Quote from Letter 7,5 to Cyriacus, bishop of Constantinople. October 596
(But) I find you in your letters seeking serenity of mind with great longing, and panting for tranquillity of thought by rejecting mental disturbance. But I do not knw how your Fraternity can achieve this.
For one who takes on the control of a ship must be all the more vigilant the further he leaves the shore behing him, so that when the time comes, he may foresee approaching sotrms from signs, and when they do come, either ride over them with a straight rudder, if they are small, or if they swell up violently, avoid them, by turning the ship's side to the waves.
And often he keeps watch alone, when the rest of the crew, who are not responsible for the care of the ship, keep quiet.
And how can you have peace of mind, after receiving the pastoral burden? For it is written: 'Behold, giants groan beneath the waters'. And indeed, according the the words of John, 'the waters are the people.' The groaning of giants beneath the waters means that whoever has increased in the amount of power in this world, as if with some massive growth of his body, feels th weight of greater tribulation all the more, as he has taken on the care of ruling people beyond his ability. But if the virtue of the Holy Spirit breathes to his afflicted mind, then what was done bodily at once for the people of Israel, happeds to us spiritually.
(But) I find you in your letters seeking serenity of mind with great longing, and panting for tranquillity of thought by rejecting mental disturbance. But I do not knw how your Fraternity can achieve this.
For one who takes on the control of a ship must be all the more vigilant the further he leaves the shore behing him, so that when the time comes, he may foresee approaching sotrms from signs, and when they do come, either ride over them with a straight rudder, if they are small, or if they swell up violently, avoid them, by turning the ship's side to the waves.
And often he keeps watch alone, when the rest of the crew, who are not responsible for the care of the ship, keep quiet.
And how can you have peace of mind, after receiving the pastoral burden? For it is written: 'Behold, giants groan beneath the waters'. And indeed, according the the words of John, 'the waters are the people.' The groaning of giants beneath the waters means that whoever has increased in the amount of power in this world, as if with some massive growth of his body, feels th weight of greater tribulation all the more, as he has taken on the care of ruling people beyond his ability. But if the virtue of the Holy Spirit breathes to his afflicted mind, then what was done bodily at once for the people of Israel, happeds to us spiritually.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 454
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