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
No comments:
Post a Comment