Quote from Letter 9.86 to to Clementina, patrician. December 598-January 599
From the report of an abbot, we have learnt that it has been announced to your Glory by some slanderous people that we have some grudge (Heaven forbid!) against you.
If that is so, whoever they were who concocted this falsehood, were two-faced while appearing to be honest to you, so as to show themselves as though trustworthy, and to make us think badly about you.
But I, glorious daughter, have known your goodness for a long time, especially your chastity that was your companion from your childhood, and I always held you in great veneration and love.
But so that your Glory foes not suspect that my heart is different even now, I make it known that there is no scrap of hatred in me, nor ounce of anger against you, but realize that I show you the love of a father.
From the report of an abbot, we have learnt that it has been announced to your Glory by some slanderous people that we have some grudge (Heaven forbid!) against you.
If that is so, whoever they were who concocted this falsehood, were two-faced while appearing to be honest to you, so as to show themselves as though trustworthy, and to make us think badly about you.
But I, glorious daughter, have known your goodness for a long time, especially your chastity that was your companion from your childhood, and I always held you in great veneration and love.
But so that your Glory foes not suspect that my heart is different even now, I make it known that there is no scrap of hatred in me, nor ounce of anger against you, but realize that I show you the love of a father.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 595
No comments:
Post a Comment