Letter 11071: The way the case of the deacon John was handled — specifically regarding the failure to properly examine the charges...

TO ANTHEMIUS THE SUBDEACON. [Summary: He reproaches that man and others as judges in the case of John the deacon, because they punished Hilarus the subdeacon, a slanderer, with no penalty. He orders that this man, stripped of his office and publicly chastised with floggings, be sent into exile. Bishop Paschasius is to choose a steward and a head of the household.] Gregory to Anthemius, subdeacon of Campania. Since crimes ought to be punished more severely when they injure the innocent, consider how guilty all of you are who presided in the case of John the deacon, in that no penalty proceeding from your verdict chastised Hilarus, the very man who accused him. Nor should you believe that this is a fit excuse for yourselves, namely that, when you wished as it were to give judgment, our brother and fellow bishop Paschasius alone is said to have deferred the matter. For if zeal for rectitude had flourished in you, one man could more easily have been reasonably persuaded by many than many men deferred without cause by one. Since therefore the evil of so great wickedness ought not to pass without a fitting punishment, we wish our above-named brother Paschasius to be admonished that he first strip that same Hilarus of the office of the subdiaconate, which he holds unworthily, and that, after he has been publicly chastised with floggings, he have him deported into exile, so that the punishment of one may be the correction of many. But if perhaps the still-wounded reputation of his deacon does not move him to leniency, and in this matter -- which we do not believe -- he proves sluggish, let your Experience [the official addressed] carry out these things which we have said, and report to us concerning his neglect. Moreover that same brother is to be exhorted by our command to show himself vigilant in all things, and not to neglect to display fuller discipline to his Church, lest he both bear the sin of those who have been entrusted to him, and vehemently provoke us against him, if -- which we do not desire -- he proves incautious or slow in the care of his office. Moreover we wish that our aforesaid brother Paschasius both ordain for himself a steward and a head of household, so that he may be able to be suitable and ready, whether for guests arriving unexpectedly, or for the cases which arise. But if you perceive him to be negligent in this also, and deferring to fulfill the things which we have said, his whole clergy ought to be brought in, so that by common counsel they themselves may choose persons whose character is fit to be appointed to the things which we have set forth above. EPISTLE LXXII. TO AGAPITUS THE ABBOT. [Summary: He unites another monastery, utterly deserted by its monks on account of hostile attack, to that man's monastery.] Gregory to Agapitus the abbot. Our care ought solicitously to provide that obedient service be not lacking. Since therefore the monastery which is situated on the estate of Marcianum in the province of Campania is said, through the action of enemy attack, to have been so utterly desolated of its community that not one monk remains from it who ought to give any care or oversight there, we have judged it useful that that monastery, with all its property and whatever legal actions belong to it, be united to your monastery, so that there be free permission to you, and without any doubt, of holding its property, or of reclaiming it from those who hold it. In which matter let it also be part of your zeal to appoint monks who, at the time when there shall be a respite from the enemy, ought both to celebrate the work of God and fittingly to serve there. Nor are you to presume to neglect this on any excuse, since for this reason it is committed to your care that you should there apply your solicitude. But you are to know that we have committed that monastery to your ordering in such a way that nevertheless the bishop of Surrentum [Sorrento], in whose city your monastery is, shall not have jurisdiction there, but the bishop of Nuceria [Nocera], whose diocese it is. For we arrange the ordering of this place in such a way that nevertheless we preserve their own rights inviolate to the individual bishops. EPISTLE LXXIII. TO MARINIANUS THE ABBOT. [Summary: He commits the care of the church of Saint George to that man and his successors.] Gregory to Marinianus the abbot. Since we have learned that the church of Saint George, situated in the place which is called To the See [Ad Sedem], is said to have less diligence than it ought, we have judged it useful -- since your monastery is known to be joined to that same church -- to commit its care to you, exhorting that you both strive to apply fitting solicitude there, and cause the office of psalmody to be solemnly performed. And since it is certain that the church itself is in need of repair, we wish that whatever can come in to that place, you yourself receive it and, as you shall provide, you should expend it on its repair. But this care of solicitude, which we have entrusted to you by the page of this command, we wish that both you and also your successors, who by God's authority shall undertake the governance of the monastery, perform; and we wish that the things which we have established be observed in all respects. EPISTLE LXXIV. TO EUSEBIUS BISHOP OF THESSALONICA. [Summary: A letter of his falsified by Andrew, a most wicked monk. Certain discourses falsely attributed to Gregory himself by the same man. A confession of faith to be exacted from Lucas the presbyter, suspect in faith.] Gregory to Eusebius, bishop of Thessalonica. The bearer of the present letter, Theodorus, a lector of your Church, coming to the thresholds of the holy apostles, while -- being indeed a new man -- he held all unknown, innocently deposited the goods and documents which he had brought with Andrew the monk, who had been enclosed at Saint Paul's, as though with one truly known of old, believing indeed that that man's mind, as we too had previously held, agreed with his habit. But that man was found of such great depravity that, if his foolishness under the appearance of his enclosure had been permitted a little longer, he would have deceived the souls of many by the falsehood of his malice, and would have generated no light scandals wherever he could. For among the other things which the same Andrew most wickedly devised and did, that very letter also which you sent to us, while it was deposited with him by the aforesaid bearer, he so falsified that whoever read it would clearly accuse you of having sound understanding neither catholically nor rightly. From which matter it came about that, while we were studiously seeking the truth, his hidden iniquity was made public, and such things were found in him as would not be believed of any wicked layman whatever. And because among his various evils he also wrote certain discourses, and titled them under our name, and we are suspicious lest he have transmitted them somewhere, let your Fraternity exercise solicitude; and if it find anything of the sort, let it cause them both to be cut up and altogether abolished, so that what an unskilled man, ignorant of letters and of divine Scripture, has marked beforehand under our name, as we have said, may not be able to infect the minds of certain people. For we neither know Greek, nor have we ever composed any work in Greek. But his other evils, or what has been decreed concerning him by us in council, you will learn from the report of the aforesaid bearer, whom we commend to your Fraternity in all things, because he was found present. Let it [your Fraternity] hold him -- Severus and their followers -- specially in contempt by anathematizing them, so that by this satisfaction no scandal may be able through his occasion to remain against you in the hearts of your sons. But if perhaps he -- which we do not believe -- should do this with some excuse and have deferred it, let nothing be common to you with him, but let him be set apart from your familiarity and communion in all respects. For, as I have written before, it is better to cast out the diseased sheep from the Lord's fold than to lose the healthy ones by the fault of one. These things therefore, most dear brother, diligently attend to; and so strive that you may both be able to have your sons united and devoted, as is fitting, and that for this cause a complaint may not come to us again anew. But the bearer of the present letter, as we have said, we commend in all things; and since he was previously deceived in innocence by the evil monk, and afterwards stood firmly in the conviction against him, let him find the recompense of his labor here with your Fraternity -- although I am certain that it is repaid to him in the eternal fatherland. But if he should again wish to come hither to prayer at the holy apostles, let your Fraternity send him on without any delay. EPISTLE LXXV. TO AURELIUS. [Summary: He consoles him concerning the death of his brother and the tribulations which he was suffering.] Gregory to Aurelius, from the Franks. Having heard of the passing of my most sweet son, your brother, with what grief I am stricken the speech of a letter cannot express. But I beseech almighty God that He console you by the breathing of His grace, and guard you both from malign spirits and from perverse men by His heavenly protection. For if you endure after his death any tumults of certain adversaries, do not wonder. If you seek to enjoy good things in your own land -- that is, in the land of the living -- you ought to bear the evils of men in a foreign land. For the present life is a pilgrimage; and to him who sighs for his fatherland, the place of pilgrimage is a torment, even if it seem pleasant. But to you, who seek your fatherland, among the sighs which you have, I hear also the groans of human oppression arising. Which is done by the wondrous dispensation of almighty God, so that while truth calls through love, the present world may drive your mind away from itself through the tribulations which it brings; and the mind goes forth from the love of this age so much the more easily, as it is also impelled while it is called. Therefore expend the care of hospitality which you have begun; labor most insistently in prayer and tears. Give your efforts, now more lavishly and abundantly, to the alms which you have always loved, so that the fruit of your work may grow for you in the recompense the more, as the zeal of your labor has increased here. EPISTLE LXXVI. TO MELLITUS THE ABBOT. [Summary: He gives commands to be shown to Augustine, whom he was approaching, for the easier conversion of the English.] Gregory to Mellitus, abbot in the lands of the Franks. After the departure of our congregation which is with you, we were rendered very anxious, because it happened that we heard nothing of the prosperity of your journey. But when almighty God shall have led you to the most reverend man, our brother Augustine the bishop, tell him what, long pondering with myself concerning the affair of the English, I have determined: namely that the shrines of idols among that nation ought by no means to be destroyed, but the idols themselves which are in them are to be destroyed. Let holy water be made, let it be sprinkled in those same shrines, let altars be constructed, let relics be placed; for if those shrines are well built, it is necessary that they be changed over from the worship of demons into the service of the true God, so that, while that nation itself does not see its shrines destroyed, it may put away error from its heart, and, knowing and adoring the true God, may resort more familiarly to the places to which it has been accustomed. And because they are wont to slay many oxen in the sacrifice of demons, some solemnity also ought on this account to be changed for them, so that on the day of dedication, or on the birthdays of the holy martyrs whose relics are placed there, they may make for themselves booths of tree branches around those same churches which have been changed over from shrines, and may celebrate the solemnity with religious feasts. Nor let them now immolate animals to the devil, but let them slay animals for the praise of God for their own eating, and render thanks to the Giver of all for their abundance; so that while some outward joys are reserved for them, they may be able more easily to consent to inward joys. For it is not doubtful that it is impossible to cut away all things at once from hard minds, because he who strives to ascend to the highest place is necessarily raised by steps or paces, and not by leaps. Thus the Lord indeed made Himself known to the people of Israel in Egypt; but nevertheless He reserved for them, in His own worship, the use of sacrifices which they were accustomed to offer to the devil, so that He commanded them to immolate animals in His own sacrifice; to the end that, changing their hearts, they might lose one part of the sacrifice and retain another, so that, even though they were the same animals which they had been accustomed to offer, nevertheless, immolating these to God and not to idols, the sacrifices themselves would no longer be the same. These things therefore your Beloved must of necessity tell to the aforesaid brother, so that he himself, placed there in the present, may weigh how he ought to dispense all things. May God keep you safe, most beloved son.

AD ANTHEMJUM SUBDIACONUM. Illum aliosve in causa Joannis Diaconi judices arquit, quod Hilarum 8ubdiaconum calumniatorem nulla pena afſecerint. Hunc privatum officio, ac verberi- bus publice castigqatum, jubet exsulare. Kligendum Paschasio episcopo vicedominum et majorem do- mus. Gregorius Anthemio subdiacono Campanie. Cum fortius punienda sint crimina que insomtibus, quam Ssitis culpabiles omnes qui in causa Joannis Diaconi resedistis attende, ut Hilarum * criminato= rem ipsius nulla ex definitione vestra pena veniens casligaret. Nec illud ad excusationem vestram- creo datis esse idoneum, quod vobis quasi judicare yo- lentibus $0lus ſraler et coepiscopus noster Þ Pascha- Sius dicitur distulisse. Nam $i zelus in vobis rectitu- dinis viguisset, ſacilius uni a multis rationabiliter Suaderi quam multi ab uno poterant sine causa differri. Quia ergo tante nequitie malum sine digna non debet ultione 1transire, suprascriptum fratrem nostrum Paschasium volumus admoneri, ut eum- ldem Co-lex 8upra, ubi legitur- colenda 8it, habet consolanda it ; consentiuntque Vatic. E et Rhem. © DeSumpta est hac conclusio ex Beda loco supra cilato, 4 Hec desiderantur in omnibus Mss. nostris pre- lerquam in duobus Teller: Episr. LXIX [Al. 64]. — *® Vatic, A, aut ve- alram animam. Plebs 8ine [uce cecutit. >ine sale corrumpitur, sine ſer- mento inſatuatur, sine duce in ſoveam cadit, sine nau= clero nauſragatur, pravis exemplis ruit. , © Auguslinum Anglorum episcopum Gregorius in Galliam advocare cogitabai, qui una cum Gallicanis episcopis d2 sacerdolibus impudice ac nequiter con- \er-antibus inquireret ac emendaret, ut etiam innvuit Superior episLola. 4 Legilur in Cold. vel. : Data die x Kalend. Jul., Superiores quibus eadem iemporis nola aſſigitur. At vix credi polest a 8ancto Gregorio tres eodem die ad eamdem reginam . epistolas ſuisse conscriplas, 8cili- cet 62, 65 et 69, hujus libri. Eeisr. LXX [Al. 65]. — * Hoe esl, in Galliis; erat enim lalus, gerens curam palrimonii sancul Petri in Gallia. Gussanv. Ee.sr. LXXI [Al. 66]. — * Pena calumniatoris, quam uncialibus litteris descriptam prelati babere semper pre oculis debereut. Nunc pa5sim innocen- les opprimuntur impune, non draconi modo, $ed eliam presbyteri et pastvres; et sycophante ſoven- ur, qui aliorum rodunt ſamam Genie maligno, de= volionis Specie. GUsSANVY. | bd Erat is episcopus Neapolitanus ex 31, _ CO__ Reg. et Remig., Paschasins dicitur 1880, | indict, 4, Certe $i hxc epistola a Mellito ejusque s0- : 121 | SANCTI GREGORII MAGNI | 1212 dem Hilarum prius subdiaconatus quo indignus ſfun- A vindicandi libera tibi git et 8ine aliqua. dubictate gitur privet officio, atque © verberibus publice casti- gatum 4 faciat in exsilium deportari ut unius pcna multorum possit esse correctio. Cujus * si forte leni- tatem diaconi 8ui adhuc opinio lacerata non com= movet, et in hoc, quod non credimus, torpens exsti- terit, experientia tua hc quz diximus ſaciat, et de Illius nobis neglectu renuntiet. Hortandus preterea idem frater ex nostro mandato est, ut 8 in omnibus vigilantem exhibeat, et Ecclesiz suz amplius exbi- bere disciplinam non negligat, ne et peccatum de his qui ei commissi sunt sustineat, et nos contra $e ve- hementer stimulet, si in officii sui cura, quod non oplamus, incautus vel lentus exstiterit, Volumus autem (Grat. dis. 89, c. 2) ut memoratus ſrater no- licentia. In quo etiam sludii tui sit monachos depu- tare, qui illic tempore quo intervallum de hoste fue- rit, et opus Dei celebrare, et decenter debeant de- Servire. Nec aliqua illud presumas excus3tione ne- gligere, quod ideo cure tuz ut s0llicitudinem illic debeas adbibere committitur. Ipsum autem monasle- rium sic tuz nos ordinationi commisisse cognoscas, ut tamen jurisdictionem illic non episcopus Surrene tinus, in cujus Civitale monasterium tuum est, sed Nucerinus, cujus est dicecesis, habeat. Nam sic hu- jus loei ordinationem disponimus, ut tamen jura 8ua Singulis episcopis inviolata Servemus. EPISTOLA LXXHI. AD MARINIANUM ABBATEM. ster Paschasius et f vicedominum sibi ordinet, et a Ecclesia sancti Georgii curam Mariniano ejusque majorem domus, quatenus possit vel hospitibus su= pervenientibus, vel causis que eveniunt, idoneus et paratus eristere, {Si vero et negligentem eum prospicis, et ea quz. diximus implere differentem, omnis clerus ejus adhiberi debet, ut communi con=- silio ipsi eligant quorum persone ad ea que pre- diximus valeant ordinari #. (Cf. Joan. Diac., l. rv, c. 31; l.n, c. 54.) | EPISTOLA LEXHN. AD AGAPITUM ABBATEM. Illius monasterio aliud unit a monachis ob hostililate proraus dezerium. Gregorius Agapito abbati. desit obsequium nostra debet gollicite cura prospi- C cere. Quia igitur monasterium quod in fundo Þ Mar- ciano provincize Campaniz s$itum est, ita hoslilitate faciente, a congregatione funditus dicitur desolatum, ut ne unus exinde monachus, qui aliquam jllic solli- citudinem vel caram debeat adhibere, remanserit, tuo iNud monasterio cum - omnibus rebus suis, vel que ei competunt actiones, utile prospeximus © unien- dum, L1I'7S ut res ejus tenendi, vel a detinentibus Siaslicisque judicibus facta inhibitio ne hujusmodi penam imponerent. « Reſertur cap. Cum ſortins, extr. de calumniator. Vide infra, lib. x11, epist. 45; eademque $tatuitur pena can. 9, caus. 5, q. 4, e. 9; item cap. 5, causa3, q.5, et can. 25, dis1. 65. Ivo Carnot. , epist. 186, ad Aurelian. episcopum : Oportet ul... .- deposilum perpetno carcere damnelis, aut in eternum exsilium detrudatis. Jam vero clericos in exsilium mitltere cc- clesiagtico judici non licet, sed ad regiam potesta- tem id spectat, alque ila non semel judicatum tesla- tr Choppin. de sacra Pofitia , lib. n, tit. 3, num. 42. Ilipsum pluribus arrestis confirmatum dicit Fe- vretius, de Abusu, lib. vm, cap. 4, num. 11. * In Valic. A, cujus., .. levitatem. De vicedominis et hospitalitate vide lib. 1 epist. 11. 8 In vet. Colh. : Data die x Kalend. Jul., indict. $. In. Collect, Pauli et in altero Rhem. : Data die vi 4d. Jul. indict. 4. S$UCCce880Tibus commitiit. Gregorias Mariniano abbati. Quia ecclesiam $ancti Georgit positam in loco qui * Ad sedem dicitur minorem'quam oportet diligentiam | habere cognovimus, utile esse prospeximus, quoniam monaslerium tuvm eidem_ ecclesi2 noscitur ess6 conjunctum , ejus tibi curam committere, hortantes ut et 80llicitudinem illic congruam studeas adhibere, el psalmodize officium solemniter exhibere facias. Ft quia ecclesiam ipsam reparatione certum est indi- gere, volumus ut quidquid ijtuc accedere potuerit, ipse accipere alque in ejus reparationem , ut przvi- deris, debeas erogare. fHlanc vero sollicitudinis cu- ram, quam tibi hujus pagina precepti mandavimus, tam te quam etiam g8uccessores twos, qui monasterii regimen, Deo auctore, snsceperint, exhibere, et que constituimus per omnia volumus observare. EPISTOLA EXXTY. AN EUSEBIUM THESSALONICENSEM EPISCOPON. Falsatam ab Andrea monacho nequissimo illius episto- lam. Nonnutlos Gregorio ipsi ab eodem. suppozitos sermones. Exigendam a Luca presbytero suspecto fidei confessionem. Gregorius * Eusebio episcopo Thessalonicensi. Episr, LXXIH [| Al. 67 }. — * Ita Mss. Anglic., Norm., Reg. , Remig. et plerique. In vet. Ed. : De rebus venerabilibus vel quando licet, etc. Ila etiam legimus in Rhem. Recent. editoribus placnit ita mu- tare hujus epist. initium : ne rebus venerabilibus vel cuilibet cultui desit, etc. In Vatic. F, pro quando licet, legitur quando libel. | % Eeisgr, LIAXII [| Al. 68], — * Hune alibi, c. lib. m, indict. 2, epist. 27, dici abbatem de Pa- normo , observat Finicchiarns , apud Bolland. , ad diem 23 April. Et sicuti nullus, inquit, unquam futl locus Rome qui sciatur dictus ſuisze Ad $edem , its - videtur quod de ecclesia Rome pesita abbati similiter Rome degenti non ſuisset sanctus papa per epistolan mandalurus. (Juandoquidem tamen ecclesia illa , yam tum, id est anno 601, reparatione egebat tan/a, ut ejus curam 8ibi non negligendanm ipse pontifer Roma nus censere!, vel hinc cognosci datur, quod ea, ubt- cunque sita, ſuerit perquam antiqua, ac rerosimiluler ips0 quo 8anctus Georgius pas8us est 8ecnlo wdifica'a, Scilicet quarto ineunte.. Exstat festum s8ancti Georgi in libro Sacram. cum prxfatione propria. De hoc SAncto n:artyre agit Tillemontius tom. Y Ecclesiasl. Hist.. pag. 185. Yide Bolland. ” 2 —y _ EPISTOLARUM LIB XI. — INDICT. IV. — EPIST. LXXV. Laior pr:egentium Theodorus, Ecclesiz vesir:e A omnia segregandus est. Nam, Sicut ante jam scripsi- lector, ad sanctorum apostolorum limina veniens, dum omnes, homo quippe novus, haberet 1 1'74 incognitos, Andrez monacho , qui ad sanctum, Pau- lum inclusus fuerat, res et chartas quas detulit, ut re vera olim noto, innocenter deposuit , credens quidem quod mens ipsius, sicut et nos ante habue- ramus, cum habitu concordaret. Sed tantz ille pra- vilatis inventus est, ut, si ejus staltitie 8ub inclo- zgionis specie paulo adhuc amplius licuisset , multo- rum animas malitiz 8uz falsitate deciperet, ot quo- cunque potuisset non levia scandala generaret. Nam inter alia que idem Andreas pessime cogitavit et ſceit , eam quoque quam ad nos misistis, dum apud ipsum-/ a przeſato latore esset deposita, ita falsavit mus, melius est de ovili dominico morbosam ovem ejicere quam unius vitio sanas amittere. Hee igitur, frater charissime, diligenter attende ; et ita $Stude, ut et filios vestros unitos ac devolos, 1175 sicul decet, habere possitis, et hac de causa denuo ad nos querela non redeat. Latorem vero presentium , ut prefati sumus, in omnibus com- mendamus, qui, quoniam prius a malo monacho innocenter deceptus ect, et postmodum *© in con- victione ejus ſfortiter perstitit, laboris sui retribu- tionem hic apnd vestram ſraternitatem inveniat, quamvis quia in zterna ei patfiz compensetur certus existo. 4 Sj autem rarsus ad orationem huc ad sanctos apostolos venire voloerit, eum ſraternitas epixtolam , ut quicunque eam Jegeret, vos nec catho- B yegtra sine aliqua mora transmiltat, (Cf. Joan. Diac., lice, nec recte sapere evidenter argueret. Ex qua re contigit ut dum verjlatem studiose querimns , ejus que latebat iniquitas vulgaretur, et tanta in eo re- perta sunt quanta nec de scelerato Huocunque laico erederentur. Et quia inter diversa mala aliquos etiam sexmones scripsit , atque eos cx nos(ro nomine titu- lavit , et 8uspecti 8umus ne eos alicubi transmiserit, ſraternitas vestra $0llicitudinem gerat ; et si quid lale repererit, eos et rescindi et omnino faciat abo- leri, ut quod imperitus litterarum et Scripture di- vine nescius, nostro, Sicut diximus, nomine pre» notavit, quorumdam animos non possit inficere. Nam nos nec Greece novimus, nec aliquod opus ali- quando Grezce conscripsimus. Alia vero mala ipsius, l. rv, c. 81.) EPISTOLA LXXY. AD AURELIUM. Conzolatur eum de morte fratris et (ribulationibus quas patiebatur, Gregorius * Aurelio ex Francis. Audito duleissimi filii mei Þ fratris vestri (ransity, .quo 8im mcrore perculsus epistolaris non valet ex- plere locutio. Sed omnipotentem Deum rogo ut suaz vos gratiz a$piratione consoletur, yosque et a mali- gnis 8piritibus et a perversis hominibus ecelesti pro- tectione custodiat. Nam 8si quos post illius obitum tumultus quorumdam adversantium sustinelis, nolite mirari. Si vos ſrui bonis in terra veslra, id evt © in rel quid de eo a nobis in concilio statutum 8it, an- C terra viventium quzeritis, mala hominum in terra ledieti portiitoris, quem ſraternitati vestre in omni- bus commendamius, quia przesens inventus est, re- latione eognoscelis. Severum, ac $equaces eorum , Specialiter anathe- matizando contemnet, ut hac satisfactione in filio- rum vestrorum cordibus nullum per illius occasio- nem contra vos ptissit scandalum remanere. Qui si aliena portare debelis. Peregrinatio quippe est vita presens ; et qui suspirat ad patriam, ei tormentum est peregrinationis locus, etiamsi blandus esse vi- deatur. Vobis autem qui patriam quzritis , inter $u- Spiria que habetis, etiam gemitus audio humane oppressionis exsurgere. Quod mira omnipotentis Dei dispensatione agitur, ut dum veritas per amorem vocat, mundus prxsens a $eipso animum vestrum per tribulationes quas ingerit repellat ; tantoque fa- cilius ah amore hujus sxculi mens exeat, quanto et impellitur dum vocatur. ltaque, 1176 quod cepistis, hospitalitatis curam impendite, in oratione et lacrymis instantissime laborate. Eleemosyuis, quas 8emper amastis, jam nunc largius atque ube- forte, quod non credimus , facere hoc aliqua excu- xy rius operam date, ut tanto pot in retributione ere- S8lione distulerit, nihil vobis cum illo commune sit, «ed a ſamiliaritate atque communione vestra per Eersr. L.XXIV (Al. 69). — * De Eusebio et An- drea | us Phothis , Cod. 162 Bibliotheez. © Alter Rhem., in conventione ejus. « Corbeiens., $i autem reversus. Eeisr. LXXV [Al. 70]. — © Fortasse legendam Aurelie, ut in titulo epist. 36 libri vn, indict. 45. Verum nomen $latuere difficile est propter mss. Co- dicum penuriam. In paucis evim bac epistola con- linetur. Ex Vaticanis $olus cod. A eam exhibet. —— guoque reperimus in altero Rhem. et in Iclor, | scat vobis 4 fructus operis, quanto hic excreverit studium laboris. © Augustinus , in psal. cu, coneion. 4, num. 4 : In terra morientium spes mea , in terra vi por- tio mea ; lib. m de Doet. Christ., c. 34 , Ece!esia | dicitur terra beatorum, lerra viventium , quia in @ier- num regnatura cum Chnisto, Terre vite 2 terra vi- ventium ſrustra discrimen querit Gussanvilkeus , neque liber vitz a libro viventiemn distingnitur. Vide sanctum Thom., 1 P., q. 24, a. 4. 4 In laudato Rhem. et in Sau Victor., ſynctus munerts. EEPISTOLA LXXVI. AD MELLITUM ABBATEM Dai mandata Auqustino , quem adibat, exhibenda, ad ſaciliorem Anglorum conversionem. * Gregorius Mellito abbati in Francia. _ Post discessum congregationis nostre, quz tecum est, valde sumus $uspensi redditi, quia nil de pro- Speritate vestri itineris audisse nos conligit. Cum vero vos Deus omnipotens ad reverendissimum vi- rum frairem noslrum Augustinum episcopum perdu- xerit, dicite ei quid diu mecum de causa Anglorum cogitans tractavi, videlicet quia Þ fana idolorum de- strui in eadem gente minime debeant , sed ipsa que in eis sunt idola desiruantur. Aqua benedicta fiat , in eisdem ſanis aspergatur, altaria construantur, re- liquiz ponantur, quia 8i ſana eadem bene constructa SANCTI GREGORII MAGNI A iyrum, quorum illic reliquie ponuntur, labernacula $ibi circa easdem ecclesias que ex fanis commutalz sunt, de ramis arborum ſaciant, et © religiosis con- viviis Solemnitlaltem celebrent. Nec diabolo jam ani- malia immolent, $ed ad laudem Dei in esum $suum 1177 animalia occidant, et donatori omnium de 8atietale sua gratias reſerant, ut dum eis aliqua exterins gaudia reservantur, ad interiora gaudia con- sentire facilius valeant. Nam 4 duris mentibus simul omnia abscidere impossibile esse non dubium est, quia is qui locum summum ascendere nititur necesse est ut gra'ibus vel passibus , non autem s$allibus elev-tur. Sic Israelitico populo in Agypto Dominus $e quidem innoluit ; sed tamen eis * sacrificiorum usus, ques diabolo solebant exhibere, in cultu proprio reserva- vit, ut eis in sacrificio $u0 animalia immolare- pra- Sunt, necesse est ut a cullu demonum in obsequium B Ciperet ; quatenus, cor mutantes , aliud de sacrificio veri Dei debeant commutari, ut dum gens ipsa ea- dem ſana non videt destrui , de corde errorem de- ponat, et, Deum verum cognoscens ac adorans, ad loca que consuevit ſamiliarius concurrat. Et quia boxes $0lent in 8acrilicio dxmonum mullos occidere, debet his etiam hac de re aliqua solemnitas immyu- tari, ut die dedicationis vel natalitiis sanctlorum mar- Eersr. LXXVI [Al. 71] — © Titulus hic apud Be- dam, lib. x Eccles. Histor., cap. 50, ita legitur : Di'ectis:imo = Mellito abbati Gregorius servus 8er- eorum Dei. Grs8anv. amilterent, aliud retinerent , ut etsi ipsa essent ani- malia quz offerre consueverant, verumtamen Deo . hec et non idolis immolantes , jam gacrificia ipsa non essent. Hzc igitur dilectionem tuam predicto fralri necesse est dicere, ut ipse, in presenti illic positus , perpendat qualiter omnia debeat dispen- sare. Deus te incolumem cuslodiat, dilectissime fili. Et inſra : Agathemero nepoti meo vineam dono , quam posui Vindonissze, et meo labore :onstitui ; sub ea conditione ut a partibus 8uis omnibus diebus festis et Dominicis pro commemoratione mea 8acris altaribus offeratur obla'io, et Laudunensibus presbyteris atque diacenibus annua convivia concedente Deo prebeantur. Notandum et ilſud Theodoreti, de curandis Graco» rum Affectibus, serm. 8, in fine, ubi de illustrio- ribus pagan's verba ſaciens, ait eos neque insigni- - mqpra—ny 8erm. 8, de Martyribus , destructa qui- C bus monumentis condiri , aut epulis solemnibus esse deorum 1templa et aras pronuntial , eorum vero materiam omnem martyrum fanis dedicatam esse. Paulo aliter cone. Epaonense anno 517, can. 33 : Baxilicas hereticorum , quas lantu exsecratione habemns exozas, u! pollutionem earum purgabilem non pulemus, ganclis usibus applicare despicimus. Anglis ad lidem conrersis, censuerat Gregorius ſana idolorum destruenda, qua de re Edilbertho regi Scripserat hac ipsa indictione epist. 66 ; sed mutata senlentia convenientius judicavit ut expiarentur, et Vita Gregorii Thaumat. ; Hieronymus, epist. 19, ad Eustochium ; Theodoretns, Histor. Eccles. Ib. 1, cap. 12, et lib, uw, cap. 27 ; Gregorius Turonens's, lib. 1 de Vita $ancti Martini, cap. 6, et lib. u de Miraculis, cap. 146; Frodoardus, lib. 1 Historie Rhemensis hc verba ex testamento Sancti Remigii laudat : Vineam tibi (Agricola nepos) eatenus derelin- quo , ut diebus ſestis et omnibus Dominicis , 8acris al- taribus mra inde offeratur oblatio, alque annua convi- via Rhemensibus presbyleris et diaconibus prebeaniur, honorari $0litos, prout martyres nostri : Obre yep T&poug £xovar tnumriuoug. ours Snuoboriats freoiog yEpaipovrar. Poslea lamen cum licentius epularen- , tur, improbata $unt ejusmodi convivia a Sanctis Patribus, Ambrosio, homil. de Elja et jejunio, cap. 47; Augusiino, epist. 64, ad Aurelium episcopum. Sed et illz compotationes et epulz . publicis legibus coercitze ſuerunt Capitular. lib. 1v , cap. 46 ; concil. Nann*t. can. 10; Antissiodor. can. 2. Gussanv. Ecclesiz sinum. Alii forte redirent in unitatis gre- mium, $i morosi quidam objectis spinis viam non sepireut, aut propugnatione quarumdam corruple- D larum, aut ritus exigendo, laudabiles quidem, at mi- nus forte necessarios, aut alios minus laudabiles imporiune exagilando, quos Patres san«tissimi unita- tis studio tolerassent. Scilicet piscatorie nobis est agen- dum, non Arislotelice, ut babet epistola episcoporum Ponti ad Leonew imperatorem post Chalcedonense concilium. Gussanv. © Id probatur ex Levit. xvn : Et n am ultra immolabunt hostias suas demonibus, cum quibus ſor- nicati 8un!, GUsSANnv. | EPISTOLARUM LIB, XI. — INDICT. IV. — EPIST. LXXVIN. siro Mauricio Tiberio, piissimo, Augusto, ann. 19, post consulatum ejusdem domini nostri ann. 18, indict. 4.