Letter 3,16 - to Peter, bishop of Barcae. December 592
"We indicate to you with the present letter that the bearer of it, the priest Valerian, has arrived in those parts to ransom prisoners-of-war. You should give him your support in every way all the more earnestly, as you realize that he has endured the effort of a lengthy journey with the purpose of a deal."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 247.
Thursday 28 April 2011
Monday 25 April 2011
Vacancy of the Bishopric
Letter 3,15 - to Scholasticus, governor of Campania. December 592
"And for that reason we greet you, and exhort your Greatness to convoke the leaders and people of the city, to think about the election of another man, who could be worthy of promotion to the bishopric, with the comfort of Christ. Make this decree solemnly and send it over to this city, and let the ordination take place there finally, with the help of Christ.
But if however you do not find a suitable person about whom you can agree, at least select three upright and wise men, and send them to this city on behalf of the general community, ensuring that all the people agree in the choice of these men. Perhaps coming here, preserved by God's pity, they will find a suitable person to be consecrated as your bishop, without any blame."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 246.
"And for that reason we greet you, and exhort your Greatness to convoke the leaders and people of the city, to think about the election of another man, who could be worthy of promotion to the bishopric, with the comfort of Christ. Make this decree solemnly and send it over to this city, and let the ordination take place there finally, with the help of Christ.
But if however you do not find a suitable person about whom you can agree, at least select three upright and wise men, and send them to this city on behalf of the general community, ensuring that all the people agree in the choice of these men. Perhaps coming here, preserved by God's pity, they will find a suitable person to be consecrated as your bishop, without any blame."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 246.
Congratulations
Letter 3,14 - to the clergy, senate and people living at Terracina. November 592
"The petition that you presented has revealed the wishes that your Beloved had intimated to us, and we have highly applauded your decision. For we pray that Angellus, our brother and fellow-bishop, approved already for his merits, is incardinated as your bishop. And since an outcome should not be denied to your welcome and praiseworthy petition, and since it should not be held up with a delay, we have decided that Angellus should be incardinated as bishop of your church, by our direct order, in accordance with your desires and request.
Concerning this, I warn your Beloved with a fatherly exhortation that you should be obedient to him in all things."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 246.
"The petition that you presented has revealed the wishes that your Beloved had intimated to us, and we have highly applauded your decision. For we pray that Angellus, our brother and fellow-bishop, approved already for his merits, is incardinated as your bishop. And since an outcome should not be denied to your welcome and praiseworthy petition, and since it should not be held up with a delay, we have decided that Angellus should be incardinated as bishop of your church, by our direct order, in accordance with your desires and request.
Concerning this, I warn your Beloved with a fatherly exhortation that you should be obedient to him in all things."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 246.
On Your Appointment
Letter 3,13 -to Agnellus, bishop from Fundi, now incardinated in the church of Terracina. November 592
"The joint report of the clergy and people of Terracina gives us very great pleasure for this reason that it testifies to good things concerning your Fraternity. And since, with their Bishop Peter dead, they ask for you to be appointed as their cardinal priest, we foresee that it is necessary for their requests to be complied with, so that they may rejoice in having obtained what they demand, and we may seem to have yielded what is expedient.
Since on account of the disaster of hostilities, nobody has the freedom of living either in your city of your church, we have appointed you accordingly by our authority as cardinal priest of the church of Terracina.
We advise you that you ought to be worried about the souls of the people staying there, with God's protection, so that the treachery of a cunning and perverted enemy cannot harm the flock entrusted to you with any of his tricks.
Rather, let the flock encompassed by the protection of your care be delighted to have deserved the protection of a worthy pastor. Let examples of good living show forth for your people in your acts and let avarice have no power over you."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 245.
"The joint report of the clergy and people of Terracina gives us very great pleasure for this reason that it testifies to good things concerning your Fraternity. And since, with their Bishop Peter dead, they ask for you to be appointed as their cardinal priest, we foresee that it is necessary for their requests to be complied with, so that they may rejoice in having obtained what they demand, and we may seem to have yielded what is expedient.
Since on account of the disaster of hostilities, nobody has the freedom of living either in your city of your church, we have appointed you accordingly by our authority as cardinal priest of the church of Terracina.
We advise you that you ought to be worried about the souls of the people staying there, with God's protection, so that the treachery of a cunning and perverted enemy cannot harm the flock entrusted to you with any of his tricks.
Rather, let the flock encompassed by the protection of your care be delighted to have deserved the protection of a worthy pastor. Let examples of good living show forth for your people in your acts and let avarice have no power over you."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 245.
Monday 18 April 2011
Persons And Paperwork
Letter 3,12 - to Maximian, bishop of Syracuse. November 592
"Some time ago indeed I had written to your Fraternity saying that you ought to send over to the city of Rome those who had said anything against Gregory, bishop of Agrigento. We advise now with this present letter that it ought to be done even more pressingly.
Therefore hurry to transmit with all speed the persons themselves and the rest of the documents, that is the accounts and petitions that were handed over. We absolutely do not allow you to ask for any delay or excuse, so that when they have been sent over to the city of Rome, as we said, with all speed, we may know what we ought to determine about his person with more success, with God's help."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 244.
"Some time ago indeed I had written to your Fraternity saying that you ought to send over to the city of Rome those who had said anything against Gregory, bishop of Agrigento. We advise now with this present letter that it ought to be done even more pressingly.
Therefore hurry to transmit with all speed the persons themselves and the rest of the documents, that is the accounts and petitions that were handed over. We absolutely do not allow you to ask for any delay or excuse, so that when they have been sent over to the city of Rome, as we said, with all speed, we may know what we ought to determine about his person with more success, with God's help."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 244.
Saturday 16 April 2011
A Short Message
Letter 3,11 - to the clergy, senate and people living at Albano. October 592.
"We have shown no slowness in fulfilling desires of which we approve. We have already consecrated our brother and fellow-bishop Homobonus, as your bishop."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 244.
"We have shown no slowness in fulfilling desires of which we approve. We have already consecrated our brother and fellow-bishop Homobonus, as your bishop."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 244.
Thursday 14 April 2011
Spiritual Coercion
Letter 3,10 - to Sabinus, our sub-deacon. October 592
"(I)n the time of Justinian of pious memory, there was some violation at the sacred synod of Chalcedon, which we venerate with all our faith and all our devotion. And as we have received four synods of the holy, universal Church, just as we have received the four books of the Holy Gospel. But concerning the persons about whom something has been done after the end of the synod, this was brought forward in the time of the same Justinian of pious memory, but in such a way that neither was the faith in anyone violated, nor was anything done about the same persons other than had been decided at the same holy synod at Chalcedon. However, we anathematize anyone who presumes to reduce anything from the definition of faith that was revealed at the same synod, or to alter its sense as if by correcting it. But we defend it as if revealed at that synod for all time.
So it is proper for you, most beloved son, to return to the unity of the Holy Church, so that you can conclude your final years in peace, and so that the malignant spirit, which cannot prevail against you in other woks, may not discover from this case a means by which to oppose you, on the day of your departure to the gateway to the heavenly Kingdom."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 244.
"(I)n the time of Justinian of pious memory, there was some violation at the sacred synod of Chalcedon, which we venerate with all our faith and all our devotion. And as we have received four synods of the holy, universal Church, just as we have received the four books of the Holy Gospel. But concerning the persons about whom something has been done after the end of the synod, this was brought forward in the time of the same Justinian of pious memory, but in such a way that neither was the faith in anyone violated, nor was anything done about the same persons other than had been decided at the same holy synod at Chalcedon. However, we anathematize anyone who presumes to reduce anything from the definition of faith that was revealed at the same synod, or to alter its sense as if by correcting it. But we defend it as if revealed at that synod for all time.
So it is proper for you, most beloved son, to return to the unity of the Holy Church, so that you can conclude your final years in peace, and so that the malignant spirit, which cannot prevail against you in other woks, may not discover from this case a means by which to oppose you, on the day of your departure to the gateway to the heavenly Kingdom."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 244.
Unjust Excile
Letter 3,9 - to his sub-deacon, Antoninus. October 592
"The news has reached us that Florentius, bishop of the city of Epidaurus, after his goods had first been removed, has been condemned for some unproved charges, without a sacerdotal council. Since he ought not to endure a canonical punishment, as in his condemnation a canonical opinion was put forward, we instruct your Experience to threaten Natalis, our brother and fellow-bishop, so that he has the aforesaid man brought back from the same exile in which he is said to be immured at present."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 243.
"The news has reached us that Florentius, bishop of the city of Epidaurus, after his goods had first been removed, has been condemned for some unproved charges, without a sacerdotal council. Since he ought not to endure a canonical punishment, as in his condemnation a canonical opinion was put forward, we instruct your Experience to threaten Natalis, our brother and fellow-bishop, so that he has the aforesaid man brought back from the same exile in which he is said to be immured at present."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 243.
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