Quote from Letter 4,24 to Januarius, bishop of Sardina. May 594
As for the cleric Paul, he is said to have been discovered sinning on many occasions and, despising his habit, he has reverted to life as a layman and has fled to Africa. If that is so, once he has first suffered corporeal punishments, we order him to be handed over for penance.
Thus, in accordance with the apostolic sentence, his spirit may be saved through carnal affliction and with a continuous flow of tears he can wash away the earthly disease of sins, which he is said to have contracted through wicked deeds.
But let no religious person be associated with those who have been suspended from ecclesiastical communion, in accordance with the rules of the canons.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 305
Showing posts with label punishment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label punishment. Show all posts
Monday, 23 January 2012
Friday, 7 October 2011
Proven Of Life And Morals
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.
"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.
Friday, 29 July 2011
Responsibilities
Letter 3,42 - to Felix, bishop of Siponto. june 593
"We expect your Fraternity to convert some people to God by your preaching, and to recall evil-doers to righteousness. We are greatly saddened over this matter, because in the depravity of your grandson Felix, by contrast, your fault has been clearly shown, as it was you who brought up such a person.
We had heard that the above-mentioned Felix deceived and seduced the daughter of our deacon, Evangelus. If this is true, although he should be punished with a heavy penalty, according to law, yet we alleviate the harshness of the law to some extent, seeing that it should be settled in the following way. That is, he should either marry the girl he defiled or else, if he thinks he must refuse, he should certainly receive quite severe corporal punishment, and should be excommunicated, and shut away in a monastery, where he can pay penance."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 263.
"We expect your Fraternity to convert some people to God by your preaching, and to recall evil-doers to righteousness. We are greatly saddened over this matter, because in the depravity of your grandson Felix, by contrast, your fault has been clearly shown, as it was you who brought up such a person.
We had heard that the above-mentioned Felix deceived and seduced the daughter of our deacon, Evangelus. If this is true, although he should be punished with a heavy penalty, according to law, yet we alleviate the harshness of the law to some extent, seeing that it should be settled in the following way. That is, he should either marry the girl he defiled or else, if he thinks he must refuse, he should certainly receive quite severe corporal punishment, and should be excommunicated, and shut away in a monastery, where he can pay penance."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 263.
Seduction And Punishment
Letter 3.40 - to Pantaleo, notary. June 593
"Evangelus, deacon of the church of Siponto, has complained to us that his daughter (terrible to relate!) has been seduced by Felix. Concerning this matter, it is necessary for you, supported by the authority of this order, to set out for the city of Siponto, and you will take pains to learn the truth with all care, with the support of the learned men there. And if you find that it is so, he must either accept the woman he has seduced as his wife, providing nuptial provisions, or you will be quick to give him corporal punishment in the monastery, and deprive him of communion, placing him in a monastery where he may carry out his penance, so that he has no license to leave that place in any way, unless perhaps you should allow it."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 262.
"Evangelus, deacon of the church of Siponto, has complained to us that his daughter (terrible to relate!) has been seduced by Felix. Concerning this matter, it is necessary for you, supported by the authority of this order, to set out for the city of Siponto, and you will take pains to learn the truth with all care, with the support of the learned men there. And if you find that it is so, he must either accept the woman he has seduced as his wife, providing nuptial provisions, or you will be quick to give him corporal punishment in the monastery, and deprive him of communion, placing him in a monastery where he may carry out his penance, so that he has no license to leave that place in any way, unless perhaps you should allow it."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 262.
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Justice Must Be
Letter 3,37 - to Libertinus, praetor of Sicily. May 593
"But he [the Jew Nasas] is said to have both purchased Christian slaves, and allotted them to his own service and advantage. While he ought therefore to have been punished most severely for such great crimes, the glorious Justin, besmeared with the balm of avarice, as we have been informed, putt off punishing this injury to God.
But let your Glory inquire into all of this with a strict examination, and if you find that there is proof of this sort of crime, you must quickly inflict on this same wicked Jew so strict a corporal punishment, that you may obtain the grace of our God for yourself in this case.
Thus, by these examples you may show yourself to be worthy of imitation by future generations, for the reward you receive. But give their freedom of any of those Christian slaves clearly bought by him, as the law requires, without any ambiguity, so that the Christian religion is not polluted (Heaven forbid!) in subjection to Jews, Therefore correct everything so very carefully and hastily that we may not only give thanks to you for this discipline, but also provide a proof of your goodness wherever it should be necessary."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 260.
"But he [the Jew Nasas] is said to have both purchased Christian slaves, and allotted them to his own service and advantage. While he ought therefore to have been punished most severely for such great crimes, the glorious Justin, besmeared with the balm of avarice, as we have been informed, putt off punishing this injury to God.
But let your Glory inquire into all of this with a strict examination, and if you find that there is proof of this sort of crime, you must quickly inflict on this same wicked Jew so strict a corporal punishment, that you may obtain the grace of our God for yourself in this case.
Thus, by these examples you may show yourself to be worthy of imitation by future generations, for the reward you receive. But give their freedom of any of those Christian slaves clearly bought by him, as the law requires, without any ambiguity, so that the Christian religion is not polluted (Heaven forbid!) in subjection to Jews, Therefore correct everything so very carefully and hastily that we may not only give thanks to you for this discipline, but also provide a proof of your goodness wherever it should be necessary."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 260.
Thursday, 14 April 2011
Unjust Excile
Letter 3,9 - to his sub-deacon, Antoninus. October 592
"The news has reached us that Florentius, bishop of the city of Epidaurus, after his goods had first been removed, has been condemned for some unproved charges, without a sacerdotal council. Since he ought not to endure a canonical punishment, as in his condemnation a canonical opinion was put forward, we instruct your Experience to threaten Natalis, our brother and fellow-bishop, so that he has the aforesaid man brought back from the same exile in which he is said to be immured at present."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 243.
"The news has reached us that Florentius, bishop of the city of Epidaurus, after his goods had first been removed, has been condemned for some unproved charges, without a sacerdotal council. Since he ought not to endure a canonical punishment, as in his condemnation a canonical opinion was put forward, we instruct your Experience to threaten Natalis, our brother and fellow-bishop, so that he has the aforesaid man brought back from the same exile in which he is said to be immured at present."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 243.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Monstrous Crime
Letter 3,1 - to Peter, sub-deacon of Campania. September 592
"We have therefore sent our sub-deacon Epiphanius there [to the Castle of Lucullus], so that he can join the aforesaid governor in investigating who instigated the sedition, and who took part in it, and can find them out and requite them with a worthy punishment.
And so your Experience must find quick relief in this case, with all your courage, so that the truth can be found out, and so that punishments can proceed against the culprits. Since therefore they say that slaves of the glorious Clementina took part in this same crime, and made statements to stir up the sedition, if that is so, threaten them with submission to severe punishment. Do not let your severity be too lenient towards any person of that woman, because they need to be chastised all the more fully as being of that woman, who have committed a crime due to nothing but arrogance.
But you must also inquire into the following with a careful examination, as to whether the aforesaid woman participated in such a monstrous crime, or if it was perpetrated with her knowledge, so that all might learn from our defense, how dangerous it is to assault a priest not only with one's hands but with words also."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 235.
"We have therefore sent our sub-deacon Epiphanius there [to the Castle of Lucullus], so that he can join the aforesaid governor in investigating who instigated the sedition, and who took part in it, and can find them out and requite them with a worthy punishment.
And so your Experience must find quick relief in this case, with all your courage, so that the truth can be found out, and so that punishments can proceed against the culprits. Since therefore they say that slaves of the glorious Clementina took part in this same crime, and made statements to stir up the sedition, if that is so, threaten them with submission to severe punishment. Do not let your severity be too lenient towards any person of that woman, because they need to be chastised all the more fully as being of that woman, who have committed a crime due to nothing but arrogance.
But you must also inquire into the following with a careful examination, as to whether the aforesaid woman participated in such a monstrous crime, or if it was perpetrated with her knowledge, so that all might learn from our defense, how dangerous it is to assault a priest not only with one's hands but with words also."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 235.
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