To Maximus, Bishop of Salona, on the Slavs and the Defense of the Poor

Gregory to Maximus, and so on. [a] When our common son the presbyter Veteranus came to the city of Rome, he found me so weak from the pains of gout that I was quite unable to answer your fraternity’s letters myself. And indeed I am deeply afflicted and disturbed about the nation of the Slavs, from whom you are in great danger. I am afflicted, because I already suffer in your suffering; I am disturbed, because they have already begun to enter Italy by way of Istria. Further, what shall I say of Julianus the scribo, when I see everywhere how our sins find us out, so that we are troubled by the nations from without and by judges from within? But do not be saddened at all by such things, since those who live after us will see worse times, so much so that they will think we had happy days compared with their own. [b]

But as far as your fraternity has the power, you ought to stand up for the poor and for the oppressed. And even if you should be unable to do any good, the very devotion of your heart, which Almighty God has given you, is enough for him. For it is written, “Rescue those who are being dragged to death, and do not hold back from delivering those who are ready to be slain.” But if you should say, “My powers are not enough,” he who sees into the heart understands. In all that you do, then, desire to have him who sees into the heart pleased with you. And whatever there is by which he may be pleased, do not fail to do it. For human terrors and favors are like smoke, which is caught up by a light breeze and vanishes. Know this most surely: no one can please both God and bad men. So let your fraternity count yourself to have pleased Almighty God in the same degree as you know yourself to have displeased perverse men. Yet let your very defense of the poor be moderate and grave, so that, if anything is done too harshly, people may not think you are moved by the pride of youth. Our defense of the poor must be of such a kind that the humble feel protected, and their oppressors cannot easily find anything that their ill will could blame. Attend, then, to what is said to Ezekiel: “Son of man, unbelievers and destroyers are with you, and you live among scorpions.” And the blessed Job says, “I have been a brother of dragons and a companion of owls.” And Paul says to his disciples, “In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” So we ought to walk all the more carefully, since we know that we are living among the enemies of God.

Further, with regard to the Photinians, let your fraternity give the closest attention, and, as you have begun, work at how to call them back to the bosom of holy church. But if any of them wish to come to me and receive an explanation, let them first take an oath that they will not allow their followers to persist in their error once the explanation has been received. Then let your holiness promise them that they will suffer no wrong from me, but that I will give them an explanation. If they acknowledge the truth, let them accept it; if they do not acknowledge it, I will send them away unharmed. But if any of them wish to come to us against you, let your fraternity by no means hold them back; for when they come, they will either accept an explanation, or they will certainly never see that land again.