The Grace of Conversion

Quote from Letter 9.158 to Desiderius, bishop. May-June 599

We know that Pancras, the bearer of this letter and a deacon, as he asserts, by presenting himself at the thresholds of the apostles, hoped that we should commend him particularly to your Fraternity. He also intimated to us that he had served your church in a priestly office.
Therefore, moved by the inspiration of divine remorse, he seeks the grace of conversion to the monastic life, and there he desires to remain in the same habit with which he undertook this office, having reminded us that he had already been made deacon of that monetary.
He cannot bear to be torn from serving in that position for any reason.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 643.

Firmly Against the Title of Ecumenical Patriarch

Quote from Letter 9.157 to Eusebius of Thessaloniki, Urbicus of Dyrrachium, Andrew of Nicopolis, John of corinth, John of Prima Justiniana, John of Crete, John of Larissa and John of Scutari. May 599

Furthermore, it has come to our attention that your Fraternity has been summoned to the city of Constantinople. Our most pious emperor does not allow unlawful acts to be done there, and yet, in case wicked men should take the opportunity of your meeting, and either look for a change of deception in support for the false belief of this titel [of ecumenical (universal) patriarch], or should think of holding a synod for some other matter, meaning to introduce it in that synod with cunning contrivances, yet nothing done without the authority and agreement of the apostolic see would have any force.
But I swear before almighty God and warn you that none of your should agree to any sort of persuasive flattery, any sort of bribery, andy sort of threat. But rather, out of consideration for the eternal Judge, present yourself soundly and unanimously against wicked desires, and relying on pastoral constancy and apostolic authority, keep out the robber and the wolf that rushes in, and do not yield to the one who rages, bent on dividing the Church. Do not allow a synod to be convened over this matter, through any deceitfulness; indeed, such a meeting should not be called a synod.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 641.

Schism, Unity, and Pastoral Care

Quote from Letter 1.156 to Marinianus, bishop of ravenna. May 599

And now all those who live in the aforesaid island [of Cáorle] have been deprived of the protection of a priest. For while they desire to be united with the Holy Church, they cannot receive that bishop now, as he has reverted to the error of the schismatics, and they ask that another priest be consecrated for them. But since it is necessary for us to examine all of this strictly and very carefully, we have decided that the following should be arranged.
Your fraternity is to send a message to that bishop and warn him to return to the unity of the Catholic Church and to his own people. And if he refuses to return after this warning, God's flock ought not to be beguiled by the shepherd's error. And for that reason, your Holiness should consecrate a bishop there and he should include that land in his own diocese, until the Istrian bishops revert to the Catholic Faith, so that we may preserve their diocesan laws of each individual church, and so that there should be no lack of a bishop's protection and care for a congregation without a pastor.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 640.

Prayer

Quote from Letter 9.155 to Callinicus, exarch of Italy. May 599

Besides this, you suggest that you want to celebrate the birthday of Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, in the city of Rome. We pray our almighty Lord to protect you with his mercy and allow you to fulfill your prayers. But I ask that the aforesaid most eloquent gentleman may come with you. If he does not come, let him withdraw from his allegiance to you. Or certainly, if your Excellency cannot come perhaps because f intervening cases, either let him share with the unity of the Holy Church, or I ask that he does not participate in your councils. For I hear he is a good man, but has fallen into grievous error.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 639.

With Sincere and Devoted Mind

Quote from Letter 9.155 to Calllinicus, exarch of Italy. May 599



Be aware that I have been comforted with great joy by your reports of victories over the Slavs, and that the bears of this letter, hurrying to Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, to be joined to the unity of the Holy Church, have been sent over by your Excellency from the isle of Cáorle. For in this you prevail more fully against your enemies, if you bring back under the yoke of the true Lord those whom you acknowledge as God's enemies, and conduct your causes among men just as bravely as you have dealt with the cases of God among men with a sincere and devoted mind.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 639.

Unity versus Schism

Quote from Letter 9.154 to Basil. May 599


Our hearts rejoices deeply with your Greatness, as we have found you so keen in your action that they acquire glory for you among men and profitable rewards before almighty God. And s, among your other praiseworthy deeds, we have learnt how a burning love for Church unity inflamed you long ago against the schism of the Istrians.
We heard this some time ago from the reports of many men, and hear it now in full from the evidence of our agents. 
Therefore we pray for the mercy of our Redeemer, asking him to support you in all things with his own grace, and grant that you may through your actions bring the fulfillment what he has permitted you to desire. Therefore, in this matter your recompense increases in proportion to your love of hard work.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 638.

Hope

Quote from Letter 9.153 to the inhabitants of the island of Cáorle, in the province of Istria. May 599

Our Redeemer and Mediator between God and mankind, not forgetting our human condition, so joins the highest things with the lowest that, remaining forever in eternity himself, he arranges our temporal matters.
He does so with such a hidden impulse, determining them with holy moderation, that the ancient enemy can in no way seize from his hand those whom He knew before the start of time had to be united forever within the bosom of mother Church.
For even if any of those among whom he lives are blown apart by the winds of adversity for a while, and waver like the young shoots of a vine, yet the root of true faith that rises up from beneath the earth remains green through the divine will, so it might display fruit from its hidden store at the appointed time.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 637.

Devotion

Quote from Letter 9.152 to Andrew, a scholastic. May 599


The well-known quality of the devotion that you revealed long ago to Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles, shows what credence we ought to place in the sincerity of your Glory. Although we are confident that you are supporting his causes very readily, yet it is not contrary to your interest if we demand in this extensive letter of ours those things that you are doing in your own accord. 
And for that reason, we greet you with the affection of fatherly love, and ask that, since we have sent the bearer of this letter, our notary Castor, to your area, on pressing business, your Goodness should assist him in all things and cooperate with him with your advice wherever it proves necessary, so that he can rely on the support of your Christianity and can be found alert and well suited to the fulfillment of his responsibilities. 

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 637.

Unity

Quote from Letter 9.151 to Romans, defender of Sicily. May 599

The bears of this letter came here from the region of Istria to their bishop, who is now living in the district of Sicily, asking to go out through Rome with our support, and we have made arrangements for them to set out from here. Let your Experience receive them, therefore, and arrange how they might reach their aforesaid bishop more quickly, in case, as they claim, other schismatics of that region arrive to persuade the bishop before they get there. For as far as they indicate, that bishop wants to come to us himself, for the sake of a union of faiths. Thus they must be supported, so that they can complete the good things that they desire with the Lord's help.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 636.

Unity

Quote from Letter 9.149 to Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna. May 599

Those bearing this letter came to us from the region of Istria, desiring to be subjected to the united Church, with the Lord's help. We received them with affection, because of their praiseworthy desire, and as the sent ahead an exhortation about the preservation of the unity obtained, all know that we have allowed them to fight the good fight for our Church as well, as was their desire.
Let your Fraternity receive them with joy and freely provide them with the help that they request, so that as they return to their own homes, they are not worn out for the goodness of their work by any disturbances by evil people. 

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 635.

Unity

Quote from Letter 9.148 to Secundinus, an anchorite monk. May 599

Therefore, your Beloved, so very sweet to me with your very moral life, must afflict yourself through abstinence and apply yourself to the doctrine of God, and should think if this with more attention, in case a church might be found divided from the holy, universal Church by following an error of the schismatics.
And what did so many labour produce, if it is found not to be in the unity of faith, which before the eyes of almighty God protect the soul especially in good deeds? For from this it is said: 'One alone is my dove, my perfect one.' [Sg. 6:9]

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 630.

Scars on the Soul

Quote from Letter 9.148 to Secundinus, an anchorite monk. May 599

And a deceived mind often recovers with delight from the state in which it has toured itself with regret, so that i can truly say with the palmist:' Foul and festering are my scars because of my folly' [Ps 38:6]. For indeed a scat is a sign of a wound, but one cured. And so a scar becomes infected again when the sound of sin, already cured through penitence, rouses the mind to give itself pleasure. Often what we have never done, we see with our mind's eye through the traps of the cunning enemy, and when pleasure steals in insensibly in this, although it may now lament what it has done, yet it disgusts an unlucky mind  that we have done some things which it should lament. There are the shadows of our heart, which we endure in this life whether we want to or not. Who should be sought against this, other than an opportune helper in tribulation?

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 630.

Tricks of the Old Enemy

Quote from Letter 9.148 to Secundinus, an anchorite monk. May 599



And we indeed, who live among men, are often tempted through men by the cunning enemy. But you, who follow the path of your present life without human contact, must endure ever greater struggles, the more the very master of temptations attacks you.
For you cannot be free fro prayers and praises of God without some temporary interruption, because, although your intention is continually evident, yet human weakness itself relapses to its own nature, so that it finally lies worn out and inactive from the exercise of its devotion. But soon the ancient enemy, so as to find an idle mind, comes to it to speak under certain pretexts, and recalls things to its memory about its past deeds, and it indecently recalls to mind words once heard. 

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 630 .

Eloquence versus Truth

Quote from Letter 9.148 to Secundinus, an anchorite monk. May 599

I have received the letter of your Beloved, and in my senses it tasted as if seasoned with the honey of love. Oh, with what great breath of life is it filled, as your words poured out by the grace of the Holy Spirit! In them no cultured eloquence appeared, nor any pompous vocabulary, but containing only fundamental truth and charity, they breathed your love of the heavenly homeland in everything that they said.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 630.

Ruins in Fiesole

Quote from Letter 9.144 to Venantius, bishop of Luni. May 599

The contents of the petition of the priest, Agrippinus, and of the deacon, Servandus, concerning the church of Fiesole, is revealed to you by the document attached hereto. And for that reason, if what is contained therein has any basis of truth, and such persons have come to you as should be accorded some trust, you are obliged to give up to twenty gold coins, or more if you think it right, for the repair of churches that are said to be in ruins. Keep a record of the transaction, so that there should be both a remedy there and a defense for you.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 628.

The Bosom of the Mother Church

Quote from Letter 9,142 to Callinicus, exarch of Italy. May 599

(For) indeed, the bearers of this letter, coming to us from districts of Istria, avoiding the error of the schismatics, among whom they were living, and desiring to be subject to the unified Church. Considering their intention of good works, we welcomed them within the bosom of the Mother Church with suitable exhortation, and we gratefully allowed them their desire to serve as soldiers of our Church.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 627.

Death of a Bishop

Quote from Letter 9.143 to Anthem, sub-deacon of Campania. May 599

It has come to our attention from a report by certain people that when the bishop of the city of Aversa, Importunes, departed from this life, he left a will in which he bequeathed two thirds of his estate to his daughter-in-law, and the remainder third to his church.
And so we urge your Experience to investigate this with a very careful inquiry, and whatever clearly belongs to his church, do not allow it to be kept by any person at all (...). 
We also want you to warn the clergy and people of that same church with all urgency that they should elect a priest to be put in charge of them without any delay, so that he can settle the clergy and peopled the property or the same church with a careful arrangement bored on law.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 628.

A New Bishop (2)

Quote from Letter 9.140 to clergy and people of Rimini. May 599

And so, we exhort all of you to remove argument and with common consent to choose such a man to be put in charge of you, with the Lord's help, who would not be rejected in any way by the venerable canons, and could be found worthy of such a great ministry.
And when he has been asked for, let him come to us to be consecrated, with the solemnity of a decree corroborated by all of your signatures, and with a page from the visitor to follow, so that your church can have its own priest, with the Lord's disposition.
But we want you to take the priest whom you have chosen with unanimity to our brother and fellow-bishop, Marinianus, in Ravenna, without delay.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 626.

A New Bishop

Quote from Letter 9.139 to Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna. May 599

Therefore, because the careful concern imposed on us for all of the churches forces us not not to allow the flock of the faithful to lack pastoral care any longer, being compelled by their prayers and this bishop's announcement due to his impossible position, we have decided that another bishop should be ordained for that church in Rimini. 
After giving them the customary precepts, we have not ceased to encourage the clergy and people of that church to come together for the election of their own bishop, with harmonious forethought.
And so, we exhort your Fraternity to have the man called to you whom they all choose with complete agreement, as they themselves are known to have asked from us. examine him with a careful inquiry in all regards. And if what was punished by death in the text of Eptaticius had not been found at all in him, with the Lords's blessing, and from a report by faithful persons his way of life has also pleased you, send him over to us with the page of a decree, adding a letter as well with your testimony, so that he may be consecrated by us as bishop for the same church, with the Lord's disposition.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 625.

An Oratory in Rome

Quote from Letter 9.138 to Bona, abbess. April 599



And so, we have learnt that John, a deceased priest of the holy Roman Church that we serve, constructed with God's authority an oratory in a house owned by him and situated in this city of Rome, besides the baths of Agrippa, and he left some income there under the title of a legacy. He also established a community of monks in this oratory, and committed a page of his will to our predecessor of holy memory, Pelagius, to ensure that all of these things might be implemented. But prevented by his death, he did not manage to implement this, and agents of our Church are keeping the house itself with its garden (...). (W)ith the support of God we decided to dedicate the place itself solemn, and since your convent, where you were before, was agreed to be at risk of collapsing, we have decided to establish you there with your community, so that your community should inhabit the convent in the house mentioned above, in accordance with the wishes of the deceased, while serving our Lord and Redeemer, and you might avoid the threat of danger.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 624.

Doing Good

Quote from Letter 9.137 to Anthem, sup-deacon of Campania. April 599

Whenever some things worthy of consideration are allowed, for the sake of providing sustenance for those who deserve it, they both delight God and without doubt enrich the giver as well.
For that reason, we order your Experience with this authority not to put off giving twelve gold coins to the scholastic, Matheus, a most distinguished gentlemen.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 624.