Letter 12035: **From:** Gregory I, Bishop of Rome

TO DESIDERIUS, BISHOP OF VIENNE. That he should not recall his deacon Pancratius from the monastic life. Gregory to Desiderius, bishop in Gaul. Pancratius, the bearer of the present letter, a deacon, as he asserts, [...] presenting himself at the thresholds of the apostles, [came] to us. Whereupon, pricked at heart by divine inspiration, he sought the grace of the monastic way of life, and desiring to remain there in the same habit which he took up, he also relates that he was made a deacon of that same monastery. From the service of that place he can by no reasoning be torn away. But now, as far as he asserts, Your Fraternity wishes to recall him to the office of his own Church, not indeed with the intent of hindering, but out of an affection of goodwill. We exhort you therefore that Your Fraternity be in no way an impediment to so ready a devotion as he strives to maintain in the holy purpose [he has set before himself]; but rather, with such exhortations as you are able and with pastoral admonition, kindle him, so that the fervor of this desire may not grow lukewarm in him; so that he who, separating himself from the turbulent tumult of secular affairs, sought out the harbor of the monastery in his desire for quiet, may not [be drawn] back into [...]. [...] so that they may the more speedily be able, with God as their author, to bring to effect those things which have been enjoined upon them.

AD DESIDERIUM VIENNENSEM eFscoyun. Ne Pancratium diaconum suum a monaslica vita revocet. Gregorius Desiderio episcopo in Gallia. Pancratius lator prxsentium, ut asserit, diaconus, * apostolorum $e liminibus reprzgentans', a nobis cipatus. Unde, divina inspiratione compunctus, gra- - liam monastice conversationis appeliit, illicque in eodem quem $sumpsit babitu desiderans permanere, etiam diaconum se cjusdem monasterii ſactum esse commemorat. De cujus loci servitio avelli nulla pa- litur ratione. Nunc vero, quantum asserit, fraterni- las vestra non quidem impedientis intentu, sed af- ſectu benevolentiz, in officio eum suz vult Eccle- 82 revocare. Hortamur jgitur ut tam promptze de- votioni ejus, quam in $ancto studet habere propo- ito, minime vestra $it impedimento fraternitas; magis autem quibus valetis adhortationibus pasto- rali admonitione 1 20G +<uccendite, ut fervor hujus desiderii in eo non tepescat ; ut qui, a turbulento cu- rnrum s2cularium tumultu se Segregans, quietis de- Siderio portum monaslerii appetiit, rursum in eccle- 8alubriter hzc citius valeant que $ibi ipjugcta- sunt ad effectum, * Deo auctore, perducere.