Letter 3,22 - to Antoninus, sub-deacon in charge of the patrimony in Dalmatia. March 593
"In fact let it be your concern before all else, that in this election the offer of bribes does not intervene in any way, and that the candidatures are not strengthened by any patronage of any persons at all. For if someone has been elected of certain people, once he has been consecrated, he is forced to obey their wishes under the pressure of fear, and it comes about that the property of that church is diminished, and the ecclesiastical order is not preserved.
And so they ought to elect such a person, with you watching over them, as is not a slave to anyone's inconsistent wish, but can be found worthy of such a rank, distinguished in his life and morality.
As for the property and decoration of that same church, make sure that a faithful inventory of the property is written down in your presence. And so that nothing could be lost from this same property, advise the Deacon Respectus, and the first notary, Stephen, to keep a total guard of the same property, warning them that if anything should be removed from them through negligence, they will make it up from their own property."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 249.
Monday 23 May 2011
Sunday 22 May 2011
Debts and Piety
Letter 3,21 - to Paschalis, Domitian and Castor, son of Urbicus, defender from Tivoli. February 593
"Its part of my duty to give advice to those who have lost their parents, so that I can give some help in those miseries of theirs that are justly the responsibility of the Church, thereby alleviating them.
Therefore, after a more precise calculation, we are certain that your father Urbicus, who was once a defender of the Sabine patrimony and of Carsoli, that had been entrusted to his care, has died in debt for quite a large sum.
Although all of his property was liable to the Church for this,yet it could not suffice to pay for what he has consumed.
Even so, with a regard to piety, we allow you to have and possess the property of that same father of yours, and we allow it to stand to your undoubted advantage in the future (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 249.
"Its part of my duty to give advice to those who have lost their parents, so that I can give some help in those miseries of theirs that are justly the responsibility of the Church, thereby alleviating them.
Therefore, after a more precise calculation, we are certain that your father Urbicus, who was once a defender of the Sabine patrimony and of Carsoli, that had been entrusted to his care, has died in debt for quite a large sum.
Although all of his property was liable to the Church for this,yet it could not suffice to pay for what he has consumed.
Even so, with a regard to piety, we allow you to have and possess the property of that same father of yours, and we allow it to stand to your undoubted advantage in the future (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 249.
Wednesday 4 May 2011
Care Of Souls
Letter 3,20 - to Gratiosus, bishop of Mentana. January 593
"We have therefore provided that the care and control of the church of Saint Anthelm (established in the territory of Cures in Samnium) should be entrusted to your Fraternity. It is necessary for this church to be added to yours and to be united with it, so that yo can rightly act as priest of both churches, with God's help. Whatever you decide to arrange concerning its patrimony or the ordination or promotion of its clergy, with vigilant and canonical care, as its own special bishop, you will have a free license from our permission in this letter.
Wherefore, dearest brother, truly mindful of the Lord's commandments, take care in your governance of the people entrusted in you and in winning over their souls, that when placed before the tribunal of the eternal judge, you may exhibit to our same redeemer, in whom you may rejoice, the fruit of good service, that which pertains your reward."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 248.
"We have therefore provided that the care and control of the church of Saint Anthelm (established in the territory of Cures in Samnium) should be entrusted to your Fraternity. It is necessary for this church to be added to yours and to be united with it, so that yo can rightly act as priest of both churches, with God's help. Whatever you decide to arrange concerning its patrimony or the ordination or promotion of its clergy, with vigilant and canonical care, as its own special bishop, you will have a free license from our permission in this letter.
Wherefore, dearest brother, truly mindful of the Lord's commandments, take care in your governance of the people entrusted in you and in winning over their souls, that when placed before the tribunal of the eternal judge, you may exhibit to our same redeemer, in whom you may rejoice, the fruit of good service, that which pertains your reward."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 248.
Tuesday 3 May 2011
Dedication Of A Church
Letter 3,19 - to Peter sub-deacon of Campania. january 593
"Our heart is being pricked by the holy inspiration of divinity to dedicate, with reverence of our Catholic religion, places which were once condemned for detestable sins. Since therefore we desire to consecrate, in honor of Saint Severinus, a church located next to the Merulan house in the third region, long occupied by the Arian superstition, would your Experience please send over the relics of Saint Severinus (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 248.
"Our heart is being pricked by the holy inspiration of divinity to dedicate, with reverence of our Catholic religion, places which were once condemned for detestable sins. Since therefore we desire to consecrate, in honor of Saint Severinus, a church located next to the Merulan house in the third region, long occupied by the Arian superstition, would your Experience please send over the relics of Saint Severinus (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 248.
A Peculiar Gift
Letter 3,18 - to Theodore, his counselor. January 593
"Those really exerting themselves over ecclesiastical services deserve the pleasure of ecclesiastical remuneration, so that those who of their own volition subject themselves to the voluntary hardships of their obedience, deserve to be repaid in our dispensations.
And so, since we have discovered that you, Theodore, a most eloquent man and our counselor, have been bankrupted due to your administration of the slaves, for that reason we instruct that a slave-boy called Acosimus, a Sicilian by birth, be given and handed over to your legal control."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 248.
"Those really exerting themselves over ecclesiastical services deserve the pleasure of ecclesiastical remuneration, so that those who of their own volition subject themselves to the voluntary hardships of their obedience, deserve to be repaid in our dispensations.
And so, since we have discovered that you, Theodore, a most eloquent man and our counselor, have been bankrupted due to your administration of the slaves, for that reason we instruct that a slave-boy called Acosimus, a Sicilian by birth, be given and handed over to your legal control."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 248.
Sunday 1 May 2011
Means To A Goal
Letter 3,17 - to Sub-deacon Gratiosus. January 593
"For those choosing a religious vocation we should take care, with suitable consideration, that the occurrence of some hardship neither makes them inactive, nor undermines the strength (Heaven forbid!) of their holy way of life. For this reason we order with the present authority that you should hand over the following property to the Abbess Flora, with the right of possession for her indubitable ownership. The house is located in this city in the fourth region, next to a place called the 'White Hens', the property of the Holy Church of Rome, over which we preside with God's authority, and in which a patrician lady, Campana, is known to have once lived. Hand it over with the garden also and the lodgings, which a doorway encloses within the same house.
Thus with Christ's help, the abbess can construct a convent in this house, where she can live with her community (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 247.
"For those choosing a religious vocation we should take care, with suitable consideration, that the occurrence of some hardship neither makes them inactive, nor undermines the strength (Heaven forbid!) of their holy way of life. For this reason we order with the present authority that you should hand over the following property to the Abbess Flora, with the right of possession for her indubitable ownership. The house is located in this city in the fourth region, next to a place called the 'White Hens', the property of the Holy Church of Rome, over which we preside with God's authority, and in which a patrician lady, Campana, is known to have once lived. Hand it over with the garden also and the lodgings, which a doorway encloses within the same house.
Thus with Christ's help, the abbess can construct a convent in this house, where she can live with her community (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 247.
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