Letter 3084: I direct that the monastery be constructed as planned, and I confirm all the gifts and bequests made to it by the...

TO BONA THE ABBESS. He orders a monastery to be built, and confirms everything bequeathed to it by John the presbyter. Gregory to Bona the abbess. The interest of the Church suffers no loss if, the truth being known, it restores property belonging to others. We have therefore learned that John, formerly a presbyter of the holy Roman Church which by God's authority we serve, in a house under his own jurisdiction situated in this city of Rome, near the Baths of Agrippa, constructed an oratory, and there left certain revenues under the title of a legacy through the terms of his will; and in that same oratory he established that there should be a congregation of the servants of God; and all this [...] he is known to have assigned to our predecessor Pelagius of revered memory. But because, overtaken by death, he did not come to fulfill this, and the house itself together with its garden is held by the agents of our Church, and for that reason hitherto the will of the deceased has not yet been carried out, the principle of justice strongly urges us to fulfill, by your solicitude, the determination of this devout disposition, and that which was enjoined upon our predecessor. But since there, on account of the difficulty of the time, a new congregation of the servants of God could not be brought in, we decree that at least a congregation of women is to be established, and therefore also to dedicate that place solemnly. And because the monastery where you formerly were had been set in danger of ruin, we have foreseen that you ought by all means there, with your congregation, to take up residence, God granting, to the end that in the monastery of the above-written house, according to the will of the deceased, there might be a congregation serving our Lord and Redeemer, and that the impending danger might be avoided. Whence it is necessary that both now and in future times the praises of God be there celebrated in every way by the congregation which now is or shall succeed. Considering therefore the will of the aforesaid presbyter, we establish by right of ownership that there be a monastery there in perpetuity, and that to that end the same house in its entirety, with its garden and the properties designated below, which were left by the testator, pertain to it; that is, the estate of Magulianum with its appurtenances on the Via Nomentana at about the eleventh milestone, a shop in this city, which is situated near Palacenis, and the salgamum [storehouse for preserved provisions] situated before the house of the above-written monastery. It is fitting therefore that your love diligently keep watch, so that both the praises of God there, as we have said before, be celebrated with wholesome zeal devoutly, as is the custom, and the above-written properties belonging to its right do not, through your negligence, perish on any occasion. For this solicitude we ordain that not only you, but also those who shall succeed in your place in the aforesaid monastery and the properties designated above, must nonetheless exhibit. [Note in older editions and apparatus, partly garbled: the will of the devout disposition; and that which was enjoined upon our predecessor, we have provided is to be completed; and therefore we have perceived it to be necessary that the oratory itself ought to have been dedicated, the Lord protecting. And because (...) so that in the monastery of the above-written house a congregation might be, and the impending danger of the matter might be avoided.] LETTER XXXVII. TO LIBERTINUS THE PREFECT. That he punish Nasas the Jewish seducer, and free the Christian slaves purchased by him. Gregory to Libertinus, prefect of Sicily. From the very beginning of your administration, God willed that vindication proceed in His cause, and propitiously reserved this reward for you, with praise. For it is reported that a certain Nasas, a most wicked man among the Jews, with punishable rashness constructed an altar under the name of blessed Elijah, and there by sacrilegious seduction deceived many of the Christians into worshiping; and moreover, as is said, he purchased Christian slaves, and assigned them to his own service and uses. While therefore he ought to have been most severely punished for such great crimes, the glorious Justinus, softened by the drug of avarice, as has been written to us, deferred to vindicate the injury done to God. But let your glory investigate all these things with strict examination; and if it find this to be manifest, let it so most strictly and corporally hasten to take vengeance upon that same wicked Jew, that from this cause it may both win for itself the favor of our God, and show itself by these examples to be imitated by posterity for its reward. But the Christian slaves, whatever ones you find that he has purchased, lead to liberty, according to the precepts of the laws, without ambiguity; lest, which God forbid, the Christian religion be defiled by being made subject to Jews. So therefore correct all things most strictly with all haste, that not only may we render you thanks for this discipline, but that we may also offer testimony of your goodness, where it shall be necessary.

AD. BONAM ABBATISSAM. Monasterium cons!rui precipit, et omnia a Joanne presbytero ipsi legatu confirmat. Gregorius * Bonz abbalissz. Ecclesiastica damnum no! sSentit utilitas, $i res aliis competentes, cognitla veritite, reslituat. Cogno- vimus ifaque Joannem quondam presbyterum $sancize Romanz Ecclesizx, Cui Deo auctvre deservimus, in Jomo juris $ui posila in hac urbe Roma, juxta ther- was Agr ppianas, oratorium cornslruxisse, ibique quosdam reditus legati t.tulo per testamenti $ui see riem reliquisse ; in quo eliam oratorio servorum Dei congregaltionem esse Conslituit ; et hc oninia ut © Reſertur- extr. de testibus et alteslal., Cc. Z, ubi Glossa notat, 1* mulieres produci testes adversus clericos; 2% s0cios criminum admilti ad testimoninm ; 3 in criminalibus mulierum testimonium non recipi. Quam1yis antem semper rejeclz $sint feming a postu- | tionibus, tes'imoniis, accusationibus, - judiciis, Ya- rias ob cansas, nihbilominus non raro fuis>e adinissa-, multorum legibus aut moribus constat. In Dig., de testibus, leg. 18, qui testam. fuc., leg. 20, F muler. In jure canonico, extr. de testibus, Cc. 5 et 55. Et apud Grat., causa 15, q. 5, reſeruatur plures Llextus CL jure civil. Jure Gallico mulieres admilti, necnon In foro ecclrs astico, praxis hodierna tesiatur. De $0ciis criminum, quod teslificari non pus-int, ail Alex. 9, exir. de testibus, Cc. 10, et Cc. 20, quia 81mili morbo labcrant. Et Clement. 5, extr. de Confess., ©. 1. Secund«\m juris utriusque Slatula, de se confesst Super aliorum conScienltus interrogari non debent. AUGET. Evi>r, NXXVII | AV. 44, indict. 14, et 49, indict. 2], — In Edit. vet., Bono «obati. Confirwat bane lectionem quod in fine epi>tola legitur juxta Mss. Nor:i:, tres Romanos , et alivs nounullos : nen solum @ te, 8d eliam a luis $Ucces80rivus; idevque viris, non fe- Inns. memori:e decess0ri nostro Pelagio noscitur deputasse. Sed quia, morle occupatus, hoc non occurrit implere, et domus ipsa cum horto $10 ab actoribus nosire Ecclesiz detinetur, et idcirco hactenus necdum vo- Iuntas defuncti Þ completa est, justitie ratio nos vehementer incitat huvjusmodi pin di-positionis arbi- trium veslra <sollicitudine, et hoc quod decessort - nos1ro injunctum est, adimplere. Sed quoniam illic, . pro diſlicultate temporis, nova $ervorum Dei con- gregatio adhiberi non potuit, ſeminarum $Saltem con- gregationem conslituendam esse decernimus, atque ideo et locum ipsum solemniter dedicare. Et quia monasterium ubi tu prius ſuisti in ruinz erat periculo conslilutun, te illic GYJ cum congregatione tua B consistere per omnia © debere, Deo annuente, per- C Speximus, quatenus in suprascripte domus monaste- rio, juxla voluniatem defuncti, Domino Redemptori nostro $erviens esse Congregatio potuisset, et immi- nens posses periculum evitar-. Unde necess2 est ut el nunc et in fſuturis temporibus Dei illic laudes per eam quz modo est vel successura est congregationem modis omnibus celebrentur. Considerantes igitur an- tedicti presbyteri voluntatem, perpetuo illic tempore monasterium esse, atque ad id eamdem domum in integro cum horto $yv0 et rebus inferius designatis, que a lesfatore relictze $unt, proprietatis jure con- Slituimus pertinere; id es, massam Magulianensem cum appendicibus svis via Numenlana milliario plus minus undecimo, tabernam in hac urbe, quz est posita 4 juxta Palacenis, et © Salgamum positum ante domum $uprascripti monasterij. Oportet ergo ut ita dilectio 1ua diligenter invigilet, ut et Dei illic, sicuti preſati sumus, laudes $a'ubri Studio devote, ut moris es!, celebrentur, et suprascriptz res ad jus ipsins pertinentes, nulla, te negligente, occasione depe- reant. Hanc enim sollicitudinem f non solum te, $ed eliam eas que] tuo loco successerint in predicto s0llicitudine, pie dispositionis. voluniatem ; et hoc quod decessori nostro injunctum est, previdimus e886 complendum ; ideoque necessarium esse persperimus ut dedicari oratorium ipsum protegente Domino debuissel. Et quia. © Becc. et Pratell., debere, quatenus et in Suprascri- ple domus monaslerio congreqatio esze potuiszet, et iniminens rei periculum evitaret. Unde. 4 Locus est in urbe Roma, ubi ſuit monasterium Sancti Lavreniii marlyris, de quo Anaslasius Biblio- thec., in Greg, IV. Gussanv. Justin., bb. xn, tit. 42, est, de 6afgamo hospitibus non prestando. Ubi cavetur : ne quis comitum vel !r1bu- norum, uut preposiiorum, au! naltum nomine, salgam? gratia, culcitras, lignum, oleum a 8uis exturqueat hos pitibus. Hic tamen per algamum inletligitur cella Saligamaria, Seu oflicina in qua Salgamum aSserVabatur el venuudabatur a Salgamaris, Conqueritur concil. Chalcedon., act. 11, salgatuarivs ſuisse ordinatos epi- SCopos ; unde gravissimutn ju Ecclesia damnum. SANCTI GREGORI- MAGNI monasterio et rebus superius designatis, consStitui- A mos nihilomiaus exhibere 8. EPISTOLA XXXVYII. (kD LIBERTINUM PREFECTUM. Ut Nacam Judeum seductorem puniat, necnon Chri- sltiana mancipia ab itlo comparata liberet. Gregorius * Libertino praſecto Siciliz. Ab ips0 administrationis exordio, Deus vos in cau- $2 8uz Yoluit vindictam procedere, GH2 et hanc yobis mercedem propitius cum laude servavit. Fertur siquidem quod Nasas quidam scelerati-simus Judz0- rum, > sub nomine beati Eliz altare punienda temec- ritate construxerit, multosque illic Cl:ristianorum ad adorandum sacrilega seductione deceperit; sed ct Christiaua, ut dicitur, mancipia comparavit, et suis ea obsequiis ac utilitatibus deputavit. Dum igitur se- verissime in eum pro tantis facinoribus debuisset ulcisci, gloriosus Juslinus, medicamento avaritize, ut nobis scriptum est, delinitus, Dei distulit injuriam vindicare. Gloria autein vestra hec omnia districta examinatione perquirat ; et si hujusmodi manifestum essc repererit, ita districtissime ac corporaliler in eumdem sceleratum ſestinet vindicare Judzum, qua- tenus hac ex causa et gratiam sibi Dei nostri conci- liet, et his se posteris pro s8ua. mercede imitandum monstret exemplis. Mancipia autem Clristiana (Grat. dist. 54, c. 13), quzecunque eum comparasse palue - rit, ad libertatem, © juxta legum precepla, Sine am- biguitate perducite; ne, quod absit, Christiana religio Judiis subdita polluatur. Ita ergo omnia districtis- gime sub omni ſestinatione corrigite, ut non solum pro hac vobis disciplina gratias referamus, sed et te- stimonium de © bonitate vestra, ubi necesse fuerit, prebeamus. (Cf. Joan. Diac. 1. rv, c. 43.) « In Colbert. vet. legitur ad calcem epist., mense Maio, indict. 11. EeisT..XXXVIL [A/. 37]. — * In Corb., Pratell. et Michaelino legitur, Libertino pretori. In Rhem. et Vatic. D, expretori. Si ex allerutra lectione una eli- genda nobis ſoret, priorem censeremus anleponen- dam. Nimirum conqueritur- infra sanctus Gregorius de Justino qui Siciliz pretor ſuerat, ex episl. 2 lib. 1, ad eum scripta; et Libertinum, qui ſortasse $uccessor ei datus fueral, adwonet hic ut ea quibus mederi ne- glexit Justinus emendet. Retinemus tamen preſecto, quia legitur in tribus Yalic., in Norm. quinque et in plerisque ; aliundeque non minus ad praefectum $spe- ctabat ea e medio tollere de quibus exspostulat san- ctus poniiſex, quam ad pretorem. Cultum et honorem Eliz exhiberi non improbat san- clus Doctor, sed malas sceleratissimi Judai artes. Alioquin legimus sancti Elize prophele templum in Petrio a Zenone imperatore con-tructum, post redi- tum ex Persica expeditione, In zdem Eliz quam dominicum nuncupabant, habes epigramma sancti Gregorii Nazianz., in Edit. Leunclavii. Censtat tamen in Ecclesia Latina, Sallem usque ad $sancti Bernardi 'tempora, Sancti Eliz nullum diem ſestlum decretum ſuisse; Bernardus enim, in epist. 98 nove Ei1., re- Spondet ad quzstionem cur ex juslis antique legis Ecelesia s0lis Machab#is diem ſestum as8ignavit. C D