Pastoral Care

Quote from Letter 9.60 to Constantius, bishop of Narni. November 598

You must take great care over the acts and discipline of the clergy and sons  [of the church of Terni], and watch over them with such pastoral zeal that you are not culpable over their souls, but rather might obtain a reward before almighty God.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 

Act of Devotion

Quote from Letter 5.58 to Passicus, bishop. November 598

Valerian, a notary of the church of your Fraternity, has suggested to us with an ingratiating petition, included herewith in an appendix, that he has founded an oratory to show his devotion  in the Visian estate under his control, next to the walls of the city of Fermo.
He wants this to be consecrated in honor of the blessed martyr Sabinus. And for that reason, dearest brother, if the building mentioned is under the control of your parish, and it is certain that no human body has been buried there, first of all receive the legal donation, that is, three gold coins in return, free of payments to the treasury, and record the transaction in the municipal records. Then you will solemnly consecrate it, but make sure that the baptistery is constructed in the same place, and do not appoint a chief priest.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 580

Advice

Quote from Letter 5.57 to Secundinus and John, bishops of Sicily. November 598

Thus, as you hasten to help him [the ex-prefect Gregory] in a priestly manner, he might avoid any trouble or expense contrary to the rule of justice. If you feel that he is somehow being burdened to no purpose, which we do not believe, it is necessary that you take action before the aforesaid glorious gentleman, while maintaining your episcopal modesty. 

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 579

Justice and Reputation

Quote from Letter 9.55 to Leontius, ex-consul of Sicily. November 598

For that reason, we greet you with paternal love, and ask that you attribute the grace of charity, with which you are equipped, more generously to our glorious son and ex-prefect, Gregory, and that you ensure that justice is preserved for him in all ways, in your usual ways. 
Thus, he might experience whatever he hopes to receive from the kindness of your fairness, with the effects of those things, and we too might learn the good things that are proclaimed about you in various ways, and might beseech our almighty Lord assiduously for the safety of your Glory.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 579

Comfort and Encouragement

Quote from Letter to Romanus, defender of Sicily. November 598

And so, we order your Experience with this authority not to fail to comfort and support her [the abbess Thecla], as far as reason allows. But you should be keen also to encourage the magnificent gentleman mentioned above [Alexander], so that he might cease from all contention, and be examining the matter might come to a peaceful resolution of this case.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 578

Justice

Quote from Letter 9.53 to Maurentius, a general. November 598

(W)e suggest that your Glory that you should apply your protection to them [people of the island of Prochyta], preserving justice, wherever it proves necessary, and if in some matter the benefit for the people under his [the accused count]control should weigh lightly against the order of reason, as he claims, let the burdens imposed on them be lightened to the very limit of justice, with your support. 
Their privileges should not be trampled on in any way at all, but let everything that ancient usage has established be preserved unchanged in all things. And so, let your Glory show yourself to be so decent in these matters that you may be shown to support the side of justice, and these who have been commended may report your good deeds to us, for this is what we always want to hear about you.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 577

Church Funds and Randsom

Quote from Letter 9.52 to Demetrian and Valerian, clergy of Fermo. November 598



Both the statutes of holy canons and eval authority allow Church properties to be spent legally on the ransoming of captives. Thus, you have informed us that about eighteen years ago, a most reverend gentleman, Fabius, once bishop of the church of Fermo, paid the enemy eleven pounds of gold from the same church, for the ransoms of your father and you two, of our brother and fellow-bishop Passivus (then a cleric), and of your mother also. 
Therefore, in case someone might ask you to restore what you gave at some stage, we propose with the authority of this order that your suspicion should be removed. We have decided that from now on you and your heirs should not endure the trouble of being asked again at any time, and that on one should expose you to an inquiry. For reasonable justice demands that what has been spent through the zeal of piety ought not to lead to a burden or an affliction for those redeemed.

Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 576