Letter 2059: Gregory to Maximianus, bishop of Syracuse.

TO BISHOP MAXIMIANUS. He directs that the accusers of the bishop of Agrigentum and the documents bearing on his case be sent to Rome. Gregory to Maximianus, bishop of Syracuse. Some time ago we had written to your Fraternity that you should send to the city of Rome those who had said anything against Gregory, bishop of the city of Agrigentum. And now too, by the present letter, we urge that this be done all the more pressingly. Therefore make haste to transmit with all speed the persons themselves and the remaining documents, that is, the proceedings and petitions that have been put forward. Nor do we at all permit any delay or pretext to be sought out, so that once these have been sent with speed to the city of Rome, as we have said, we may know what, with the Lord's help, we ought more wholesomely to determine concerning his person. LETTER XII. TO BISHOP AGNELLUS. He sets Agnellus over the Church of Terracina in such a way that he does not withdraw from him the rights and authority of the Church of Fundi. Gregory to Agnellus, bishop of Fundi, who has now been incardinated [established by a fixed appointment] in the city of Terracina. The report of the clergy and likewise of the people dwelling at Terracina greatly gladdens us, both because it bears good witness concerning your Fraternity. And because, their pontiff Peter being dead, they request that you be appointed for them as cardinal priest, we have foreseen that their wishes must of necessity be fulfilled, so that both they may rejoice that they have obtained what they request, and we may be seen to have granted what is expedient. Since therefore, on account of the disaster of the enemy's hostility, there is for no one leave to dwell either in your city or in your Church, we therefore by our authority appoint you cardinal priest for the Church of Terracina, admonishing you that you ought, with God protecting, to be so solicitous for the souls of the peoples settled there, that the snares of the crafty and perverse enemy may by no art be able to harm the flock committed to you, but that the flock, hedged about by the guardianship of your solicitude, may rejoice to have deserved the protection of a worthy shepherd. In your acts let there exist for the people examples of living well; let avarice have no power in you. By your preaching let those who do not know letters recognize what is divinely commanded. In the fear of God let your conduct instruct the people how they may be able to live. Exercise in works what you teach and preach to your subjects. Let your acts profit toward the correction of others, and let them take up the imitation of your life as a help to themselves. And so hasten to show yourself in all your works, that whoever either neglects, or cannot be formed by reading, may have in you a writing and an edifice. With the whole intent of your mind, therefore, hasten so to make gain of souls for our Lord, that a worthy reward may find you before His sight on the day of recompense. But whatever you shall providently arrange and do, skillfully and canonically, concerning the property of the aforesaid Church or its patrimony, or the ordination, promotion, and appointment of the clergy, and all things generally pertaining to it, you shall have, in every way, free faculty, inasmuch indeed as you are its own priest. This too it is necessary for your Fraternity to know: that we have appointed you cardinal priest of the aforesaid Church of Terracina in such a way that you do not cease to be pontiff of the Church of Fundi as well, nor pass over the care and governance of it; because we so command your Fraternity to preside over the oft-mentioned Church of Terracina, as we have stated before, that we in no way withdraw from you the rights or authority of the aforesaid Church of Fundi. (See below, letter 24. Compare John the Deacon, book III, chapter 15.)

AD MAXIMIANUN EPISCOPUM. Agrigentini episcopi accusalores et gd ejus causam spectaniia documenta Romam mitt. Gregorius Maximiano episcopo Syracusano. Pridem quidem fraternitati vesir# scripseram ut eos qui adversus Gregorium episcopum Agrigentine civitaltis aliqua dixerant, ad Romanam civitatem iransmiltere deberelis. * Quod et nunc ut instantius fieri debeat presentibus adhbortamur epistolis. Unde personas ipsas, czleraque documenta, jd est ges1a et pelitiones, quz data sunt festinate. cum celeritate B iransmitiere. Nec moram aliquam excusationemque perquiri penitus permittimus, quatenus eis in Roma- nam, sicut diximus, civitatem $ub celeritate transmis- Sis, sciamus quid auxiliante Domino, de persona calubrius cjus disponere debeamus. EPISTOLA XU. AD AGNELLUM EPISCOPUM. Agnellum Terracinensi Ecclesie ita preficit, ut Fun- _ densis Ecclesi@ jura poteslatemye illi non 8ubirahat. Gregorius Agnello episcopo ® de Fundig, > qui nunc in civitale incardinatus est Terracineusi. Relalio cleri gsimul et populi Terracinz degenlis nos valde lztificat (Grat. 21, 9. 1, 6. 5), vb bog quod de wa G34 fralernilale bopa lestatur. Et guia de- ſuncto Petro poutilice suo te 8ibi cardinalem pogtu- lant co:$titui sacgrdolemy, eorum vola necessario complenda esse previdimus, quatenus et illi se gau- deant impetrasse © quod postulant, et nos concessisse quod expedit videamur. Quia igitur ob cladem hbosti- litalis nec in civitate nec in Ecclesia tua est cuiquam habitandi licentia, ideo te auctoritale nostra Terraci- nensi Ecclesiz cardinatem consiituimus sacerdotem, admonentes ut ita de animabus populorum illic con- sistentinm, Deo protegente, debeas esse 8ollicitus, quatenus calhdi perversique hostis insidizz commiss0 tibi gregi qualibet arte nocere non valeant, sed $0l- licitudinis tuz grex circumseptus cuslodia , digni 86 tii, que Crevit ex Albe looge ruderibus, dislatque . ab urbe Roma x1v mill. pass., unus est e Sex episco- patibus cardinalibus antiquioribus tribui solitis. Gus- SANV. Lirin,, commonit. 4, c. 4, et commonit. 2, c. 1, Chri- $liguum catholicum in quezSlionibus yult interrogare Senlents eorum qui magiztrs probabiles exititerunt, © ka Turon. S. Gat. et Colb. vc. EeisT. XH. — * Gregorium Agrigentinum et Leo- new Calaneusem episcop. Roman venire jusserat Gregorius Mag., indict. 9, lib. 1, epist. 72. Catanam 0191106 purgalus redit Lev ; indict. 10, lib. 11 epist. 33, Rome accusatores $110S exspectat Gregorius Agri- genlnus. EersT, XI. — © Vulgo Fondi, urbs adhuc episco- palis in La'iv. » thazc et que Sequuntur ad inscriptionem perti- Beniia desuut in Mss. Norm., in Rhem. et duobys Teller. Exslaut in tribus Vatic. © Postulalio, pelitio, desiderium, electio; poslujari, SANCTI GREGORII MACNI pastoris gaudeat meruisse tutamina. In tws actibus A stram -paterna adhortatione commoneo, ut ' ei obe- plebi exempla bene vivendi exislant, avaritia in te vires non habebat. Tua predicatione qui litteras nesciunt quid divinitus precipiatur aguoscant. In Dei timore populum, quemadmodum, vivere possit, wi mores instituant. Operibus exerce quod subjectos doces et predicas. Actus tui in aliorum correptionem proliciant, in adjutorium $1bi vite tuz imilationem asSumant. Sicque te in cuncls operibus exhibere ſestina, ut scripturam 4 constructionemque in te ha- heal, quicunque aut negligit, aut non potesl leciione ſormari. Tota igitur mentis intentlione ita Jucrum animarum Domino nostro facere ſestinato, ut digna le merces ante ejus conspectum in die retribulionis inveniat. Quidquid vero de pr:edictz rebus Ecclesiz vel cjus palrimonio, seu cleri ordinatione promotio- neve, et omnibus generaliter ad eam pertinentibus, S0lerter alque canonice ordinare facereque provide- ris, liberam habebis, quippe ut sacerdos proprius, modis omnibus facultatem. lllud quoque fraternitalem tuam scire necesse cst, quoniam Sic te predictzx Terracinensis Ecclesiz * car- dinalem esse conslituimus sacerdotem, ut et Funden- 8is Ecclesiz pontiſex es8e non desinas, nec curam gubernationemque ejus prixtereas, quia ita fraterni- tatem (uam s:epe dictz Terracinensi Ecclesiz, Sicut preſati sumus, prezesse precipimus, ut ante diclz Fundensis Ecclesiz tibi jura poteslatemve nullo modo sublrahamus. (Vide inf. ep. 24. Cf. Joan. Diac. l. m, c. 15.)