with error and sin. This being the
case, receive with gladness the heavenly gift and the plainly divine
command; for all that is transacted in the holy councils of the bishops
is to be referred to the Divine will. Therefore, when you have made
known to all our beloved brethren the subject of this epistle, regard
yourselves bound to accept what has gone before, and to arrange for the
regular observance of this holy day, so that when, according to my
long-cherished desire, I shall see you face to face, I may be able
to celebrate with you this holy festival upon one and the same day; and
may rejoice with you all in witnessing the cruelty of the devil
destroyed by our efforts, through Divine grace, while our faith and
peace and concord flourish throughout the world. May God preserve
you, beloved brethren."
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