Letter 2,42 - to John, bishop. July 592
"Now that our impious enemies have brought desolation to the churches of various cities, because of their sins, in such a way that no hope remains of repairing them, with shrinking populations, we are constrained by a far greater concern, in case, with the death of their bishops, the people left there are ruled by no pastoral guidance, and are dragged away through a lack of faith, trapped (Heaven forbid!) by our cunning enemy.
And so, often warned by our concern over this matter, we are resolved in our heart to entrust their government to neighboring bishops. And for that reason we have seen to it that the care and government of the church of the Three Taverns should be entrusted to your Fraternity. It must be attached to your church and united with it, so that with Christ's help you van rightly serve as bishop of both churches.
Our present permission will give you, indeed, as its own bishop, a free license to settle whatever you decide concerning its patrimony and the ordination or promotion of clergy, with vigilant care and according to canon law."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 221.
Thursday 27 January 2011
Tuesday 25 January 2011
High Standards
Letter 2,41 - to Archbishop Januarius. August 592
"If we considered the priestly office administered by us with integrity of mind, the agreement of undivided love ought to so unite us with our sons, that as we are approved of affectionately as fathers in our name, so we are in our deeds.
Therefore, while we ought to be the sort of men as stated, we wonder why such a great mass of complaints has arisen against your Fraternity.
We in fact have hesitated to believe them so far. But so that we are able to find out the truth, we have sent John there, a notary of our see, supported by our recommendation, to force the parties to attend a court of chosen men, and to bring into effect whatever the court decides in its procedure.
For that reason we encourage your Fraternity with the present letter that you should examine the merits of the cases by yourself, beforehand. And if you find that you have taken something unjustly, or still have it, restore it before the trail, contemplating your priesthood."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 220.
"If we considered the priestly office administered by us with integrity of mind, the agreement of undivided love ought to so unite us with our sons, that as we are approved of affectionately as fathers in our name, so we are in our deeds.
Therefore, while we ought to be the sort of men as stated, we wonder why such a great mass of complaints has arisen against your Fraternity.
We in fact have hesitated to believe them so far. But so that we are able to find out the truth, we have sent John there, a notary of our see, supported by our recommendation, to force the parties to attend a court of chosen men, and to bring into effect whatever the court decides in its procedure.
For that reason we encourage your Fraternity with the present letter that you should examine the merits of the cases by yourself, beforehand. And if you find that you have taken something unjustly, or still have it, restore it before the trail, contemplating your priesthood."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 220.
Monday 24 January 2011
Our Union Of Love
Letter 2,40 - to Dominic, bishop of Carthage. 23 July 592
"Indeed it is necessary firstly for the bishop to live as an example for the rest, and secondly he must take care not to show pride through extensive examples. Let him always think about the ministry of preaching, considering with the most intense fear what the nobleman said when about to go away to receive a kingdom, as he gave talents to his servants, 'Invest this until I get back.' We certainly invest in this business then, if we profit the souls of our neighbors by the way we live and speak, if we give strength to the infirm with divine love, by preaching the joys of the heavenly kingdom, if we turn aside the impudent and pompous with the terrifying sound of hell's punishments, if we spare no one the truth, if given up to heavenly friendships we are not afraid of human enmities.
Of course it was in showing this that the psalmist knew that he had offered some sort of sacrifice to God, when he said: 'Do I not hate Lord, those who hate you? Those who rise against you, do I not loathe?/ With a deadly hatred I hate them, they are my enemies.'
But at this I am afraid of the weight of my own infirmity, and I see that the head of our family may return after accepting his kingdom, to settle his account with us. But with what thoughts do I endure him, when I bring back to him either no profit or almost none, from the trade of souls in which I was engaged?
So, dearest brother, help me with your prayers, and what you see me afraid of concerning myself, consider daily in yourself, with fear from provident concern. To be sure both what I say about myself is yours, and what I desire you to do is mine, through a union of love."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 219.
"Indeed it is necessary firstly for the bishop to live as an example for the rest, and secondly he must take care not to show pride through extensive examples. Let him always think about the ministry of preaching, considering with the most intense fear what the nobleman said when about to go away to receive a kingdom, as he gave talents to his servants, 'Invest this until I get back.' We certainly invest in this business then, if we profit the souls of our neighbors by the way we live and speak, if we give strength to the infirm with divine love, by preaching the joys of the heavenly kingdom, if we turn aside the impudent and pompous with the terrifying sound of hell's punishments, if we spare no one the truth, if given up to heavenly friendships we are not afraid of human enmities.
Of course it was in showing this that the psalmist knew that he had offered some sort of sacrifice to God, when he said: 'Do I not hate Lord, those who hate you? Those who rise against you, do I not loathe?/ With a deadly hatred I hate them, they are my enemies.'
But at this I am afraid of the weight of my own infirmity, and I see that the head of our family may return after accepting his kingdom, to settle his account with us. But with what thoughts do I endure him, when I bring back to him either no profit or almost none, from the trade of souls in which I was engaged?
So, dearest brother, help me with your prayers, and what you see me afraid of concerning myself, consider daily in yourself, with fear from provident concern. To be sure both what I say about myself is yours, and what I desire you to do is mine, through a union of love."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 219.
Friday 21 January 2011
The Ancient Enemy
Letter 2,39 - to bishop Columbus. 23 July 592
"It is well known, dearest brother in Christ, that the ancient enemy, who first used cunning persuasion to depose man from the delights of paradise to this life of misery, and then in this act at once inflicted the penalty of mortality on the human race, is now trying with the same cunning to infect the shepherds of the Lord's sheep, pouring his poison through them, to capture their flocks more easily, and to claim them as already rightfully under his own control.
But we who, although undeserving, have received the government of the apostolic see in the place of Peter, prince of the apostles, are forced by the office itself of the pontificate to oppose our universal enemy with all the effort we can muster.
And so the bearers of this present letter, Constantius and Mustelus, presenting a petition, have suggested to us, as is asserted by the archdeacons of the church of Pudentia, that Maximian, bishop of the same church, in the place where he lives, has been corrupted by a bribe from the Donatists, and has allowed a bishop to be elected with a new license, although the Catholic faith prohibited this from continuing and persisting, even if an earlier use might have permitted it.
Because of this therefore we have thought it necessary to advise your Fraternity with the present letter that, when our private secretary Hilary reaches you, and a universal council of your bishops has been arranged, with the terror of a coming judgment before their eyes, the same affair should be examined with a careful and sagacious inquiry.
If the bearers of this letter endorse this charge, with documents pertinent to the aforesaid bishop, he must be stripped in every way of the dignity of the office he holds, so that he may return to the profits of penitence through the acknowledgement of his sin, and so other may not resume to try such things. For it is just that he who has sold our Lord, Jesus Christ, to a heretic, accepting money they say, should of course be removed from handling the mysteries of his sacrosanct body and blood."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 217.
"It is well known, dearest brother in Christ, that the ancient enemy, who first used cunning persuasion to depose man from the delights of paradise to this life of misery, and then in this act at once inflicted the penalty of mortality on the human race, is now trying with the same cunning to infect the shepherds of the Lord's sheep, pouring his poison through them, to capture their flocks more easily, and to claim them as already rightfully under his own control.
But we who, although undeserving, have received the government of the apostolic see in the place of Peter, prince of the apostles, are forced by the office itself of the pontificate to oppose our universal enemy with all the effort we can muster.
And so the bearers of this present letter, Constantius and Mustelus, presenting a petition, have suggested to us, as is asserted by the archdeacons of the church of Pudentia, that Maximian, bishop of the same church, in the place where he lives, has been corrupted by a bribe from the Donatists, and has allowed a bishop to be elected with a new license, although the Catholic faith prohibited this from continuing and persisting, even if an earlier use might have permitted it.
Because of this therefore we have thought it necessary to advise your Fraternity with the present letter that, when our private secretary Hilary reaches you, and a universal council of your bishops has been arranged, with the terror of a coming judgment before their eyes, the same affair should be examined with a careful and sagacious inquiry.
If the bearers of this letter endorse this charge, with documents pertinent to the aforesaid bishop, he must be stripped in every way of the dignity of the office he holds, so that he may return to the profits of penitence through the acknowledgement of his sin, and so other may not resume to try such things. For it is just that he who has sold our Lord, Jesus Christ, to a heretic, accepting money they say, should of course be removed from handling the mysteries of his sacrosanct body and blood."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 217.
Tuesday 18 January 2011
The Wounds Of War
Letter 2,38 - to John, bishop of Ravenna. July 592
"But as for your saying that alms should be sent to the burnt city [Grado] of Severus the schismatic, your Fraternity has these thoughts for the reason that you do not know what sort of presents he sends against us in the palace. Even if he was not sending them over there, we have to consider that alms should be given to the faithful first, and to the Church's enemies afterwards.
Nearby of course is the city of Fano, in which many people have been captured. I have wanted to send someone there for the past year now, but I did not dare do so in the middle of enemy troops. And so it seems best to me that you should send the Abbot Claudius there with some money to buy back with it any free men he finds there, held for ransom in slavery, and any who are still captives. But as for the total of that money which should be sent, you can be certain that I am happy with whatever you decide. But if together with this excellent man, the patrician Romanus, you are arranging for us to make peace with Ariulf, I am prepared to send another person to you, with whom the business of expenses should turn out better.."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 215.
"But as for your saying that alms should be sent to the burnt city [Grado] of Severus the schismatic, your Fraternity has these thoughts for the reason that you do not know what sort of presents he sends against us in the palace. Even if he was not sending them over there, we have to consider that alms should be given to the faithful first, and to the Church's enemies afterwards.
Nearby of course is the city of Fano, in which many people have been captured. I have wanted to send someone there for the past year now, but I did not dare do so in the middle of enemy troops. And so it seems best to me that you should send the Abbot Claudius there with some money to buy back with it any free men he finds there, held for ransom in slavery, and any who are still captives. But as for the total of that money which should be sent, you can be certain that I am happy with whatever you decide. But if together with this excellent man, the patrician Romanus, you are arranging for us to make peace with Ariulf, I am prepared to send another person to you, with whom the business of expenses should turn out better.."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 215.
Monday 17 January 2011
Bishop Of Two Churches
Letter 2,37 - to Bishop Benetatus. July 592
"Because therefore the bishop of the Castrum of Cumae has completed the course of his life, know that we have united each church [i.c. of Cumae and Misenum] with the page of this authority here present, and have entrusted it to you, and know that you are the official bishop for both churches.
And whatever you see fit to ordain and settle concerning their patrimony or ordination of clergy or promotion according to the statutes of canon law, you will have a free license with the agreement and permission of our authority as truly their own bishop.
But live where you will find it most suitable and useful, in such a way of course that you look after the other church, from which you are absent in body at the time, with concern and with providential care, so that the holy mysteries are solemnly celebrated there, with the Lord's help."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 214.
"Because therefore the bishop of the Castrum of Cumae has completed the course of his life, know that we have united each church [i.c. of Cumae and Misenum] with the page of this authority here present, and have entrusted it to you, and know that you are the official bishop for both churches.
And whatever you see fit to ordain and settle concerning their patrimony or ordination of clergy or promotion according to the statutes of canon law, you will have a free license with the agreement and permission of our authority as truly their own bishop.
But live where you will find it most suitable and useful, in such a way of course that you look after the other church, from which you are absent in body at the time, with concern and with providential care, so that the holy mysteries are solemnly celebrated there, with the Lord's help."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 214.
Sunday 16 January 2011
Passion For Money
Letter 2,36 - to Lucillus, bishop of Malta. July 592
"The proposal of our office is very fitting, that is to fully persuade those who are subject to us feel obliged to show good faith in agreements made, in case, while seized by an inconsiderate passion for making money, they turn a peaceful arrangement into a quarrel. And so it has come to our attention that clerics of your Fraternity, who hold lands of the Church in Africa, refuse to pay rent on the same possessions. But if it is true that these matters have been brought to your Fraternity'e notice, their fault is the product of your inactivity over this matter. Wherefore we warn you with this present letter not to allow the same clerics to make use of any delay or excuse."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 214.
"The proposal of our office is very fitting, that is to fully persuade those who are subject to us feel obliged to show good faith in agreements made, in case, while seized by an inconsiderate passion for making money, they turn a peaceful arrangement into a quarrel. And so it has come to our attention that clerics of your Fraternity, who hold lands of the Church in Africa, refuse to pay rent on the same possessions. But if it is true that these matters have been brought to your Fraternity'e notice, their fault is the product of your inactivity over this matter. Wherefore we warn you with this present letter not to allow the same clerics to make use of any delay or excuse."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 214.
Wednesday 12 January 2011
Chistian Way Of Life
Letter 2,35 - to Felix, bishop of Agropoli, visitor of the province of Lucania. July 592
"We warn you of this before all else, that whenever in the above-mentioned churches or in their dioceses, either deacons or other religious persons are found, you will take care that they are living strictly and according to canon law in every way.
They are not to have the freedom to transgress indiscriminately in any matter. But let them through your control and forethought, perservere in their present Christian way of life and dress, and know that, if anything is undertaken badly by them, it must be charged totally to your neglect."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 213.
"We warn you of this before all else, that whenever in the above-mentioned churches or in their dioceses, either deacons or other religious persons are found, you will take care that they are living strictly and according to canon law in every way.
They are not to have the freedom to transgress indiscriminately in any matter. But let them through your control and forethought, perservere in their present Christian way of life and dress, and know that, if anything is undertaken badly by them, it must be charged totally to your neglect."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 213.
Monday 10 January 2011
Court Of Justice
Letter 2,34 - to John, bishop of Ravenna. July 592
"It is certainly right to terminate the controversies of those quarrelling with a swift judgement, and with both fairness and vigor. Since therefore Wiland, the bearer of this letter, is begging your Fraternity for recognition, let your see that Deacon Gavinian, against whom he tells us he has a case, is summoned to your court. And without delay, please examine the truth of their case with meticulous inquiry, and let both parties be compelled to observe and implement in every whatever the process of justice shall recommend, and whatever shall be defined by the sentence you give."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 213.
"It is certainly right to terminate the controversies of those quarrelling with a swift judgement, and with both fairness and vigor. Since therefore Wiland, the bearer of this letter, is begging your Fraternity for recognition, let your see that Deacon Gavinian, against whom he tells us he has a case, is summoned to your court. And without delay, please examine the truth of their case with meticulous inquiry, and let both parties be compelled to observe and implement in every whatever the process of justice shall recommend, and whatever shall be defined by the sentence you give."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 213.
Care And Concern
Letter 2,33 - to the clergy, senate and people living in Cortone. July 592.
"Learning of the death of your bishop, it was our concern to solemnly delegate the task of visiting the destitute church to John, our brother and fellow bishop"
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 213.
"Learning of the death of your bishop, it was our concern to solemnly delegate the task of visiting the destitute church to John, our brother and fellow bishop"
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 213.
Tuesday 4 January 2011
To John
Letter 2,32 - to John, bishop of Squillace. July 592.
"A direct report revealed to us that the bishop has died. For that reason we solemnly delegate to your Fraternity the task of visiting the destitute church. It is appropriate for you to carry out this task in such a way that nothing about promotions of clergy, about ornaments and holy vessels and so on."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 212.
"A direct report revealed to us that the bishop has died. For that reason we solemnly delegate to your Fraternity the task of visiting the destitute church. It is appropriate for you to carry out this task in such a way that nothing about promotions of clergy, about ornaments and holy vessels and so on."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 212.
Sunday 2 January 2011
On Holy Ordination
Letter 2,31 - to John, bishop of Squillace, on holy ordination. July 592.
"But we order you never to ordain anyone illegally, and do not permit anyone to take on holy orders who is a bigamist, or one whose wife was not a virgin, or an illiterate person, or one infected in any part of his body, or a penitent, or a person bound to a court or to any other state of servitude.
But if you discover any men of this sort, please do not dare to promote them.
On no account accept Africans indiscriminately, nor unknown strangers, who want to be ordained. For some of the Africans are in fact Manicheans, others re-baptized, and most foreigners in fact, even when established in the minor orders, have often been proved to have had pretensions for higher orders.
We also advise your Fraternity to pay full attentions to the souls entrusted to you, and to turn them more to the profits of the soul than to the comforts of the present life.
Be diligent in conserving and disposing the property of the church, so that the future judge, when he has come to give his judgment, may have approve the fact that you have carried out the office of priest, undertaken by you in a worthy manner."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 212.
"But we order you never to ordain anyone illegally, and do not permit anyone to take on holy orders who is a bigamist, or one whose wife was not a virgin, or an illiterate person, or one infected in any part of his body, or a penitent, or a person bound to a court or to any other state of servitude.
But if you discover any men of this sort, please do not dare to promote them.
On no account accept Africans indiscriminately, nor unknown strangers, who want to be ordained. For some of the Africans are in fact Manicheans, others re-baptized, and most foreigners in fact, even when established in the minor orders, have often been proved to have had pretensions for higher orders.
We also advise your Fraternity to pay full attentions to the souls entrusted to you, and to turn them more to the profits of the soul than to the comforts of the present life.
Be diligent in conserving and disposing the property of the church, so that the future judge, when he has come to give his judgment, may have approve the fact that you have carried out the office of priest, undertaken by you in a worthy manner."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 212.
On Humility
Letter 2,30 - to Abbot Eusebius, about submission to his bishop. July 592.
"Again, when he [bishop Maximian] was offering you his thanks, you ought to have met him with an act of gratitude, Because you did not act in this way, I recognize by this that we need tears and nothing else.
For it is not a great thing that we are humble before those who honor us, because even all secular people do this, but we should be especially be humble towards those who are making us suffer in some way. The psalmist says; 'See my humility in the face of my foes.' What sort of life is ours, who are unwilling to be humble even towards our fathers?
For that reason, most beloved son, I ask that all the bitterness leaves your heart, lest perhaps your end is close at hand, and the ancient enemy shuts the path to the heavenly kingdom through the iniquity of your discord."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 211.
"Again, when he [bishop Maximian] was offering you his thanks, you ought to have met him with an act of gratitude, Because you did not act in this way, I recognize by this that we need tears and nothing else.
For it is not a great thing that we are humble before those who honor us, because even all secular people do this, but we should be especially be humble towards those who are making us suffer in some way. The psalmist says; 'See my humility in the face of my foes.' What sort of life is ours, who are unwilling to be humble even towards our fathers?
For that reason, most beloved son, I ask that all the bitterness leaves your heart, lest perhaps your end is close at hand, and the ancient enemy shuts the path to the heavenly kingdom through the iniquity of your discord."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 211.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
