Nevertheless, she too, whether excited by adverse circumstances, or
nourished by prosperous ones, never ceased to aim at the good of her
children, whom she is daily bringing forth to Christ, and, inflamed
by the fire of the Holy Spirit, to promote their advancement, both
privately and publicly. Hence the frequent calling of councils, not
only from the neighboring cities and provinces, but also, in these
days, from regions beyond seas; hence synodal decrees so often
published; hence sacred canons, framed and consecrated by the Holy
Spirit, by which both the Catholic faith is powerfully strengthened,
and the unity of the Church’s peace is inviolably guarded, and its
order is decently regulated: which canons, as it is unlawful for any
Christian to transgress, so it is altogether wicked, in clerk and
priest especially, to be ignorant of them; the wholesome observance and
the religious handing down of which are things ever to be embraced.
Seeing that, for the reasons above stated, all these matters have
either not been fully made known to your nation, or have now for the
most part failed, it hath appeared fit and proper to your Majesty and
to your royal wisdom, by a most excellent counsel--inspired, as we
believe, from above--both to consult us, insignificant as we are, on
this matter, and to repair to the see of St. Remigius, by whose virtues
and doctrine the same see or church hath always flourished and excelled
all the churches of Gaul since his time in all piety and doctrine.
And since you are unwilling to appear before us, when you present these
your requests, without a gift and empty-handed, your Majesty hath
deigned to honor us with a present that is both very necessary for the
time and well suited to the matter in hand; concerning which we have
both praised heavenly Providence with admiration, and have returned
no slender thanks to your royal munificence. For you have sent unto
us a present of dogs, which, of good and excellent breed, are yet
only in the body and mortal; and this you do that they may drive away
the fury of visible wolves, with which, among other scourges, wielded
against us by the righteous judgment of God, our country abounds; and
you ask us, in return, that we should send to you certain watch-dogs,
not corporeal, that is to say, not such as those with whom the prophet
finds fault, saying, ‘Dumb dogs, not able to bark’ (Isa. 56. 10), but
such as the Psalmist speaks of, ‘That the tongue of thy dogs may be
red through the same’ (Ps. 68. 23), who know how and are qualified to
make loud barkings for their Lord, and constantly to guard His flock
with most wakeful and most careful watchings, and to drive away to a
distance those most cruel wolves of unclean spirits who lie in wait to
devour souls.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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