Tuesday, 29 May 2012
The Pallium
Qoute from Letter 5,11 to John, bishop of Ravenna. October 594.
I find that your Fraternity is extremely distressed by the fact that you are forbidden from wearing the pallium in litanies, due to our cirticism of your reason. But by means of a most excellent patrician and a most eminent prefect, and through other noblemen of your city, you insolently seek to have this granted to you.
But from careful inquiries, we have found out from Adeodatus, who was once deacon of your fraternity, that is was never costumary for your predecessors to use the palium in litanies, except in the solemn processions for Saint John the Baptist, Saint Peter the apostle and Saint Apollinaris the martyr.
In fact we should not have believed him at all, because many of our delegates have quite often been in the city of your Fraternity, and they claim that they have never seen anything like that. And in this matter, one should believe many witnesses rather that just one who attests something on behalf of his own church.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 330.
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Pallium
Quote from Letter 5,10 to each of the bishops throughout Illyria. October 594.
(W)e have found out that in the person of John, our brother and fellow-bishop, the consensus of all of you and the wish of our most serene emperor are in accord. Great exultation has filled us, therefore, that such a man has been promoted, with the authority of God, to the office of bishop, a man who has been proved worthy of all things by the judgement of his election.
Therefore, in accordance with the purpose of your demand, with the authority of our assent we confirm that our brother and fewllow-bishop mentioned above is esthablished in the rank of priesthood which he holds, and we declare that we consider his ordination as ratified, by sending him the pallium.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 329.
(W)e have found out that in the person of John, our brother and fellow-bishop, the consensus of all of you and the wish of our most serene emperor are in accord. Great exultation has filled us, therefore, that such a man has been promoted, with the authority of God, to the office of bishop, a man who has been proved worthy of all things by the judgement of his election.
Therefore, in accordance with the purpose of your demand, with the authority of our assent we confirm that our brother and fewllow-bishop mentioned above is esthablished in the rank of priesthood which he holds, and we declare that we consider his ordination as ratified, by sending him the pallium.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 329.
Church Property
Quote from Letter 5,9 to Peter, notary in Reggio. October 594.
Those bearing this letter asked that the church plate of the church of Myrie, which Bishop Severinus had at some stage taken with him to Squillace, be restored to them.
Since, therefore, Church property ought to be secured with careful concern, this is what we have decided. He should be consecrated bishop in the same city where the plate itself could be handed over to him.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 329.
Those bearing this letter asked that the church plate of the church of Myrie, which Bishop Severinus had at some stage taken with him to Squillace, be restored to them.
Since, therefore, Church property ought to be secured with careful concern, this is what we have decided. He should be consecrated bishop in the same city where the plate itself could be handed over to him.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 329.
Saturday, 14 April 2012
Humility
Quote from Letter 5,8 to Felix, bishop of Serdica. October 594.
You yourself have no doubt as to how obedience and reverence ought to be shown to your superiors and to your inferiors also. In this matter, it is most advantageous if humility that deserves applause can uphold what the force of discipline imposes, without anyone's pressure.
And so, it has come to our attention that your Fraternity does not deign to obey our brother John, bishop of Prima Justiniana, according to custom, and are unwillling to add your signature in the normal way either to his decree or to the repley that he sent to us.
But if this is so, we are most upset.
For you are clearly showing proof of arrogance on your part. And the words of a divine warning state loudly how especially culpable this is, where a priest is concerned.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 328.
You yourself have no doubt as to how obedience and reverence ought to be shown to your superiors and to your inferiors also. In this matter, it is most advantageous if humility that deserves applause can uphold what the force of discipline imposes, without anyone's pressure.
And so, it has come to our attention that your Fraternity does not deign to obey our brother John, bishop of Prima Justiniana, according to custom, and are unwillling to add your signature in the normal way either to his decree or to the repley that he sent to us.
But if this is so, we are most upset.
For you are clearly showing proof of arrogance on your part. And the words of a divine warning state loudly how especially culpable this is, where a priest is concerned.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 328.
Tax and Converts
Quote from Letter 5,7 to Cyprian, deacon and rector of the Sicilian patrmony. October 594.
Thus the tax burden would be relieved for the convert, and Church funds would not be under pressure from a heavy expense. Nor are we doing this unprofitably, if by relieving their taxburdens we bring them to the grace of Christ. For, although they themselves come to us with little faith, even so these who are born from them can now be baptized with greater faith. Our profit therefore, is either themselves or their children. Whatever we lose in tax for Christ's sake is not a serious loss.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 327.
Thus the tax burden would be relieved for the convert, and Church funds would not be under pressure from a heavy expense. Nor are we doing this unprofitably, if by relieving their taxburdens we bring them to the grace of Christ. For, although they themselves come to us with little faith, even so these who are born from them can now be baptized with greater faith. Our profit therefore, is either themselves or their children. Whatever we lose in tax for Christ's sake is not a serious loss.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 327.
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Put Things Right
Quote from Letter 5,5 to Sabinian, deacon in Contantinople. September 594.
But I myself sent letters to him [the apostate Maximus], after I found out that he had been consecrated contrary to reason and contrary to what was customary, telling him not to presume to celebrate solemn Mass, until I first found out from my most serene Lordship what order he had given about his person.
When my letters were read out in public and posted in the city, he had them publicly torn up, and openly stood out with his contempt for the apostolic see.
You know how I would put up with this, I who before was ready to die rather than have the Church of Saint Peter degenerate in my time. You are well aware of my character, knowing that I would put up with things for a long time, but once I have decided not to put up with things, I am happy to meet all dangers. It is necessary, therefore, for one to face danger with the help of God, so that one is not forced to sin through excess.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 326
But I myself sent letters to him [the apostate Maximus], after I found out that he had been consecrated contrary to reason and contrary to what was customary, telling him not to presume to celebrate solemn Mass, until I first found out from my most serene Lordship what order he had given about his person.
When my letters were read out in public and posted in the city, he had them publicly torn up, and openly stood out with his contempt for the apostolic see.
You know how I would put up with this, I who before was ready to die rather than have the Church of Saint Peter degenerate in my time. You are well aware of my character, knowing that I would put up with things for a long time, but once I have decided not to put up with things, I am happy to meet all dangers. It is necessary, therefore, for one to face danger with the help of God, so that one is not forced to sin through excess.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 326
Sunday, 18 March 2012
Lapse in Faith
Quote from Letter 5,5 to Venantius, bishop of Luni, September 594.
For it has come to our attention that, after being removed from his priestly order because of his sinful lapse in faith, he [Saturninus] has presumed to return to carrying out his priestly ministry, and offering the body of Christ to almighty God, If your Fraternity finds that this is what has happened, you must deprive him of the holy body and blood of our Lord and force him to penitence, in such a way that right up to the day of his death he remains in the same state of excommunication, and receives his last rites only at the time of his demise.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II:325
For it has come to our attention that, after being removed from his priestly order because of his sinful lapse in faith, he [Saturninus] has presumed to return to carrying out his priestly ministry, and offering the body of Christ to almighty God, If your Fraternity finds that this is what has happened, you must deprive him of the holy body and blood of our Lord and force him to penitence, in such a way that right up to the day of his death he remains in the same state of excommunication, and receives his last rites only at the time of his demise.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II:325
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