Quote from Letter 4,23 - to the nobles and landowners living on the island of Sardinia. May 594
I suggest that you should with all care and all concern be full of zeal over your souls, and consider what accounts you will render to almighty God of your subjects. For they have been entrusted to you for this purpose, that they might serve your advantage in earthly things, and that you also, through your care of them, might provide for their souls those things which are eternal.
Therefore, if they pay what they owe, why do you not pay what you owe to them? That is, your Greatness should warn them assiduously, and restrain them from the error of idolatry, so that, by leading them back to the faith, you may make almighty God amenable towards yourselves. For look, you see how near the end is closing on this world. You see that now a human sword, and now a divine one threatens us. And yet you worshippers of a true God, do you watch the worship of stones by those entrusted to you, and keep silent?
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 304
Showing posts with label soul. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soul. Show all posts
Monday, 23 January 2012
Monday, 12 September 2011
Friendship
Letter 3,65 - to Theotimis, physician. August 593
"There were some ancient philosophers who said that there was one soul in two bodies, not joining the two with love, but dividing the single substance of the soul into two. But we say by contrast that we have one soul, not by dividing the substance, but by joining hearts. For it was written about those first Christians: "there was in them one heart and one soul." I read this in the Acts of the Apostles in such a way that I recognize it in the case of Lord Theotimus and me.
For he is such a kindred spirit, that when present in body he never lets me down, and when absent in body, he is always made present through the spirit.
And I offer thanks to almighty Lord, who fills the innermost parts of our mind with the grace of his love."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 286.
"There were some ancient philosophers who said that there was one soul in two bodies, not joining the two with love, but dividing the single substance of the soul into two. But we say by contrast that we have one soul, not by dividing the substance, but by joining hearts. For it was written about those first Christians: "there was in them one heart and one soul." I read this in the Acts of the Apostles in such a way that I recognize it in the case of Lord Theotimus and me.
For he is such a kindred spirit, that when present in body he never lets me down, and when absent in body, he is always made present through the spirit.
And I offer thanks to almighty Lord, who fills the innermost parts of our mind with the grace of his love."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 286.
Sunday, 7 August 2011
A Laudable Election
Letter 3,46 - to the clergy of the church of Salona. July 593.
"In reading again the letter of your Beloved selves, we have learnt that you have elected your archdeacon, Honoratus. Know that this was welcome to us in every way, as you have elected to the rank of bishop a man long since known, with a strict morality. We also approve of this person, which has for some time been well known to us, and we wish to consecrate him as your bishop in accordance with your desire,
In this matter, we advise that you should persist in his election without any ambiguity, nor should any matter turn you away from this person. For just as that laudable election is now approved of, even so, if anyone (Heaven forbid!) should persuade your Beloved to give up your support for him, you will impose trouble on your soul and a stigma of faithlessness on your reputation.
But we have given a warning through Antoninus, our sub-deacon, that those who, without consideration, disagree with the general acceptance of your choice, should be able to agree with you."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 265.
"In reading again the letter of your Beloved selves, we have learnt that you have elected your archdeacon, Honoratus. Know that this was welcome to us in every way, as you have elected to the rank of bishop a man long since known, with a strict morality. We also approve of this person, which has for some time been well known to us, and we wish to consecrate him as your bishop in accordance with your desire,
In this matter, we advise that you should persist in his election without any ambiguity, nor should any matter turn you away from this person. For just as that laudable election is now approved of, even so, if anyone (Heaven forbid!) should persuade your Beloved to give up your support for him, you will impose trouble on your soul and a stigma of faithlessness on your reputation.
But we have given a warning through Antoninus, our sub-deacon, that those who, without consideration, disagree with the general acceptance of your choice, should be able to agree with you."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 265.
Thursday, 28 July 2011
Care For A Soul
Letter 3,39 - to Peter, sub-deacon of Campania. June 593
"Furthermore, since the defender Felix is said to own a female slave called Catella, who is seeking the robe of a religious life with many tears and most ardent desire, although her aforesaid master does not allow her to be converted, we therefore want your Experience to go and see the aforesaid Felix and to carefully examine the mind of the same slave-girl, and send her over here with some responsible people, to be placed in a convent, with God's help. But do this in such a way that the soul of the aforesaid slave-girl does not sustain any loss in her desire though your sluggish action."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 261.
"Furthermore, since the defender Felix is said to own a female slave called Catella, who is seeking the robe of a religious life with many tears and most ardent desire, although her aforesaid master does not allow her to be converted, we therefore want your Experience to go and see the aforesaid Felix and to carefully examine the mind of the same slave-girl, and send her over here with some responsible people, to be placed in a convent, with God's help. But do this in such a way that the soul of the aforesaid slave-girl does not sustain any loss in her desire though your sluggish action."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 261.
Monday, 24 January 2011
Our Union Of Love
Letter 2,40 - to Dominic, bishop of Carthage. 23 July 592
"Indeed it is necessary firstly for the bishop to live as an example for the rest, and secondly he must take care not to show pride through extensive examples. Let him always think about the ministry of preaching, considering with the most intense fear what the nobleman said when about to go away to receive a kingdom, as he gave talents to his servants, 'Invest this until I get back.' We certainly invest in this business then, if we profit the souls of our neighbors by the way we live and speak, if we give strength to the infirm with divine love, by preaching the joys of the heavenly kingdom, if we turn aside the impudent and pompous with the terrifying sound of hell's punishments, if we spare no one the truth, if given up to heavenly friendships we are not afraid of human enmities.
Of course it was in showing this that the psalmist knew that he had offered some sort of sacrifice to God, when he said: 'Do I not hate Lord, those who hate you? Those who rise against you, do I not loathe?/ With a deadly hatred I hate them, they are my enemies.'
But at this I am afraid of the weight of my own infirmity, and I see that the head of our family may return after accepting his kingdom, to settle his account with us. But with what thoughts do I endure him, when I bring back to him either no profit or almost none, from the trade of souls in which I was engaged?
So, dearest brother, help me with your prayers, and what you see me afraid of concerning myself, consider daily in yourself, with fear from provident concern. To be sure both what I say about myself is yours, and what I desire you to do is mine, through a union of love."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 219.
"Indeed it is necessary firstly for the bishop to live as an example for the rest, and secondly he must take care not to show pride through extensive examples. Let him always think about the ministry of preaching, considering with the most intense fear what the nobleman said when about to go away to receive a kingdom, as he gave talents to his servants, 'Invest this until I get back.' We certainly invest in this business then, if we profit the souls of our neighbors by the way we live and speak, if we give strength to the infirm with divine love, by preaching the joys of the heavenly kingdom, if we turn aside the impudent and pompous with the terrifying sound of hell's punishments, if we spare no one the truth, if given up to heavenly friendships we are not afraid of human enmities.
Of course it was in showing this that the psalmist knew that he had offered some sort of sacrifice to God, when he said: 'Do I not hate Lord, those who hate you? Those who rise against you, do I not loathe?/ With a deadly hatred I hate them, they are my enemies.'
But at this I am afraid of the weight of my own infirmity, and I see that the head of our family may return after accepting his kingdom, to settle his account with us. But with what thoughts do I endure him, when I bring back to him either no profit or almost none, from the trade of souls in which I was engaged?
So, dearest brother, help me with your prayers, and what you see me afraid of concerning myself, consider daily in yourself, with fear from provident concern. To be sure both what I say about myself is yours, and what I desire you to do is mine, through a union of love."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 219.
Sunday, 2 January 2011
On Holy Ordination
Letter 2,31 - to John, bishop of Squillace, on holy ordination. July 592.
"But we order you never to ordain anyone illegally, and do not permit anyone to take on holy orders who is a bigamist, or one whose wife was not a virgin, or an illiterate person, or one infected in any part of his body, or a penitent, or a person bound to a court or to any other state of servitude.
But if you discover any men of this sort, please do not dare to promote them.
On no account accept Africans indiscriminately, nor unknown strangers, who want to be ordained. For some of the Africans are in fact Manicheans, others re-baptized, and most foreigners in fact, even when established in the minor orders, have often been proved to have had pretensions for higher orders.
We also advise your Fraternity to pay full attentions to the souls entrusted to you, and to turn them more to the profits of the soul than to the comforts of the present life.
Be diligent in conserving and disposing the property of the church, so that the future judge, when he has come to give his judgment, may have approve the fact that you have carried out the office of priest, undertaken by you in a worthy manner."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 212.
"But we order you never to ordain anyone illegally, and do not permit anyone to take on holy orders who is a bigamist, or one whose wife was not a virgin, or an illiterate person, or one infected in any part of his body, or a penitent, or a person bound to a court or to any other state of servitude.
But if you discover any men of this sort, please do not dare to promote them.
On no account accept Africans indiscriminately, nor unknown strangers, who want to be ordained. For some of the Africans are in fact Manicheans, others re-baptized, and most foreigners in fact, even when established in the minor orders, have often been proved to have had pretensions for higher orders.
We also advise your Fraternity to pay full attentions to the souls entrusted to you, and to turn them more to the profits of the soul than to the comforts of the present life.
Be diligent in conserving and disposing the property of the church, so that the future judge, when he has come to give his judgment, may have approve the fact that you have carried out the office of priest, undertaken by you in a worthy manner."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 212.
Sunday, 8 August 2010
About Conversion
Letter 1,45 - to Virgil of Arles, and to Theodore, bishop of Marseilles, in Gaul. June 591.
"(In fact) a lot of the Jewish faith who reside in that province [of Gaul], and often travel in parts of Marseilles on various business, have brought to our notice that many of the Jews living in that district have been brought to the baptismal font more by force than by preaching.
For it is my opinion that the intent of this sort is certainly praiseworthy, and I acknowledge that it derives from a love of our Lord. Yet unless this same intention is accompanied by a suitable display of Holy Scripture, I am afraid that either no reward may come from there, or else losses may follow in terms of some of the souls ('God forbid!'), which we want to be saved.
For when anyone approaches the baptismal font not due to the sweetness of preaching, but under constraint, he returns to his former superstition from where he seemed to be reborn, and dies in a worse state.
Therefore, let your Fraternity call people of this sort to God with frequent preaching, so that they desire to change their old way of life more due to sweetness of their teacher. For thus what we intended is correctly accomplished, and the soul of the convert does not revert again to its former vomit."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 171.
"(In fact) a lot of the Jewish faith who reside in that province [of Gaul], and often travel in parts of Marseilles on various business, have brought to our notice that many of the Jews living in that district have been brought to the baptismal font more by force than by preaching.
For it is my opinion that the intent of this sort is certainly praiseworthy, and I acknowledge that it derives from a love of our Lord. Yet unless this same intention is accompanied by a suitable display of Holy Scripture, I am afraid that either no reward may come from there, or else losses may follow in terms of some of the souls ('God forbid!'), which we want to be saved.
For when anyone approaches the baptismal font not due to the sweetness of preaching, but under constraint, he returns to his former superstition from where he seemed to be reborn, and dies in a worse state.
Therefore, let your Fraternity call people of this sort to God with frequent preaching, so that they desire to change their old way of life more due to sweetness of their teacher. For thus what we intended is correctly accomplished, and the soul of the convert does not revert again to its former vomit."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 171.
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Everything has a price....
Letter 1,6 - to Narses. October 590.
"As you describe the heights of contemplation, you have made me lament my ruin once again. For I heard what I had lost internally, while I was ascending to the highest command, externally and undeservedly. But realize that I am struck by so much grief that I am scarcely able to speak. For the eyes of my mind are blocked off by the shadows of my grief. Whatever I look at is gloomy, whatever I think is delightful appears lamentable to my heart. For I weigh carefully, falling from the high summit of my repose, to what a low peak of external advancement I have risen. And sent, for my sins, into an occupational exile from the face of the Lord, I say with the prophet in his words, as at the destruction of Judeae: 'He who comforted me has withdrawn far from me' (Lam 1:16)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 124.
"As you describe the heights of contemplation, you have made me lament my ruin once again. For I heard what I had lost internally, while I was ascending to the highest command, externally and undeservedly. But realize that I am struck by so much grief that I am scarcely able to speak. For the eyes of my mind are blocked off by the shadows of my grief. Whatever I look at is gloomy, whatever I think is delightful appears lamentable to my heart. For I weigh carefully, falling from the high summit of my repose, to what a low peak of external advancement I have risen. And sent, for my sins, into an occupational exile from the face of the Lord, I say with the prophet in his words, as at the destruction of Judeae: 'He who comforted me has withdrawn far from me' (Lam 1:16)."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 124.
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