The Lord's Flock

Quote from Letter 4,35 to Victor and Columbus, bishops of Africa. July 594.

The message of this consideration ought to force us powerfully to resist the diseases of the soul as far as is possible, quickly. Otherwise, while we fail to apply healthy medicines, they may rob many of you of your lives, with which we are striving to enrich our God.
We must therefore protect with vigilant care the sheepfolds of our sheep, over which we seem to have been placed as guards, so that the cunning wolf finds shepherds fighting against him on all sides, and has no way of getting into the sheepfold.
For indeed, we have found that the stings of the Donatists have disturbed our Lord's flock in those parts like this, as if they were not looked after by the control of any shepherd. And the report has come to us, which we cannot mention without heavy grief, that very many of them have already been torn by poisoned teeth.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 315

On Your Appointment

Letter 3,13 -to Agnellus, bishop from Fundi, now incardinated in the church of Terracina. November 592

"The joint report of the clergy and people of Terracina gives us very great pleasure for this reason that it testifies to good things concerning your Fraternity. And since, with their Bishop Peter dead, they ask for you to be appointed as their cardinal priest, we foresee that it is necessary for their requests to be complied with, so that they may rejoice in having obtained what they demand, and we may seem to have yielded what is expedient.
Since on account of the disaster of hostilities, nobody has the freedom of living either in your city of your church, we have appointed you accordingly by our authority as cardinal priest of the church of Terracina.
We advise you that you ought to be worried about the souls of the people staying there, with God's protection, so that the treachery of a cunning and perverted enemy cannot harm the flock entrusted to you with any of his tricks.
Rather, let the flock encompassed by the protection of your care be delighted to have deserved the protection of a worthy pastor. Let examples of good living show forth for your people in your acts and let avarice have no power over you."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 245.

The Snares Of The Enemy

Letter 1,58 - to the clergy, senate and people, living in Perugia. July 591.

"For it is well known that a flock of sheep, left without the shepherd's care, wanders from the true path and for that reason falls more easily into the insidious snares of the enemy.
For this reason, it is necessary for you to search for one of those who are soldiers of the Church, with the fear of God before them, one who can take on the ministry of pastoral care in a worthy manner and in that role, with the protection of the Lord, can act as steward of the divine mysteries."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 178.

No Flock Without a Shepherd

Letter 1,32 - to Romanus, patrician and exarch of italy. February 591.

"It has come to our notice that your excellency has already detained Blandus, the bishop of the city of Ortona, in the city of Ravenna for a long time. And it happens that a church without a bishop, and its people, just like a flock without a shepherd, disperse, and in that place infants die without baptism for the remission of their sins. Again, because we do not believe that your Excellency would have held him, unless for some likely case of aberration, it is necessary that a synod be held and the matter be brought out into the open, if any charge would be brought against him."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 152.

The Burden of Office

Letter 1,20 - to Natalis, bishop of Salona. January 591.

"(R)eason was advising us to rejoice with you over your rank as bishop. For that reason, made more joyful because of your greeting, we describe our feelings, admitting that I have taken on the burdens of this same office with a heavy heart. But because I was not able to fight against divine decrees, I have by necessity recalled my mind to a happier state.
For which reason, we beseech your Reverence with the words of this letter that we ourselves may enjoy the solace of your prayer, as does the Christian flock committed to our care, so that we can thereby overcome the storms of these times with the firmness of your support."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 133.

A Flock Needs A Shepherd

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.