Resultados25 letters/passages
gregory_great · c. 590 · score 0.02
The barbarian invasions that continue to afflict Illyricum have produced a particular tragedy that I must address: bishops driven from their sees, wandering without resources, without community, without the basic means of life. This is a pastoral emergency, and I write to you collectively to demand a response equal to …
gregory_great · c. 597 · score 0.02
Gregory to all bishops of Sicily. Word has come of an imminent barbarian threat against Sicily. In response, I direct all bishops throughout the island to lead their communities in two weeks of litanies [solemn processions with prayer and fasting — a standard response to public danger in Gregory's church]. This is not …
gregory_great · c. 591 · score 0.02
Gregory to John, bishop of Velitrae. Given the present dangers [the Lombard invasions that were making many Italian towns unsafe], the episcopal seat of your church is to be transferred to a more secure location. This decision has been made for the safety of the clergy and people and for the continuation of proper epis …
gregory_great · c. 591 · score 0.02
Gregory to Jovinus, prefect of Illyricum. Word has reached me that a province which had been devastated by barbarian ravages is being restored and rebuilt under your governance. This news brings me genuine joy — not merely because the province is important, but because it suggests that the qualities of a good administr …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.02
Since the city of Aufinum has been recovered, with God's help, and since great care must be taken for its church, especially since Hospoton, the master of soldiers in Italy, has sought our help in this matter, we have taken care to send this present letter to your fraternity so that you may go there as visitor. You mus …
gregory_great · c. 604 · score 0.02
The work of bringing the Barbaricini to the faith is one of the projects closest to my heart, and Bonifacius has been doing important work among them. I want you to support him — practically, administratively, in whatever ways you can. This is difficult mission territory and those working there need the backing of the …
gregory_great · c. 594 · score 0.01
Gregory to Cyprianus, deacon. The question has arisen about the schedule on which the bishops of Sicily are to make their visits to Rome. The old custom was every three years; I am establishing that the new arrangement will be every five years. This change is made in recognition of the difficulties of travel in the pre …
gregory_great · c. 601 · score 0.01
Brothers and sisters of Panormus, I have appointed Barbarus as your episcopal visitor, and I am writing to require your full obedience to his ministry. He comes with my authority and for your benefit. Do not resist him, do not obstruct his work, and do not use the absence of a permanent bishop as an excuse for failing …
gregory_great · c. 597 · score 0.01
Praise be to God for the news you have sent me. The pacification of the territory near the Slavs is a relief beyond measure — the pastoral losses we have sustained in those regions from their incursions have been grievous, and every settlement that returns to peace is a cause for genuine rejoicing. I am also glad to he …
gregory_great · c. 602 · score 0.01
Gregory to Prejectus [Praeiectus], Bishop of Narni [city in Umbria, central Italy]. It has come to our attention that, on account of our pressing sins, a deadly plague is raging unchecked in your city of Narni — a matter that has grieved us greatly. For this reason, greeting your brotherhood in every way, we urge that …
gregory_great · c. 602 · score 0.01
Gregory to John, Bishop of Ravenna. We are commanded by the Lord's precepts to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to share in their afflictions as though they were our own infirmities. Mindful of these commands, your fraternity, with fitting devotion, first showed compassion by visiting our brother and fellow bishop …
gregory_great · c. 590 · score 0.01
Even if no reason for writing to your Excellency presented itself, we ought nevertheless out of fatherly charity to be solicitous for your well-being, so that what we desire to hear about you we may learn through frequent messengers. Moreover, it has come to our attention that Blandus, bishop of the city of Horta, has …
gregory_great · c. 595 · score 0.01
The beginnings of your letters so demonstrated the priestly goodwill that is in you, that our joy concerning your fraternity was increased. But the end of those same letters so saddened us, and how incautious you are became apparent. For if you had diligently attended to those things which we admonished with fraternal …
gregory_great · c. 597 · score 0.01
The men who bear this letter to you are from Histria [Istria] and are seeking their bishop, who I believe is currently residing somewhere in Sicily. I ask you to assist them in locating him and in whatever they need to complete their journey safely. These are troubled times for travel, especially for men coming from a …
gregory_great · c. 603 · score 0.01
Gregory to Victor and Columbus, bishops of Africa, in identical letters. The more the order of the Church kept blamelessly fills our heart with joy, the more its disruption imposes the burden of sorrow, when the recklessness of depravity attempts to overthrow discipline, to dissolve what was once laudably established, …
gregory_great · c. 590 · score 0.01
My dear Leander — you of all people will understand what I am about to say: this office is a burden beyond what any man can rightly be expected to carry. The cares of it press on me daily, and the infirmities of my body, which never leave me, make the load heavier than I can describe. I long for the contemplative life …
gregory_great · c. 598 · score 0.01
The bearer of this letter is Theodosius, who serves as abbot of the monastery founded in earlier times by the late patrician Liberius. The monastery is known to us and its work is valued. I commend Theodosius to your goodwill and ask that you extend to him whatever protection and assistance his mission requires. A mona …
gregory_great · c. 604 · score 0.01
In the name of the Lord. In the reign of the emperor, in the given indiction and on the given day: he upon whom the duty of adjudication is imposed must conduct himself with a pure and undefiled conscience in all things, lest in the very matters he judges for others he himself incur the retribution of the eternal exami …
gregory_great · c. 590 · score 0.01
The church of Populonia has been left destitute of priestly ministry — there is no one there to give penance to the dying, no one to baptize the newly born. This state of affairs must be remedied immediately. I am therefore directing you to visit Populonia, assess the condition of the community, and ordain whatever pri …
gregory_great · c. 600 · score 0.01
The bearer of this letter is Candidus the abbot, a man of God whom I commend to your care and hospitality. He carries with him relics which I am sending for the benefit of your community, and I ask you to receive both him and these sacred gifts with all due reverence. Sardinia is far from Rome in miles but not in our p …
gregory_great · c. 603 · score 0.01
Where the quality of offenses provokes canonical severity against them, we must not postpone correcting what needs correction, lest by dissimulation we appear to give strength to wicked acts, which it is fitting that we cut away with the sickle of discipline. Since therefore it has come to us that the monks of the mona …
gregory_great · c. 595 · score 0.01
Gregory to Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna. The bearers of this letter, coming to us from the regions of Istria, desired, with the Lord's help, to be received into the unity of the Church. We received them with affection in praise of their desire, and after giving them an exhortation concerning the conversion they had ac …
gregory_great · c. 601 · score 0.01
Donatus, the bearer of this letter, reports that he is oppressed by various troubles there, and has asked to be supported by ecclesiastical protection. Therefore we command your experience by authority that you defend the same Donatus with equity preserved, and do not permit him to be subjected to any burdens or damage …
gregory_great · c. 593 · score 0.01
Gregory to the clergy, order, and people resident at Hortona. Learning of the death of your bishop, it was our care to solemnly delegate the visitation of your bereaved church to our brother and fellow bishop Barbarus. To him we have given instructions that he should not allow anything from the revenues, furnishings, o …
gregory_great · c. 599 · score 0.01
The letter of your Fraternity has reached us, and we have read its contents with the consideration they deserve. You report that the Lombards in your region have been showing greater willingness to hear the preaching of the Gospel, and that some have even sought baptism. This news fills us with joy, for nothing is more …