Letter 6037: The letters of your Fraternity, full of priestly sweetness, we have received at the hands of Rogatianus the deacon, the bearer of these presents. And their kind expressions rejoiced us much, especially as we were informed through them of what we long to hear of, your welfare. But the devotion of your Holiness we have both known of old; and as yo...

Gregory to Columbus, Bishop of Numidia. The letters of your Fraternity, full of priestly warmth, have reached us through Rogatianus the deacon, the bearer of these presents. Their kind words gave us great joy, especially in informing us of what we have long wished to hear — that you are well. The devotion of your Holiness we have known for a long time; and it is exactly as you now write, that we hold it to be. As to the sincerity of your Fraternity toward us, we need nothing to confirm it, since we know it from the love in our own heart that embraces you. We have given the bearer you commended to us by letter a letter to the Rector of the patrimony in Sicily, directing him to press the opposing party to do what is just, so that, setting aside evasions, the whole disputed matter may be promptly resolved. We now inform your Holiness that a certain man named Peter has come to us, claiming to be a bishop, and seeking from us a remedy for his complaint. At first he set out matters that might have deserved sympathy, but on inquiry we found the situation to be very different from what he had told us, and his conduct has greatly distressed us. Since, separated as we are by so great a distance, we could not adequately grasp the substance of his case, we have been unable to decide it, being in doubt. But now, since the aforesaid deacon who is returning to you has asked that this man be allowed to accompany him, and he himself has requested to be sent to you — both of them aware that your Holiness has, as befits you, zeal for the faith and love of justice — this arrangement has seemed acceptable to us, and we have granted what they asked. Since you are on the spot and can investigate the merits of the case more thoroughly, we urge you to deal justly and canonically with this same Peter, so that the demands of right may be fully met by you in all respects and his case may be seen to have been judged in the fear of God and according to the rules of the Church. But if anyone is said to have been complicit in or party to the things of which the aforesaid Peter is accused, an accurate inquiry must be made, and when the truth is known, judgment pronounced canonically in the same way. Furthermore, something altogether hard to bear, and hostile to right faith, has come to our ears: that Catholics — terrible as this is to say — and religious persons — which is worse still — allow their children, their slaves, or others in their power to be baptized in the heresy of the Donatists. If this is true, let your Fraternity apply all your effort to correcting it, so that the purity of the faith may remain inviolate through your care, and innocent souls who might be saved by Catholic baptism may not perish through the infection of heretics. Whoever among the persons mentioned above has allowed anyone belonging to him to be baptized among the Donatists, strive with all your strength and urgency to bring such people back to the Catholic faith. But if anyone of this kind should under any pretext permit this to happen with those belonging to him in the future, let him be cut off entirely from the communion of the clergy.

Book VI, Letter 37 To Columbus, Bishop. Gregory to Columbus, Bishop of Numidia. The letters of your Fraternity, full of priestly sweetness, we have received at the hands of Rogatianus the deacon, the bearer of these presents. And their kind expressions rejoiced us much, especially as we were informed through them of what we long to hear of, your welfare. But the devotion of your Holiness we have both known of old; and as you now write, so we hold it to be. For of what kind the sincerity of your Fraternity towards us is we need nothing to satisfy us, since we know it from the love of our own heart which encircles you. We have given to the above-named hearer, whom you commended to us by letter, writings addressed to the Rector of the patrimony of Sicily, bidding him urge the opposite party to do what is just, to the end that, idle excuses being put aside, the whole case in dispute may be speedily brought to an end. We now inform your Holiness that a certain man has come to us, Peter by name, who asserted that he was a bishop, and requested from us a remedy of his complaint. And at first indeed he related things that might have been deserving of pity; but on enquiry we found things to be very different from what he told us, and his behaviour has exceedingly distressed us. But, inasmuch as, separated as we are by so great a distance, we could by no means learn thoroughly the gist of his case, we have been unable to determine it, being in doubt. But now, seeing that the aforesaid deacon, who is returning to you, has asked that this person should be allowed to go with him, and he himself has requested to be sent to you, both of them knowing that your Holiness has, as becomes you, zeal for the faith and a love of justice, the proposal has been acceptable to us, and we have granted what they asked. Since, then, you being on the spot can ascertain the merits of the case more thoroughly, we exhort you so to observe what is just and canonical towards the same Peter that both the requirements of rectitude may be fulfilled by you in all respects, and his case may be seen to have been judged after the fear of God and the rules of the Church. But, if any one is said to have been privy to, or a partaker in, the things which the aforesaid Peter is accused of, accurate enquiry must be made, and, when the truth is known, judgment in like manner pronounced canonically. Furthermore, a thing altogether hard to be borne, and hostile to the right faith, has come to our ears; namely that Catholics (which is awful to be told) and religious persons (which is worse) consent to their children and their slaves, or others whom they have in their power, being baptized in the heresy of the Donatists. And so, if this is true, let your Fraternity study with all your power to correct it, to the end that the purity of the faith may through your solicitude stand inviolate, and innocent souls who might be saved by Catholic baptism perish not from the infection of heretics. Whosoever, then, of the persons above mentioned has suffered any one belonging to him to be baptized among the Donatists, study with all your power, and with all urgency, to recall such to the Catholic faith. But, if any one of such persons should under any pretext endure the doing of this thing in the case of such as are his in future, let him be cut off entirely from the communion of the clergy.

Gregorius Anthemio subdiacono. Quanto viduz bene viventes virorum ssunt solatio deslitutz, tanto eis enixius ecclesiasticaest impenden- da tuitio. Atque ideo hujus tibi precepti pagina depus- tamus , quatenus Alexandriz gYZ magniſfice ſe- Optatus, Cyrillus Jerosol. et Ambrosius ; ne tamen cum Gussanvillxo dicas : una fere voce docen! vele- res... .-. collatum ab hearelicis baptismum vires emun- dationis non kabere. Quippe jam nemo nisi hxreti- cus baplis:inum valere negat a quocunque collatum, modo verbis con-ecretur evangelicis. At nihil ad fidem pertinere constal, nisi quod ab apostolis con- tinua Snccessione manavit; non enim novis nititur ſides nostra revelationibus. Certe in celebri illa con- lroversia Slephanum inter et Cyprianum, cum hic baptismum-ab hxretico datum, ob ministri per versi- tatem et infidelitatem rejiceret, ac proinde venienles ab hresi censeret iterum baptizandos; ille vero baptisma etiam ab htireticis susceptum, ob vim et eflicaciam verborum evangelicorum quibus confere- batur, valere, nec esse ileranlum puguaret; id maxime urgebat : si quis a quacunque haeresi reneril ad nos, nil innovelur nist quod traditum esl, ut manus impona- tur in penitentiam. Enimvero, ut ait Auguslinus , lib. u de Bapt., c. 9, consuetudinis robore lenebutur orbis terrarum. Et lib. iv, c. 6, agebat Cyprianus adversus totins orbis morem, quem lib. v, c. 23, ab apostolis deiucit? Eamdem hreticos non rebapti- Zandi consuctudinem exbibet nobis tanquam perpe- tuam in universa Ecclesia ab apostolorum tempvie Hieron. in dialogo adversus Luciferianos. ldem 1es1ta- tur Eusebius, lib. 1v Hisl., C. 4. IN FTE tt abes. ADA. ii os. ot eta he wane tact. ti. ian dion th. tet een. A. Mes. at} 829 miaz, relictz quondam Vincomali, omni instantia, vmnique s0llicitudine, ubi necesse ſuerit, servala sCi- licet xquitale, tuitionem ſfestines impendere , atque ejus utiliatibus studiose concurrere ; nec cam a quo- quam Vexari permittas, aut molestiam sustinere, sed ita, Sicut prediximus, ubi causa poposcerit, ope tur s0{licitudinis poliatur, ut nullus se in aſflictione op- pressioneque ipsius te illic coram posilo lentet aliqua- tenus occupare. EPISTOLA XXXAIX. AD CYPRIANUM DIACONUM. Reversum @ 8chismate. Joannem commendat, cui det annuos 0cto solidos. Gregorius * Cypriano diacono. | Joannem religiosum presentium latorem, qui ex Hlistricorum schismate ad sinum ssanctze Ecclesiz, Deo revelante, accepta ratione reversus est, dilectio- nem tuam, Zquitate servata, habere necesse est in omnibus commendatum, atque ei in quibus causa poposcerit ecclesiasticam tuitionem impendere. Cui etiam Þ pro stipendiorum ssuorum subsidio, ab hac quaria decima indictione, annis singulis © tot solidos dare te volumus, quos tuis per omnia noveris rativ- nibus imputandos. EPISTOLA XL. AD DONUM EPISCOPUM. Georqii, si rectius ille vixerit, s1stentationi subvenial, Gregorius Dono episcopo Messanensi. Georgius przesentium porlitor degere, ut ait, in ci- vitate vestra desiderans, apud fraternitalem vestram noslra se peliit epistola commendari. Cui quoniam a prava se promisit actione compescere, quod petebat previdimus non negandum. Et ideo sanctitas vestra de anima ejus studeat propter Deum esse s0llicita, atque eum adhortationibus suis ad viam Deo placi- tar revocare; et si, adjuvante Domino, ut promisit, ab omni se pravitate suspendens, vivere honeste vo- luerit, fraternitas vesira pro mercede. sua, ut prospe- xerit, ejus sustentationi subveniat, ne forsitan ® ad male agendum excusationem sibi ex necessitate vi- deatur assumere, Quid autem ſraternitas vestra ex ejus importunitate sit passura consideret, qui ad yos cum nostris epislolis venit , quem nos Sine au- cloritate aliqua importunum valde in prece pertu- limus. | EPISTOLARUM LIB, VI. — INDICT. XIV, — EPIST. XL. 850 A EPISTOLA XLI. AD RUFINUM EPISCOPUM. In Ecclesia Mazse Nicoterane presbyterum ordinan- dum, qui episcopi in penitentiam depulati vice baptizet ac celebret Migsas. Gregorius Ruſino episcopo *® Vivonensi. Ex habitatoribus Þ Mass:z -Nicoteranze, quorum episcopus pro quibusdam culpis in penitentiam g24 depulatus est, relatione comperimus nullum illic esse presbyterum qui sacra possit missarum solemnia ce- lebrare, in tautum ut etiam filios su0s sine baptismate asserant remansisse. Et quia hac pro causa magnopere petiverunt sibi in eadem Ecclesia cui fraternitas vestra operam visitationis impendit debere presby- terum ordinari, ea propler scriplis vos prasentibus adhortamur, ut de clero ejusdem Ecclesiz requirere debeatis, cujus vita et mores ad hoc possint officium convenire, et eum illic presbyterum ſeslinetis, auxi- liante Domino, consecrare. Nam valde durum est ut quousque causa episcopi eorum subtiliter requiratur, non habeat Eecclesia illa presbyterum, qui sacrum il- lic opus valeat celebrare. © Mense Julio, indictione 14. | EPISTOLA XLIL AD VICTOREM EPISCOPUM. Ut in monaslerio presbyterum ordinet. Gregorius Viectori episcopo Panormitano. Ur bicus abbas monasterii sancti Herme, quod-Pa- normi ssitum est, a nobis cum congregatione Sua ma- gnopere postulavit in eodem monasterio presbyterum, qui sacra missarum ss0Jemnia celebrarc debeat, or- C dinari; et quia hvjusmodi non est differenda pelitio, ſraternilatem vestram scriptis presentibus neces8a- riv duximus adhortandam, ut eum qui ad hoc mi- nisterium de eadem Ccongregatione electus ſuerit, cvj's vita, mores, et actio tanto possit ministerio convenire, sine mora, auxitiante Domino, debeat consecrari, quatenus nec ille de monasterio s40 hac pro causa egredi, nec extraneum sibi ad peragendum SACTUIN OPus cogalur adducere. | EPISTOLA XLIII. AD VENANTIUM PATRICIUM. Contristatum se de illius et Joannis episcopi discordia; huic reverentiam exhibeat, causasque suas agant, il- lasa charitale. Gregorius © Venantio patricio exmonacho, Multum ea quam direxislis jam nos contrislalos D tantum, Rufino episcopo. la quatuor aliis Vatic. ex- stLat episcopo V ivenensi. EPISTOLA XLY. AD LEONTIUM EPISCOPUM. Facultatem tribuit Ecclesiam dedicandi. Fundatorum illius donationes confirmat. Gregorius Leontio episcopo Ariminensi. Basilicam beati Stephani martyris, quam ſraternitas eas B25 nullatenus pervenisset. Nos tamen, ut ho. B ves[ra incendio asseri; concrematam, YG quam ed scribente comperimus, i!lico ei scripsimus, adino- nentes ut et » oblationes vestras Sicut ante suscipe- ret, et missas in domo vesfra non solum celebrari permitteret, sed si velitis, etiam ipse perageret, cau- Samque suam Servata charitale exsequi debuisset. Et quia nullos discordes vel fieri volumus vel ma- nere, eamdem adhortationem iterandam esse prospe- ximus. Unde neces+e est, charissime filj, ut et vos sacerdotalem illi reverentiam exhibere, sicut decet ſilios, debealis, nec ejus ad iracundiam animos pro- vocetis. Nam cum quo fidam eslis gratiam habiuri, si vobis, quod absit, cum sacerdolte ſuerit discor- dia? Ntaque animorum tumore deposity, sic agere causas quas habelis invicem studete, ut el charitas inter vos intemerata permaneal, et alterutra man- 8vete procuretur ulilitas. ( Cf. Joan. Diac. |. 3, n. 48.) : EPISTOLA XLIY. AD JOANNEM EPISCOPUN. Hortatur ut Venaniio pristinam ostendat benevolen- Gregorius Joanni episcopo Syracusano. Quamvis causa ſuerit que ſralernitatis vestrae animos ad iracundiam non immerito provocaret, ut nec oblationes domni Venantii voluissetis suscipere, nec in domo ipsius sacra missarum sineretis Solem- nia celebrari, tamen quia ita terrena agi debet utili- tas, ut nullum nos jurgium a charitatis valeat con- nexiane disjungere, © proinde sanctilalem vestram, sicut dudum <cripsimus, adhortamur, quatenus et oblationes ante dicti viri omnimodo in dulcedine et Deo placita debeatis sinceritate suscipere, et in domo ipsius missarum peragi mysteria permiltatis; ut, si- cut scripsimus, £i fortasse vo