Letter 4,5 - to Boniface, bishop of Reggio. September 593
"We wish you also to show concern for the reputation of the aforesaid clergy of yours, so that nothing evil is heard about them, and nothing that tends to be contrary to Church discipline. for their office ought to reflect their embellishment of it, not the foulness of their actions.
However, we have decreed that what we decided concerning the Sicilian subdeacons, should be observed with regard to yours also. Do not allow that decision of ours to be spoilt by anyone's arrogance or temerity. Thus, as long as you have most strictly obeyed all of our commands, you should not show yourself to be a sinner against our warning (as we also believe). Nor would the order of pastoral rule entrusted to you accuse you in any way, as being guilty of slackness."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 290.
Showing posts with label pastoral rule. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pastoral rule. Show all posts
Monday, 26 September 2011
Monday, 31 May 2010
Following God's Will
Letter 1,26 - to Anastasius, archbishop op Corinth. February 591.
"The more inscrutable the judgements of God are, the more they should be feared by human minds. And so, because mortal reason cannot comprehend them, it must subjugate itself before them, by humbling the heart's neck, so that wherever the Lord's will leads the reason, there it follows with the obedient footsteps of the mind.
But considering that my infirmity could in no way attain to the pinnacle of the apostolic see, I preferred to decline this burden, to avoid succumbing to a charge of unjust administration in pastoral rule.
But because it is not possible to oppose the decision of the Lord who disposes, I have obediently followed what the merciful hand of the Lord wished to be done concerning me. For it was necessary for your Fraternity to be informed that, even if a occasion did not eventuate at the time, the Lord had deemed me worthy of presiding over the apostolic see, although unworthy of it."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 148.
"The more inscrutable the judgements of God are, the more they should be feared by human minds. And so, because mortal reason cannot comprehend them, it must subjugate itself before them, by humbling the heart's neck, so that wherever the Lord's will leads the reason, there it follows with the obedient footsteps of the mind.
But considering that my infirmity could in no way attain to the pinnacle of the apostolic see, I preferred to decline this burden, to avoid succumbing to a charge of unjust administration in pastoral rule.
But because it is not possible to oppose the decision of the Lord who disposes, I have obediently followed what the merciful hand of the Lord wished to be done concerning me. For it was necessary for your Fraternity to be informed that, even if a occasion did not eventuate at the time, the Lord had deemed me worthy of presiding over the apostolic see, although unworthy of it."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 148.
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