A New Bishop

Quote from Letter to Chrystantus, bishop of Spoleto. June 599



And so we urge your Fraternity that, if indeed they [the clerics of the church of Bevagna] can find such a person as might be worthy of the hight office of bishop, you should direct him here with all speed, with the solemnity of a decree and testimony of your letter. 
But is one cannot be found now, look out for persons with all seal and vigor who could be consecrated there with the rank of bishop. Carefully examine their way of live and their actions first of all, in such a way that neither the sacred canons nor the rules of the Church could in any way be an obstacle to them, and so that the people living there, since they complain tearfully that they have been deprived through their lack of priests, may with this provision rejoice at receiving communion, and in those churches they may no longer lack the hole solemnities of Mass.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 648.

With Due Veneration

Quote from Letter 9.166 to fortunate, bishop of Naples. June 599



We think that your Fraternity is well aware that Romans, a gentleman of most distinguished memory, through the decision of his final will, decreed that a monastery should be built in a house under his control, situated in your city.
And because the dead man's will is known to have been implemented, with God's mercy, let your Holiness go there willingly, and if it is certain that no human body has ever been buried there, you should solemnly take care to consecrate the place itself in honor of Saints Hermes, Sebastian, Cyriacus and Pancras, doing so with public masses and due veneration, so that no baptistery is ever built in the same place and you do not incarnate a priest there.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 648.

The Will and Testament of Rustica, an Illustrious Lady

Quote from Letter 9.165 to Romans, defender. June 599



And first, indeed, it in the conditions of the will [of Rustica, made about 21 years earlier] an heir is named and our Church might have a plea thereby, we want you to investigate it and to get a clear picture of the facts, and to see to the benefit due to the poor, as the order demands. I want you then to see to the setting up of that monastery [provided for in the will], to the restoration of the estate left by her, so that the pious will of the testatrix my be fulfilled either way, and those who have kept this property unjustly may learn the guilt of their unlawful retention, losing their property as justice demands. 
And so we want you to look into this case mos energetically and to bring it to a conclusion with the Lord's help, so that the pious devotion of the testatrix may finally achieve its aim.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 647.

Military Duties and Spiritual Support

Quote from Letter 9.163 to Maurentius, a general. May-June 599

For he [Theodosius,  abbot of a community of monks in Campania] asserts that they are being afflicted very greatly by the watches they keep on the walls, and they can no longer cope. And so we ask your Glory to relieve the abbot of his burden , if indeed it is possible. However, if it is really difficult fro him to be relieved totally, then with my recommendation, you should so temper the weight of his burden, by reducing it for him a little, that he can apply himself more freely to the praise of God, and can pray to the Lord more confidently on your behalf, through whose work he has had some relief.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 646.

Encouragement

Quote from Letter 9.162 to Mastalonis. May-June 599

Therefore, offering thanks to the heavenly mercy with ineffable praise, we exhort and comfort your Beloved with all our strength, so that, just as the punishment of the man who received one talent and then buried it is disturbing, even so, the Lord's invitation to those who made great profit and rejoiced at receiving thereby the heavenly kingdom, should strengthen you to seek those things that are desirable.
For it is right for you to know, most beloved son, that there is no end to the reward for the fruit of pursuit than you have undertaken. For that reason, no annoyance caused by those show shackle you should disturb you, if it ever arises, since the more difficult it is to complete a good deed, with the cooperation of the Lord, the more glorious will your hope of recompense be. 
For a victory born from desperation is more exalted when it has been achieved with the sweat of very hard labor.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 645.

Human Effort and Divine Reward

Quote from Letter 9.161 to Gulfari, a general. May-June 599

For we have learnt that among the cares of the rule of those parts entrusted to you, you have a special concern over winning souls, and that you ar in such a hurry to recall the hearts of those in error to the united Church that, if it were in your powers, you would not want anyone there to remain segregated from the apostolic Church.
Such great love for Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, has inflamed you, that you long with great desire to restore men to the sheepfold of Him to when they were handed over by the Creator of all things.
Glorious son, firmly believe that such great work will receive divine reward. Not only our exhortation but also the words of the apostles give you confirmation of this.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 645.

Tears and Redemption

Quote from Letter 9.159 to Marcellinus, proconsul of Dalmatia. May-June 599

But we have heard that your Greatness has been accused of committing wicked sins that n man of faith should ever have perpetrated. For all affirm that you are the source of the plundering of that church and the ruination of such great souls and the audacity of unheard-of presumption. 
And indeed, as you say that you want to receive our favor, it is fitting that for such things as this you ought to satisfy our Redeemer with all the effort of your mind, as is proper, and with tears. For if He is not satisfied, what certainty will our mitigation and favor be able to confer?

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II,644 .