Digital Continent Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul 2016 | Page 73

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Henry persisted in disobedience by
maintaining his relations with those who were
excommunicated and invested his candidate as
bishop of Milan. Such action provoked the
pope’s final letter to the king, dated the eighth
of December 1075, in which Gregory demanded
obedience to the Apostolic See and scolded
Henry for his behavior. He sent his ambassadors to meet with the king and advise him to change
his policies and reform his life or suffer excommunication himself and sacrifice his claim to the
imperial crown.140 In addition to instructing Henry to put away those who had been
excommunicated until they repented and were absolved, the pope called attention to Henry’s
insincere reverence as well as to scold him for appointments he had invested against the wishes
or without the knowledge of the Holy See. With a heavy heart he defended his position on lay
investiture and explained that it was necessary for salvation and only intolerable to those who put
men above God. All were to obey the prohibition, particularly the king whose superior station
obliged him to lead by example.141 “Nevertheless, in order that these demands may not seem to
you too burdensome or unfair,” the pope expressed a willingness to hear Henry’s representatives
if they were in possession of some alternative way to handle the situation and offered
cooperation in the interest of “saving the honor of the eternal king and without peril to our own
soul, we will condescend to hear their counsel.” 142 In his willingness to work with the king the

140

Carroll, 502-504.

141

Emerton, 87-89.

142

Ibid., 89.