De responsalibus iterum ad dominum papam directis per ipsum regem sanctum.
The King's Burning Longing
Moved by the example of the ancients, Edward longs to see the monastery restored and strengthened, and seeks apostolic confirmation to secure its future.
When blessed Edward had learned of these things from the accounts and writings of the ancients, his heart burned within him, and the fire blazed up in his longing to see the monastery mentioned before raised higher still in its buildings and adornments, its honors and even its possessions. So that these things might remain firm, whole, and undiminished in times to come, he believed everything should be strengthened by apostolic authority.
Humility Amid Honor
Despite daily miracles and public peace, Edward remains steadfast in humility, and the beatitude of the God-fearing man is proclaimed over his household.
Besides this, among the frequent miracles by which he was celebrated each day, amid the joys of the peace he enjoyed, he stood firm on the strongest rock of humility, always watchful, always wary of his own frailty. Blessed indeed is the man who always fears the Lord and earnestly desires to live by his commandments. Therefore there are glory and riches in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.
A Second Embassy to Rome
Released from his former vow, Edward again sends envoys to the apostolic see, both to seek a new burden for himself and to address matters in the English church, including the appointment of bishops.
Now, having been released from his vow by apostolic authority, he was still concerned about it, and once again he prepared to send envoys to the thresholds of the apostles, to consult the apostolic see again, and to ask that this same thing — or something else — be laid upon him in fulfillment of his vow. Other matters had also arisen in the English church, and this see had chiefly to be consulted about them, concerning which it had been said: 'The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.'✦ So the holy king, caring for everything and willing that all things be done according to the rule of Catholic truth, desiring to benefit everyone as well — so that he himself might be made more secure in what was his own, and apostolic teaching might be offered for the salvation of others — two men were sent, elected to the episcopate, with Aeldred, archbishop of York: Guy, namely, to the church of Wells, and Walderus to the church of Hereford.
Joyful Return with the Pope's Approval
The envoys present the king's letters at a Roman council, receive the unanimous support of the supreme pontiff and sacred assembly, and return home with great joy.
In the presence of the very archbishop they had come with—the one who had received the gift of consecration from the lord pope—they took their places with honor alongside the other fathers at the council, which we believe had then gathered at the Lateran palace by God's guidance. Then, at an opportune moment, when they had brought the king's letters forward into their midst, they added the other matters they'd been instructed to raise. The unanimous and well-reasoned judgment of the supreme pontiff, and of the whole sacred assembly, supports the vows of the royal saint. And when the letter of the holy father had been received—having suffered no adversity at all throughout that entire journey—they were returned to the king and the fatherland with the greatest joy.
Read the original Latin
Haec cum beatus Edwardus relatione ac scriptis veterum didicisset, concaluit cor ejus intra eum; et ad praefatum monasterium aedificiis et ornamentis, dignitatibus etiam ac possessionibus altius extollendum in meditatione ejus exarsit ignis. Quae ut futuris temporibus firma et integra illibataque durarent, apostolica auctoritate omnia credidit confirmanda. Praeterea inter crebra miracula quibus quotidie illustrabatur, inter pacis gaudia quibus fruebatur, in humilitatis solidissima petra consistens, semper pavidus, semper suam erat fragilitatem suspectus. Beatus profecto vir qui semper metuit Dominum, et in mandatis ejus voluit nimis. Ideo gloria et divitiae in domo ejus, et justitia ejus manet in aeternum. Jam a voto apostolica auctoritate absolutus, et adhuc tamen de ipso sollicitus, iterato ad apostolorum limina legatos parat dirigere, iterato apostolicam majestatem consulere, iterato id ipsum vel aliud quid in voti recompensatione sibi poscit injungi. Emerserant et aliae causae in Anglorum ecclesia, de quibus ea sedes praecipue fuerat consulenda, de qua specialiter dictum est: Quia portae inferi non praevalebunt adversus eam. Itaque rex sanctus de omnibus curam gerens, omnia secundum catholicae veritatis regulam fieri volens omnibus etiam prodesse desiderans, ut ipse de suis securior efficeretur, et aliis ad salutem doctrina apostolica praeberetur, cum Aeldredo Eboracensi archiepiscopo duo mittuntur in pontificatum electi, Guiso scilicet ad ecclesiam Wellensem Walderus vero ad Herefordensem.
Qui praesente eo cum quo venerant archiepiscopo, a domino papa munere consecrationis suscepto, in concilio quod in Lateranensi palatio, Dei, ut credimus, tunc nutu, forte convenerat, cum caeteris patribus honorifice consederunt. Deinde tempore opportuno cum litteras regis in medium protulissent, caetera quae eis fuerant imperata adjiciunt. Favet votis regiae sanctitatis summi pontificis totiusque sacri conventus unanimis rationabilisque sententia. Acceptaque sancti patris epistola, nihil omnino adversi toto illo itinere passi cum summo tripudio regi patriaeque redduntur.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.16.18 — And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Aelred of Rievaulx, Vita Sancti Edwardi Regis et Confessoris companion
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