Letter 2,2 - to Bishop Praejectus. september 591.
"It has come to our attention that in your city, that is Narni, the sins hanging over it are causing a deadly epidemic everywhere. This matter has been all too distressing for us.
Therefore, in greeting your Fraternity, we persuade you most emphatically not to cease for any reason from admonishing and exhorting those Lombards or Romans who live in that place, and especially the pagans and heretics among them, so as to convert them to the true and righteous Catholic faith.
For in this way maybe either heavenly compassion will help in their conversion even in this life, or if they happen to be carried off, they cross over absolved of their sins, which is even more desirable."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 194.
Monday, 8 November 2010
A Helping Hand
Letter 2,1 - to Gregory's notary Peter. September 591.
"We have learnt that the monastery of the Holy Archangel which was built at Tropeae, has a shortage of provisions, as is indicated by the bearer of this letter. For that reason, your Experience should keep a careful watch over this matter, and if you find that the monks of the same place are conducting themselves well, and it proves abundantly clear that there are those in need among them, then you will hurry in every way to assist them, supporting by this authority, knowing that whatever you provide at our request is to be charged to your account."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 194.
"We have learnt that the monastery of the Holy Archangel which was built at Tropeae, has a shortage of provisions, as is indicated by the bearer of this letter. For that reason, your Experience should keep a careful watch over this matter, and if you find that the monks of the same place are conducting themselves well, and it proves abundantly clear that there are those in need among them, then you will hurry in every way to assist them, supporting by this authority, knowing that whatever you provide at our request is to be charged to your account."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 194.
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Discretion But..
Letter 1,82 - to Hilary, notary of Africa. August 591.
"Felicissimus and Vincent, deacons of the church of Lamigenum, presenting a petition that can be seen below, suggested that they had suffered a serious injustice at the hands of Argentius, bishop of the same city. In return for bribes, they said, Donastists had been put above them in their churches, and they recalled that among other wrongdoings, the bishop had committed another, serious crime, which it would be wrong to mention.
For the reason we thought that with the letter bearing this instruction, we should enjoin your Experience to commit the aforesaid bishop to a suitable pledge without delay.
Through your initiative a council should be formed according to the local custom and, with a thorough investigation, all things should be looked into, in line with the text of the petition presented, according to canon law and before both parties Whatever is decided by their judgement should be carried out in every detail, with you seeing it through."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 192.
"Felicissimus and Vincent, deacons of the church of Lamigenum, presenting a petition that can be seen below, suggested that they had suffered a serious injustice at the hands of Argentius, bishop of the same city. In return for bribes, they said, Donastists had been put above them in their churches, and they recalled that among other wrongdoings, the bishop had committed another, serious crime, which it would be wrong to mention.
For the reason we thought that with the letter bearing this instruction, we should enjoin your Experience to commit the aforesaid bishop to a suitable pledge without delay.
Through your initiative a council should be formed according to the local custom and, with a thorough investigation, all things should be looked into, in line with the text of the petition presented, according to canon law and before both parties Whatever is decided by their judgement should be carried out in every detail, with you seeing it through."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 192.
In Need Of A Reprimand
Letter 1,81 - to Januarius, archbishop of Cagliari in Sardinia. August 591.
"Liberatus, about whom your Fraternity has spoken to us, and who is said to hold the office of deacon, if he was not incardinated by your predecessor, ought not to be put in charge of the deacons appointed by you for any reason, in case you seem to be critical of those whom you are known to have approved of by consecrating them, by somehow putting them under him.
And so at every instant restrain the aforesaid Liberatus from the depravity of his intention, as a spirit of ambition inspires him and he is in need of a reprimand.
Arrange for him to stand last among the deacons, in case while he strives illegally to put himself above them, he is judged undeserving of the rank which he now holds.
Yet if you were to be attracted by his obedience, and you wanted to incardinate him after this, remember that you must abstain from his incardination, unless he has earned the agreement of his bishop, as is the usual custom."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 192.
"Liberatus, about whom your Fraternity has spoken to us, and who is said to hold the office of deacon, if he was not incardinated by your predecessor, ought not to be put in charge of the deacons appointed by you for any reason, in case you seem to be critical of those whom you are known to have approved of by consecrating them, by somehow putting them under him.
And so at every instant restrain the aforesaid Liberatus from the depravity of his intention, as a spirit of ambition inspires him and he is in need of a reprimand.
Arrange for him to stand last among the deacons, in case while he strives illegally to put himself above them, he is judged undeserving of the rank which he now holds.
Yet if you were to be attracted by his obedience, and you wanted to incardinate him after this, remember that you must abstain from his incardination, unless he has earned the agreement of his bishop, as is the usual custom."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 192.
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Differences on Money
Letter 1,80 - to Laurence, bishop of Milan. August 591.
"Receiving the letter of your Fraternity, I offered thanks to almighty God for relieving me with a longed for report of your good health. But you tell me that a certain quantity of money has been raised from the revenue of the patrimony of the Sicilian province, by the right of the sacred church over which you preside with God's authority, for the reason that at the same time, the revenue of the patrimony of your church was being collected by agents of the holy Roman Church.
And so it was necessary, you said, in accordance with the tenor of the letter sent by you, to examine the sum of money received and entered, and to track down the value of the whole account with care.
After examining this, it has been alleged that nothing was refunded to your church from the holy Roman Church.
But while your deacon, Constantius, has alleged something different to what had been argued by our people. the examination of the business became doubtful, and it could be aired more precisely if there were a person who could settle something firmly.
Therefore, it is necessary for your Sanctity to nominate a person over this matter, with whose help the Roman Church should settle something definitely."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 191.
"Receiving the letter of your Fraternity, I offered thanks to almighty God for relieving me with a longed for report of your good health. But you tell me that a certain quantity of money has been raised from the revenue of the patrimony of the Sicilian province, by the right of the sacred church over which you preside with God's authority, for the reason that at the same time, the revenue of the patrimony of your church was being collected by agents of the holy Roman Church.
And so it was necessary, you said, in accordance with the tenor of the letter sent by you, to examine the sum of money received and entered, and to track down the value of the whole account with care.
After examining this, it has been alleged that nothing was refunded to your church from the holy Roman Church.
But while your deacon, Constantius, has alleged something different to what had been argued by our people. the examination of the business became doubtful, and it could be aired more precisely if there were a person who could settle something firmly.
Therefore, it is necessary for your Sanctity to nominate a person over this matter, with whose help the Roman Church should settle something definitely."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 191.
Monday, 25 October 2010
For The Good Of Your Souls
Letter 1,79 - to the clergy and nobility of Corsica. Two equal letters. August 591.
"Although you yourselves are not upset that a church of God has been without a bishop for a very long time now, yet the care of the office we have undertaken compels us to think about its governing, and our affection for your Beloved selves very much obliges us to do so, knowing that the good of your souls depends at the same time on its proper guidance."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 191.
"Although you yourselves are not upset that a church of God has been without a bishop for a very long time now, yet the care of the office we have undertaken compels us to think about its governing, and our affection for your Beloved selves very much obliges us to do so, knowing that the good of your souls depends at the same time on its proper guidance."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 191.
Church Matters
Letter 1,78 - to the clergy, senate and people residing by the church of Bevagna. August 591.
"Whenever some matter is entrusted to several people to deal with, while each has a different view from the others, the door is opened to losses of money, rather that to profits. Foreseeing this, and so that is cannot happen at your church, we have decided that the church's care and profits should be entrusted to the priest Honoratus, for the present, so that the goods and services of the church can be looked after and guarded in every way by him."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 190.
"Whenever some matter is entrusted to several people to deal with, while each has a different view from the others, the door is opened to losses of money, rather that to profits. Foreseeing this, and so that is cannot happen at your church, we have decided that the church's care and profits should be entrusted to the priest Honoratus, for the present, so that the goods and services of the church can be looked after and guarded in every way by him."
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), I: 190.
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