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14 Jul 2016

We Do Not Wish The Death Of Sinners

Adjectum est etiam, quosdam Christianos ad apostasiam, quod dici nefas est, transeuntes, et idolorum cultu ac sacrificiorum contaminatione profanatos, quos a Christi corpore et sanguine, quo dudum redempti fuerant renascendo, jubemus abscindi. Et si resipiscentes forte aliquando fuerint ad lamenta conversi, his, quandiu vivunt agenda poenitentia est, et in ultimo fine suo reconciliationis gratia tribuenda, quia, docente Domino, nolumus mortem peccatoris, sed tantum ut convertatur, et vivat.

Papa Siricius, Epistola Himerio Episcopo Tarraconensi, Epistola Decretalis
It was also added that certain Christians, having passed over into apostasy, which is wicked just to say, are profaned by the worship of idols and the pollution of sacrifices, and these from the body and blood of Christ, by which formerly they were redeemed in new birth, we order  cut off. And if recognising their error at some point perhaps they turn to lament, they should then do penance as long as they live, and in their final moment the grace of reconciliation should be given, because, as the Lord teaches, we do not wish the death of a sinner, only that he be converted and live.

Pope Siricius, Letter to Himerius Bishop of Tarraconensis, The Decretal


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