Letter 9011: Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks . With what firmness the mind of your Excellency is settled in the fear of Almighty God you show in a praiseworthy manner, among the other good things that you do, by your love also of His priests; and great joy for your Christianity is caused us, since you study to advance with honours those whom you l...

Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Your Excellency, the firmness of your mind in the fear of Almighty God is plain from the many good things you do -- and not least from your love of his priests. Your Christianity gives us great joy, since you make it your business to advance with honors those whom you love and venerate as true servants of Christ. It is fitting, most excellent daughter, that you be the kind of ruler who willingly submits to a Lord above. By bowing the neck of your mind to the fear of the Almighty, you actually strengthen your dominion over your subjects. By devoting yourself to the Creator's service, you bind your people more faithfully to you. Having received your letters, I want you to know that your earnest request has greatly pleased us. We have been eager to send the pallium [a wool vestment symbolizing a bishop's metropolitan authority] to our brother and fellow bishop Syagrius. The Emperor's disposition is favorable -- my deacon, who represented our Church at the imperial court, reports that the Emperor fully supports this. Many good reports of our brother Syagrius have reached us, from your testimony and others', and especially from John the Regionarius [a papal regional officer] on his return to us. Hearing what Syagrius did in the matter of our brother Augustine [of Canterbury, the missionary to England], we bless our Redeemer, because he truly lives up to the meaning of his priestly name. But several things have delayed us. First, the person sent to receive the pallium is entangled in the error of the schismatics [those who refused to accept the condemnation of the "Three Chapters" at the Second Council of Constantinople]. Second, you wished it to appear that the pallium was sent on our own initiative rather than at your request. These complications needed to be resolved first. I urge your Excellency to continue supporting the faith and the Church in your kingdom. The reward that awaits those who champion the cause of God is beyond measure.

Book IX, Letter 11 To Brunichild, Queen. Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks . With what firmness the mind of your Excellency is settled in the fear of Almighty God you show in a praiseworthy manner, among the other good things that you do, by your love also of His priests; and great joy for your Christianity is caused us, since you study to advance with honours those whom you love and venerate as being truly Christ's servants. For it becomes you, most excellent daughter, it becomes you to be such as to be able to subject yourself to a lord above you. For in submitting the neck of your mind to the fear of the Almighty Lord you confirm your dominion also over subject nations, and by subjecting yourself to the service of the Creator you bind your subjects the more devotedly to yourself. Wherefore, having received your letters, we signify to you that your Excellency's earnest desire has greatly pleased us, and we have been desirous of sending the pallium to our brother and fellow bishop Syagrius , inasmuch as the disposition of our most serene lord the Emperor is also favourable, and, so far as we have been informed by our deacon, who was the representative of our Church at his Court, he is altogether desirous that this thing should be granted , and many good reports have reached us of our aforesaid brother both on your testimony and that of others; and especially we learned what his life is from John the Regionarius on his return to us. And hearing what he did in the case of our brother Augustine, we bless our Redeemer, because we feel that he fulfils in his deeds the meaning of his name of priest. But there have been many hindrances which have meanwhile prevented us from doing this thing. First indeed, that he who had come to receive this pallium is implicated in the error of the schismatics ; further, that you wished it to be understood that it was sent, not on your petition, but from ourselves. But there was this besides; that neither had he who desires to use it requested it to be granted him by a special petition addressed to us: and it was by no means right for us to concede so great a matter without his request; especially as an ancient custom has obtained, that the dignity of the pallium shall not be given except when the merits of a case demand it, and to one who urgently requests it. Still, lest we should seem perchance to wish, under pretext of any excuse, to put off the desire of your Excellency, we have provided for the pallium being sent to our most beloved son Candidus the presbyter, charging him, with befitting precaution, to deliver it in our stead. Hence it is requisite that our above-written brother and fellow bishop Syagrius must hope for it, when he has of his own motion drawn up a petition with some of his bishops; and this he must give to the aforesaid presbyter, to the end that he may be in a position to obtain properly the use of the same pallium with the favour of God. In order, then, that the charge you bear may be of fruit to you before the eyes of our Creator, let the solicitude of your Christianity be diligently on the watch, and suffer no one who is under your dominion to attain to holy orders by the giving of money, or the patronage of any persons whatever, or by right of relationship; but let such a one be elected to the episcopate, or to the office of any other sacred order, as his life and manners have shown to be worthy; lest if, as we do not expect, the dignity of the priesthood should be venal, simoniacal heresy, which was the first to come up in the Church, and has been condemned by the sentence of the Fathers, should arise in your parts, and (which God forbid) should weaken the powers of your kingdom. For it is a serious matter, and a wickedness beyond what can be told, to sell the Holy Spirit, who redeemed all things. But let this also be your care, that, since, as you know, the excellent preacher entirely forbids a novice to accede to the ruling position of priesthood, you suffer no one to be consecrated bishop from being a layman. For what sort of master will he be who has not been a disciple? Or what kind of leadership can he supply to the Lord's flock who has not been previously subjected to a shepherd's discipline? If, then, any one's life should be such as to show him worthy of being promoted to this order, he ought first to serve in the ministry of the Church, to the end that by the experience of long practice he may see what to imitate, and learn what to teach; lest perchance the newness of his charge bear not the burden of government, and occasion of ruin arise from the immaturity of his promotion. Moreover, how your Excellency conducted yourself towards our brother and fellow bishop Augustine, and how great charity, through the inspiration of God, you bestowed upon him, we have learned from the relation of various of the faithful; for which we return thanks, and implore the mercy of Divine Power to keep you here under its protection, and cause you to reign, as among men, so also after a course of many years in life eternal. Furthermore, those whom the error of the schismatics severs from the unity of the Church, strive, for your own reward, to recall to the unity of concord. For on no other ground are they enveloped so far in the blindness of their ignorance but that they may escape ecclesiastical discipline, and have licence to live perversely as they please, since they understand neither what they defend nor what they follow. But as for us, we venerate and follow in all respects the synod of Chalcedon, from which they take to themselves the clouds of a pestiferous excuse; and, if any one should presume to diminish or add anything with regard to the faith thereof, we anathematize him. But they are so impregnated with the taint of error that, giving credence to their own ignorance, they reject the universal Church, and all the four patriarchs, not with reason, but with malicious intent; so that he who was sent to us by your Excellency, when he was asked by us why he stood separated from the universal Church, acknowledged that he did not know. But neither what he said nor what else he gave ear to had he the power of knowing. As to this also we no less exhort you, that you should restrain the rest of your subjects under the control of discipline from sacrificing to idols, being worshippers of trees, or exhibiting sacrilegious sacrifices of the heads of animals; seeing that it has come to our ears that many of the Christians both resort to the churches and also (horrible to relate!) do not give up their worshipping of demons. But, since these things are altogether displeasing to our God, and He does not own divided minds, provide ye for their being salubriously restrained from these unlawful practices; lest (God forbid it!) the sacrament of holy baptism serve not for their rescue, but for their punishment. If therefore you know of any that are violent, if of any that are adulterers, if of any that are thieves, or bent on other wicked deeds, make haste to appease God by their correction, that He may not bring upon you the scourge due to unfaithful races, which, so far as we see, is already lifted up for the punishment of many nations; lest, if — as we do not believe will be the case — the wrath of Divine vengeance should be kindled by the doings of the wicked, the plague of war should destroy the sinners whom the precepts of God recall not to the way of rectitude. We must, then, needs make haste, with all earnestness and continual prayer, to betake ourselves to the mercy of our Redeemer, wherein there is a place of safety and great security for all. For whoever steadfastly abides there, him danger crushes not, nor fear alarms. We have sent the volume, as you desired us by letter, to our aforesaid most beloved son Candidus the presbyter, to be offered to you, being in haste to be sharers in your good purpose. May Almighty God keep you under His protection, and by His outstretched arm defend your kingdom from unbelieving nations, and bring you after long courses of years to eternal joys. Given in the month of October, the first indiction .

Gregorius Brunichilde regine Francorum. Quanta in omnipotentis Dei timore excellentiz 4 De causa Maximi cum Honorato jam sxpe actum est; vide, infra, epistolas 79, 80 et 81. ; Erist. Xl. * In omnibus Norm., 1tribus Vatic., Cold. et aliis, legitur, in plural , excellentissime filic. 'b flic de pallio duo notatu digna occurrunt. Primo datur episcopo. Secundo accedit imperatoris volun- tas. Primum pallii a Romavo pontilice dati monu- mentum habemus in Symmacki epist. 11 ad Theo- dorum Laureacensem Pannonie metropoliiam. C:e- Sarium Arelat. concess0 8pecialiter pally decor it privilegio idem pontſex , ut in illius Vita, lib. 1, num. 22, legimus. Exinde iis maxime concessus est pallii usus quibus aposLolice vices delegalz , atque eliam aliis, sive metropolitani essent, sive meri epi- SCopi, a quibus in Ecciesiz commodum 1 alum opis Sperabatur, quot aut virtutibus, aut nohilitate, aut magna apud reges gralia flurerent. Eo nomine Sya- grius a Gregorio Mag. pallum obtinuit. Hac ſere dandi pallii ratio ſuit usque ad Zachariam ponlili- qu: agitis etiam in sacerdotum ejus laudabiliter di- Jectione monstratis ; et magna nobis lit de Christia- nitate vestra l#titia, quoniam quos vYenerantes ut ſamnulos revera Chrisli diligitis, augere honoribus s|udelis. Decet enim vos, * excellentissima filia, decet tales exislere, ut ssubjectze possilis esse dominatori. In eo enim regnum poteslalis vestre et subjectis gentibus conarmitis, in quo timori omnipotentis Domini mentis colla Subjicitis ; et unde vosmetipsas servitio Creatoris Subdilis, unde vobis-vestlros sub- ditos ad servitjum devolius obligatis. Susceplis itaque epi-tolis vestris, valde nobis excellentiz veslr# stu- dium placuisse signamus, alque fratri et coepiscopo nostro Syagrio ” pallium dir-gere secundum postu- B lationem vesiram voluimus.. Propter quod et © sere- nisSimi domuj jmperatoris, quantum nobis G7 diaconus nosler qui apud eum 1esponsa Eeclesiz fa- ciebal, jnnotnit, prona voluntas esl, el concedi hoc omnino desiderat; atque mulla de pradicto fratie noslro , tam voblis quam eliam aliis tesLlicantibus , ' ad 10s bona perlala Sunt, maxime Vitam ejus Joanne d regionario ad nos remeante 'cognovimus. Et quid in fratre nostro Auguslino ſeceritl audientes , Re- demplorem nostrum benedicimus, quia euvm Sacer- dotis nomen etiam operibus implere sentimus. Sed res plucimz restiterunt, qua nvs hoc interim ſacere winime permiserunt. Primum siquidem, Guia is qui pillium ipsum venerat acceplurus, * schismalicorum lenetur errore implicitus. Deinde quod non id ex C vesira pelitione , sed ex vobis transmissum voluislis intellizi. Extra hoc autem quia nec is qui eo uli de- Siderat , directa ad nos hoc sibi lJargiri speciali peti- tione poposcerat, et tantam causam vullo modo pra- | bere sine ejus po>Lulatione debuimus; maxime quia et prisca consuetudo oblinuit ut honor pallii nisi exigentibus causarum merilis et f fortiter postulanti dari non debeat (Grar. dist. 100, c. 2). Nos tamen ne veslrax excellentiz desiderium sub pretextu cujus- dam excusalionis forsitan videremur velle difterre, dilectissimo lilio nostro Candido presbytero pallium previdimus dirigendum , injungentes ei ut vice no- stra congrua id debeat observatione tribuere. Unde necesse est ut ex opere suo suprascriplus [rater et D cem. Scilicet ipsins jussu, an. 742, a Bonifacio Mv- - gunlino archiepiscopo convocala est Synodus, in qua decretum ut metropolitant deinceps pallium a zede Romana peterent, el in omnibus sancti Petri precepts obsequerentur, ut Kcribit Boniſacius ipse epist. 105, ail Cudbertum Cantuar. archiep. Que regula per Galliam primum universam , tum. per Hispaniam aliasque regiones sen>im propagala est, et ab omni- bus servari c@pil. © Citra-consensum imperatoris pallium non fuisse concessum ex hac epistola conslat, el ex prima et Secunda Vigil i papz , qui Auxanium Arelalensem , 101 niS1 annuente Juslimano Auguslo, pallio donavit. An quod ornamentum quoddam imperiale it? Ea de re d gladiati sunt eruditi, et in varias abjere Senten- tias. Vide il]. de Marca, lib. de Co..cord. £acerdol. et imp. ; Cointium, ad annum £599, At prz c#teris Can- telium, Hist. metropel. urbjum to0mo 1, part. 1, dis- sert. 3, cap. 2. _ _= .— 4" +3 >. 9 —_ vr" 955 EPISTOLARUM LIB. IX. — INDICT. II. — EPIST. XI. 954 coepiscopus noster Syagrius*\, facta cum aliquantis A quantanique illi sibi Deo aspirante charitatem im- Suis episcopis pelitione hoc sperare, atque eam Pre- dicto debeat dare presbytero-, quatenus digne ejus- dem pallii usum cum Dei gratia valeat adipisci. Ut ergo hc vobis cura anle-oculos Creatoris no= s{ri- in ſructu sit, Christianitatis vestrae <ollicitudo diligenter invigilet; et nullum qui sub regno vestro est ad sacrum ordinem ex datione pecunia?, vel quae rumlibet patrocinio personarum seu Pproximitatis jure patiatur accedere ; sed jlle ad episcopatus vel alterjus Sacri ordinis officium eligatur, quem dighum et vita et mores oslenderint; ne si, quod non opla- mus, honor venalis fuerit sacerdolii, Simoniaca in illis partibus h#resis, quz prima in Ecclesia pro- diit, et * Patrum ssententia dainnala ct, consurgat, el regni vestri, quod absit, vires imminuat. Naim grave omnino et_ulira quam dici potest facinus es, Spiritum Sanctum, qui omnia redemitl, venundari. Sed et hoc cur# vobis sit, ut quia, sicut nostis, 938 © neophyium egregius pradicator ad sacerdo- lii regimen omnino vetat accedere, nullum ex laico' patiamini episcopum consecrari. Nam qualis magi- sler erit, qui discipulus non ſuit? Aut quemadino- dum ducatum gregi dominico praxbeat, qui discipli- nz pastoris Subditus ante non fuil? Si cuyjus ergo vita talis consliterit ut ad hunc dignus <it ordinem promoveri, prius ministerio drbet Ecclesiz deser- vire, quatenus longe exercitationis usu videat quod imitetur, et discat quod doceat, ne forte onus regi- minis conversionis novitas non ferat, et ruinz 0cca- 8i0 de provectus immaturitate consurgat. Qualiter autem sse excellentia veslra erga ſfratrem et coepiscopum nosirum Augustnum exhibuerit, 4 Regionarii diaconi Septem Romze pricipui cen- Sebantur ; neque presbyteris titularibus, wut alii, sed archidiacono, qui primus inter illos seplem eral, Subjiciebantur, (li sub cura Su1 Singuli illas diaco- nias habehant qu#x in sibi as+ignata regione eranul Sile. Vide Mabillowmum, Comment. pravium in Or- dinem Rom., Cc. 5, Sanctus Gregorius, lib. vin,