Letter 1,18 - to Sub-deacon Peter. January 591.
"If some cities in the province of Sicily are known to be without the rule of a priest, through the loss of priests because of misdemeanors, see if someone can be found worthy of a priestly position. Inquire first of all into the gravity of their morals, and then send them over to us, as the flock of every single place ought not to be found destitute for a long time, due to a pastor's lapse.
But if, in fact, you will find some positions vacant, but nobody from that same church is discovered suitable for such an honor, report back to us after a similarly thorough inquire, so that God can decide whom he judges worthy of such ordinations.
For it should not happen that, through one person's deviation, the Lord's flock may be scattered through rugged places without a shepherd. For in this way, proper order results for the parishes, and no suspicion will remain for those who have lapsed of reverting to there former state, so that they are more rightly penitent."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 132.
Showing posts with label church closure. Show all posts
Showing posts with label church closure. Show all posts
Saturday, 15 May 2010
Friday, 30 April 2010
A Merger
Letter 1,8 - to Bacauda, bishop of Formiae. October 590.
"We have learnt that through abandonment, the church of Minturno is as totally destitute of its clergy as it is of its people, and we can see how pious and extremely just your petition is on its behalf, namely that it ought to be joined to the church of Formiae (wherein lies the body of Saint Erasmus the Martyr), over which your Fraternity presides. We have thought it necessary, therefore, in considering the abandonment of the place as much as the poverty of your church, that by the authority of this injunction of ours, we transfer the right and power of your church the revenues of the above mentioned church of Minturno, or whatever could and can for whatever reason belong to it, by ancient and modern right or privilege."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 127.
"We have learnt that through abandonment, the church of Minturno is as totally destitute of its clergy as it is of its people, and we can see how pious and extremely just your petition is on its behalf, namely that it ought to be joined to the church of Formiae (wherein lies the body of Saint Erasmus the Martyr), over which your Fraternity presides. We have thought it necessary, therefore, in considering the abandonment of the place as much as the poverty of your church, that by the authority of this injunction of ours, we transfer the right and power of your church the revenues of the above mentioned church of Minturno, or whatever could and can for whatever reason belong to it, by ancient and modern right or privilege."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 127.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
