A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

744 A Source Book for Ancient Church HistoryNotification of the Election of a Pontiff to the Exarch ofRavenna.[681]The text may be found in part in Mirbt, loc. cit.To the most excellent and exalted lord, graciously to be preservedto us for a long life in his princely office (name), exarch of Italy,the priests, deacons, and all the clergy of Rome, the magistrates,the army, and the people of this city of Rome as suppliants sendgreeting.Providence is able to give aid in human affairs and to changethe weeping and groaning of the sorrowing into rejoicing.…Inasmuch as (name), of pontifical memory, has been calledfrom present cares to eternal rest, as is the lot of mortals, a greatload of sorrow oppressed us, for as guardians we were deprivedof our own guardian. But the accustomed kindness of our God didnot permit us to remain long in this affliction because we hopedin Him. For after we had humbly spent three days in prayerthat the heavenly kindness might, for the merits of all, makeknown whom as worthy it commanded to be elected to succeedto the apostolic office, with the aid of His grace which inspiredthe minds of all; and after we had assembled as is customary,that is, the clergy and the people of Rome with the presence ofthe nobility and the army, from the least to the greatest, so tospeak; and the election, with the help of God and the aid of theholy Apostles, fell upon the person of (name), the most holyarchdeacon of this holy Apostolic See of the Roman Church.The good and chaste life of this man, beloved of God, was inthe opinion of all so deserving that none opposed his election,no one was absent, and none dissented from it. For why shouldnot men agree unanimously upon him whom the incomparableand unfailing providence of our God had foreordained to thisoffice? For without doubt this had been determined upon in thepresence of God. So solemnly performing his decrees and confirmingwith our signatures the desires of hearts concerning his