Letter 4,9 - to Januarius, bishop of Cagliari. September 593
"Carefully select one man, proven in his way of life and morals, whose age and rank leave him open to no suspicion of evil. With the fear of God, this man should be able to attend the convents themselves, so that the nuns are no longer allowed to wander outside their venerable abodes, contrary to the rule, for any reasons at all, whether private or public. But whatever has to be done for them, let it be done sensibly through the man selected by you. But let them offer praises to God and confine themselves to their convents, and provide no further reason for a suspicion of evil in the minds of the faithful.
Yet if any of them, through the earlier freedom, or through an evil custom of impunity, has either been seduced in the past or will be dragged down into the abyss of adultery in the future, we want her to suffer the severity of appropriate punishment, and then be consigned to another stricter convent of virgins, to do penance. There let her improve herself with prayers and fasting and penitence, and let her provide a fearful example to others of a stricter discipline.
But the man who is found in some wicked act with women of this sort, must be deprived of communion, if he is a layman. If he is a cleric, he must also be removed from his office and be confined to a monastery, to bewail his failures n self-control for evermore."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 292.
Showing posts with label morals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label morals. Show all posts
Friday, 7 October 2011
Monday, 26 September 2011
A Monstrous Crime
Letter 4,6 - to Cyprian, our deacon and defender of Sicily. September 593
"It has been brought to our attention that a lady called Petronella, who was born in the province of Lucania, became a non through the encouragement of Bishop Angellus. She bestowed on the convent that she had entered, by a special title of gift, all of her property in possession, although by law it could have remained her property. And we heard that on the death of the aforesaid bishop, he left half of his fortune to Angellus, a son of his who is said to be a notary of our Church, and half to the same convent.
But when they had fled to Sicily because of the disaster threatening Italy, the above-mentioned Angellus [the son, not the father and bishop] is said to have seduced her, after corrupting her morals. Sensing that she was pregnant, he removed her from the convent, and stole all of her property, and that which he could hold in possession, as by his father's right.
After perpetrating such a monstrous crime, he is said to be claiming all the property by right of ownership.
We exhort your Beloved, therefore, to have the aforesaid man and the aforesaid woman brought before you under a strict indictment, and to investigate this same case according to its merits, with a most careful examination."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 291.
"It has been brought to our attention that a lady called Petronella, who was born in the province of Lucania, became a non through the encouragement of Bishop Angellus. She bestowed on the convent that she had entered, by a special title of gift, all of her property in possession, although by law it could have remained her property. And we heard that on the death of the aforesaid bishop, he left half of his fortune to Angellus, a son of his who is said to be a notary of our Church, and half to the same convent.
But when they had fled to Sicily because of the disaster threatening Italy, the above-mentioned Angellus [the son, not the father and bishop] is said to have seduced her, after corrupting her morals. Sensing that she was pregnant, he removed her from the convent, and stole all of her property, and that which he could hold in possession, as by his father's right.
After perpetrating such a monstrous crime, he is said to be claiming all the property by right of ownership.
We exhort your Beloved, therefore, to have the aforesaid man and the aforesaid woman brought before you under a strict indictment, and to investigate this same case according to its merits, with a most careful examination."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 291.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Deep Felt Concerns
Letter 2,44 - to Natalis, bishop of Salona. July 592
"However, I was really delighted by your letter, as you say that you are making a study of exhortation. For I know that you are wisely showing the concern of your order in this, it you take care to attract others also to the Creator.
But as in the same place you say you are not the same as I am, after my initial joy, you at once make me sad. For I think that my praises are being sunk for the sake of mockery, and I recognize very little truth in them.
Yet I offer thanks to almighty God that through you even heretics are brought back to the Holy Church. But it is necessary for you to be concerned that those too, who are contained within the bosom of the Holy Church, live in such a way that they do not indulge in the depraved morality of their adversaries. For if they are slaves to the passions and pleasures of the world, and not to divine desire, then alien sons are nurtured within the Church's bosom.
But as for the fact that you admit being able to ignore the ecclesiastical orders, I also know all that concerns you in this matter, and for that reason I am extremely unhappy. For, as you know the order of things, you have offended me with full knowledge, which makes it worse.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 223.
"However, I was really delighted by your letter, as you say that you are making a study of exhortation. For I know that you are wisely showing the concern of your order in this, it you take care to attract others also to the Creator.
But as in the same place you say you are not the same as I am, after my initial joy, you at once make me sad. For I think that my praises are being sunk for the sake of mockery, and I recognize very little truth in them.
Yet I offer thanks to almighty God that through you even heretics are brought back to the Holy Church. But it is necessary for you to be concerned that those too, who are contained within the bosom of the Holy Church, live in such a way that they do not indulge in the depraved morality of their adversaries. For if they are slaves to the passions and pleasures of the world, and not to divine desire, then alien sons are nurtured within the Church's bosom.
But as for the fact that you admit being able to ignore the ecclesiastical orders, I also know all that concerns you in this matter, and for that reason I am extremely unhappy. For, as you know the order of things, you have offended me with full knowledge, which makes it worse.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 223.
Saturday, 15 May 2010
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.
"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.
Friday, 16 April 2010
Morals & Judgement
Letter 1,2 - to Justin, praetor of Sicily. September 590
"Let no bribes draw you to injustice and let no one's threats or friendship deflect you from the path of righteousness. Look how brief life is, contemplate before what judge you are going to appear, and how soon, you who exercise juridical power. And so one should consider carefully that we leave all of our riches here, and only carry for Judgement examples of riches distributed by us. We should, therefore, seek those rewards which death can in no way remove, but which in the end of this present life can show to be about to last forever."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 119.
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