Quote from Letter 5,60 to Childebert, king of the Franks. 15 August 595
(And) how then is he going to intercede for the sins of others, who has not first wept for his own sins? For such a sheperd does not defend his sheep, but deveices them, since, while shame prevents him from persuading other to do what he does not himself, it can only be that the Lord's people remain a prey to robbers, and their deaths result from that which should have been their greatest support and protection of their safety.
Let your Excellency's Highness consider how depraved and how perverse this is, from your own consideration also. For it is certain that you do not appoint a general as an army commander, unless you have first established his hard work and loyalty, unless the courage and concern of the life he led before shows that he is suitable.
But if the control of an army is entrusted to no others, but only to men of this sirt, what sort of leader there should be for men's souls is redily shown by comparison with that army.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 396
No comments:
Post a Comment