Quote from Letter 8.1 to Peter, bishop of Aleria in Corsica. September 597
(And so) let your Fraternity be eager to bring to perfection the work that you have begun, with the Lord's help. As for those who were once Christians, but have reverted to worshipping idols through negligence of compulsion, you should hasten to bring them back to the faith, imposing penance on them for some days.
Thus they should bewail their guilt, and they should hold on to what they are brought back to with the Lord's help all the more firmly, the more completely they have wept for their sins.
For those who have not yet been baptized your Fraternity should hasten to bring them together with the almighty Lord by admonishing them, by questioning them, by scaring them over the coming judgment and by explaining why they should not worship stocks and stones.
Thus at his advent, when the strict day of Judgement shall come, your Holiness might be found among the number of saints. For what can you do more advantageous and more sublime, than thinking about the quickening and gathering of souls, and bringing immortal profit to your Lord, who gave you your place for preaching?
(And so) let your Fraternity be eager to bring to perfection the work that you have begun, with the Lord's help. As for those who were once Christians, but have reverted to worshipping idols through negligence of compulsion, you should hasten to bring them back to the faith, imposing penance on them for some days.
Thus they should bewail their guilt, and they should hold on to what they are brought back to with the Lord's help all the more firmly, the more completely they have wept for their sins.
For those who have not yet been baptized your Fraternity should hasten to bring them together with the almighty Lord by admonishing them, by questioning them, by scaring them over the coming judgment and by explaining why they should not worship stocks and stones.
Thus at his advent, when the strict day of Judgement shall come, your Holiness might be found among the number of saints. For what can you do more advantageous and more sublime, than thinking about the quickening and gathering of souls, and bringing immortal profit to your Lord, who gave you your place for preaching?
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 497
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