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.

Pastoral Care

Letter i,15 - to Balbinus, bishop of Rosellano. januari 591.

"It has come to our attention that the church of Populonae has been so destitute of the office of priests that neither can the last confession be administered there to the dying, nor can baptism be provided to infants. Most disturbed therefore by the importance of such a holy and such a necessary matter as this, we order your Beloved to go as visitor to the above mentioned church, strengthened by the authority of this decree."

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 130.

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.