Quote from Letter 4,33 to Theodelinda, queen of the Lpmbards. July 594.
Therefore, since you know this from my open statement of it, it is right that you should no longer have any scrap of doubt with regard to the Church of Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles. But persist in the true faith, and establish your life on the rock of the Church, that is to say, on the confession of Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles.
Otherwise, all of your tears and such great deeds may perish, if they are found hostile to the true faith. For as boughs wither away without the goodness of the root, so works, however good they may appear, are nothing if they are separated from the foundation of faith.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 313
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Sunday, 25 September 2011
The True faith
Letter 4,4 - to Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards. September 593
"For we confess, with or conscience as our witness, that nothing has been removed from the faith of that same holy council of Chalcedon, nor anything violated. However, whatever was done at the time of the aforementioned Justinian, was done in such a way that the faith of the council of Chalcedon might be disturbed in no way. However, if anyone presumes to say or to know anything contrary to the faith of the same synod, we condemn this view under the imposition of anathema.
Therefore, since you understand our integrity from the testimony or our conscience, it remains for you never to separate yourself from communion with the Catholic Church. Otherwise so many tears of yours and such great and good works may be wasted, if found alien to the true faith.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 289.
"For we confess, with or conscience as our witness, that nothing has been removed from the faith of that same holy council of Chalcedon, nor anything violated. However, whatever was done at the time of the aforementioned Justinian, was done in such a way that the faith of the council of Chalcedon might be disturbed in no way. However, if anyone presumes to say or to know anything contrary to the faith of the same synod, we condemn this view under the imposition of anathema.
Therefore, since you understand our integrity from the testimony or our conscience, it remains for you never to separate yourself from communion with the Catholic Church. Otherwise so many tears of yours and such great and good works may be wasted, if found alien to the true faith.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 289.
Monday, 19 September 2011
Unity
Letter 4,3 - to Constantius, bishop of Milan. September 593
"For with truth guiding us and with conscience our witness, we confess that we preserve the faith of the holy synod of Chalcedon as inviolate in every way, and dare to add nothing, and to subtract nothing from its definition. But if anyone is seeking, contrary to the faith of the same synod, either to add of to subtract from it to suit his interpretation, we anathematize him without any delay, and decree that he is alienated from the bosom of the mother Church.
Therefore, he who is not cured by that confession of mine, no longer loves the synod of Chalcedon, but hates the bosom of the mother Church.
And so, if they have presumed to say with a passionate spirit those very things that they seem to have dared to say, it remains for them to return to unity with your Fraternity, having received this assurance, and not to divide themselves from the body of Christ, which is the holy, universal Church."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 289.
"For with truth guiding us and with conscience our witness, we confess that we preserve the faith of the holy synod of Chalcedon as inviolate in every way, and dare to add nothing, and to subtract nothing from its definition. But if anyone is seeking, contrary to the faith of the same synod, either to add of to subtract from it to suit his interpretation, we anathematize him without any delay, and decree that he is alienated from the bosom of the mother Church.
Therefore, he who is not cured by that confession of mine, no longer loves the synod of Chalcedon, but hates the bosom of the mother Church.
And so, if they have presumed to say with a passionate spirit those very things that they seem to have dared to say, it remains for them to return to unity with your Fraternity, having received this assurance, and not to divide themselves from the body of Christ, which is the holy, universal Church."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 289.
Thursday, 8 September 2011
The Richness Of Scripture
Letter 3,62 - to Domitian, metropolitan. August 593
"For in the understanding of Holy Scripture, whatever is not opposed to a firm faith ought not to be rejected. For just as from gold alone, some men make necklaces, others rings and others bracelets, as ornaments, even so from a knowledge of Holy Scripture, various expounders through countless interpretations, compose varied ornaments, as it were, all of which, however, are for the adornment of a heavenly bride.
And I am extremely happy that your most charming Beatitude, even when busy with secular cases, vigilantly turn you mind back to the understanding of Holy Scripture. For indeed it is very necessary that, even if the former cannot be avoided altogether, the latter should not be postponed altogether.
But I beg you by our almighty Lord, stretch forth your hand of prayer to me, as I labor in such great waves of tribulation. Thus I may be raised by your intercession to the heights, as I am being pressed down to the depths by the weight of my sins."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 282.
"For in the understanding of Holy Scripture, whatever is not opposed to a firm faith ought not to be rejected. For just as from gold alone, some men make necklaces, others rings and others bracelets, as ornaments, even so from a knowledge of Holy Scripture, various expounders through countless interpretations, compose varied ornaments, as it were, all of which, however, are for the adornment of a heavenly bride.
And I am extremely happy that your most charming Beatitude, even when busy with secular cases, vigilantly turn you mind back to the understanding of Holy Scripture. For indeed it is very necessary that, even if the former cannot be avoided altogether, the latter should not be postponed altogether.
But I beg you by our almighty Lord, stretch forth your hand of prayer to me, as I labor in such great waves of tribulation. Thus I may be raised by your intercession to the heights, as I am being pressed down to the depths by the weight of my sins."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 282.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Spiritual Coercion
Letter 3,10 - to Sabinus, our sub-deacon. October 592
"(I)n the time of Justinian of pious memory, there was some violation at the sacred synod of Chalcedon, which we venerate with all our faith and all our devotion. And as we have received four synods of the holy, universal Church, just as we have received the four books of the Holy Gospel. But concerning the persons about whom something has been done after the end of the synod, this was brought forward in the time of the same Justinian of pious memory, but in such a way that neither was the faith in anyone violated, nor was anything done about the same persons other than had been decided at the same holy synod at Chalcedon. However, we anathematize anyone who presumes to reduce anything from the definition of faith that was revealed at the same synod, or to alter its sense as if by correcting it. But we defend it as if revealed at that synod for all time.
So it is proper for you, most beloved son, to return to the unity of the Holy Church, so that you can conclude your final years in peace, and so that the malignant spirit, which cannot prevail against you in other woks, may not discover from this case a means by which to oppose you, on the day of your departure to the gateway to the heavenly Kingdom."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 244.
"(I)n the time of Justinian of pious memory, there was some violation at the sacred synod of Chalcedon, which we venerate with all our faith and all our devotion. And as we have received four synods of the holy, universal Church, just as we have received the four books of the Holy Gospel. But concerning the persons about whom something has been done after the end of the synod, this was brought forward in the time of the same Justinian of pious memory, but in such a way that neither was the faith in anyone violated, nor was anything done about the same persons other than had been decided at the same holy synod at Chalcedon. However, we anathematize anyone who presumes to reduce anything from the definition of faith that was revealed at the same synod, or to alter its sense as if by correcting it. But we defend it as if revealed at that synod for all time.
So it is proper for you, most beloved son, to return to the unity of the Holy Church, so that you can conclude your final years in peace, and so that the malignant spirit, which cannot prevail against you in other woks, may not discover from this case a means by which to oppose you, on the day of your departure to the gateway to the heavenly Kingdom."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 244.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Dearest Brethren
Letter 1,75 - to all the bishops of Numidia. August 591.
"You requested from our predecessor of blessed memory that all the customs of previous times should be preserved for you, which he preserved over a long past, from the very first regulations of Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles, right up to now.
And we indeed, in accordance with the sequence of your review, allow any custom to remain unchanged, provided however that it is known to employ nothing contrary to the Catholic faith, whether about the election of primates and the other chapters, except for those which affect the episcopate from the Donatists, whom we prohibit in every way from being promoted to the rank of primate, even though their clergy might raise them to this position.
Rather let it suffice for them just to take care of the common people entrusted to them, but not even to go before those bishops whom the Catholic faith has taught in the bosom of the Church, and has brought forth for the culmination, which is becoming a primate.
You therefore, dearest brethren, anticipate our admonitions with the zeal of your love for the Lord, knowing that a very strict judge is going to be brought down to examine all we are doing, and he will approve of each one of us not for the privilege of a more sublime rank, but for the merits of our deeds."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 188.
"You requested from our predecessor of blessed memory that all the customs of previous times should be preserved for you, which he preserved over a long past, from the very first regulations of Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles, right up to now.
And we indeed, in accordance with the sequence of your review, allow any custom to remain unchanged, provided however that it is known to employ nothing contrary to the Catholic faith, whether about the election of primates and the other chapters, except for those which affect the episcopate from the Donatists, whom we prohibit in every way from being promoted to the rank of primate, even though their clergy might raise them to this position.
Rather let it suffice for them just to take care of the common people entrusted to them, but not even to go before those bishops whom the Catholic faith has taught in the bosom of the Church, and has brought forth for the culmination, which is becoming a primate.
You therefore, dearest brethren, anticipate our admonitions with the zeal of your love for the Lord, knowing that a very strict judge is going to be brought down to examine all we are doing, and he will approve of each one of us not for the privilege of a more sublime rank, but for the merits of our deeds."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 188.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Glorious Victories
Letter 1,73 - to Gennadius, patrician and exarch of Africa. August 591.
"But when you anticipate future victories, the gift of God, not by earthly foresight but rather by your prayers, it comes about that this turns to amazement, seeing that your glory derives nor from earthly counsel, but from God bestowing it from above.
For where does loquacious praise of your merits not spread, which would speak of wars you frequently rush into, not from a desire to pour men's blood, but for the sake of extending the republic's domain, in which we see the worship of God, so that the name of Christ spreads in every direction through the subject nations, by preaching the faith. For just as external works of virtue make you distinguished in this life, even so internal moral distinctions, proceeding from a pure heart, glorify you in a future life with a heavenly participation in joys.
For we have learnt that your Excellency has been responsible in many ways with your services for pasturing the sheep of the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, in such a way that you have restored some large sections of his patrimony, stripped bare by their own farmers, the prisoner-of-war tenants to whom it had been granted.
And whatever benefits you confer upon him with that most Christian mind, you ensure compensation for them in terms of hope, with our future judge."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 187.
"But when you anticipate future victories, the gift of God, not by earthly foresight but rather by your prayers, it comes about that this turns to amazement, seeing that your glory derives nor from earthly counsel, but from God bestowing it from above.
For where does loquacious praise of your merits not spread, which would speak of wars you frequently rush into, not from a desire to pour men's blood, but for the sake of extending the republic's domain, in which we see the worship of God, so that the name of Christ spreads in every direction through the subject nations, by preaching the faith. For just as external works of virtue make you distinguished in this life, even so internal moral distinctions, proceeding from a pure heart, glorify you in a future life with a heavenly participation in joys.
For we have learnt that your Excellency has been responsible in many ways with your services for pasturing the sheep of the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, in such a way that you have restored some large sections of his patrimony, stripped bare by their own farmers, the prisoner-of-war tenants to whom it had been granted.
And whatever benefits you confer upon him with that most Christian mind, you ensure compensation for them in terms of hope, with our future judge."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 187.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
True Faith And Eternal Life
Letter 1,17 - to all the bishops of Italy. January 591.
"The most wicked Autharit (..) prohibited the children of the Lpmbards from being baptized into the Catholic faith (..) so it is right that your Fraternity should advice all the Lombards in your dioceses that,in view of the grim pestilence which is threatening everywhere, they should reconcile those same children of theirs, who were baptized in the Arian heresy, to the Catholic faith, so as to placate the anger of our almighty Lord.
Therefore, warn those whom you can, with whatever courage you can, bring them to the true faith, and constantly preach eternal life to them (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 131.
"The most wicked Autharit (..) prohibited the children of the Lpmbards from being baptized into the Catholic faith (..) so it is right that your Fraternity should advice all the Lombards in your dioceses that,in view of the grim pestilence which is threatening everywhere, they should reconcile those same children of theirs, who were baptized in the Arian heresy, to the Catholic faith, so as to placate the anger of our almighty Lord.
Therefore, warn those whom you can, with whatever courage you can, bring them to the true faith, and constantly preach eternal life to them (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 131.
The Communion of Faith
Letter 1,16 - to Severus, bishop of Aquileia. January 591.
"(For) not to know the truth involves less of an aberration than not to remain in the same truth once it is known, and what is committed by one who has gone astray is one thing, and what is perpetrated through knowledge is another. And indeed, if we had rejoiced over how far you had been incorporated, long ago, into the unity of the Church, we are most upset that you are now so abundantly disassociated from Catholic society.
For this reason, as soon as the bearer of this letter arrives, following the command of the most Christian and serene Lordship of all, we wish you to come to the tomb of Saint Peter the apostle with your followers, so that with God's support, in a special synod,a decision may be made about that doubt which is prevalent among you all."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 131.
"(For) not to know the truth involves less of an aberration than not to remain in the same truth once it is known, and what is committed by one who has gone astray is one thing, and what is perpetrated through knowledge is another. And indeed, if we had rejoiced over how far you had been incorporated, long ago, into the unity of the Church, we are most upset that you are now so abundantly disassociated from Catholic society.
For this reason, as soon as the bearer of this letter arrives, following the command of the most Christian and serene Lordship of all, we wish you to come to the tomb of Saint Peter the apostle with your followers, so that with God's support, in a special synod,a decision may be made about that doubt which is prevalent among you all."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 131.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
One Faith
Letter 1,14 - to Demetrius, bishop of Naples. December 590.
"Stephen, the bearer of this letter, when his mind was wavering from the path of truth concerning certain articles of faith, had suspended himself from the communion of the Catholic Church because of his doubts over this matter, until God, the discloser of truth, should recall him to the path of righteousness. Please recognize that he has satisfied us and has taken communion, accepting the Catholic faith. (..) We give you this advice with the present letter, by virtue of our faith and at risk to us, that they [Stephen and a group sharing his earlier doubts, AS], that they themselves seem to have demanded. Receive them into the Catholic faith and communion, and recall them from the darkness into light in whatever ways you can, so that after a case of this sort has been brought to us, even if we pass over it in silence, we cannot endure the failure of negligence over their souls."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 130.
"Stephen, the bearer of this letter, when his mind was wavering from the path of truth concerning certain articles of faith, had suspended himself from the communion of the Catholic Church because of his doubts over this matter, until God, the discloser of truth, should recall him to the path of righteousness. Please recognize that he has satisfied us and has taken communion, accepting the Catholic faith. (..) We give you this advice with the present letter, by virtue of our faith and at risk to us, that they [Stephen and a group sharing his earlier doubts, AS], that they themselves seem to have demanded. Receive them into the Catholic faith and communion, and recall them from the darkness into light in whatever ways you can, so that after a case of this sort has been brought to us, even if we pass over it in silence, we cannot endure the failure of negligence over their souls."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 130.
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