Dionysius Writes to Novatian

That is what Dionysius says. But let us see what the same man wrote to Novatian, who was then troubling the brotherhood at Rome. Since Novatian gave some of the brothers as his excuse for his apostasy and schism, as though he had been forced by them to come to this, see how Dionysius writes to him: [a]

“Dionysius to Novatian his brother, greeting. If you were led on against your will, as you say, you will show it by withdrawing of your own will. For one ought to suffer anything at all rather than cut the Church of God in pieces. Martyrdom to avoid splitting the Church would be no less glorious than martyrdom to avoid worshiping idols; in my view it is even greater. In the one case a person bears witness for one soul, his own; in the other, for the whole Church. Even now, if you persuade or compel the brothers to come to harmony, your good deed will be greater than your error: the one will not be counted, and the other will be praised. But if you cannot prevail with those who will not obey, then save, by all means save, your own soul. I pray that you may be well, holding fast to peace in the Lord.” [c]