Letter 1,64 - to Felix, bishop of Messina. July 591.
"And for the rest, we are opposed to your being obliged to send anything extra to us. And since we are not pleased by presents, the palm-embroided roes which your Fraternity sent we have received with due thanks, but we have sold them at a good price and have sent the proceeds to your Fraternity as a single payment, so that you cannot suffer any loss therefrom.
But since w have learnt that your Charity wishes to come to us, we warn you with this letter that you should not take on the trials of the journey.
But pray for us, that the more the distance of the journey separates us, the more we are joined together in our minds with mutual love, with Christ's assistance, so that, by helping each other with an exchange of prayers, we may return the office undertaken by us to our coming Judge in a blameless condition."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 181.
Sunday, 19 September 2010
Justice Must Be
Letter 1,63 - to Sub-deacon Anthelm. July 591.
"And since we have been informed that some time ago the house of Petronius, a secretary of the holy Roman Church, over which we preside with God's authority, was claimed unreasonably by Constantius, a defender of that time, so we demand you Experience, by this letter's order, to avoid any excuse or delay and to lay aside the title, without delay restoring the same house to the bearer of this letter, Theodora, widow of the aforesaid Petronius, in case disadvantage should arise for widows (God forbid!), from where they ought to find the comfort of consolation."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 181.
"And since we have been informed that some time ago the house of Petronius, a secretary of the holy Roman Church, over which we preside with God's authority, was claimed unreasonably by Constantius, a defender of that time, so we demand you Experience, by this letter's order, to avoid any excuse or delay and to lay aside the title, without delay restoring the same house to the bearer of this letter, Theodora, widow of the aforesaid Petronius, in case disadvantage should arise for widows (God forbid!), from where they ought to find the comfort of consolation."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 181.
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Protection 3/3
Letter 1,62 - to Januarius, archbishop of Cagliari in Sardina. July 591.
"(I)t has been suggested to us that Catella, a religious woman, (whose son is fighting here for the Holy Church of Rome over which we preside, with God's authority), is being troubled by the forced entries and disturbances of certain men, so we have thought it necessary concerning this matter to encourage your Fraternity with the present letter to provide protection for the same aforesaid woman.
To preserve justice, your Fraternity should not decline, knowing that from deeds of this sort it may both make the Lord its debtor and bind our love around it more tightly.
For we want the cases of the aforesaid women, whether they are active now or in the future, to be terminated by your judgment, so that her legal disturbance should be removed. Yet she should in no way be denied the justice of a judgement.
But I pray the Lord to direct your path towards him with a prosperous course, and once appeased, to lead you himself to the glory of the coming kingdom."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 180.
"(I)t has been suggested to us that Catella, a religious woman, (whose son is fighting here for the Holy Church of Rome over which we preside, with God's authority), is being troubled by the forced entries and disturbances of certain men, so we have thought it necessary concerning this matter to encourage your Fraternity with the present letter to provide protection for the same aforesaid woman.
To preserve justice, your Fraternity should not decline, knowing that from deeds of this sort it may both make the Lord its debtor and bind our love around it more tightly.
For we want the cases of the aforesaid women, whether they are active now or in the future, to be terminated by your judgment, so that her legal disturbance should be removed. Yet she should in no way be denied the justice of a judgement.
But I pray the Lord to direct your path towards him with a prosperous course, and once appeased, to lead you himself to the glory of the coming kingdom."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 180.
Protection, 2/3
Letter 1,61 - to Januarius, archbishop of Cagliari in Sardinia. July 591
"Although your Fraternity devotes yourself quite appropriately to justice with enthusiasm, for the defense of all sorts of people, we believe that you are more ready certainly to relieve those people who are commended to you by our letter.
Pompeiana therefore, a religious woman, has suggested through a person of hers that she is continually suffering many troubles from certain people, without any reason, and she is known to have begged us to commend her to you by our authority because of this.
For that reason, while saluting your Fraternity with a due feeling of love, we have necessarily thought that the aforesaid women should be commended to you. This, with the accompaniment of justice, your Fraternity might prevent her from being unfairly burdened in any way, or from inadvisably suffering any losses."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 180.
"Although your Fraternity devotes yourself quite appropriately to justice with enthusiasm, for the defense of all sorts of people, we believe that you are more ready certainly to relieve those people who are commended to you by our letter.
Pompeiana therefore, a religious woman, has suggested through a person of hers that she is continually suffering many troubles from certain people, without any reason, and she is known to have begged us to commend her to you by our authority because of this.
For that reason, while saluting your Fraternity with a due feeling of love, we have necessarily thought that the aforesaid women should be commended to you. This, with the accompaniment of justice, your Fraternity might prevent her from being unfairly burdened in any way, or from inadvisably suffering any losses."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 180.
Protection, 1/3
Letter 1,60 - to Januarius, archbishop from Cagliari in Sardinia. July 591.
"If our Lord himself, by witness of Holy Scripture, declares he is the husband of widows and father of orphans, then we also, as members of his body, ought to strive to imitate his head, with the greatest effort of our will, and preserving justice, we must defend orphans and widows."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 179.
"If our Lord himself, by witness of Holy Scripture, declares he is the husband of widows and father of orphans, then we also, as members of his body, ought to strive to imitate his head, with the greatest effort of our will, and preserving justice, we must defend orphans and widows."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 179.
Saturday, 11 September 2010
The Order Of The Republic
Letter 1,59 - to Gennadius, patrician and exarch of Africa. July 591.
"The submission of the enemy's neck bears witness to the fact that you have the fear of God before your eyes and pursue justice incessantly. But so that the grace of Christ protects your Glory with the same prosperity, whatever wrongdoings you know are being committed, check them with a swift prohibition, in your customary manner. Thus protected by the armor of justice, you may overcome the enemy's attacks with the virtue of faith, all the sooner.
For Marinianus, our brother and fellow bishop of the city of Porto Torres, has informed us tearfully that the poor of his city are totally distraught and badly hit by the costs of commodities. Furthermore even religious members of his church are enduring heavy molestation and suffering injuries at the hands of the men of Theodore, their military commander. It has reached such a point, he says, that they are being thrown into prison, dreadful to relate. Even in cases concerning his church, he is being seriously impeded himself by the aforesaid glorious gentleman.
If these facts are really true, you know how contrary they are to the law and order of the republic. And since it is proper for your Excellency to rectify all of these abuses, I salute your Eminence and request you not to let it happen any longer."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 178.
"The submission of the enemy's neck bears witness to the fact that you have the fear of God before your eyes and pursue justice incessantly. But so that the grace of Christ protects your Glory with the same prosperity, whatever wrongdoings you know are being committed, check them with a swift prohibition, in your customary manner. Thus protected by the armor of justice, you may overcome the enemy's attacks with the virtue of faith, all the sooner.
For Marinianus, our brother and fellow bishop of the city of Porto Torres, has informed us tearfully that the poor of his city are totally distraught and badly hit by the costs of commodities. Furthermore even religious members of his church are enduring heavy molestation and suffering injuries at the hands of the men of Theodore, their military commander. It has reached such a point, he says, that they are being thrown into prison, dreadful to relate. Even in cases concerning his church, he is being seriously impeded himself by the aforesaid glorious gentleman.
If these facts are really true, you know how contrary they are to the law and order of the republic. And since it is proper for your Excellency to rectify all of these abuses, I salute your Eminence and request you not to let it happen any longer."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 178.
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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