Letter 3,45 - to John, bishop of Gallipoli. June 593
"From the report that your Fraternity sent to us, it has been found that Andrew, our brother and fellow-bishop, has without doubt had a concubine. But because it is uncertain wether he touched her while appointed to holy orders, you must warn him with a concerned exhortation. It her knows that he had intercourse with her while appointed to holy orders, he should retire from the office he holds and in no way presume to minister it. And if perchance, knowing he is guilty of his affair, he conceals his sin and presumes to minister, he should know that danger threatens his soul from the divine judgement.
But as for the woman from the poor-list whom he had chastised with cudgels, although we do not believe that her death eight month later was a result of that beating, yet because he had her punished in this way contrary to the rule of his vocation, suspend him from celebration of Mass for two months. Thus, at least this disgrace may teach him how he might behave for the future.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 264.
Showing posts with label concubine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label concubine. Show all posts
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Sunday, 31 July 2011
A Matter Of Consciounce
Letter 4,34 - to Andrew, bishop of Tarentum. June 593
"We have found out with manifest truth that you have certainly had a concubine, concerning whom divided suspicions have arisen among some people. But since in ambiguous matters a judgement should not be absolute, we have decided that this should be left for your conscience. And so if you recall being stained by intercourse with her, while appointed to a holy order, you should lay aside your priestly rank and in no way presume to engage in church administration, knowing that your are ministering with danger to your soul, and that you are giving clear account to our God if, while conscious of this sin, you want to remain in the order which you now have by concealing the truth.
Wherefore we encourage you again, if you find that you have been deceived by the cunning of the ancient enemy, be quick to conquer him while you can with sustainable penitence, in case of the day of Judgement your are condemned as his partner, which we do not want. But if in your view you are not guilty of this charge, you must remain in the order in which you are now."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 263.
"We have found out with manifest truth that you have certainly had a concubine, concerning whom divided suspicions have arisen among some people. But since in ambiguous matters a judgement should not be absolute, we have decided that this should be left for your conscience. And so if you recall being stained by intercourse with her, while appointed to a holy order, you should lay aside your priestly rank and in no way presume to engage in church administration, knowing that your are ministering with danger to your soul, and that you are giving clear account to our God if, while conscious of this sin, you want to remain in the order which you now have by concealing the truth.
Wherefore we encourage you again, if you find that you have been deceived by the cunning of the ancient enemy, be quick to conquer him while you can with sustainable penitence, in case of the day of Judgement your are condemned as his partner, which we do not want. But if in your view you are not guilty of this charge, you must remain in the order in which you are now."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 263.
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