Comfort and Support

Quote from Letter 7,14 to Constantius, bishop of Milan. November 596

I have said this, then, to show you that it is a sign of excessive levity, if someone is keen to believe that serious evils have been committed which cannot be proved. Thus, your Sanctity ought to seperate your mind from the rumors and disparagement of slanderous men, and think about those things alone that concern your inner life, and help to benefit your subjects.
For it was for this also, perhaps, that the ancient enemy wanted you to be involved in such a concern, so that, while your Fraternity's mind is occupied incessantly with its own concerns, you might think less about the cares of others, and provide no word of consolation to your subjects, and contradict those acting perversly without any strict punishment
For thus in physical warfare, it usually happens that the enemy makes their strongest assault on the man carrying a flag into battle, so that, if he who is obeyed by the others should reveive a wound, the whole mass of men would scatter quickly and be captured. And so your Fraternity ought not to feel this wound of gossip inflicted on you, but you should take care of the life and betterment of thse entrusted to you, so that when the Judge appears, you can give a good account of your own innocence and of the betterment of your subjects.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 466

Sacred Vessels

Quote from Letter 7,13 to Fortunatus bishop of Fano. November 596

Since, therefore, we learn from your Fraternity's letter that you have borrowed money for the ransoms [of capitves], and have no way of paying it back, and for this reason want our authority to sell some sacred vessels, in this case, because the decrees of both the laws and the canons support it, we have seen fit to give our consent, and we grant you the freedom to dispose of the sacred vessels.
But in case ther sale could put you in invidious position, they ought to be sold in the presence of our defender, John, for no more that the amount owed, and what they raise sould be paid to your creditors.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 466

For the Protection of a Community

Quote from Letter 7,12 to Respecta, abbes of Marseilles in Gaul. October 596

(B)e keen to show yourself in earnest to be all the more concerned for the management and protection of your community, so that the malice of the evil enemy may find nothing there which could be defiled. Therefore, we consider that everything detailed in the text of this injunction contains should be preserved by your convent in all ways and by all in perpetuity, with Christ's protection, so that the benifits of the privileges bestowed may always remain inviolat in their firmness.






 Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 464

Recommendation

Quote from Letter 7,11 to Rufinus, bishop of Ephesus. October 596

The bearer of this letter wanted to be recommended in your presence by our letters, but when I asked him whether he had learnt to write, as a cleric should be able to do, he replied he did not know how to. And so, I do not know what greater recommendation we should make for him before your Fraternity, other than that you ought to be concerned sbout his soul, and watch over him with pastoral care.
Thus, as he does not know how to read, your tongue must be his book, and he must see in the goodness of your preaching and work what he should imitate. For a living voice is often likely to attract the heart more closely that a cursory reading of a text.
But, while you supply him inwardly with this spiritual learning as his teacher, show plenty of external  concern for him also, so that, assisted by this, he might come to seek spiritual things.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 464

Requirements

Quote from Letter 7,10 to Agnellus, abbot of Rimini. October 596

(And so) if there is some person from the order who supports you, the sort of man who could be found to be sagacious concerning the ordination of monks and the protection of the brethren, and also in winning over men's souls, then he ought to step into this position [of prior] without hesitation.
But if, in fact, there is no such person as such a position demands, but one coming from any rank, even the lowest, can be found to be such a person among his brothers, with the Lord's protection, and who can, with the merits of his life, provide appropriate proof of his Christian way of life, and in whom the vigor of divine fear is ever watchful, then no official position shoul dbe provided for him.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 463

Reminder

Quote from Letter 7,9 to John, bishop of Syracuse. October 596

I remember replying already to you in previous letters, and there is nothing else that you have to do, except that you should do everything in consideration of our almighty Lord alone, and do not allow any person to weaken you in the vigor of your discipline, or any strong disdain (Heaven forbid!), make you hard-hearted with an inflexibility of immoderate strictness.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 462