Recommendation

Quote from Letter 9.104 to Constantius, bishop of Milan. January 599.

Your Fraternity is so distinguished with dignity suitable to you that without another's advice, you understand instinctively what should be expended on anything. However, the bearer of this letter, John, a magnificent gentleman, who has arrived there to carry out the office of praetor, seeks to be recommended by our letter.
When it is necessary, therefore, let your Holiness provide the protection of your favor, within reason, and be keen to assist him in a priestly manner with your support, so that in your presence he should neither suffer from the oppression of others nor be hard on others himself, unreasonably.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 605

Faith and Salvation

Quote from Letter 9.103

(If) there is nothing that might prevent their ordination, be keen to ordain them with God's blessing. It is also right for you to talk with them, so that with the concern of their exhortation, they may strive to recall those living there from their lack of faith, and relieve them from the worship of pagan gods, and teach them to persist in their fear of almighty God and to love the rewards of eternal life, so that this consecration may lead them to glory before God and the people living there to salvation.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 604

Mystagogical Lesson

Quote from Letter 9.102 to Andrew. January 599

I have been greatly distressed to hear that grief and illness have so horribly plagued your Glory. But as soon as I heard that your affliction had left you totally, my pain turned into joy, and I offered great thanks to almighty God, for he has shattered us so as to make us whole, and has afflicted us so as to lead us to true joys. For thus it is written: 'Whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.' 

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 603

Re-Bulding the Church

Quote from Letter 9.100 to Serenus, bishop of Ancona. January 599

Now that the city of Osimo has recovered, with God's help, and is known to be held by the republic, great concern must be about the church itself, most of all because we know that our glorious son and general, Bahan, has hoped for this matter. And for that reason, we have taken care to send the present letter to your Fraternity, asking you to go to the same church as its sitter, in the usual way.
And it is proper for you to do this in such a way that nothing is presumed for the church by any one concerning the promotions of clergy, revenue, clothing and tableware, and whatever else there is in the patrimony of the same church. And your Fraternity will hasten to warn the clergy and people of this church with continual encouragement to seek out such a priest as should be put in charge of them, one who might be found worthy of so great a ministry and would in no way be rejected by the venerable canons, and to do so without any partiality but with joint consensus.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 602

Letter of Appointment

Quote from Letter 9.98 to Vitus, defender. January 599

You should work faithfully and diligently to complete all that we have charged you to do, as you will have to render an account of your actions before the judgement of our God. We have dictated this letter for Paterius, notary of our Church, to write down, with our signature below

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

Monks in Need

Quote from Letter 9.97 to Eugene, notary. January 599

(But) we also grant that they [the monks in the city of Blerana] should have a field of ten acres equally for the aforesaid space of [thirty] years, taken from the aforesaid estate, which they are known to possess, since we gave it to them some time ago. 
This is to ensure that the community of monks living there can have the relief of this measure. And so, let your Experience, supported by the authority of this order, not delay in handing over the aforesaid lands to them, so that they can continue to praise God with a freer mind.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 601

Stable and Trustworthy

Quote from Letter 9.96 to [a nobleman]. January 599

I am most delighted to hear that your Glory is extremely firm and stable in your morality. Thus I say things confidentially to you that displease me, as if talking to a special son of mine.
For a most excellent exarch is saying some things that could excite all those who love him to become his enemies. On this matter, I dictated for him expressly through the bearer of this letter what I though should be read again. If this pleases you, read it yourself also, so that you know what you should write to him concerning the same matter. 

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 601

A Little Agitated

Quote from Letter 9.92 to John, bishop of Syracuse. January 599



[After explaining a legal case and judgment] And so, if you clearly know that is was decided in this way, that is, if that possession was restored with the agreement of your predecease, and was [thus: illegal] occupied by the aforesaid man, see that it is handed back without any argument, while the question of ownership remains, of course, as it was decided in the same judgment. But if it is otherwise, these matters must also be decided at the same time by a judicial decision.
And so, let your Fraternity make sure that all of this is done without any delay, as tranquillity is bestowed on you, so that no murmur of ill will is stirred up against you, and the gentleman mentioned by us before [the glorious Felix] is not forced to bother us again.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 599

The Judgment of the Trial

Quote from Letter 9.91 to Felix, in Sicily. January 599

(For) we cannot pass judgment for someone who wants us to decide the case simply according to precedent, and we should give a full hearing to each party, so that we can judge the merits of the other party;s allegations without any doubt, especially if we have not heard the whole case. 
And for that reason, both of you act in such a way that, as we have said, the judgment of the trial decides the merit of your cases, once the truth is known. 
For while we should not want to sustain any prejudice, we wish much more that justice be preserved for you, as for our true sons.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 598

Testaments

Quote from Letter 9.90 to Sabinus, sub-deacon. January 599

(But) we have also discovered that the same testator [the palace guard Comitiolus] left a sixth of his fortune to the church of Saint George, where he wanted to be buried. So, take care in every way to claim the same sixth, if it also has not yet been paid in full, for the aforesaid place, so that the intention of his pious wish is brought into effect totally, even if the heiress is unwilling, and you do not allow wat has been reported in this matter to be put off any more. 
For it is sacrilege and contrary to laws if some person, through the desires of their perverted will, tries to retain for his own profit what is bequeathed to places of worship.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 597

Legal Matters

Quote from Letter 9.88 to Anthelm, sub-deacon of Naples. January 599

The right of justice demands that our Church ought not to retain any more without just cause than what was given by our predecessors, who knew the truth. Otherwise, what is considered totally contrary to a religious purpose might seem to have been not a true restitution, but an imaginary one, and quite fraudulent. 

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 596

The Thruth of the Lord's Prayer

(Second) quote from Letter 9.86 to Clementina, patrician. December 598-January 599

But I ought not to keep quiet over one matter brought to my attention, in case the love between us might be less, if what needs to be said for correction is passed over in silence. For indeed, it has been reported to me that if ever someone offends you, you hang on to the pain without forgiving him.
Because the more I love you, the more I am distressed, I ask that if this is true, your should banish this vice from yourself, and should not allow the seed of an evil crop to grow, following the crop of good proceed. Remember the words of the Lord's Prayer and do not let a fault have more influence on you then a pardon. Let the goodness of your Glory overcome your faults, and put you on trial more profitably by pardoning, as persistent bitterness can make you impious.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 595

Those Two-Faced....

Quote from Letter 9.86 to to Clementina, patrician. December 598-January 599

From the report of an abbot, we have learnt that it has been announced to your Glory by some slanderous people that we have some grudge (Heaven forbid!) against you.
If that is so, whoever they were who concocted this falsehood, were two-faced while appearing to be honest to you, so as to show themselves as though trustworthy, and to make us think badly about you.
But I, glorious daughter, have known your goodness for a long time, especially your chastity that was your companion from your childhood, and I always held you in great veneration and love. 
But so that your Glory foes not suspect that my heart is different even now, I make it known that there is no scrap of hatred in me, nor ounce of anger against you, but realize that I show you the love of a father.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 595

Negative Effects

Quote from Letter 9.84 to John, bishop of Syracuse. December 598-January 599

(And) as much as we love you with brotherly love, we are equally distressed to hear something that makes you unpopular.
For that reason, we exhort you with the present letter to cease from any delays and excuses, and make your people go to court with the other party over the boundaries that are said to have been invaded. 
Thus the inquiry into the invasion of property and the dispute over ownership, if there is one, may both be finalized. 
Therefore, let your Fraternity ensure that this is done without delay, so that the quarrel might not affect you with odium or disturb us again over it.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 594