Letter 4,12 - to Maximian, bishop of Syracuse. October 593
" We have received repeated reports of such great evils being done in that province, that we might believe that it will soon perish (Heaven forbid!), due to the sins it commits.
For the bearer of this letter, on arriving here, complained tearfully that for several years before he had been supported by some man over possession of the church of Messina and its fonts. He said that he had been forcibly married to that man's female slave, through various persuasions, and asserted that from that union he already had some poor young boys. And he is even said now to have forcibly separated her from him, removing her and selling her to some other person.
If this is true, your Beloved sees how unheard of and cruel evil it is. And for that reason we suggest that you inquire into and disperse this very great wickedness, with that vivacity which we know full well you show in holy causes."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 297
Sunday, 23 October 2011
Decree On Holy Orders
Letter 4,11 - to Maximian, bishop of Syracuse. September 593
" You should not allow priests, deacons and other clerics, who serve the churches, to become abbots in the monasteries. Rather, they should either give up their clerical service and be called to monastic orders, or if they have decided to remain in the role of abbot, they should in no way be permitted to continue in the service of a cleric.
For it is quite improper if someone cannot fulfill just one of these roles diligently, in proportion to its importance, and yet is judged suitable for both of them.
Thus the ecclesiastical order would impede the monastic life, and in turn the rule of monasticism would also impede the ecclesiastical benefits."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 295
" You should not allow priests, deacons and other clerics, who serve the churches, to become abbots in the monasteries. Rather, they should either give up their clerical service and be called to monastic orders, or if they have decided to remain in the role of abbot, they should in no way be permitted to continue in the service of a cleric.
For it is quite improper if someone cannot fulfill just one of these roles diligently, in proportion to its importance, and yet is judged suitable for both of them.
Thus the ecclesiastical order would impede the monastic life, and in turn the rule of monasticism would also impede the ecclesiastical benefits."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 295
Last Will And Testament
Letter 4,10 - to Januarius, bishop of Cagliari. September 595
"But so that your zeal should not be weakened by the intervention of any sort of relaxation, we have decided that you should be especially encouraged concerning these duties. For indeed, we have heard that that magnificent man, Stephen, while he was departing from this life, directed that a monastery should be founded, by a clause in his last will and testament. It is said that his desire has so far been postponed thanks to a delay of his heiress, the honorable lady Theodosia.
Therefore we exhort your Fraternity to make every effort over the aforesaid case, and to warn the lady mentioned above that she ought to establish the convent within the space of a year, as she was ordered, and to construct everything according to the will of her dead husband, without any dispute."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 294
"But so that your zeal should not be weakened by the intervention of any sort of relaxation, we have decided that you should be especially encouraged concerning these duties. For indeed, we have heard that that magnificent man, Stephen, while he was departing from this life, directed that a monastery should be founded, by a clause in his last will and testament. It is said that his desire has so far been postponed thanks to a delay of his heiress, the honorable lady Theodosia.
Therefore we exhort your Fraternity to make every effort over the aforesaid case, and to warn the lady mentioned above that she ought to establish the convent within the space of a year, as she was ordered, and to construct everything according to the will of her dead husband, without any dispute."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 294
Friday, 7 October 2011
Proven Of Life And Morals
Letter 4,9 - to Januarius, bishop of Cagliari. September 593
"Carefully select one man, proven in his way of life and morals, whose age and rank leave him open to no suspicion of evil. With the fear of God, this man should be able to attend the convents themselves, so that the nuns are no longer allowed to wander outside their venerable abodes, contrary to the rule, for any reasons at all, whether private or public. But whatever has to be done for them, let it be done sensibly through the man selected by you. But let them offer praises to God and confine themselves to their convents, and provide no further reason for a suspicion of evil in the minds of the faithful.
Yet if any of them, through the earlier freedom, or through an evil custom of impunity, has either been seduced in the past or will be dragged down into the abyss of adultery in the future, we want her to suffer the severity of appropriate punishment, and then be consigned to another stricter convent of virgins, to do penance. There let her improve herself with prayers and fasting and penitence, and let her provide a fearful example to others of a stricter discipline.
But the man who is found in some wicked act with women of this sort, must be deprived of communion, if he is a layman. If he is a cleric, he must also be removed from his office and be confined to a monastery, to bewail his failures n self-control for evermore."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 292.
"Carefully select one man, proven in his way of life and morals, whose age and rank leave him open to no suspicion of evil. With the fear of God, this man should be able to attend the convents themselves, so that the nuns are no longer allowed to wander outside their venerable abodes, contrary to the rule, for any reasons at all, whether private or public. But whatever has to be done for them, let it be done sensibly through the man selected by you. But let them offer praises to God and confine themselves to their convents, and provide no further reason for a suspicion of evil in the minds of the faithful.
Yet if any of them, through the earlier freedom, or through an evil custom of impunity, has either been seduced in the past or will be dragged down into the abyss of adultery in the future, we want her to suffer the severity of appropriate punishment, and then be consigned to another stricter convent of virgins, to do penance. There let her improve herself with prayers and fasting and penitence, and let her provide a fearful example to others of a stricter discipline.
But the man who is found in some wicked act with women of this sort, must be deprived of communion, if he is a layman. If he is a cleric, he must also be removed from his office and be confined to a monastery, to bewail his failures n self-control for evermore."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 292.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
A New Convent
Letter 4,8 - to Januarius, bishop of Cagliari in Sardinia. September 593
"That is, she should construct a convent for the nuns with the Lord's help, in a house belonging to her, which she claims to own at Cagliari. But as she says that guests and casual visitors are overrunning her aforesaid home, we exhort your Fraternity to take care to give her assistance in all these matters, and to offer the help of your protection to her devotion. Thus, your cooperation and concern may make you a participant in the reward for her late husband and for her sense of duty.
We want relics, however, which she asks to be gathered in that house, to be placed there by your Fraternity, with the veneration they deserve."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 292.
"That is, she should construct a convent for the nuns with the Lord's help, in a house belonging to her, which she claims to own at Cagliari. But as she says that guests and casual visitors are overrunning her aforesaid home, we exhort your Fraternity to take care to give her assistance in all these matters, and to offer the help of your protection to her devotion. Thus, your cooperation and concern may make you a participant in the reward for her late husband and for her sense of duty.
We want relics, however, which she asks to be gathered in that house, to be placed there by your Fraternity, with the veneration they deserve."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 292.
The Way Of The Fathers
Letter 4,7 - to Gennadius, patrician and exarch of Africa. September 593
"And so we impose on you the correction of ecclesiastical cases all the more gladly, as we trust in the pious intent of your mind. For your Excellency should know that news has been brought to us by men coming from parts of Africa, that in the council of Numidia, many things are being committed contrary to the way of the Fathers and the statues of the canons.
And because we could no longer tolerate at all the frequent complaints over these matters, we have committed their investigation to Columbus, our brother and fellow-bishop. His reputation is well known and does not allow us to have any further doubts about his gravity.
For this reason, we greet you with fatherly affection, and ask your Excellency to lend him the strength of your assistance, in all matters that concern Church discipline."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 291.
"And so we impose on you the correction of ecclesiastical cases all the more gladly, as we trust in the pious intent of your mind. For your Excellency should know that news has been brought to us by men coming from parts of Africa, that in the council of Numidia, many things are being committed contrary to the way of the Fathers and the statues of the canons.
And because we could no longer tolerate at all the frequent complaints over these matters, we have committed their investigation to Columbus, our brother and fellow-bishop. His reputation is well known and does not allow us to have any further doubts about his gravity.
For this reason, we greet you with fatherly affection, and ask your Excellency to lend him the strength of your assistance, in all matters that concern Church discipline."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 291.
Monday, 26 September 2011
A Monstrous Crime
Letter 4,6 - to Cyprian, our deacon and defender of Sicily. September 593
"It has been brought to our attention that a lady called Petronella, who was born in the province of Lucania, became a non through the encouragement of Bishop Angellus. She bestowed on the convent that she had entered, by a special title of gift, all of her property in possession, although by law it could have remained her property. And we heard that on the death of the aforesaid bishop, he left half of his fortune to Angellus, a son of his who is said to be a notary of our Church, and half to the same convent.
But when they had fled to Sicily because of the disaster threatening Italy, the above-mentioned Angellus [the son, not the father and bishop] is said to have seduced her, after corrupting her morals. Sensing that she was pregnant, he removed her from the convent, and stole all of her property, and that which he could hold in possession, as by his father's right.
After perpetrating such a monstrous crime, he is said to be claiming all the property by right of ownership.
We exhort your Beloved, therefore, to have the aforesaid man and the aforesaid woman brought before you under a strict indictment, and to investigate this same case according to its merits, with a most careful examination."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 291.
"It has been brought to our attention that a lady called Petronella, who was born in the province of Lucania, became a non through the encouragement of Bishop Angellus. She bestowed on the convent that she had entered, by a special title of gift, all of her property in possession, although by law it could have remained her property. And we heard that on the death of the aforesaid bishop, he left half of his fortune to Angellus, a son of his who is said to be a notary of our Church, and half to the same convent.
But when they had fled to Sicily because of the disaster threatening Italy, the above-mentioned Angellus [the son, not the father and bishop] is said to have seduced her, after corrupting her morals. Sensing that she was pregnant, he removed her from the convent, and stole all of her property, and that which he could hold in possession, as by his father's right.
After perpetrating such a monstrous crime, he is said to be claiming all the property by right of ownership.
We exhort your Beloved, therefore, to have the aforesaid man and the aforesaid woman brought before you under a strict indictment, and to investigate this same case according to its merits, with a most careful examination."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 291.
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