Resultados25 letters/passages
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.02
Gregory to the Emperor Mauricius. Our most devout and God-appointed sovereign, among his many pressing cares, also watches over the preservation of peace among the clergy with genuine spiritual concern -- rightly and wisely recognizing that no one can govern earthly affairs well unless he knows how to handle the things …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.02
Whatever it was my duty to do in humility, I have not neglected. But if I am disregarded in my reproof, I will have no choice but to bring the matter before the Church. May Almighty God show you, brother, how great a love for you constrains me in saying these things, and how deeply I grieve in this matter -- not agains …
gregory_great · c. 602 · score 0.02
Gregory to Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria. The bearers of this letter, arriving in Sicily, were converted from the error of the Monophysites [who held that Christ has only one nature, divine, rather than two] and united themselves to the holy universal Church. Having come to the church of the blessed Peter, Prince o …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.02
Was it not the case -- as you well know -- that the prelates of this Apostolic See, which by God's providence I now serve, were offered the title of "universal" by the venerable Council of Chalcedon? Yet not one of them ever accepted it or claimed this ill-advised name, lest by seizing the glory of singularity by virtu …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.02
All that was foretold has come to pass. The king of pride draws near, and -- terrible to say -- an army of priests is being marshaled for him, since those appointed as leaders in humility have enlisted under the banner of pride. But in this matter, even if I said nothing at all, the power of Him who personally and uniq …
gregory_great · c. 592 · score 0.02
Book III, Letter 10 To Savinus, Subdeacon [Gregory's representative]. Gregory to Savinus. Wicked men have gone out and disturbed your minds, claiming what they do not understand and asserting what they cannot prove. They pretend that the faith itself is in danger, when in truth they are only seeking to cause division. …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.01
But since, with his grace at the helm, we must ensure that no external wave throws us into confusion, so too we must pray with all our hearts, dearest brothers, that by his providential hand he may drain the bilge water accumulating within us. For our adversary the devil, raging against the humble, "prowls around like …
gregory_great · c. 593 · score 0.01
Gregory to Queen Theodelinda of the Lombards. We have learned from certain reports that Your Glory has been led by some bishops to the point of suspending yourself from communion with the Catholic Church. The more sincerely we love you, the more seriously this distresses us -- that you believe unskilled and foolish men …
gregory_great · c. 593 · score 0.01
Gregory to Theodelinda, Queen of the Lombards. We have learned from certain reports that Your Glory has been led by some bishops into such offense against holy Church as to withdraw yourself from Catholic communion. The more sincerely we love you, the more deeply this distresses us — that you believe unskilled and fool …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.01
Far be it -- far be it from any Christian mind -- that anyone should try to seize for himself something that would diminish, even in the slightest degree, the honor of his brothers. Since we ourselves are unwilling to accept this honor even when it is offered, consider how disgraceful it is that someone should try to u …
gregory_great · c. 601 · score 0.01
Gregory to Quiricus and the other Catholic bishops in Iberia [the Caucasus region, modern Georgia]. Since nothing is far from charity, let those divided by distance be joined by letter. The bearer of this letter, arriving at the church of the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, said he had carried letters from your …
gregory_great · c. 598 · score 0.01
Gregory to Eulogius, Bishop of Alexandria. Our mutual friend, the bearer of this letter, found me ill when he arrived and is leaving me still ill. So you will have to forgive the thin stream of this brief letter flowing toward the great fountain of your Blessedness. But it was a gift from heaven: even in the midst of b …
gregory_great · c. 595 · score 0.01
Gregory to the clergy and people of the Church of Ravenna. I have been informed that certain men, driven by the malicious spirit, have tried to corrupt your minds with false talk about the reputation of our brother and fellow bishop Marinianus -- claiming that he venerates the holy Council of Chalcedon less than he sho …
gregory_great · c. 596 · score 0.01
And you in turn, always give me back my love, and guard what belongs to peace and kindness — so that, remaining of one mind and allowing no discord to come between us, we may from the very unity of our hearts be the better able to obtain from the Lord what we ask. Furthermore, I commend to your Holiness John, priest of …
gregory_great · c. 590 · score 0.01
I receive and venerate the four great Councils exactly as I do the four Gospels: The Council of Nicaea [325 AD], which overthrew the teaching of Arius [who denied that Christ is fully God]. The Council of Constantinople [381 AD], which refuted the errors of Eunomius and Macedonius [who denied the full divinity of the H …
gregory_great · c. 595 · score 0.01
See that you act without negligence, and that no one corrupts your faithfulness and devotion in this matter — your zeal I know. Be thorough, but do it in such a way that the aforesaid church is not diminished contrary to justice, but retains the usage that existed before the time of Bishop John. Moreover, to reach a sa …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.01
Our Creator descended from the heights of his glory to give honor to the human race, and we -- created from dust -- set our faces toward heaven, pass our tongues over the earth, and feel no shame or fear at being lifted up. Even we, who are corruption, and sons of men who are worms. Let us remember, dearest brother, wh …
gregory_great · c. 595 · score 0.01
Gregory to the Count Narses. Your Charity, anxious to have our opinion, took the trouble to write and ask what we think of the book sent to us against the priest Athanasius. Having examined portions of it thoroughly, I find that the author has fallen into the heresy of Manichaeus. But the person who marked certain pass …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.01
Guard against the wicked suggestions of evil men. Flee from every instigation to give offense. Offenses must come, to be sure, but woe to the one through whom they come. Because of this abominable title of pride, the Church is torn apart and the hearts of all the brothers are provoked to offense. Has it escaped your me …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.01
We must therefore pray earnestly and implore Almighty God with constant supplications to remove this error from that man's soul and to deliver the Church's unity and humility from this plague of pride and disorder. With the Lord's favor we must act together and apply all our powers to prevent the living members of Chri …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.01
I say this with tears and deep grief in my heart, and I attribute it to my own sins that this brother of mine -- appointed to the episcopal rank for the very purpose of leading souls back to humility -- has himself proved incapable of returning to humility, and though he teaches truth to others, refuses to teach it to …
gregory_great · c. 599 · score 0.01
Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Your Excellency, the firmness of your mind in the fear of Almighty God is plain from the many good things you do -- and not least from your love of his priests. Your Christianity gives us great joy, since you make it your business to advance with honors those whom you love an …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.01
Gregory to Eulogius, Bishop of Alexandria, and Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. When the great preacher says, "As long as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I will honor my ministry," and then says elsewhere, "We became like little children among you," he clearly sets an example for those who follow: we should preserve hu …
gregory_great · c. 596 · score 0.01
Gregory to Cyriacus, Bishop of Constantinople. When in former times I represented the Apostolic See in the imperial city, I came to know the good qualities of your Holiness. And I greatly rejoice that the care of souls has been entrusted to you. Unworthy though I am, I beseech Almighty God with all the prayer in my pow …
gregory_great · c. 599 · score 0.01
Gregory to Castorius, Notary. The more I trust you and assign you to handle cases as they arise, the more energy and care I expect you to show. Here is the procedure for Maximus of Salona: if he takes an oath affirming that he is not guilty of simoniacal heresy [buying or selling church offices], and if, when questione …