Letter 1,70 - to Subdeacon Peter. August 591.
"But for the fifty pounds of gold, buy new corn from foreign traders and store it in Sicily, in places where it will not perish, so that in the month of February we may send many ships there as we can, to bring the same corn back to us. But if we are slow in exporting it, provide ships yourself, and with the help op the Lord, transport this same corn back to us in the month of February, except of course for the corn which we expect to be exported now, in the month of September or October, following our normal custom.
And so let your Experience do this in such a way that the Church's corn is brought together without annoying any of the farmers. For here the crops was so very small that, unless corn is brought in from Sicily, with God's help, a serious famine threatens. But in every way guard the ships that have always been entrusted to the Holy church. The letters sent to you by the glorious gentleman and ex-consul Leo agree with this also."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 184.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Give Help
Letter 1,69 - to Sub-deacon Peter. August 591.
"We ought to provide assistance with kindly intent, as far as reason permits, for those in need, with the help of our recommendation. For that reason we thought that Cyriacus and his wife, Joanna, bearers of this letter, should be recommended by our instruction to your Experience, so that you do not allow them to be oppressed and burdened by anybody, contrary to what is just. Rather, when it is necessary, let them enjoy your consolation, with the approval of justice, so that they may rejoice that our recommendation aids them in all ways, with your support, and equity is preserved."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 183.
"We ought to provide assistance with kindly intent, as far as reason permits, for those in need, with the help of our recommendation. For that reason we thought that Cyriacus and his wife, Joanna, bearers of this letter, should be recommended by our instruction to your Experience, so that you do not allow them to be oppressed and burdened by anybody, contrary to what is just. Rather, when it is necessary, let them enjoy your consolation, with the approval of justice, so that they may rejoice that our recommendation aids them in all ways, with your support, and equity is preserved."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 183.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Fraud
Letter 1,68 - to all the bishops of Sicily. August 591.
"We know some men on the island of Sicily who are pretending to be defenders of the apostolic see, but are causing you trouble over transport payments and other matters. We have thought it necessary to put a stop their falseness with the present letter. For that reason we salute your Fraternity with the love owed to it, and warn you very strongly and hereafter no change at all should be left to such men to commit fraud. But whoever that person is, whether in fact a notary or a defender of our see, unless he bears a specific letter from us to you or that of a ruler of our patrimony, he is nog to take control of any transport payments in the name of our Church, nor must you let him impose any burdens on you. Rather, let him arrange his known journey with his own means and at his own expense."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 183.
"We know some men on the island of Sicily who are pretending to be defenders of the apostolic see, but are causing you trouble over transport payments and other matters. We have thought it necessary to put a stop their falseness with the present letter. For that reason we salute your Fraternity with the love owed to it, and warn you very strongly and hereafter no change at all should be left to such men to commit fraud. But whoever that person is, whether in fact a notary or a defender of our see, unless he bears a specific letter from us to you or that of a ruler of our patrimony, he is nog to take control of any transport payments in the name of our Church, nor must you let him impose any burdens on you. Rather, let him arrange his known journey with his own means and at his own expense."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 183.
Hire The Expert
Letter 1,67 - to Peter, sub-deacon of Sicily, August 591.
"Just as it is fitting that it is part of our desire to remove monks from the state's legal system, so that they may piously and wisely pay attention to divine ministries, even so it is necessary for us to arrange with our foresight how their businesses should be settled, so that a mind over-strained through various worries over legal cases should not break down and become dull and weak in the celebration of its usual offices.
And thus the bearer of this letter, the abbot John, has asserted that he has a great deal of business at his monastery. For this reason we ask your Experience with the order in this letter, that you should speak with Faustus, who was court secretary to Romanus, a magnificent gentleman and ex-preator. If your find that he feels favorable to this matter, your ought to commend the business of that monastery generally, and to arrange a salary."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 182.
"Just as it is fitting that it is part of our desire to remove monks from the state's legal system, so that they may piously and wisely pay attention to divine ministries, even so it is necessary for us to arrange with our foresight how their businesses should be settled, so that a mind over-strained through various worries over legal cases should not break down and become dull and weak in the celebration of its usual offices.
And thus the bearer of this letter, the abbot John, has asserted that he has a great deal of business at his monastery. For this reason we ask your Experience with the order in this letter, that you should speak with Faustus, who was court secretary to Romanus, a magnificent gentleman and ex-preator. If your find that he feels favorable to this matter, your ought to commend the business of that monastery generally, and to arrange a salary."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 182.
Sunday, 26 September 2010
The Horror Of Stealing
Letter 1,66 - to Sub-deacon Anthelm. August 591.
"The chief physician Fuscus, provoked by the ardor of his faith, is pouring out prayers in which he says that the deacon Opilio, as well as Servusdei and Crescentius, clerics of the church of Venafro, having forgotten their fear of the coming judgment, have sold holy treasures from the aforesaid church to some Jew, dreadful to relate. This consists of two chalices in silver, two crown lamps on dolphins, and lilies from other lamps, along with six larger and smaller hangings.
For that reason your Experience will soon receive the present order, suggesting that you should make the above-mentioned priests come to you quickly without delay. After you have found out the truth, if it turns out as has been suggested, ensure that the aforesaid Jew, who presumed to buy the sacred treasures, forgetting the force of law, is summoned by the provincial judge, and is compelled to restore the aforesaid holy items without delay. In this way nothing out of them may be lost from the oft-mentioned church.
As for the aforesaid deacon and priests,who committed such a deadly sin, please do not delay in binding them in penitence, so that with their tears they can wash away an offence so evil and so great."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 182.
"The chief physician Fuscus, provoked by the ardor of his faith, is pouring out prayers in which he says that the deacon Opilio, as well as Servusdei and Crescentius, clerics of the church of Venafro, having forgotten their fear of the coming judgment, have sold holy treasures from the aforesaid church to some Jew, dreadful to relate. This consists of two chalices in silver, two crown lamps on dolphins, and lilies from other lamps, along with six larger and smaller hangings.
For that reason your Experience will soon receive the present order, suggesting that you should make the above-mentioned priests come to you quickly without delay. After you have found out the truth, if it turns out as has been suggested, ensure that the aforesaid Jew, who presumed to buy the sacred treasures, forgetting the force of law, is summoned by the provincial judge, and is compelled to restore the aforesaid holy items without delay. In this way nothing out of them may be lost from the oft-mentioned church.
As for the aforesaid deacon and priests,who committed such a deadly sin, please do not delay in binding them in penitence, so that with their tears they can wash away an offence so evil and so great."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 182.
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Help For Those In Need
Letter 1,65 - to Peter. July 591.
"If we confront the needs of our neighbors with customary compassion and kindly intent, without doubts we find the Lord merciful to our requests. Indeed we have learnt that Pastor, who has a wife and slaves and suffers from an extreme weakness of vision, and who served with Jonathas, once of glorious memory, is subject to a great many needs. For that reason we order your Experience with the letter bearing this instruction not to delay in giving him annually enough measures of corn, and enough measures of beans also to sustain him, and these costs could be charged to your account afterwards."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 182.
"If we confront the needs of our neighbors with customary compassion and kindly intent, without doubts we find the Lord merciful to our requests. Indeed we have learnt that Pastor, who has a wife and slaves and suffers from an extreme weakness of vision, and who served with Jonathas, once of glorious memory, is subject to a great many needs. For that reason we order your Experience with the letter bearing this instruction not to delay in giving him annually enough measures of corn, and enough measures of beans also to sustain him, and these costs could be charged to your account afterwards."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 182.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Prayers, No Bribes
Letter 1,64 - to Felix, bishop of Messina. July 591.
"And for the rest, we are opposed to your being obliged to send anything extra to us. And since we are not pleased by presents, the palm-embroided roes which your Fraternity sent we have received with due thanks, but we have sold them at a good price and have sent the proceeds to your Fraternity as a single payment, so that you cannot suffer any loss therefrom.
But since w have learnt that your Charity wishes to come to us, we warn you with this letter that you should not take on the trials of the journey.
But pray for us, that the more the distance of the journey separates us, the more we are joined together in our minds with mutual love, with Christ's assistance, so that, by helping each other with an exchange of prayers, we may return the office undertaken by us to our coming Judge in a blameless condition."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 181.
"And for the rest, we are opposed to your being obliged to send anything extra to us. And since we are not pleased by presents, the palm-embroided roes which your Fraternity sent we have received with due thanks, but we have sold them at a good price and have sent the proceeds to your Fraternity as a single payment, so that you cannot suffer any loss therefrom.
But since w have learnt that your Charity wishes to come to us, we warn you with this letter that you should not take on the trials of the journey.
But pray for us, that the more the distance of the journey separates us, the more we are joined together in our minds with mutual love, with Christ's assistance, so that, by helping each other with an exchange of prayers, we may return the office undertaken by us to our coming Judge in a blameless condition."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 181.
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