Letter 3,64 - to Theodore, physician. August, 593
" For he [the emperor] has decreed that nobody should be allowed to become a monk who has had a public occupation (..). If our most serene Lordship did this because perhaps many soldiers were becoming monks and the army was decreasing, did almighty God subjugate the empire of Peria to him through the courage of his soldiers at all? was it not that his tears alone were heard, and by that order which our Lordship knew not, God subjected the Persian empire to his empire? It seems very harsh to me that he prohibits his soldiers from the service of God, who has provided him with everything, and who allowed him to be ruler not only of troops but of priests also.
If his intention is to save property, how were those same monasteries, which had taken in the soldiers, unable to pay off their debts, and keep the men just simply for a religious way of life?
I have suggested to the same Lordship that this greatly upsets me. But would your Glory offer my suggestion to him privately, at an opportune moment? I do not want it to be given by my emissary in public, because you who serve him as a friend can say more openly and freely what is the good of his soul."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 285.
Showing posts with label monks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label monks. Show all posts
Monday, 12 September 2011
Saturday, 27 August 2011
A Fair Warning
Letter 3,56 - to Bishop Secundinus. August 593
"We therefore warn your Fraternity not to insert any delay now, after receiving our present letter. But once the place of these same fonts have been filled in, let the altar be built there to celebrate the holy mysteries without delay.
Thus it may be lawful for the aforesaid monks to celebrate the work of God more securely, and our mind will not be aroused against your Fraternity because of your negligence."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 277.
"We therefore warn your Fraternity not to insert any delay now, after receiving our present letter. But once the place of these same fonts have been filled in, let the altar be built there to celebrate the holy mysteries without delay.
Thus it may be lawful for the aforesaid monks to celebrate the work of God more securely, and our mind will not be aroused against your Fraternity because of your negligence."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 277.
Wednesday, 25 August 2010
A Safe Place
Letter 1,50 - to the defender Symmachus. June 591.
"My son Deacon Boniface has said to me that your Experience had written that the monastery once founded by Lavinia, a religious woman, exists fully prepared and that monks ought to be ordained therein. I have certainly applauded your forethought. But I wish that another place should be provided besides that place which has already been freed for this purpose.However, I want this to be done in such a way that a place should be sought over the sea, considering the uncertainty of the time, a place which is either protected by the disposition of the place, or could certainly be fortified without great labor.
Thus we can send monks there, whereby the island itself, which had not had a monastery until now, ought to be improved even in the following of this Christian way of life.
To implement and provide for this establishment, we have sent Abbot Orosius, bearer of the present order, with whom your Experience may go around the coast of Corsica. And of whatever private person such a place can be found, we are ready to pay a just price for it, so that we can make some lasting establishment."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 174.
"My son Deacon Boniface has said to me that your Experience had written that the monastery once founded by Lavinia, a religious woman, exists fully prepared and that monks ought to be ordained therein. I have certainly applauded your forethought. But I wish that another place should be provided besides that place which has already been freed for this purpose.However, I want this to be done in such a way that a place should be sought over the sea, considering the uncertainty of the time, a place which is either protected by the disposition of the place, or could certainly be fortified without great labor.
Thus we can send monks there, whereby the island itself, which had not had a monastery until now, ought to be improved even in the following of this Christian way of life.
To implement and provide for this establishment, we have sent Abbot Orosius, bearer of the present order, with whom your Experience may go around the coast of Corsica. And of whatever private person such a place can be found, we are ready to pay a just price for it, so that we can make some lasting establishment."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 174.
Rules of Montecristo
Letter 1,49 - to all the monks settled on the island of Montecristo. June 591.
"It has come to our attention that you observe none of the precepts of the monastic rule. For which reason the have been compelled to send to you Abbot Orosius, bearer of the present command, to inquire carefully into all your activities, and to settle whatever seems just to him, and to report back to us whatever was arranged."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 174.
"It has come to our attention that you observe none of the precepts of the monastic rule. For which reason the have been compelled to send to you Abbot Orosius, bearer of the present command, to inquire carefully into all your activities, and to settle whatever seems just to him, and to report back to us whatever was arranged."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 174.
Monday, 23 August 2010
Barbarians, Monks, and Women
Letter 1,48 - to Sub-deacon Anthelm. June 591.
"But we have discovered that on the island which is called Eumorfiana, on which it is known that an oratory of Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles, had been built, many men have taken refuge with their wives, coming there from various patrimonies under the duress of barbarian savagery.
We have judged this unsuitable. For while there are other places of refuge nearby, why should women life there with the monks?
We therefore instruct your Experience with this present order, from now on not to allow any woman to life or remain there any longer, whether they are under ecclesiastical law or any other law, but let them provide a refuge for themselves wherever they wish, since there are many places nearby, as has been said, that all intercourse with women should be removed from there.
Otherwise if we desist from showing the care that is in us and from opposing the snares of the enemy, if any disaster should arise (Heaven forbid!), we ourselves may thereby be at fault."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 173.
"But we have discovered that on the island which is called Eumorfiana, on which it is known that an oratory of Saint Peter, the prince of the apostles, had been built, many men have taken refuge with their wives, coming there from various patrimonies under the duress of barbarian savagery.
We have judged this unsuitable. For while there are other places of refuge nearby, why should women life there with the monks?
We therefore instruct your Experience with this present order, from now on not to allow any woman to life or remain there any longer, whether they are under ecclesiastical law or any other law, but let them provide a refuge for themselves wherever they wish, since there are many places nearby, as has been said, that all intercourse with women should be removed from there.
Otherwise if we desist from showing the care that is in us and from opposing the snares of the enemy, if any disaster should arise (Heaven forbid!), we ourselves may thereby be at fault."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 173.
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Wandering Monks
Letter 1,39 - to sub-deacon Peter. March 591.
"The venerable gentleman Paulinus, bishop of the city of Taurum, in the province of Calabria, has told us that his monks were dispersed by barbarian incursions, and are even now wandering through the whole of Sicily, and being without a bishop, are neither taking care of their souls nor maintaining the discipline of their habit.
On this matter, we order you to search out those same monks with all care and concern, to bring them together as one, and locate them with the aforesaid bishop and their ruler in the monastery of Saint Theodore, set in the city of Messina.
Thus those who are there now, whom we have found to lack a bishop, and those from his community, whom you will find and bring back, can with his leadership serve the almighty God in unity."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 159.
"The venerable gentleman Paulinus, bishop of the city of Taurum, in the province of Calabria, has told us that his monks were dispersed by barbarian incursions, and are even now wandering through the whole of Sicily, and being without a bishop, are neither taking care of their souls nor maintaining the discipline of their habit.
On this matter, we order you to search out those same monks with all care and concern, to bring them together as one, and locate them with the aforesaid bishop and their ruler in the monastery of Saint Theodore, set in the city of Messina.
Thus those who are there now, whom we have found to lack a bishop, and those from his community, whom you will find and bring back, can with his leadership serve the almighty God in unity."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 159.
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