Letter 3104: John, bishop of Ravenna, to his most holy lord and most blessed father Gregory, pope.

JOHN, BISHOP OF RAVENNA, TO POPE GREGORY. [He answers humbly to each of the charges laid against him, and defends the privileges of his Church according to custom; he requests that they not be diminished.] My most reverend fellow-servant Castorius, notary of your apostolic see, has delivered to me the letter of my lord, a mixture of honey and of a wound. Yet it so tempered its stings that it did not withdraw the place for the remedy. For he who, following the divine judgment, rebukes pride, deservedly professes himself in some measure gentle and peaceable. You have therefore recalled that I, out of an ambition for novelty, had usurped the use of the pallium beyond what had been granted to my predecessors. Let the conscience of my own lord, which is governed by the divine right hand, in no way suffer to believe this thing, nor open his most sacred ears to the uncertainty of mere opinion. First, because, although a sinner, I now know how grave it is to transgress the bounds fixed for us by the fathers, and that all elation has nothing else but ruin. For if our forefathers did not tolerate pride in kings, how much more is it not to be endured in priests? Next, I recall that I was reared in the bosom and at the breast of your most holy Roman Church, and, with God helping, advanced. And with what daring should I presume to oppose that most holy See, which transmits to the universal Church its own laws — for the preserving of whose authority, as is manifest to God, I have gravely stirred up against myself the envy of many enemies? But let my most blessed lord deem that I have attempted nothing against ancient custom, because of which [I have endured so much]. For after so many labors and anguishes which I sustain within and without, I count it among my sins that I should deserve to find such a recompense. But again this matter consoles me among others, that sometimes the most holy fathers chastise their sons only for this purpose, that they may make them better; and that, after this devotion and satisfaction of the holy Church of Ravenna, which is peculiarly yours, you may not only preserve its old privileges, but even confer greater ones in your times. For as to what your apostolate writes concerning the napkins [mappulae] presumed by my priests and deacons, truly I confess it wearies me to recall anything further about it, since the truth itself, which alone prevails with my lord, suffices by itself. For since this is permitted to the lesser Churches established around the City [Rome], the apostolate of my lord will also be able, in every way, if he deigns to inquire of the venerable clergy of his own first apostolic see, to find that, as often as priests or deacons of the Church of Ravenna came to Rome for the ordination of a bishop or for a response, all of them, in the eyes of your most holy predecessors, proceeded with the napkins without any reproof. Wherefore also at that time, when I was here ordained, a sinner, by your predecessor, all my presbyters and deacons, proceeding with me in attendance upon my lord the pope, made use of them. And because our foreseeing God has placed all things in your hand and in your most pure conscience, I adjure you by that same apostolic see, which formerly you governed by your character and now also govern with its due honor, that in no respect, on account of my merit, you diminish for the Church of Ravenna, which is familiarly yours, the privileges which it has hitherto used; but, according to the prophetic voice, let it be transferred upon me, and upon the house of my father, according to its merit. Since, therefore, all the privileges that were granted to the holy Church of Ravenna by your predecessors I have, for greater satisfaction, appended them, having found them no less, according to the times of consecration of my predecessors, in the venerable archives, now indeed it is in the power of God and of you to command whatever, the truth being known, you shall order to be done; since I, desiring to obey the commands of the apostolate of my lord, although ancient custom prevailed, have taken care to abstain until a second command. [Charge concerning the pallium worn beyond what was granted: I cannot believe my lord would credit this. It is attested by many and nearly all the citizens of this city, even among the records — and had he assented, the above-mentioned most reverend notary could have attested — that, when the sons of the Church were descending from the sacristy and the deacons were entering so that the procession might soon begin, then the first deacon was accustomed to vest the bishop of the Church of Ravenna with the pallium, which likewise he was accustomed to use in the solemn litanies. Let no one therefore try to creep up upon me before my lord, because, if he wishes, with God as guardian, he cannot prove that any novelty was introduced by me. In what manner I have obeyed your commands or interests, where the cause demanded, may almighty God make manifest to your most pure heart.] [Copy of the precept granted to the Church of Ravenna by the supreme pontiff in these words:] «Example of the precept: To my most beloved brother Peter, John. We have known it to be agreeable to reason that we should adorn with the vestment of the pallium those whom, the divine mercy inspiring, the honor of the priesthood illuminates in those cities in which it is established that this also was granted by the apostolic See to those who were pontiffs in past times. And therefore to your charity we grant by the present authority the use of the pallium, just as your predecessors are known to have had it, and we will that all those things remain concerning the privilege of your honor which in former times are established to have been preserved for your Church, so that you may grieve over nothing at all of its privileges as diminished. And, the subscription of the lord pope: May God keep you safe. Given on the tenth of the Kalends of October, in the reign of the lord Justin [Justinian] Augustus.» LETTER LVIII. TO CYPRIAN THE DEACON. [If Cosmas has not the means to pay, let him make terms with his creditors; and, paying the agreed sum, let him free his sons.] Gregory to Cyprian the deacon. Cosmas, out of the various necessities of his perils, says that he is bound by many debts, so that he says his sons are detained on account of them by his creditors. If this matter is so, it has greatly moved us. Wherefore we exhort your affection that, since the question concerns the giving away of the goods of the poor, you investigate his case with the utmost subtlety; and if you find him truly entangled in the aforesaid debts, so that there is no substance from which he could pay this very thing, that you approach his aforesaid creditors, and, for the recovery of his sons, settle for whatever amount you shall have ascertained. And because, as has been said, he here has not the means to repay, pay it out of the goods of the poor by our present authority, knowing that whatever shall there be given by your provision is to be reckoned among the pensions of our patrimony. In the month of August, indiction 11. LETTER LIX. TO SECUNDINUS THE BISHOP. [Let the baptistery be removed from the monastery, so that it may be permitted to the monks to celebrate the work of God more securely.] Gregory to Secundinus, bishop of Tauromenium [Taormina]. Some time ago we ordered that, from the monastery of Saint Andrew which is above Mascali, the baptistery should be removed on account of the disturbances of the monks, and that in the same place where the fonts are, an altar should be founded. The completion of this matter has hitherto been delayed. We therefore admonish your fraternity that you should now insert no further delay after receiving our present letter; but, the place of those fonts being filled in, let an altar be founded there without any delay for celebrating the sacred mysteries; so that both the aforesaid monks may be permitted to celebrate the work of God more securely, and our mind not be stirred against your fraternity over your negligence.

JOANNIS RAVENNATIS EPISCOPI AD GREGORIUM PAPAM. Singulis sibi objectis submisse respondet, et Ecclesie 8nE@ privilegia ex consueſudine {uetur; que ne mi- nuant:y postulad. Reverend:s8imus congervus meus Cavtorins , apo- $lolice sedis vesirze notarius, reddidit mihi Þ domi- ni mei epistolam, consoriem mellis et yulneris. Quz Sic lamen ialixit aculeos, ut locum non subtraheret medicinz. Nam qui superbiam, divinum $equens judicium, reprebendit, merito se mitem ac placidum quodammodo proſitetur. | Commemorastis igitur quod ego, noritatis amb1i- lione, pallii usum Supra quam antecessoribus meis indulium fuerat usurpassem. Quam rem proprii do- ra'ni- mei conscientia , que diving regitur dextera, aullo modu credere patiatur, nee Opinionis incerto aures Sacratlissimas aperire. Primum, quia licet pec- Calor, Novi Jamey quam grave git terminos nobis a palribus aſſixos trauscendere, et quod omnis elatio 1ihil aliad habeat quam ruinvam. Nam $i majores nostri in regibus © Superbiam non tulerunt, quanto magis non est in sacerdotibus sustinenda? Beinde re- cvlo me in sigu alque in gremie gacrocancte Fecle- Si vesire Romanz enutiitum , et Deo auxiliante provectum. 4 Et quibus augibus ego $anctivime illi 8edi, quz universali Ecclesiz jura 8ua trangmitiit, G69 presumpserim obviare, propler cujus conger- vandam auctoritatem, 8icut Deo maniſestum est, inultorum contra me inivicorum invidiam graviler excitavi? Sed beatissimus dominus meus nihil me D lib. r, c. 24, F 1, et notam 736 nostri Menardi is librum Sacramentorum. Eeisr. LV | Al. 55]. — ® He epistola desidera- tur in Mss. Vatic. , Anglic. , Norm. , Corb. , Turon., _—OO__ in Rhemensi, duobus Colbert. ac duobus eller, Victor Utic.. lib. 1 Yand. Persecul., c, fo; Cypria- m1s epist, 5) nove Edit. Oxon., versus finem : Navigare audent, et ad Pelri cathedram, alque ad Ercclesiam principalem unde unitas sacerdotalis exoria es!, @ schizm icts et proſanis litteras ſerre. D SANCTI GREGORY MAGNI contra priseam consuetudinem exislimet attentasse, A reprehensione aliqua procedebant. Quare etiam eo quod et a mvltis et prope * ab omnibus civibus huyjus urbis alteslatur, inter gesla etiamsi acquievisset, et SupraScriptus reverendissimus notarius potuerat at- testari, quoniam jam de $ecretario descendentibus filiis Ecclesiz, et ingredientibus diaconibus * ut mox procedatur, tunc primus diaconus episcopo Raven- natis Ecclesize pallium consuevit induere, quo et in litaniis solemnibus uti pariter consuevil. Nullus ergo contra me domino meo conetur $ub- repere, quia si vult, Deo custode, non potest probare quod a me aliqua novitas ſuisset introducta. Qualiter enim jussionibus vel ulilitatibus vestris, ubi causa exegerit, paruerim , omnipolens Deus cordi vestro * purigsimo ſaciat maniſestum ; et hoc peccalis meis tempore quo islic a predecessore vestro peccator ordinatus Sum , cuncti pre>byteri et diaconi mei in obsequium G7Q vJomni pape mecum procedentes usi Sunt. Et quia previdens Deus. noster omnia in manu veslra et in conscientia purissima collocavit, adjuro vos per ipsam sedem apostolicam, quam antea moribus, nunc- etiam honore debilo gubernatis, ut in nullo Ravennali Ecclesiz , quz familiariter vesira est, pro meo merito privilegia quibus hucusque usa est, minuatis ; $:d et 8ecundum vocem propheticam, in me, et in domo patr.s mei, secundum $8unm meri- tum transſeratur. Quia ergo universa privilegia que canctz Ravennati Ecclesiz a predecessoribus vestris indulta- Sunt, pro majori satisfactione subjeci ea in imputo, quod post tot labores atque anguslias, quas BR scriniis venerabilibus secundum consecrationis de- intus ſorisque suslineo, Lalem vicissitudinem merear invenire. Sed iterum me illa res inler alia consola- tur, quod interdum sanctissimi patres ob hoc tan- wmmodo £5 castigant (ilios suos ut eos faciant potio- recs ; et post hanc devotionem ac $atisſactionem sanclaz Ravennati Ecclesiz, que peculiariter vestra eEs1, non solum velera privilegia conservelis , sed et majora vestris temporibus conſeralus: Nam quod de mappulis a presbyteris et diaconibus meis prezumplum apostulatus vester scribit , vere ſateor, txdet me aliquid exinde commemorare, cum per $e verilas, quz apud dominum meum $ola pre- valet, ipsa suſficiat. Nam cum hoc minoribus circa urbem conslilutis Ecclesiis licitum sit, poterit etiam apostolatus domini mei, si venerabilem clerum prim:e apostolice sedis su:e requirere dignatur, modis om- nibus invenire, quia quoties ad ordinationem episco- palus seu responsi sacerdoles vel levitz Ravennalis Ecclesiaz Romam venerunt, omnes in oculis sanctis- Simorum decessorum vestrorum cum mappulis sine * Rhem. et Colhb. antiq., civibus hujus wrbis, etiam inler gesla, 8i acquievissel 8anctus reverendissimus no- larius potnerat allestari. n. 1: | Ast ego quz divum incedo regiua. lbidem : | Et vera incessu patuit dea. De hoc verbo s&pe alibi, maxime in nota 471 ad lib. Sacram, | Climacus refe:t exempla in guarto Scala gradu, num. 26, 2v, 31, 53, 54, etc., et agnosces pralatorum mi- ram prudeniiam in puniendo, subditorum stupendam in p-ticndo obedientiam; ab illis decreta merito im- merentibus suppiicia, ab iis quasi mererentur 2qua- nimiter ſuisse tolerala. Gussaxv. Summo punt:fice Ravennati Ecclesize concessuin his verbis : « Exemplum precepli : Dilectissimo fratri Pet:o, Joannes. Coavenire ' novimus rationi ut eos amictu pallii decoremus, quos in illis civitatibus di- vina inspirante misericordia sacerdotii honor illumi- nat, in quibus hoc etiam illis qui preteritis tempori- lus (uere ponlifices ab aposlolica Sede conslat esse indultum. Jdevque charitati tua uswm pallii, 'Sicut cessorum meorum tempora, fidem nihilominus repe- rienles, nunc vero in Dei et in vestra est poleslale quidquid veritate coguita fieri jusseritis, quoniann ego jus8ionibus apostolatus domini mei parere desiderans, quamvis antiqua consuetudo obtinuit, usque ad $e- cundam jussionem abstinere curavi >, EPISTOLA LYIIL. AD CYPRIANUM DIACONUM. Si non habet Cosmas unde 80lvat, cum illius credito- ribus paciscatur ; atque ejusdem filios, pactam 8um- mam persolvens, liberet. Gregorius Cypriano diacono. Cosmas ex variis periculorum necessitatibus mu'tis Se dicit * debilis obligatum, ita ut pro eis a credito- C ribus $uvis $v0s dicat filioz detineri. Qnz res si ita esl, nos omnino commovit. Quamobrem hortamur dilectionem tuam, ut quia de rebus pauperum dandis agitur, causam £ecjus cum summa S$ubltilitate perqui- ras ; et si inveneris eum predictis debitis veraciter involutum, ut non $it substantia unde possit hc ipsa decessores tni habuisse noscuntur, presenti aucto- ritale concedimus, atque ea omnia Circa honoris tvi privilegium volumus permanere, que anterioribus temporibus Ecelesiz tuz constat esse $ervala, ut nj- hil prorsus de privilegiis ejus doleas diminutum. Et, 8subscriptio domini pape; Deus te incolumem custodiat. Data x Kalend. Octobris , imperante dom. Justino Augusto. » Docti-simus Baluzius , qui ex Cod. Colb. prece-lum hoc edidit, Miscellan. l:b. v, recte censet scribendum ut in dicto Colb. Justiniano , pro Ju- 8lino. | Eersr. LV [Af. 56]. — * Nota historia vidue V Reg. iv, et parabola Maltth. xvin. Romanorum vetustissimi lege x1 tabularum permiserant viventis debitoris corpus $ecari, distrahi , dividi inter credi- lores. A. Gellius , lib. xx, c, 1. Postea debilores et qui 5e pro eis in nexum dabant, carceri mancipaban- tur, et \erberibus ad creyitoris nutum $ublebantur. Livius, Annal. lib. vin, meminit causamque notat refixi woris. Constantinus imp. pena carceris liberat debitores fiscalium, Cod. lib. x, tit. 19, leg. 2. Dio- cletianus et Maximianus imperatores crudelissimi, ob Xs alienum $Servire liberos creditoribus nolunt, ut habetur Cod. lib. rv, tit. 10, leg. 12. Justinianus in authent, 154, c. 7, cavet ne debitoris filius pro paire relineatur aut in pignus, aut in servile minislerium, aut in conductionem, cred-:loremque qui hanc in legem peccavit $ubdit paenis corporalibus. Carcef amem est Species Servitutis. Vide Sanctum Gregv- rium, dial-g. lib. uv, c. 27. In Gallijs, mortui debi- _—_ -O__—_— 657 - EPISTOLARUM LIB. NI. — INDICT. XI. — EPIST. LXI. | 658 persolvere, przedictos creditores ejus adeas, et propter A pulchritudo in superficie corporis, si vulnus latet recolligendos filios ejus, quanta cognoveris quantitate componas. Et quia , /sicut dictum est, hic non habet unde restituat, de rebus pauperum ex pr$enti no>lra :ucloritate persolve; sciens quidquid illic te provi- dente datum fuerit, patrimonii no$tri pensionibus essc reputandum. > Mense Augusto , indictione 11. (Vid. ep. 45 indict, 12. Cf. Joan. Diac. l. n1, c. 55.) G71 EPI->TOLA LIX. AD SECUNDINUM EPISCOPUM. Bapligterium de monaslerio auſeratur , ut monachis diceat opus Dei 8ecurius celebrare. Gregorius Secundino episcopo * Tauromenitano. Pridem praecepimus ( Grat. 18, 9.2, c. 7) ut de monaslerio sancti Andre, quod est Super Mascalas, baptisterium Þ propter monachorum insovlentias de- buisset auſerri, atque in eolem loco quo fontes sunt allare ſundari. Cujus rei perſectio hactenus est pro- tracta. Admonemus igitur ſraternitatem tuam ut nul- lam jam moram posl $susceptas przsentes litteras nostras inserere debeas; sed, repleto © loco ipsorum ſontiom, altare ad $acra celebranda mysteria illic 8ine aliqua dilatione fundetur; quatenus et pradictis monachis opus Dei $ecurius li: eat celebrare, et non de negligentia vestra contra ſraternitatem tuam no- v{er avimus excitetur.,