Letter 3,58 - to Fortunatus, bishop of Naples. August 593
"It is right to fulfill religious desires when it is not difficult. And this is so in the case of the Abbess Gratiosa, who has joined her community in presenting a petition, which is contained in her appendix. In it she has claimed that Rustica, recorded as a patrician, is known to have built a convent for nuns, through her final decision of her will, in the city of Naples. It is her own home, in the region of Herculaneum, in a village called Lampas. Here she has arranged that the aforesaid Gratiosa should be abbess in charge. She has also built an oratory, and, to carry her vow, Gratiosa has suggested that she withdraw a third of her whole fortune, and she want it to be consecrated in honor of the blessed Mary, ever virgin and mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.
And for that reason, my very dear brother, we thought that your Beloved should be encouraged with the present injunction to inspect the final will first of al and, if it remains lawful, to make certain that the same third has in all truth spent on the same convent."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 278.
Monday 29 August 2011
Words And Works
Letter 3,57 - to the patrician Italica. August 593
"But let almighty God bring it about that, just as we have good feelings about you, so your mind may give a good response to us, and you may exhibit in your works the sweetness that you expend on your words.
For the most glorious health and beauty on the surface of a body is worth nothing if there is a wound deep within. And that discord is all the more to be avoided, for which external peace provides a cover up. But in the aforesaid letter, your excellency tried earnestly to recall to our memory that this had been written to you. That in cases concerning the poor, we wanted to make no decisions with you that cause offence, or that ring with the din of a public court. We remember writing this, and know that, with God's help, we restrain ourselves from quarrelsome cases with ecclesiastical moderation. And in accordance with apostolic good sense, we happily put up with the plundering of our goods. But we believe that you know this, that our silence and patience will not create a legal precedent for future popes after me in matters of the poor."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 277.
"But let almighty God bring it about that, just as we have good feelings about you, so your mind may give a good response to us, and you may exhibit in your works the sweetness that you expend on your words.
For the most glorious health and beauty on the surface of a body is worth nothing if there is a wound deep within. And that discord is all the more to be avoided, for which external peace provides a cover up. But in the aforesaid letter, your excellency tried earnestly to recall to our memory that this had been written to you. That in cases concerning the poor, we wanted to make no decisions with you that cause offence, or that ring with the din of a public court. We remember writing this, and know that, with God's help, we restrain ourselves from quarrelsome cases with ecclesiastical moderation. And in accordance with apostolic good sense, we happily put up with the plundering of our goods. But we believe that you know this, that our silence and patience will not create a legal precedent for future popes after me in matters of the poor."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 277.
Saturday 27 August 2011
A Fair Warning
Letter 3,56 - to Bishop Secundinus. August 593
"We therefore warn your Fraternity not to insert any delay now, after receiving our present letter. But once the place of these same fonts have been filled in, let the altar be built there to celebrate the holy mysteries without delay.
Thus it may be lawful for the aforesaid monks to celebrate the work of God more securely, and our mind will not be aroused against your Fraternity because of your negligence."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 277.
"We therefore warn your Fraternity not to insert any delay now, after receiving our present letter. But once the place of these same fonts have been filled in, let the altar be built there to celebrate the holy mysteries without delay.
Thus it may be lawful for the aforesaid monks to celebrate the work of God more securely, and our mind will not be aroused against your Fraternity because of your negligence."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 277.
A Helping Hand
Letter 3,55 - to Cyprian, deacon. July 593
"Cosmas says that he is bound by so may debts from various dangerous exigencies that his own sons, he claims, are being detained by his creditors as surety. If this matter is so, it has certainly disturbed us. For this reason we encourage your Beloved to inquire into his case with the greatest detail, because it concerns money from the poor-box being given."
"Cosmas says that he is bound by so may debts from various dangerous exigencies that his own sons, he claims, are being detained by his creditors as surety. If this matter is so, it has certainly disturbed us. For this reason we encourage your Beloved to inquire into his case with the greatest detail, because it concerns money from the poor-box being given."
Thursday 25 August 2011
Wearing The Pallium
Letter 3,54 - to John, bishop of Ravenna. July 593
"Try not to deviate from the rule of humility in any way. I do not mean on your own, but through the command of others or of your predecessors.
For to sum up briefly what I said above, I advise you, unless you show that these were attributed to you through privilege by the munificence of my predecessors, do not presume to wear the pallium in the streets any longer, in case you begin not to wear at masses that which you wear audaciously in the streets.
But concerning the vestry, because your Fraternity made and allowed yourself to sit down with a pallium, and to admit the sons of the Church, for a while now we have made no complaint.For we follow the opinion of the synods and refuse to punish minor faults which are denied. We accept that this has been done once or twice, but we prohibit it being done any longer. But let your Fraternity be extremely concerned in case what is still allowed under the presumption that it is just beginning may be punished more severely for continuing.
You have complained furthermore, that some men from the priestly order of the city of Ravenna, threatened by their transgressions, have become involved in serious crimes. We want you either to discuss their case there, or to send them over here to discuss the same matters, that is if the difficulties of proof are an impediment, due to the great distance of the two places."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 272.
"Try not to deviate from the rule of humility in any way. I do not mean on your own, but through the command of others or of your predecessors.
For to sum up briefly what I said above, I advise you, unless you show that these were attributed to you through privilege by the munificence of my predecessors, do not presume to wear the pallium in the streets any longer, in case you begin not to wear at masses that which you wear audaciously in the streets.
But concerning the vestry, because your Fraternity made and allowed yourself to sit down with a pallium, and to admit the sons of the Church, for a while now we have made no complaint.For we follow the opinion of the synods and refuse to punish minor faults which are denied. We accept that this has been done once or twice, but we prohibit it being done any longer. But let your Fraternity be extremely concerned in case what is still allowed under the presumption that it is just beginning may be punished more severely for continuing.
You have complained furthermore, that some men from the priestly order of the city of Ravenna, threatened by their transgressions, have become involved in serious crimes. We want you either to discuss their case there, or to send them over here to discuss the same matters, that is if the difficulties of proof are an impediment, due to the great distance of the two places."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 272.
Tuesday 23 August 2011
Justice Must Be
Letter 3,53 - to Maximian, bishop of Syracuse. July 593
"After punishment has been inflicted by canon law on the one-time Bishop Agatho, in accordance with the nature of his excesses, it is necessary from the point-of-view of humanity to decide how he can be supported. For that reason let your Fraternity quickly make arrangements at the church of Lipardi, in which the above-mentioned Agatho held the office of bishop, and then for the present hand over forty gold coins to him, which can provide for his sustenance."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 272.
"After punishment has been inflicted by canon law on the one-time Bishop Agatho, in accordance with the nature of his excesses, it is necessary from the point-of-view of humanity to decide how he can be supported. For that reason let your Fraternity quickly make arrangements at the church of Lipardi, in which the above-mentioned Agatho held the office of bishop, and then for the present hand over forty gold coins to him, which can provide for his sustenance."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 272.
Sunday 21 August 2011
In Respons To Your Letter....
Letter 3,52 - to John, bishop of Constantinopel. July 593
"Would it not have been better that meat went in that mouth for consumption, than that a false story should come out of it to mock a very close friend? Especially when Truth says: 'It is not what enters one mouth that defiles that person, but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one'.
But let this not be true, so that I not believe something of that sort about your most holy heart. Those letters were marked by your name at the top, but I do not think that they were yours.
I had written to that most blessed man, Lord John, but I believe that a quite young servant of yours wrote back to me, who has learnt nothing about God so far, who does not know the inner parts of love, who is accused by all for his sinful actions, and who contrives each day the deaths of various people through secret testaments. And yet neither fears God nor shows shame before men. Believe me, most holy brother, if you have a perfect zeal for truth, first correct yourself, so that besides those who are close to you, those also who are not close to you may be changed for the better by your example. Do not accept that man's utterance. He ought to be directer to the counsel of your Holiness, and your Holiness ought not to be altered to his words. For if you listen to him, I know that you will not be able to have peace with your brethren."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 270.
"Would it not have been better that meat went in that mouth for consumption, than that a false story should come out of it to mock a very close friend? Especially when Truth says: 'It is not what enters one mouth that defiles that person, but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one'.
But let this not be true, so that I not believe something of that sort about your most holy heart. Those letters were marked by your name at the top, but I do not think that they were yours.
I had written to that most blessed man, Lord John, but I believe that a quite young servant of yours wrote back to me, who has learnt nothing about God so far, who does not know the inner parts of love, who is accused by all for his sinful actions, and who contrives each day the deaths of various people through secret testaments. And yet neither fears God nor shows shame before men. Believe me, most holy brother, if you have a perfect zeal for truth, first correct yourself, so that besides those who are close to you, those also who are not close to you may be changed for the better by your example. Do not accept that man's utterance. He ought to be directer to the counsel of your Holiness, and your Holiness ought not to be altered to his words. For if you listen to him, I know that you will not be able to have peace with your brethren."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 270.
Tuesday 16 August 2011
Wisdom Of Life
Letter 3,51 - to Priscus, patrician of the East. July 593
"But as a traveler walks now over level ground, and now over uneven ground, so certainly do we, while we remain in this life, now meet prosperity and now adversity, and finally they succeed one another in alternate periods of time, and with each in succession they become confused.
And so, while the rule of mutability corrupts everything in this world, we should neither be lifted up by prosperity nor broken by adversity. And so it suits us to strive with all our mind to reach that world, where whatever is firm endures and where prosperity is not altered by adversity.
There fore in this life it is arranged by the wonderful direction of almighty God that either adversity follows prosperity or prosperity follows adversity. For, when humiliated, we must learn whatever fault we have committed. And again, when exalted, we must retain in our mind the memory of adversity, as if an anchor of humility.
This therefore should be considered not as the anger of our Creator, but as his grace, through which we learn that the more humbly we hold on to his gifts, the more truly we preserve them."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 269.
"But as a traveler walks now over level ground, and now over uneven ground, so certainly do we, while we remain in this life, now meet prosperity and now adversity, and finally they succeed one another in alternate periods of time, and with each in succession they become confused.
And so, while the rule of mutability corrupts everything in this world, we should neither be lifted up by prosperity nor broken by adversity. And so it suits us to strive with all our mind to reach that world, where whatever is firm endures and where prosperity is not altered by adversity.
There fore in this life it is arranged by the wonderful direction of almighty God that either adversity follows prosperity or prosperity follows adversity. For, when humiliated, we must learn whatever fault we have committed. And again, when exalted, we must retain in our mind the memory of adversity, as if an anchor of humility.
This therefore should be considered not as the anger of our Creator, but as his grace, through which we learn that the more humbly we hold on to his gifts, the more truly we preserve them."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 269.
Friday 12 August 2011
Gathering Miracles
Letter 3,50 - to Maximian, bishop of Syracuse. July 593
"My brethren, who live with me on friendly terms, compel me in every way to write something about the miracles of the Fathers, which we have heard took place in Italy. For which matter, I earnestly need the solace of your Charity, so that whatever ones you recall to memory, and whatever ones you happen to have discovered, you will briefly describe for me. For I remember you recalling something which I consigned to oblivion, concerning the Abbot, Lord Nonnosus, who was next to the Lord Anastasius from Pentumi."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 268.
"My brethren, who live with me on friendly terms, compel me in every way to write something about the miracles of the Fathers, which we have heard took place in Italy. For which matter, I earnestly need the solace of your Charity, so that whatever ones you recall to memory, and whatever ones you happen to have discovered, you will briefly describe for me. For I remember you recalling something which I consigned to oblivion, concerning the Abbot, Lord Nonnosus, who was next to the Lord Anastasius from Pentumi."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 268.
Thursday 11 August 2011
Zealous And Vigilant
Letter 3,49 - to Theodore, bishop of Lilybaeum. July 593
"The concern of your Fraternity is extremely welcome to us. For those things that you find out about the lives of your priests, you both take care to examine closely and, when investigated, you report back on them. Be zealous and vigilant, therefore, so that you can persist in this concern that we praise in you, without any diminution. And if you find out that any excesses are being perpetrated there by anyone (Heaven forbid!), if indeed they are of the sort that could be corrected there, let them be corrected reasonably. Otherwise, hasten to report back in a letter to our brother, Bishop Maximian so that when informed by you, he may know what should be done. For the more we applaud your vigilance now, the more culpable you are found to be if you have concealed facts of this sort with any kind of dissimulation."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 268.
"The concern of your Fraternity is extremely welcome to us. For those things that you find out about the lives of your priests, you both take care to examine closely and, when investigated, you report back on them. Be zealous and vigilant, therefore, so that you can persist in this concern that we praise in you, without any diminution. And if you find out that any excesses are being perpetrated there by anyone (Heaven forbid!), if indeed they are of the sort that could be corrected there, let them be corrected reasonably. Otherwise, hasten to report back in a letter to our brother, Bishop Maximian so that when informed by you, he may know what should be done. For the more we applaud your vigilance now, the more culpable you are found to be if you have concealed facts of this sort with any kind of dissimulation."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 268.
Wednesday 10 August 2011
Worthy Ordination
Letter 3,48 - to Adeodatus, primate bishop of the province of Numidia. July 593
"Furthermore, as we greet your Fraternity with a harmonious feeling of affection, we exhort you to endeavor with a total application to carry out your office of primate, which you have with God's authority, with great wisdom. Thus it may both profit your soul to have reached this rank, and a good example for imitation may be available for others in the future.
And so be especially careful in ordination, and in no way allow men to aspire to holy orders unless more advanced in age and pure in deed. Otherwise, perhaps they may cease to be forever what they immaturely hasten to become. First examine the life and morals of those who are to be placed in holy orders and, so that you can admit those who are worthy of this office, do not let the influence or prayers of any person deprive you of them. 5n truth before all else you ought to take care that no venality occurs in ordination, in case (Heaven forbid!) a greater danger threatens both those consecrated and those consecrating.
Therefore, if action is ever necessary over this, invite serious and experienced men to participate in your counsels, and judge this matter with a common deliberation. And before all others, it is Columbus, our brother and fellow-bishop, whom you should consult over any matter at all."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 266.
"Furthermore, as we greet your Fraternity with a harmonious feeling of affection, we exhort you to endeavor with a total application to carry out your office of primate, which you have with God's authority, with great wisdom. Thus it may both profit your soul to have reached this rank, and a good example for imitation may be available for others in the future.
And so be especially careful in ordination, and in no way allow men to aspire to holy orders unless more advanced in age and pure in deed. Otherwise, perhaps they may cease to be forever what they immaturely hasten to become. First examine the life and morals of those who are to be placed in holy orders and, so that you can admit those who are worthy of this office, do not let the influence or prayers of any person deprive you of them. 5n truth before all else you ought to take care that no venality occurs in ordination, in case (Heaven forbid!) a greater danger threatens both those consecrated and those consecrating.
Therefore, if action is ever necessary over this, invite serious and experienced men to participate in your counsels, and judge this matter with a common deliberation. And before all others, it is Columbus, our brother and fellow-bishop, whom you should consult over any matter at all."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 266.
Tuesday 9 August 2011
Praise
Letter 3,47 - to Bishop Columbus. July 593
"I congratulate you and praise God our Creator especially, who does not deny the gifts of his mercy to his humble servants. For this reason I truly confess that your Fraternity has so inspired me to love you with the flame of charity, and that my spirit has been so united with yours, that I both long to see you, and yet in your absence I shall always think of you in my heart. For the union of minds in love can certainly show more honor than bodily presence. Furthermore with all my mind, with all my heart and with all my soul, I know that you adhere even now to the apostolic see, and are devoted to it, and before your letter gave witness of this devotion, I knew it full well."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 265.
"I congratulate you and praise God our Creator especially, who does not deny the gifts of his mercy to his humble servants. For this reason I truly confess that your Fraternity has so inspired me to love you with the flame of charity, and that my spirit has been so united with yours, that I both long to see you, and yet in your absence I shall always think of you in my heart. For the union of minds in love can certainly show more honor than bodily presence. Furthermore with all my mind, with all my heart and with all my soul, I know that you adhere even now to the apostolic see, and are devoted to it, and before your letter gave witness of this devotion, I knew it full well."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 265.
Sunday 7 August 2011
A Laudable Election
Letter 3,46 - to the clergy of the church of Salona. July 593.
"In reading again the letter of your Beloved selves, we have learnt that you have elected your archdeacon, Honoratus. Know that this was welcome to us in every way, as you have elected to the rank of bishop a man long since known, with a strict morality. We also approve of this person, which has for some time been well known to us, and we wish to consecrate him as your bishop in accordance with your desire,
In this matter, we advise that you should persist in his election without any ambiguity, nor should any matter turn you away from this person. For just as that laudable election is now approved of, even so, if anyone (Heaven forbid!) should persuade your Beloved to give up your support for him, you will impose trouble on your soul and a stigma of faithlessness on your reputation.
But we have given a warning through Antoninus, our sub-deacon, that those who, without consideration, disagree with the general acceptance of your choice, should be able to agree with you."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 265.
"In reading again the letter of your Beloved selves, we have learnt that you have elected your archdeacon, Honoratus. Know that this was welcome to us in every way, as you have elected to the rank of bishop a man long since known, with a strict morality. We also approve of this person, which has for some time been well known to us, and we wish to consecrate him as your bishop in accordance with your desire,
In this matter, we advise that you should persist in his election without any ambiguity, nor should any matter turn you away from this person. For just as that laudable election is now approved of, even so, if anyone (Heaven forbid!) should persuade your Beloved to give up your support for him, you will impose trouble on your soul and a stigma of faithlessness on your reputation.
But we have given a warning through Antoninus, our sub-deacon, that those who, without consideration, disagree with the general acceptance of your choice, should be able to agree with you."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 265.
Thursday 4 August 2011
Misbehavior Must be Punished
Letter 3,45 - to John, bishop of Gallipoli. June 593
"From the report that your Fraternity sent to us, it has been found that Andrew, our brother and fellow-bishop, has without doubt had a concubine. But because it is uncertain wether he touched her while appointed to holy orders, you must warn him with a concerned exhortation. It her knows that he had intercourse with her while appointed to holy orders, he should retire from the office he holds and in no way presume to minister it. And if perchance, knowing he is guilty of his affair, he conceals his sin and presumes to minister, he should know that danger threatens his soul from the divine judgement.
But as for the woman from the poor-list whom he had chastised with cudgels, although we do not believe that her death eight month later was a result of that beating, yet because he had her punished in this way contrary to the rule of his vocation, suspend him from celebration of Mass for two months. Thus, at least this disgrace may teach him how he might behave for the future.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 264.
"From the report that your Fraternity sent to us, it has been found that Andrew, our brother and fellow-bishop, has without doubt had a concubine. But because it is uncertain wether he touched her while appointed to holy orders, you must warn him with a concerned exhortation. It her knows that he had intercourse with her while appointed to holy orders, he should retire from the office he holds and in no way presume to minister it. And if perchance, knowing he is guilty of his affair, he conceals his sin and presumes to minister, he should know that danger threatens his soul from the divine judgement.
But as for the woman from the poor-list whom he had chastised with cudgels, although we do not believe that her death eight month later was a result of that beating, yet because he had her punished in this way contrary to the rule of his vocation, suspend him from celebration of Mass for two months. Thus, at least this disgrace may teach him how he might behave for the future.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 264.
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