A.D. 1185. THE LETTER OF POPE URBAN. 53 father Lucius, Divine Providence has preserved her in the unity of the spirit and in the bond of peace, so that after the sorrow of the evening joy came in the morning, and she, like a most beauteous dove, rejoicing amid her sighs, retained her beauty without a ruffle even or a spot upon her whiteness. Now, after the decease of the father of pious memory, our predecessor Lucius, our lord the pope, when his most venerable body had been honorably entombed, there was held by the brethren a conference as to the election of a successor, at which there was such unity among all, and such concord of each with the other, that He may be supposed to have wrought upon them, in whose hands are the hearts of all men, and through whom the diversity of minds is reconciled. But, while in the church of God, there were many venerable and prudent men, of whom it is our belief that their votes might have more prudently and more worthily have made choice, inefficient as we are, they turned their eyes upon us ; and it was done accordingly as it pleased the Lord, in that they made choice of us as their father and shepherd, who have neither strength nor merits to suffice to the elevation of a dignity so great. However, although we were fully conscious to ourselves of our own infirmities, so as to believe that we might, not without good reason, have offered resistance to their proposals ; still, to the end that through delay in the transaction or pertinacity in making resistance, no danger might ensue to the Church, although unwillingly, we consented to undertake the labour of the burden entrusted to us ; hoping that our steps would be guided by Him who bestowed on Saint Peter, when sailing on the waves, faith even to that degree that he went down into the sea, and went forth to meet Him in the midst thereof, that doubting he might not perish. Now therefore, being placed in such a position and office, as to require to be aided therein hy the suffrages of all the faithful, to you do we resort, as especial sons of the Boman Church, with full confidence and security, and, prefacing with the salutation of the Apostolic benediction, we do by these familiar letters admonish you, and do earnestly request and exhort you in the Lord, that, attending the death of our before-named father and lord Lucius, with the devout suffrages of your prayers, you will especially pay to ourselves that fidelity and duty which is owed to us, in virtue of your respect for Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles and the Apostolic See, by all of you in common, that by so doing, you may be enabled both to obtain your