Care For A Soul

Letter 3,39 - to Peter, sub-deacon of Campania. June 593

"Furthermore, since the defender Felix is said to own a female slave called Catella, who is seeking the robe of a religious life with many tears and most ardent desire, although her aforesaid master does not allow her to be converted, we therefore want your Experience to go and see the aforesaid Felix and to carefully examine the mind of the same slave-girl, and send her over here with some responsible people, to be placed in a convent, with God's help. But do this in such a way that the soul of the aforesaid slave-girl does not sustain any loss in her desire though your sluggish action."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 261.