Evil Words and Holy Scripture

Quote from Letter 6,28 to Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna. March 596

We are sad about this, because you provide very clear proof that the words of evil persuaders have had more effect on you than the study of Holy Scripture has benefited you.
And when you ought to be defending monasteries and collecting religious people in them as much as you can, so that you might make a profit from the community of souls, you want to exercise yourself quite differently, in making things hard for them, as your letters testify. What is worse, you are keen that we should have to share in your fault, while with our consent, of course, you are keen to burden the monastery which your predecessor founded, under the pretext of looking after its property and legal cases.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 423

Ordaining Priests

Quote from Letter 6,27 to Candidus, bishop of the city of Orvieto. March 596

(W)e give you through the letter herewith the freedom to remove monks from monasteries located in your parish, as long as their abbot consents, and to ordain them as priests. But be concerned above all about inquiring very carefully into the way of life and deeds of those who are to be established in this office, and then, if they are worthy, ordain them.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 422

Against Simony

Quote from Letter 6,26 to his most beloved sons, the clergy and nobles living in Salona. January 596

Heaven forbid the mind of a priest should be aroused by private passion in any sort of case! But I both care for your Beloved selves, and greatly fear the Judgment of almighty God on my soul, and so I desire to inquire very carefully into the case of the same Maximus, whether he is trying to reach the priestly office free of any crimes, which are a bar to holy orders, and whether it is not through the heresy of simony, that is, by bribing people to elect him. He will only be a free intercessor on your behalf before our Lord if he comes to the place of intercession without being obliged to anyone. 

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 421

Justice

Quote from Letter 6,25 to Maximus, who seized the bishopric in Salona. January 596

Be humble, finally, and submit yourself to obedience, and hasten to come to us without any excuse, so that, once the truth has inquired into and discovered, whatever is just and canonical may be decided, acoording to the fear of God. For rest assured that we shall preserve justice for you, and the statutes of canon law, and shall impose an end to your case, favorable to justice, as revealed by the Lord, the author of truth.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 419

Ongoing Business

Quote from Letter 6,24 Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna. January 596

(But) do not let the words of foolish men there influence you, and do not believe that there is some cost for your church through us. For if you ask Secundus, a monk, and your deacon, and Castor, our notary, you will discover from them how your predecessor already wanted to arrange the case. 
But your Fraternity acted wisely in sending persons here for the business itself, and not listening to foolish words. We trust in our almighty Lord that, once the truth been very closely examined, this case will be concluded, so pleasing to God that no further complaint may remain, nor either party aggrieved unjustly.
But as for the sword that was left with your predecessor by our beloved son, deacon Peter, then defender there, please send it back to us by the monk Secondus, and Castor our notary, the bearers of this letter.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 418

Solemn Dedication

Quote from Letter 6,22 to Peter, bishop of Aleria in Corsica. January 596

In the island of Corsica, at a placed called Negeugnus, there is a property called Cellas Cupias that belongs to the holy Roman Church, which we serve with God's authority.

There we have ordered a church with a baptistery to be founded, in the honor of Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles, and Saint Laurence the martyr, to benefit the souls living there. For that reason, with these words we exhort your Fraternity, that you should visit the aforesaid place without delay, providing the solemnities of a venerable dedication.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 418

The Election of a Bishop

Quote from Letter 6,21 to Peter, bishop of Otranto, visitor of Brindisi, Lecce and Gallipoli. November 595

(W)e recognize that the chruches of Brindise, Lecce and Gallipoli are entrirely destitute, with the deaths of their bishops, fro that reason we have thought that the task of their visitation should be atteteched to your Fraternity (...).
For that reason yoyr Fraternity will go quickly to the aforesaid churches, and will hasten to warn the clergy and people of the same churches, with repeated exhortations, to remove partisanship and with one and the same consensus to look for priests to be put in charge of them, such men as can be found worthy of such an important ministry and are in no way rejected by the venerable canons of the church.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 417