Resultados25 letters/passages
gregory_great · c. 597 · score 0.02
Your appointment to oversee the poor table and the administration of the diaconia is now confirmed. This is a charge of the highest spiritual seriousness — the hungry who come to that table are the Lord Christ himself in disguise, and every loaf distributed in his name is an act of worship. I have granted you the neces …
gregory_great · c. 601 · score 0.02
My brother Maximus, I must address something that has caused repeated difficulties: your representatives have been presenting themselves at this see and speaking on your behalf in ways that I can no longer simply accept at face value. There have been too many instances where what they claimed to represent was not what …
gregory_great · c. 590 · score 0.02
We have learned that you have been placed in charge of the public patrimony, and we count on your diligence to serve justice honestly. But I must speak plainly: word has reached us that revenues properly belonging to the Roman Church are being concealed or diverted. This cannot be permitted. I urge you in the strongest …
gregory_great · c. 592 · score 0.02
We recall that your Magnificence, during the time you were here in the city of Rome, learned that Bonifatius, a former accountant, had by his established testament left a certain portion of his inheritance to the hospice situated at the church of the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles. And since we said we would exe …
gregory_great · c. 591 · score 0.02
Gregory to Importunus, bishop of Atella. We believe your fraternity willingly embraces things that are wisely arranged. And since we have learned that the church of Holy Mary at Campiso, situated in your diocese, is without a priest, we have appointed the bearer of this letter, the presbyter Dominicus, to preside over …
gregory_great · c. 592 · score 0.02
Gregorius, the former prefect, is a man who has served well in high office and who now turns toward the service of God and the Church. He is known to us and is deserving of every assistance. I commend him warmly to Your Fraternity and ask that you receive him with the honor his service warrants. Whatever he requires wi …
gregory_great · c. 593 · score 0.01
Gregory to Maximianus, bishop of Syracuse. We have long since committed to your fraternity the authority to examine and correct ecclesiastical affairs in Sicily. The quarter portion of new revenues is to be distributed according to the canonical arrangement. A priest or other cleric is not to be made abbot unless he fi …
gregory_great · c. 595 · score 0.01
Gregory to the most excellent Queen Brunhild. A man named Hilarius is in need of the protection that only someone in your position can provide. I commend him to you. He has served the church's interests and deserves better than he has received. The details of his situation are known to those who will present this lette …
gregory_great · c. 591 · score 0.01
Gregory to all the soldiers at Naples. I have heard reports of difficulties between some of you and the tribune Constantius, who commands you. I address you directly because I want there to be no ambiguity about my position: you are to obey the tribune. Military discipline requires that soldiers follow their officers, …
gregory_great · c. 599 · score 0.01
Gregory to the estate managers [*conductores massarum*] throughout Gaul. Although you find yourselves placed amid the turmoil of foreign peoples, reason itself compels us to believe that you stand far apart from others in good conduct. For just as the name of Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, makes the household of …
gregory_great · c. 603 · score 0.01
The clergy of Regium have brought complaints against their bishop, and these must be investigated. Go there, hear from those who have come forward, look into the specifics of what is alleged, and determine whether the complaints have merit. Do not prejudge the matter in either direction — listen carefully and assess ho …
gregory_great · c. 600 · score 0.01
Gregory to the people of Ravenna. It has come to my attention that anonymous libels — placards placed at night — have been directed against Castorius. Whoever is responsible for this cowardly act is on notice: I take it seriously. Anonymous libel is an act of cowardice as well as injustice. Those who have genuine compl …
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. 592 · score 0.01
… hould lift us up in prosperity or cast us down in adversity. I rejoice that the imperial favor has been restored to you, but I urge you to use this good fortune with humility, remembering that the same hand which raised you up can bring you low again. I commend to your excellency Sabinianus and Castus, who will present …
gregory_great · c. 596 · score 0.01
Pastoral care constrains us to attend with solicitous consideration to churches deprived of priestly governance. And therefore, since your church has long been deprived of pastoral governance on account of the bodily infirmity of its own bishop — as you yourselves know — moved by your prayers, we have not ceased to adm …
gregory_great · c. 597 · score 0.01
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. 602 · score 0.01
Most serene Queen, the bearer of this letter is Hilarius, whom I send to you with confidence in your continued goodwill toward this see and toward the work of the Church in Frankia. He carries our message and our hope, and I ask you to receive him with the gracious welcome that I have come to expect from a queen who ha …
gregory_great · c. 599 · score 0.01
Gregory to Cyprianus, deacon. Two thousand measures of wheat are to be given to Bishop Zeno for distribution to the poor of his diocese. See to this promptly and ensure the grain reaches its destination and is distributed as intended. The church's grain distribution is one of the most concrete expressions of its missio …
gregory_great · c. 598 · score 0.01
Gregory to Anthemius, subdeacon. A young man has received the monastic habit at Misenum [a town near Naples] after being brought there from Sicily. The matter of his status and his obligations going forward needs to be sorted out clearly. A person who has genuinely received the monastic habit is subject to monastic law …
gregory_great · c. 595 · score 0.01
Gregory to Anthemius, subdeacon. Money was provided for the construction of a fort [the defense of Italian towns against the Lombards was a constant concern in Gregory's pontificate, and the church often provided funding for defensive works], and I have reason to believe that a portion of this money is held by Benenatu …
gregory_great · c. 596 · score 0.01
Gregory to the people of the Turritan and Tauromenian districts. I have appointed the bishop Venerius to serve as your visitor during the current vacancy. Give him your obedience and cooperation as you would give it to your own bishop. At the same time, I want you to begin the process of identifying a suitable priest f …
gregory_great · c. 590 · score 0.01
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. 592 · score 0.01
Gregory to Bonifatius, bishop. There is a temptation that affects good people more than bad ones: the desire for human praise when doing good works. The wicked generally do not care whether their wickedness is admired; but the virtuous often find themselves subtly seeking recognition for their virtue, and this seeking …
gregory_great · c. 597 · score 0.01
Gregory to John, bishop of Syracuse. The case of Rusticiana and the invasion of her property has been dragging on for too long. This delay is in no one's interest and in particular does not serve justice. I direct you to bring this matter to a conclusion without further delay. The facts should be by now quite well know …
gregory_great · c. 592 · score 0.01
Those who with sincere intention wish to bring strangers to the Christian religion and the right faith ought to pursue this by gentleness, not by harshness, lest adversity drive far away those whose minds clear reason could have attracted. For those who act otherwise and wish under this cover to remove them from their …