Quote from Letter 5,9 to Peter, notary in Reggio. October 594.
Those bearing this letter asked that the church plate of the church of Myrie, which Bishop Severinus had at some stage taken with him to Squillace, be restored to them.
Since, therefore, Church property ought to be secured with careful concern, this is what we have decided. He should be consecrated bishop in the same city where the plate itself could be handed over to him.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II: 329.
Showing posts with label property. Show all posts
Showing posts with label property. Show all posts
Thursday, 19 April 2012
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.
Friday, 29 July 2011
Lost Property
Letter 3,43 - to Boniface, bishop of Reggio. June 593
"Indeed Stephania, who bears this letter, complains that some of her property was seizes by force in the time of your predecessor and one-time bishop, Lucius, by his agents. And because she has requested that this should be restored to her, with justice on her side, for that reason your Fraternity should, with the fear of God, take care accordingly to learn accurately what she asserts. And if you find that it is as the aforesaid women says, arrange for whatever has been wrongly taken from her to be restored, without any loss or delay. For it is very wrong to keep the property of others contrary to Church policy."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 263.
"Indeed Stephania, who bears this letter, complains that some of her property was seizes by force in the time of your predecessor and one-time bishop, Lucius, by his agents. And because she has requested that this should be restored to her, with justice on her side, for that reason your Fraternity should, with the fear of God, take care accordingly to learn accurately what she asserts. And if you find that it is as the aforesaid women says, arrange for whatever has been wrongly taken from her to be restored, without any loss or delay. For it is very wrong to keep the property of others contrary to Church policy."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 263.
Against Neglect
Letter 3,41 - to Felix, bishop of Siponto. June 593
"Concern over our interests disturbs us greatly. Accordingly with God's assistance, we must provide the defense of ecclesiastical affairs, in such a way that no loss might result from neglect in these matters.
Therefore your Fraternity, together with Boniface and with Pantaleo also, the bearer of this letter, both notaries of our see, must take care to describe in detail the Church properties which are known to exist at the church of Siponto, each of them individually. Thus when a trustful inspection of the properties has been made, you three should compile an inventory containing the vessels of the churches, as well as their silver usual, and whatever else there is. Nor should your Fraternity try to present any delay or excuse over this."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 262.
"Concern over our interests disturbs us greatly. Accordingly with God's assistance, we must provide the defense of ecclesiastical affairs, in such a way that no loss might result from neglect in these matters.
Therefore your Fraternity, together with Boniface and with Pantaleo also, the bearer of this letter, both notaries of our see, must take care to describe in detail the Church properties which are known to exist at the church of Siponto, each of them individually. Thus when a trustful inspection of the properties has been made, you three should compile an inventory containing the vessels of the churches, as well as their silver usual, and whatever else there is. Nor should your Fraternity try to present any delay or excuse over this."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 262.
Monday, 23 May 2011
A Fair Election Of A Bishop
Letter 3,22 - to Antoninus, sub-deacon in charge of the patrimony in Dalmatia. March 593
"In fact let it be your concern before all else, that in this election the offer of bribes does not intervene in any way, and that the candidatures are not strengthened by any patronage of any persons at all. For if someone has been elected of certain people, once he has been consecrated, he is forced to obey their wishes under the pressure of fear, and it comes about that the property of that church is diminished, and the ecclesiastical order is not preserved.
And so they ought to elect such a person, with you watching over them, as is not a slave to anyone's inconsistent wish, but can be found worthy of such a rank, distinguished in his life and morality.
As for the property and decoration of that same church, make sure that a faithful inventory of the property is written down in your presence. And so that nothing could be lost from this same property, advise the Deacon Respectus, and the first notary, Stephen, to keep a total guard of the same property, warning them that if anything should be removed from them through negligence, they will make it up from their own property."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 249.
"In fact let it be your concern before all else, that in this election the offer of bribes does not intervene in any way, and that the candidatures are not strengthened by any patronage of any persons at all. For if someone has been elected of certain people, once he has been consecrated, he is forced to obey their wishes under the pressure of fear, and it comes about that the property of that church is diminished, and the ecclesiastical order is not preserved.
And so they ought to elect such a person, with you watching over them, as is not a slave to anyone's inconsistent wish, but can be found worthy of such a rank, distinguished in his life and morality.
As for the property and decoration of that same church, make sure that a faithful inventory of the property is written down in your presence. And so that nothing could be lost from this same property, advise the Deacon Respectus, and the first notary, Stephen, to keep a total guard of the same property, warning them that if anything should be removed from them through negligence, they will make it up from their own property."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 249.
Sunday, 22 May 2011
Debts and Piety
Letter 3,21 - to Paschalis, Domitian and Castor, son of Urbicus, defender from Tivoli. February 593
"Its part of my duty to give advice to those who have lost their parents, so that I can give some help in those miseries of theirs that are justly the responsibility of the Church, thereby alleviating them.
Therefore, after a more precise calculation, we are certain that your father Urbicus, who was once a defender of the Sabine patrimony and of Carsoli, that had been entrusted to his care, has died in debt for quite a large sum.
Although all of his property was liable to the Church for this,yet it could not suffice to pay for what he has consumed.
Even so, with a regard to piety, we allow you to have and possess the property of that same father of yours, and we allow it to stand to your undoubted advantage in the future (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 249.
"Its part of my duty to give advice to those who have lost their parents, so that I can give some help in those miseries of theirs that are justly the responsibility of the Church, thereby alleviating them.
Therefore, after a more precise calculation, we are certain that your father Urbicus, who was once a defender of the Sabine patrimony and of Carsoli, that had been entrusted to his care, has died in debt for quite a large sum.
Although all of his property was liable to the Church for this,yet it could not suffice to pay for what he has consumed.
Even so, with a regard to piety, we allow you to have and possess the property of that same father of yours, and we allow it to stand to your undoubted advantage in the future (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 249.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
Means To A Goal
Letter 3,17 - to Sub-deacon Gratiosus. January 593
"For those choosing a religious vocation we should take care, with suitable consideration, that the occurrence of some hardship neither makes them inactive, nor undermines the strength (Heaven forbid!) of their holy way of life. For this reason we order with the present authority that you should hand over the following property to the Abbess Flora, with the right of possession for her indubitable ownership. The house is located in this city in the fourth region, next to a place called the 'White Hens', the property of the Holy Church of Rome, over which we preside with God's authority, and in which a patrician lady, Campana, is known to have once lived. Hand it over with the garden also and the lodgings, which a doorway encloses within the same house.
Thus with Christ's help, the abbess can construct a convent in this house, where she can live with her community (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 247.
"For those choosing a religious vocation we should take care, with suitable consideration, that the occurrence of some hardship neither makes them inactive, nor undermines the strength (Heaven forbid!) of their holy way of life. For this reason we order with the present authority that you should hand over the following property to the Abbess Flora, with the right of possession for her indubitable ownership. The house is located in this city in the fourth region, next to a place called the 'White Hens', the property of the Holy Church of Rome, over which we preside with God's authority, and in which a patrician lady, Campana, is known to have once lived. Hand it over with the garden also and the lodgings, which a doorway encloses within the same house.
Thus with Christ's help, the abbess can construct a convent in this house, where she can live with her community (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 247.
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Truth And Rights
Letter 1,71 - to Sub-deacon Peter in Sicily. August 591
"The more other churches show reverence to the apostolic see, the more it ought to be concerned over their protection. And they say that houses and properties which legally belong to the rights of the church of Taormina have been occupied by agents of our Church, against all reason.
Therefore, with the letter bearing this instruction, we charge your Experience to find out the truth, and if it is so, to restore to the former rights of the aforesaid church all that you have found occupied."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 185.
"The more other churches show reverence to the apostolic see, the more it ought to be concerned over their protection. And they say that houses and properties which legally belong to the rights of the church of Taormina have been occupied by agents of our Church, against all reason.
Therefore, with the letter bearing this instruction, we charge your Experience to find out the truth, and if it is so, to restore to the former rights of the aforesaid church all that you have found occupied."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 185.
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Care For Justice
Letter 1,42 - to Peter, sub-deacon of Sicily. May 591.
"It has also come to our notice that in case of the farmer's marriages, immoderate taxes are being collected. On this matter we order that no marriage tax should ever exceed the sum of one gold coin. If some are poor, they ought to pay even less, but if some are rich, they should never pay more than the sum of the aforesaid gold coin.
We in no way want this marriage tax to be credited to our account, but rather to augment the profits for the tenants.
We have also learnt that as certain tenants are on their deathbed, their own parents are not permitted to have access to them, but their property is dragged of for Church use.
On this matter we advice that the parents of those dying who live on a Church property, ought to have access to them as their heirs, and that nothing else should be subtracted from the fortune of those dying.
But if someone leaves poor young sons, until they reach such an age that they can control their own property some sound people should be selected, and the property of the boy's parents should be handed over to them to watch over.
(...)
Read all of this again with great care, and put aside all that customary negligence of yours. See that the writing I have sent about the farmers are read throughout all the Church domains, so that they know how they should defend themselves through our authority against violent acts done to them, and let them be given the originals or copies of my writings"
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 162.
"It has also come to our notice that in case of the farmer's marriages, immoderate taxes are being collected. On this matter we order that no marriage tax should ever exceed the sum of one gold coin. If some are poor, they ought to pay even less, but if some are rich, they should never pay more than the sum of the aforesaid gold coin.
We in no way want this marriage tax to be credited to our account, but rather to augment the profits for the tenants.
We have also learnt that as certain tenants are on their deathbed, their own parents are not permitted to have access to them, but their property is dragged of for Church use.
On this matter we advice that the parents of those dying who live on a Church property, ought to have access to them as their heirs, and that nothing else should be subtracted from the fortune of those dying.
But if someone leaves poor young sons, until they reach such an age that they can control their own property some sound people should be selected, and the property of the boy's parents should be handed over to them to watch over.
(...)
Read all of this again with great care, and put aside all that customary negligence of yours. See that the writing I have sent about the farmers are read throughout all the Church domains, so that they know how they should defend themselves through our authority against violent acts done to them, and let them be given the originals or copies of my writings"
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 162.
Tuesday, 4 May 2010
The Burden of Property
Letter 1,9 - to Sub-deacon Peter. October 590.
"(..) people from the estate of Fulloniacum, members of the Holy Church of Rome, want to occupy the lands of the estate of Gerdinna, which shares a boundary with the same aforesaid estate of the Holy church of Rome, and which they have possessed without legal trouble for countless years. And we wish, therefore, that you go to the city of Palermo and discuss the request (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 127.
"(..) people from the estate of Fulloniacum, members of the Holy Church of Rome, want to occupy the lands of the estate of Gerdinna, which shares a boundary with the same aforesaid estate of the Holy church of Rome, and which they have possessed without legal trouble for countless years. And we wish, therefore, that you go to the city of Palermo and discuss the request (..)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 127.
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