Rent Due and Relief

Quote from Letter 9.191 to Anthem, deacon. July 599

Adeodatus (...) claims that he has fallen into such great poverty that he cannot pay [the rent for land and a building of] two gold coins each year as he has promised, and has sought relief over this one matter.
Therefore, let your Experience take care to investigate this. And if he is obviously as poor as he claims, we want him to be excused from half of the payment due to us, so that each year he does not pay more than one gold coin. For his old age and poverty suggest that the burden on him should be relieved, as he asks.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, p.660.

Unity and Property

Quote from Letter 1.187 to Constantius, bishop of Milan. July 599

(T)he clergy of the church of Como, whom you warned with priestly concern to revert to the unified Church, have replied that you have not shown them the kind of affection that might convince them to return to it, persuaded by love.
They assert that other parties are retaining various properties of theirs, including a possession called the Aurian villa, which is being kept by our Church. And indeed, we have praised the concern of your Holiness in every way, because you have not neglected at all what you had to do. But we do not allow the aforesaid possession, even if it is legally theirs, to be retained contrary to the dictates of reason, even if perhaps they have putt off returning to communion.
But if they convert to the unity of the church, inspired by God, which we pray for, we are prepared to concede it to them, even if it does nog belong to them.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II,p. 658.

A New Bishop

Quote from Letter 9.186 to the clergy, nobles and people of Tolina. July 599

Learning that your church has long been bereft of the rule of its own bishop, we took care to delegate the task of visitor fro the same church with due solemnity to Gaudiosus, our brother and the bishop of the church of Gubbio (...). Take care before all else that you do not presume to choose a layman, whatever his way of live and merit. And that person should not only in no way be promoted to the high rank of bishop, but also know that you could not deserve to be pardoned for this, however much you protested. But if any of you have without doubt supported a layman, know that you must certainly be excluded from the holy office and from communion.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, p. 658.

Shrines in Milan

Quote from Letter 9.184 to Constantius bishop of Milan. July 599


The bearer of this letter, Events, deacon of your Fraternity, intimated to us among other things that you ordered him that we ought to direct to you through him the relics of Saint Paul the apostle, and also of Saints John and Pancras.
And we have taken care to bring this petition of yours into effect.Therefore, let your Fraternity not put off examining this with your usual keenness, so that in the places where that lamps and food of those servants of God in Milan had to be stored before the dedication of that place, they should be removed, and then in the same places, its shrines should be established directly with reverence, in case these places, dedicated to God, might become destitute in future times (heaven forbid!), if the aforesaid provision should now be omitted and be used for the burial of those servants of God.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, p.657.

Promis And Protection

Quote from Letter 9.183 to John bishop of Syracuse. July 599


(L)et your Fraternity support him in a reasonable way, and be keen to act before our aforesaid most glorious son [the Lord Leontinus] with your usual affection, so that you so not let him suffer in any way at all, contrary to law of reason, Rather, see that his rights are protected in all things, as befits his Christianity, so that, as your reward, you may seem to have successfully preserved what the rule of law demands, and he may not feel that he is suffering anything contrary to our promise.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, p. 656.

A New Oratory

Quote from Letter 9.181 to Benedatus, bishop of Tyndari. July 599


Januaria, a nun, has reported to us, while notifying us of the claim included below, that she has founded an oratory in the Furian estate, to show her devotion, and it remains under her charge. She wants it to be consecrated in honor of the Saints Severinus the confessor and Juliana the martyr.
And for that reason, dearest brother, if the building mentioned is under the jurisdiction of your parish, and it is certain that no human body had been buried there, you will solemnly consecrate the aforesaid oratory with public masses.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, p. 656.

Again: Punishment and Reason

Quote from Letter 9.179 to Castor, our notary in Ravenna. July 599


The more you see that we trust you and charge you with necessary cases, the more you ought to show yourself strenuous and concerned. Therefore, if Maximus of Salona takes an oath to confirm that he is innocent of simoniacal heresy, and when just asked about other matters before the body of Saint Apollinaris, replies hat he is innocent , and shows penitence over his disobedience, as we have directed, then we want your Experience to give him that letter which we wrote to him to console him, in which we signified that we returned our grace and communion to him.
For just as it suits us to be severe to those resisting in insolence, even so we should not deny an opportunity to pardon to those who are humble again and penitent.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, p. 654.

Punishment and Reason

Quote from Letter 9.178 to Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna.. July 599

Therefore, if the same Maximus purges himself of his simoniacal heresy in the presence of you and of our aforesaid notary, discharging such an oath, and replies before the body of Saint Apollinaris that he is free of the other charges, when asked to do so, as we have written, we entrust his case to the judgement of your Fraternity, concerning his presumption in celebrating solemn Mass while he was excommunicated. Such a sin ought to be purged with that penitence. 
For that reason, whatever pleases you, following God, settle it securely and do not entertain any doubts about our approval.
For whatever is decided by you in this case, we receive it gratefully and we accept it readily But we exhort you that you should be concerned to temper what you consider should be done so that you treat him with kindness and preserve the spirit of ecclesiastic vigor by arranging things suitably.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, p. 654.

A New Bishop

Quote from Letter to Chrystantus, bishop of Spoleto. June 599



And so we urge your Fraternity that, if indeed they [the clerics of the church of Bevagna] can find such a person as might be worthy of the hight office of bishop, you should direct him here with all speed, with the solemnity of a decree and testimony of your letter. 
But is one cannot be found now, look out for persons with all seal and vigor who could be consecrated there with the rank of bishop. Carefully examine their way of live and their actions first of all, in such a way that neither the sacred canons nor the rules of the Church could in any way be an obstacle to them, and so that the people living there, since they complain tearfully that they have been deprived through their lack of priests, may with this provision rejoice at receiving communion, and in those churches they may no longer lack the hole solemnities of Mass.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 648.

With Due Veneration

Quote from Letter 9.166 to fortunate, bishop of Naples. June 599



We think that your Fraternity is well aware that Romans, a gentleman of most distinguished memory, through the decision of his final will, decreed that a monastery should be built in a house under his control, situated in your city.
And because the dead man's will is known to have been implemented, with God's mercy, let your Holiness go there willingly, and if it is certain that no human body has ever been buried there, you should solemnly take care to consecrate the place itself in honor of Saints Hermes, Sebastian, Cyriacus and Pancras, doing so with public masses and due veneration, so that no baptistery is ever built in the same place and you do not incarnate a priest there.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 648.

The Will and Testament of Rustica, an Illustrious Lady

Quote from Letter 9.165 to Romans, defender. June 599



And first, indeed, it in the conditions of the will [of Rustica, made about 21 years earlier] an heir is named and our Church might have a plea thereby, we want you to investigate it and to get a clear picture of the facts, and to see to the benefit due to the poor, as the order demands. I want you then to see to the setting up of that monastery [provided for in the will], to the restoration of the estate left by her, so that the pious will of the testatrix my be fulfilled either way, and those who have kept this property unjustly may learn the guilt of their unlawful retention, losing their property as justice demands. 
And so we want you to look into this case mos energetically and to bring it to a conclusion with the Lord's help, so that the pious devotion of the testatrix may finally achieve its aim.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 647.

Military Duties and Spiritual Support

Quote from Letter 9.163 to Maurentius, a general. May-June 599

For he [Theodosius,  abbot of a community of monks in Campania] asserts that they are being afflicted very greatly by the watches they keep on the walls, and they can no longer cope. And so we ask your Glory to relieve the abbot of his burden , if indeed it is possible. However, if it is really difficult fro him to be relieved totally, then with my recommendation, you should so temper the weight of his burden, by reducing it for him a little, that he can apply himself more freely to the praise of God, and can pray to the Lord more confidently on your behalf, through whose work he has had some relief.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 646.

Encouragement

Quote from Letter 9.162 to Mastalonis. May-June 599

Therefore, offering thanks to the heavenly mercy with ineffable praise, we exhort and comfort your Beloved with all our strength, so that, just as the punishment of the man who received one talent and then buried it is disturbing, even so, the Lord's invitation to those who made great profit and rejoiced at receiving thereby the heavenly kingdom, should strengthen you to seek those things that are desirable.
For it is right for you to know, most beloved son, that there is no end to the reward for the fruit of pursuit than you have undertaken. For that reason, no annoyance caused by those show shackle you should disturb you, if it ever arises, since the more difficult it is to complete a good deed, with the cooperation of the Lord, the more glorious will your hope of recompense be. 
For a victory born from desperation is more exalted when it has been achieved with the sweat of very hard labor.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 645.

Human Effort and Divine Reward

Quote from Letter 9.161 to Gulfari, a general. May-June 599

For we have learnt that among the cares of the rule of those parts entrusted to you, you have a special concern over winning souls, and that you ar in such a hurry to recall the hearts of those in error to the united Church that, if it were in your powers, you would not want anyone there to remain segregated from the apostolic Church.
Such great love for Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, has inflamed you, that you long with great desire to restore men to the sheepfold of Him to when they were handed over by the Creator of all things.
Glorious son, firmly believe that such great work will receive divine reward. Not only our exhortation but also the words of the apostles give you confirmation of this.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 645.

Tears and Redemption

Quote from Letter 9.159 to Marcellinus, proconsul of Dalmatia. May-June 599

But we have heard that your Greatness has been accused of committing wicked sins that n man of faith should ever have perpetrated. For all affirm that you are the source of the plundering of that church and the ruination of such great souls and the audacity of unheard-of presumption. 
And indeed, as you say that you want to receive our favor, it is fitting that for such things as this you ought to satisfy our Redeemer with all the effort of your mind, as is proper, and with tears. For if He is not satisfied, what certainty will our mitigation and favor be able to confer?

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II,644 .

The Grace of Conversion

Quote from Letter 9.158 to Desiderius, bishop. May-June 599

We know that Pancras, the bearer of this letter and a deacon, as he asserts, by presenting himself at the thresholds of the apostles, hoped that we should commend him particularly to your Fraternity. He also intimated to us that he had served your church in a priestly office.
Therefore, moved by the inspiration of divine remorse, he seeks the grace of conversion to the monastic life, and there he desires to remain in the same habit with which he undertook this office, having reminded us that he had already been made deacon of that monetary.
He cannot bear to be torn from serving in that position for any reason.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 643.

Firmly Against the Title of Ecumenical Patriarch

Quote from Letter 9.157 to Eusebius of Thessaloniki, Urbicus of Dyrrachium, Andrew of Nicopolis, John of corinth, John of Prima Justiniana, John of Crete, John of Larissa and John of Scutari. May 599

Furthermore, it has come to our attention that your Fraternity has been summoned to the city of Constantinople. Our most pious emperor does not allow unlawful acts to be done there, and yet, in case wicked men should take the opportunity of your meeting, and either look for a change of deception in support for the false belief of this titel [of ecumenical (universal) patriarch], or should think of holding a synod for some other matter, meaning to introduce it in that synod with cunning contrivances, yet nothing done without the authority and agreement of the apostolic see would have any force.
But I swear before almighty God and warn you that none of your should agree to any sort of persuasive flattery, any sort of bribery, andy sort of threat. But rather, out of consideration for the eternal Judge, present yourself soundly and unanimously against wicked desires, and relying on pastoral constancy and apostolic authority, keep out the robber and the wolf that rushes in, and do not yield to the one who rages, bent on dividing the Church. Do not allow a synod to be convened over this matter, through any deceitfulness; indeed, such a meeting should not be called a synod.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 641.

Schism, Unity, and Pastoral Care

Quote from Letter 1.156 to Marinianus, bishop of ravenna. May 599

And now all those who live in the aforesaid island [of Cáorle] have been deprived of the protection of a priest. For while they desire to be united with the Holy Church, they cannot receive that bishop now, as he has reverted to the error of the schismatics, and they ask that another priest be consecrated for them. But since it is necessary for us to examine all of this strictly and very carefully, we have decided that the following should be arranged.
Your fraternity is to send a message to that bishop and warn him to return to the unity of the Catholic Church and to his own people. And if he refuses to return after this warning, God's flock ought not to be beguiled by the shepherd's error. And for that reason, your Holiness should consecrate a bishop there and he should include that land in his own diocese, until the Istrian bishops revert to the Catholic Faith, so that we may preserve their diocesan laws of each individual church, and so that there should be no lack of a bishop's protection and care for a congregation without a pastor.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 640.

Prayer

Quote from Letter 9.155 to Callinicus, exarch of Italy. May 599

Besides this, you suggest that you want to celebrate the birthday of Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, in the city of Rome. We pray our almighty Lord to protect you with his mercy and allow you to fulfill your prayers. But I ask that the aforesaid most eloquent gentleman may come with you. If he does not come, let him withdraw from his allegiance to you. Or certainly, if your Excellency cannot come perhaps because f intervening cases, either let him share with the unity of the Holy Church, or I ask that he does not participate in your councils. For I hear he is a good man, but has fallen into grievous error.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 639.

With Sincere and Devoted Mind

Quote from Letter 9.155 to Calllinicus, exarch of Italy. May 599



Be aware that I have been comforted with great joy by your reports of victories over the Slavs, and that the bears of this letter, hurrying to Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, to be joined to the unity of the Holy Church, have been sent over by your Excellency from the isle of Cáorle. For in this you prevail more fully against your enemies, if you bring back under the yoke of the true Lord those whom you acknowledge as God's enemies, and conduct your causes among men just as bravely as you have dealt with the cases of God among men with a sincere and devoted mind.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 639.