Quote from Letter 5,17 to Venantius, bishop of Luni. November 594
And so let your Fraternity look after what has been entrusted to you with vigilant care. With your preaching you must save them from their evil deeds, as you are able to do, so that you are found both to fulfill the purpose of your office and to make God be there so recompense you for your actions. But we are extremely keen to see you and to rejoice in God over your presence here and your safety. We have sent a vestment for the woman who needs to be baptized, and we pray that you always write to us about such things.
We have also directed that those bearing this letter should hand over a copy of our Pastoral Care to the noble priest, Columban. You are not to keep it for yourself, for we are sending over another copy as quickly as possible, for you to use.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, translated by John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMPS, 2004), II,
Showing posts with label pastoral care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pastoral care. Show all posts
Monday, 10 September 2012
Thursday, 1 September 2011
Pastoral Care
Letter 3,60 - to Fortunatus, bishop of Naples. August 593
"You should therefore repay their [the citizens of Napels] affection with your own morality, repressing the evil, opening up to the good with discretion and maximum kindness, and urging them to follow the better parties more frequently, so that they may rejoice to have found a father's morality in you, and you too, with the cooperation of the Lord, may more zealously carry out the pastoral care entrusted to you."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 280.
"You should therefore repay their [the citizens of Napels] affection with your own morality, repressing the evil, opening up to the good with discretion and maximum kindness, and urging them to follow the better parties more frequently, so that they may rejoice to have found a father's morality in you, and you too, with the cooperation of the Lord, may more zealously carry out the pastoral care entrusted to you."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 280.
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Polite But Angree
Letter 2,17 - to natalis, bishop of Salona. March 592.
I have learnt from many people coming from your city, dearest brother, that you have abandoned your pastoral care and are busy with nothing except for banquets.
But I would not believe what I heard, without the proofs that your actions provide.
For it has been proved that you in no way study the holy text, in no way pay attention to preaching, but rather ignore even the very custom of the ecclesiastical order, because you do not know how to show reverence to those placed over you.
For you were prohibited by a letter from my predecessor, of holy memory, from nurturing in your heart the pain of such a long resentment against your archdeacon, Honoratus, and you were strongly forbidden by me also from doing this. For you both neglected the commandments of God and despised what we wrote, trying to degrade the aforesaid Archdeacon Honoratus, under the clever pretext of promoting him to a higher rank. Thereby it has turned out that, with his removal from the position of archdeacon, you invited someone else who could comply with your way of life, when the aforesaid man displeased you in no way, except that he prohibited you from giving sacred vessels and garments to your parents.
But I know, and my predecessor of holy memory then, wanted to examine this case with a meticulous investigation. But you, conscious of what you have done, have putt off sending a person with instructions for the trail. Therefore let you Fraternity recover from the error of your wrongdoing, especially after so many repeated warnings, and as soon as you receive my letter, replace the aforesaid Honoratus in his office.
But if by change you put it off, know that your use of the pallium, granted to you by this see, is removed from you.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 201.
I have learnt from many people coming from your city, dearest brother, that you have abandoned your pastoral care and are busy with nothing except for banquets.
But I would not believe what I heard, without the proofs that your actions provide.
For it has been proved that you in no way study the holy text, in no way pay attention to preaching, but rather ignore even the very custom of the ecclesiastical order, because you do not know how to show reverence to those placed over you.
For you were prohibited by a letter from my predecessor, of holy memory, from nurturing in your heart the pain of such a long resentment against your archdeacon, Honoratus, and you were strongly forbidden by me also from doing this. For you both neglected the commandments of God and despised what we wrote, trying to degrade the aforesaid Archdeacon Honoratus, under the clever pretext of promoting him to a higher rank. Thereby it has turned out that, with his removal from the position of archdeacon, you invited someone else who could comply with your way of life, when the aforesaid man displeased you in no way, except that he prohibited you from giving sacred vessels and garments to your parents.
But I know, and my predecessor of holy memory then, wanted to examine this case with a meticulous investigation. But you, conscious of what you have done, have putt off sending a person with instructions for the trail. Therefore let you Fraternity recover from the error of your wrongdoing, especially after so many repeated warnings, and as soon as you receive my letter, replace the aforesaid Honoratus in his office.
But if by change you put it off, know that your use of the pallium, granted to you by this see, is removed from you.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 201.
Tuesday, 19 October 2010
Pastoral Care
Letter 1,76 - to Leo, bishop in Corsica. August 591.
"Pastoral care obliges us to help a church bereft of a priest's guidance with concerned care. And since we recognize that the church of Saona has been totally destitute for many years, since the death of its bishop, we have thought that the task of visiting it should be imposed on your Fraternity, as fas as its usefulness can be completed by your arrangements.
And in that church also and its parishes, we grant you the freedom to ordain deacons and priests. But with regard to them, be keen to examine them quite diligently, to ensure that none of them should be rejected by the sacred canons.
But those whom your Fraternity sees as worthy of such great ministry, recognizing their morals and actions as being in accord with this ordination, let it freely promote to the aforesaid office, with the permission of our authority."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 189.
"Pastoral care obliges us to help a church bereft of a priest's guidance with concerned care. And since we recognize that the church of Saona has been totally destitute for many years, since the death of its bishop, we have thought that the task of visiting it should be imposed on your Fraternity, as fas as its usefulness can be completed by your arrangements.
And in that church also and its parishes, we grant you the freedom to ordain deacons and priests. But with regard to them, be keen to examine them quite diligently, to ensure that none of them should be rejected by the sacred canons.
But those whom your Fraternity sees as worthy of such great ministry, recognizing their morals and actions as being in accord with this ordination, let it freely promote to the aforesaid office, with the permission of our authority."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 189.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
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.
"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.
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