Be Content

Quote from Letter 5,48 to Leontius, episcopal visitor of the church of Rimini. June 595

And so be vigilant in saving souls, and be concerned for the righteousness of the clergy. Do not allow the benefits of the church, of which you are acting as visitor, to perish unjustly or deteriorate through any stealing, in case (Heaven forbid!) you could incur the risk of perpetual danger before God, and the charge of a criminal act before us.

We have discovered. furthermore, that you are acquiring some supplies fro the pubic purse, and in this matter you are being restrained by shame, and in causes of the church and defense of the poor, you are not as effective as is fitting.

For that reason, you should abstain from what causes you embarassment, and be content with the stipend that you obtain from the church. For we shall have a different estimination of you if you want to act different after our exhortation. For althouggh you teach those entrusted to you to wage war against avarice, yet you instruct them not to be content with stipends tht are quite adequate.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 374