Letter 2094: I must begin with an apology: my letter of congratulation on your ordination has been delayed far too long, and I am...

TO BISHOP DOMINICUS. [Summary heading: Congratulating him on his ordination, that the delay of the letter is compensated by his exceptional charity. This mother of the virtues, which he extols with various praises, is to be cherished with unshaken steadfastness. As he defends the privileges of the Roman Church, so he preserves to each individual Church its own rights.] Gregory to Dominicus, bishop of Carthage. We received with rejoicing the letters of your Fraternity, brought to us rather late by Donatus and [...], and by Beccnus and Victor the deacon, [and by] the notary [...]. And although in the lateness of these letters we thought we had suffered a loss, nevertheless we found in their more abundant charity a gain, so that by this lapse of time the love was seen not to be interrupted but nourished—the love which, by the mercy of the Lord, we recognize in you to be already founded upon the maturity of the priesthood, the practice of reading, and of age. For it would not flow so abundantly from you, if it did not have in your inmost being most plentiful and most fruitful veins. This mother and guardian of the virtues, then, most holy brother, let us hold fast with unshaken steadfastness. Let no tongues of the deceitful diminish it in us, let no snares of the ancient enemy corrupt it. For this love, when divided, joins together, and when joined, it guards. This raises up the humble without swelling. This brings down the exalted without casting down. Through this the unity of the universal Church, which is the framework of the body of Christ, rejoices in each one by an evenness of mind, even though there is among its members an inequality in their diversity. Through this the same members, afflicted in their own affairs, leap up at another's joy, and even amid their own gladness waste away at others' sorrows. For, as the teacher of the nations testifies, when one member suffers anything, the other members suffer with it, and if one member is glorified, the [other] members rejoice together; I do not doubt that you groan over our disturbance, since we likewise rejoice in every way over your peace. That your Fraternity shows toward our ordination the affection of an utterly sincere charity, I [acknowledge]; but from the consideration of this office a force of grief, I confess, pierces my mind through and through. For the burden of the priesthood is heavy; for it is necessary first that the priest live as an example to the rest, and thereafter that what is to be observed [be kept], lest he be lifted up by the examples he has shown. Let him think always of the ministry of preaching, considering with most intent fear that the Lord, about to depart to receive His kingdom and distributing talents to His servants, says: Trade until I come (Luke 19:13). This business we truly carry on then, if by living and by speaking we gain the souls of our neighbors, if also we strengthen the weak in the love of heaven by preaching the joys of the heavenly kingdom, if we turn back the insolent and the swollen by terribly sounding forth the punishments of Gehenna, if we spare none against the truth, and being given over to lofty friendships, we do not fear human enmities. And the Psalmist, showing this, had offered, as it were, a certain sacrifice to God, when he once said: Did not I hate those that hated thee, O God, and pine away over thine enemies? Yea, I hated them with a perfect hatred, and they became enemies to me (Psalm 138:21). But for this reason I dread the weight of my infirmity, and I look to the fact that, the kingdom having been received, the father of the household may return to settle accounts with us. But with what mind do I bear it, who from the undertaken business of souls bring back either no gain or almost none? Help me, therefore, dearest brother, with your prayer, and what you see me fearing concerning myself, weigh daily within yourself with the manner of provident solicitude. For through the bond of charity, both the things I speak of concerning myself are yours, and the things I desire you to do are mine. But concerning ecclesiastical privileges, as your true Fraternity writes, let it hold this without any doubt: that just as we defend our own [privileges], so we preserve to each individual Church its own rights. Nor, by the favor of grace, do I exalt anyone beyond what he deserves, nor do I detract from anyone in that which is of his own right, while ambition goads him on; but I desire to honor my brethren in all things, and so I strive that each one be advanced in honor, provided there be nothing that may by right be set by one against the other. With the character of your representatives I greatly rejoice; in them it has been shown to me how much you love me, you who have sent to me as chosen brethren and sons. Given on the tenth of the Kalends of August, in the tenth indiction. (Cf. John the Deacon, book [...], chapter 4.) LETTER XLVIII TO BISHOP COLUMBUS. [Summary heading: That Maximianus, prelate of the Church of Pudentiana, an assembled council having been convened, is to be deposed, if for money [...]. He grieves that the heresy of the Donatists is being spread [...].] Gregory to Columbus, bishop [...]. It is known, dearest brother in Christ, that the ancient enemy, who deposed the first man from the delights of paradise into this [wretched] life by cunning persuasion, and even then inflicted upon the human race the penalty of mortality, now by the same cunning strives to infect the shepherds of the Lord's sheep with poured-out poisons—so that he may the more easily seize the flock—and to claim them already to his own power by right. But we who, although unworthy, have undertaken the apostolic see to be governed in the stead of Peter the prince of the apostles, are compelled by the very office of the pontificate, sitting upon it and being impelled by it, so that we may oppose the general enemy with whatever efforts we are able. A petition having been presented, therefore, the bearers of this present letter, Constantius and Mustellus, and with them [...], deacons of the Church of Pudentiana, in Numidia, intimated to us that Maximianus, prelate of that same Church, established in the province [...], being corrupted by a bribe of the Donatists, permitted a bishop to be made by a new license in the place where he dwells—although, even if earlier custom might have permitted this, the catholic faith would forbid it to remain and persist. On this account, therefore, we have judged it necessary to exhort your Fraternity by these present writings, that, our chartulary Hilarus coming to you, a universal council of bishops having been assembled, with the terror of the coming judgment held before your eyes, this same matter ought to be investigated with subtle and careful inquiry. And if this charge be proved against the aforesaid bishop by the bearers of this present letter with suitable documents, let him by all means be degraded from the dignity and office which he discharges, so that he too may return, through acknowledgment of his fault, to the gains of penitence, and the rest may not presume to do such things. For it is just and right that he who, as is reported, sold our Lord Jesus Christ to a heretic for money received, be removed from the handling of the mysteries of that most sacred body and blood. But if among them there is any intention apart from this crime—concerning certain damages or private matters, as the petition of those same deacons sets forth—let your Fraternity, together with our aforesaid chartulary, investigate it by proven examination, and, justice proceeding, let it settle between either party. Moreover, by the report of the bearers of this present letter we have learned that the heresy of the Donatists is being spread daily, for our sins, and that very many, license being given through venality, after catholic baptism are again baptized by the Donatists. How grave this is, brother, it behooves us to weigh with the whole intention of our mind. Behold, the wolf now tears the Lord's flock not in the night by stealth, but in open day, and we discern him raging in the slaughter of the sheep, and we oppose him with no solicitude, with no darts of words. What fruits, then, shall we show to the Lord of a multiplied flock, if we behold even that which we have undertaken to feed devoured by the beast with an idle mind? Let us strive, therefore, to [...] our heart, by the imitation of those earthly shepherds who pass two-fold nights, bound by frosts and ice, sleepless and ever-watchful, lest even one of the sheep, [if it should chance], should fall as prey. And if the lier-in-wait should seize one with its mouth, how do they bestir themselves, with what burning of heart, into what cries they leap forth at the constraint of [...] to snatch away the captured beast, lest whatever they have lost through negligence be exacted from them by the Lord of the flock? Let us watch, therefore, that nothing perish; and if by chance anything has been seized, let us by the voices of the divine words bring it back to the Lord's flock, so that He who is the Shepherd of shepherds may, watching us about His sheepfold, deign in His mercy to approve us by His judgment. This too you must necessarily attend to with [...] care: that if any just petition has been [made] against the bearers of this present letter by the same bishop, it ought to be investigated by subtle inquiry; and if perchance they themselves also [...] are by right to be struck for their own fault, by no means is it to be despised on the ground that they have toiled for us [...]. In the month of August, in the tenth indiction.

AD DOMINICUM EPISCOPUN. Cratulatorie de ordination? sua epistole dilatonem eximia charitat? compensari. Virtutum hanc matrem quam variis efſert laudibus inconcussa stabilitale le- nendam, Ut Romane Ecclesie privilegia deſendit, 8ic singulis quibusque Ecclesiis 8ua jura servat. Gregorius Dominico episcopo ® Carthaginens Perlatas ad nos serius per Donatum aique UuoT- ropes, Stipendiarii, goyrverv, Stipendia facere. Hine C et ab eodem sanctisz8imo Stephano papa (Conslantini erogare, erogatores, erogatorii. *Poyzaz, dies, in qui- bus rogz dabantur. Sic in Landulpho $agaci, de Ti- b-rio I! : Duzit Anasta>iam uxorem..... et jactavit ro- gam multam; id est, multam pecuniam sparsit. Hzc yox ſrequenter legitur apud Latinos et Gracos me- die #tatis scriptores. Xylander, in n0tis ad Cedre- num, ivterpretatur f&yav, Sipendia militum, vel im- peratorum dona Kilends Januarii, et natalibus prin- co $uccessore) benedictionis 4 iterate ordinatione recepit. Lucius III sch smaticos . Serio ac diu agitaie ſuerunt celebres controversie cipum et urbium regiarum exhibila. Gussanv. Roga . apud Scriptores sacros sumilur quoque pro donative, bis qui in Ecclesia militant erogato. Anast. Bibtijoth., in Agathone : Hiec divisit omni clero rogam, et ad lu- mmaria, etc. In Glossar. lsidori, a Joan. Georgio Grzvio recognito, r0ga est el-emosyna. L Ridiculum $ane eo duntaxat aliquem jterato ordi- nandum censere, quod cum leri culpa venerit ad sacer- dotium, ut infra legitur. AL neque Gregorii Magui #lale, neque Sexcentis pos{ ipsum annis, ridi- culum erat de ordigationivus illis dubitare quz ab hbereticis et schismalicis, aut ab ipsis catholicis, sed contra cauones, datz vel susceplz fuissent. In con- cilio CP. 1, ce. 4, Maxini in Constaminop»litanum episcopun ordinatio declaratur nulla, et ordinationes ab illo ſacize censentur irritze, quod episcopes ad $e- Ipsum ordinandum pecunia pertraxisset. Non aliud in D Constantini papz ordinatione vitium fuit, nisi quod - ex laicis electus, canonica ordinum interslitia non ServasSSet; ecce tamen in Romano conCcilio, Cui s&- lecti xn e Gallia, episcopi aderant, deponitur. De episcopis vero alque presbyleris et diaco:.ibus quos Ipse Constantinus consecraverat, ita in eodem conci- liv promulgatum es1, ut episcopi illi, 8i aliquis eorum presbyter aut diaconus ſuerit, in pristjnum honoris 8ui gradum reverterelur ; el 8i placabiles ſui>sent populo civuuns 8u@t, denuo facto decreto electionis, more 80lito can clero et plebe, ad apoztolicam advenirent sedem, PaTrOL. LXXVIIL. de iis urdivandis qui ab Ebbone Rhemensi an islite et = Ariqis dicitur Paulo Diacons.. In Chronico du- cum Beneventi et principum Salerni, Archis. In Chronico monachi anonymi, Arichis. Fuit hic secun- dus dux Beuerventanus, Successor Zutonis per annos 50. Porr» 8e ſecit, id est ivit, abivit. Facio et ſacess0 idem; hine facesse, hinc abi. Donatus in Phormione ad illud, kizc hec ſacessat, pro hinc $e faciat, id est abeat; ut hinc $e faciat, huc accedat, hec binc fa- cessat, procedal, alias faciat. Apuleius, lib. v Mile- Siarum : Invitata Psyche talium locorum oblecta- tione, propius accessit, et paulo” fidentior intra limen 8ese ſacit, ilzec ex Salmasio in Tertulliani Pallium, cap. 5, ad illum locum, Qua ad {um ex Lybia Am- mon ſacit, ovium dives; quem locum sic emendavit Rigaltius: Qua ad Nilum ex Lybia Ammon pascit ovium dives. Quam conjecturam demoa>trabit in nova quam prope diem molitur Tertulliani Editione. Gus- SANV. » Tat 8unt in Italia urbes hvjus nominis, ut diffi - cile sit $tatuere de qua vic agatur. Pracipua est Fa- num ſortune. Fanum simpliciter dicta in Umbria, episcopalis. ; venda. 'GUusSAaNv. : EerisT. XL Vit {Al. 39]. — * Carthago urbs Africa 4lr0s, Becncn et Victorem diaconum, GLO vel Agi- legium notarium, vesire fraternitatis epistolas ANA cum gratulatione $Uscepimus. bn quarum elsi nos susLlinuisse dispendium tlarditate putavimus, ta- men de uberiori reperimus charitate compendium, ut hac dilatione temporis non interrupta videatur, $ed nutrita dilectio, quam miserante Domiyo, con- templatione gacerdotii, leetionis usu, #tatisque in vobis coguoscimus jam matluritale ſundatam. Non enim taw large de te Gueret, si in wwis plurimas at- gue ubercimas Yeuas mealibus non haberet. Hauc ergo mairem custodemgue virtulum , sanctissime {raler, inconcussa $labilitate Leneamus. Nulke in no- bis earn wubdolorum lingue imminuant, nulle anti- SANCTI GREGORI! MAGNL eultdeum reverendissimos ſraires et coepiscopes no- A dicebal : N onne qui oderant te, Deus, oderam illos, ef super inimicos luos labescebam ? Perfecto oo oderam illos, of inimici facti suut mihi (Pealm, cxxxvin, 21). Sed ad hoc ego poudus mez infirmitatis expavesco, el quod, accepto regno, paterſamilias redeat ratio- nem nobiscum pagiturus, aspicio. Sed qua eum mente $uSlineo, Cui de guscepto negotio animarum lucrum aut nullum, aut pene nullum reporto? Fua ergo BILL me oratione, frater charissime, adjuva, et quz de me formidare me conspicis, in * temelips0 quotidie more provide sollicitudiais pensa. Per charitatis quippe compagem, et tua sunt qua de me loquor, el mea qua le agere concupisco. De ecclesias\icis vero © privilegiis (Graft. 25, q. 2, can. $8), quad veva ſrateruitas seribit, hoc postpo- qui hoslis insidize corrumpant. Haxc namque divisa B vita dubitatioge iencat, quia sieut nostra defendi- jungit, et conjuneta cuStodit. Hac humilia ine tu- more $ubrigit. Hac erecta $ine dejeciionec Submiltit. Per hanc universalis Ecclesie unitas, quz est com- pago coxporis Christi, exaquatione mentis gaudet in singulis, com Sit ei disparilitas in diversiate mem- - broruna. Per. hanc eadem membra et alieno gaudio ha $uis aſlicta exsiliunt, et alienis mceroribus etiam in Suis lzta canlabescunt. Teste enim magistro gen- tium, dum $i quid paticur voum membrum, compa- tiuntur cetera membra, et s gloriatur unum mem- brom, congancent _ wembra ; vos non ambigo de nora > perturbations ingemiscere, Cum nos 0Mm- ning. cerum 5s de veara pace gaudere. Quod vero oxdinationi powlrz (raternilas vesira affectum mihi integerrime charitalis exhi- C het, Sed ex congideratiove bujus ordinis mentem mean, aijcor, iransVerberat vis doloris. Grave nam- que ext pondus sacerdotii; prius quippe esl $acer- goli necesse, ut c#teris ad exemplum vivat, ac deinde $ervandum ut menier per o81eusa exewpla non elg- vet. De pradicationis semper ministerio cogitel, in- tentissimo timore considerans guod recessurus ad percipieadumregaum Domigus, el taleuta $ervis (ri- buens dicat : Negotiamini dum venio (Luc. zix, 43). Quod profecto negotium tunc vere nos agimus, $i -. Yivendg et loquendo proximorum animas lucrawur, 8 infirwos quoggue, celesis regui gaudia pradi- cando, in Superno amore roboramus, $i prolervos ac tumidos, geheone gupplicia terribiliter insonando, mus, ita gingulis quibusque Ecclesiis $ua jura $erva- mus. Nec cuilibet, ſavente gratia, ultra quam mere- ur iperiior, nec ulli hoe quod 8ui juris est, ambitu $limulanle, deroge.; aed ſrakes meos per omnia ho- nOrare Cupio, Sieque $Ludeu honere Singulos subvehi, dummodo nou git guod alteri jure ab akero posit oppoai. Respogsalium vero vestrorum moribus valde congaudeo ; in quihus mihi ostensum eg quantum me diligitis, qui ad me electos fraiges et filos trans- misislis. 4 Data decimo Kalend. Augusti, indictione decima. (Cf. Joan, Dia. t. ww, c. 4.) EPISTFULA XEVUE AD COLUMBUM EPISCOPUM, Marimianum Pudentiane Ecclesice antistitem, adunato concilio, deponendum, 51, pecunia Burge has Poug- na- tislam eptzcopum in civitate 8va fieri quedam privala neqolia im de, da. Do tisiarum heregim dilatart gemit, gc i lan Gregorius Colymbs; episcope +. Notum ev, charissime in Gbris(o frater, quod antj- quus hostis, qui primum hominem Þ de paradigi delir Ciis in hanc 2rywpogam vitam callida perayasione de- posuit, et ia eo jam lunc humano generipenam mor- talitalis inflixit, eadem nunccalliditate 0viym dowinica- rum pa$tores, quo, facilius gregem capiat, wansſusis conetur vYenenis inficere, et jure jam potestatt pro- prize viadicare. Sed nos qui, licet immeriti, sedem apostolicam vice Peiri apoxtolorwn principis susce- flectimys, s nulli conlta veritatem parcimus, & $u- Þ pimus gubernandam, ips0. poalificatus officio cogi- peruis amicitiis dediti, humanas inimicitias nog ti- memus. Quod nimirum exhibens, quasi quoddam $e sacriſicium obtulisse Deo Psalwisla poverat, cum quondam clarissima : primaria fuit provincie pro- consularis, ejusque episcopi totius Aſrice primates exslitere, cum pulli alleri wh primatus aliarum pro- vinciarum annexus eg8et, scd genjori sev antiquiori provigcix conces8us. mur generali bosti quibus valemus nisibus obviare. Porrecta igitur petitione insinuaverunt nobis pra- sentium latores Constantius ot Mugtellus, et ass0- dente ac iwpellente; ita ut non tam ipgis privilegia- provideatur quam Ecclesiz, pegs lidelis = us ex 2quo Frodera el bono. y $i Ubicinibus lciaotur priviſegia, per me $Stabunt, nec. illis ub- Slabunt Chalcedoventes canones 4 et $8. Gyssanv. 4 In Turon. S. Gat. : Data x11 Kalend. , ind. 10: vitiose in nonnuilis exemplaribus Pridie alends- — lh Tagc, Jon Jour rum Marti. Yalicanis , wan; XLVIN [AL. 33 ie , quod abet a q ts B, de paradiso Pa Ss. as at os. & ac 3. A 5. Be. Bs Bhs. OW" OT > provincia conslituta, Maximianum ejusdem Ecclesize antistitem in loco quo degit, corruptum pramioc Do- natislarum, episcopum 4 noya licentia lieri permi- $is5e, cum etsi hog anterior usus permilleret, ma- nere atque persislere fides catholica prohiberet. Ob hoc ergo ſralernitatem luam scriplis prezentibus ne- cessario duximus GI1R 24 hoxtaudaw, ut veuiente ad te * Hilaro chartylario nostro, adunato * episco- porum universali concilio, habito pre oculis terrore venturi judicii, causa eadem $sublili ac solerti debeat indagatione perquiri. Et si capitulum bog a presen- tium latoribus predicto episcopo documentis idongis ſuerit approbatum, a dignitale ofliciaque quo ſungi- tur modis omnibus, & degradetue, ut et ille ad pceni- ryut © Ecclesin Pudentianz diacones in Numidia A norum pastorum imitatione necenders, qui bigma- les noctes, unbribus gelaque constricli, dagunt ang pervigiles, ne vel uga oxis, eh non ſoxie viilis parent. Quan $i inSidiator ore Voragi momerderit, guamedo Salagunt, quibus cordis. agbelagt aStibys, ig quas vocres ut eruant caplym pecus anguulia ztigulante prosiliuni, ne a gregis Dowino quidgpid per ipcu- riam perdiderin\ exigatur? Vigilemus ergo ve quid pereat ; et si cagium ſorta quid ſyerit, yocibus divi- porum eloquiorum ad gregom damiuicum reduca- mus, ut ille qui Paglor. paSigrum eal Vigilagas nos circa ovile 8m «ue misericors dignelur jpdigio comprobare. Hoe quoque yos, yecease o3 galerigr attendere, ut $4 qua contra lalgres praxenilinnh Ghuer dem episcopi recla (uerit yelitio, gubgili debeak indar tenli;e lucra per agnitionem delicti redeat, et czteri B galione perquiri; et $i ſortagge iggi quague pro ya teviare talia non presumant, Aquum enim et vt gui Jesum Chriglum Domwinum nostrum bharetico ac- | cepta pecunia » veaundedit, ut fertur, ab ejus vide- licet sacrosancti corporis ac sanguinis tractandis mysteriis 8ubmoveatur. Si qua autem inter eos extra crimen hoc damnorym quorumdama vel prizalagum negotiorum, sicuti petitio diaconorum ipsQrum COn- tingt, versatur inteutio, hanc ua fralernitas cum prazdieto chartylario uostro | probata cognitione per- quirat, et igler ulramque pariem juglilia * proce- dente defivial. Pojro auterg presentiug latorum inSinuatione di- dicimus Dogalislarum haregiun pro. peccalis quolidie dilatari, et valde plures, dala per venalitatem lices- tia, post catbolicum baplizma a Dopalislis deauo baptizari. Quod quam grave Sit, (rater, ogoriet nos tota mentis intentione perpendere. Ecce lupus domi- nicum gregem gon jam in nocke latenler, ged in aperla luce dilaniat, et nos eum grassari in ovium nece cernimus, et nulla ei s0/licitudine, nullis verbo- rum. jaculis obviamus. Quos ergo ſructus Domino wulliplicali gregis ogtendeimus, si et ipsum, quem p3scendum $usScepimus, otiosa mente cernimus a be- stia devorari? Studeamus igitur cor nostrum terre- © Pudentiana, urbs Numidize, de qua oihil apnd antiquos geographos. In Collat. Carthag., cap. 201, memoratur Cresconius episcopus Pudentianensis ex rte Donati, ubi et Memmianus catholicus. Iu Ka- hoderts Carthag., ex veteribus membranis monaste- rii Cluniac. eruto, legitur : 11 Kalend. Maii marty- ris Pudentis. Eecclesie in bujus martyris hoyorem D luculenter in opere de constiructe meminisse videtur Gregorius. culpa jure ſeriendi sunt, eis pro eo, quad GIS nos ſatigati sunt, 1 nequaquam Cengempus G4ip par” cendum. ® Mense Augusb, igdigtioge decima.