Quote from Letter 9.83 to Antony, sub-deacon and Domitian, abbot and the prior equally. December 598-January 599
Just as it is a serious and thoroughly blameworthy matter if a controversy over secular matters should arise between persons serving our almighty Lord and last for a long time, even so it is praiseworthy and well suited to religious zeal to prefer a peace welcome to God to material gains, and from transitory things, to reap the everlasting profits of love.
Thus, with regard to the possessions of Faianum, Nasonianum and Libinianum, located in the province of Sicily and the territory of Palermo, there has been a long drawn-out dispute over them between those in charge of the monastery of Saints Maximus and Agatha, called Lucuscanum, and on the other side, the administrators of a hostelry built in the city of Rome, that is called Valerii. But now agreements have been made and an advantageous decision has come out of it, with God's authority, between you, our sub-deacon, Antony, in charge of the hostelry mentioned above, and on the other side, Domitian, our most beloved son and abbot, and the prior of the aforesaid monastery.
And so it is necessary that every opportunity for discord should be prevented, and that the intervention of our authority should confirm what has been done.
Just as it is a serious and thoroughly blameworthy matter if a controversy over secular matters should arise between persons serving our almighty Lord and last for a long time, even so it is praiseworthy and well suited to religious zeal to prefer a peace welcome to God to material gains, and from transitory things, to reap the everlasting profits of love.
Thus, with regard to the possessions of Faianum, Nasonianum and Libinianum, located in the province of Sicily and the territory of Palermo, there has been a long drawn-out dispute over them between those in charge of the monastery of Saints Maximus and Agatha, called Lucuscanum, and on the other side, the administrators of a hostelry built in the city of Rome, that is called Valerii. But now agreements have been made and an advantageous decision has come out of it, with God's authority, between you, our sub-deacon, Antony, in charge of the hostelry mentioned above, and on the other side, Domitian, our most beloved son and abbot, and the prior of the aforesaid monastery.
And so it is necessary that every opportunity for discord should be prevented, and that the intervention of our authority should confirm what has been done.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 593
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