Letter 43: A religious woman named Olibula has petitioned Gelasius with tears that she is being oppressed by the claims of her...

Of the blessed Pope Gelasius, to John of Spoleto. He commends to him the cause of Olybia [Olybula], a religious woman, to be protected against the attacks of her sisters. Gelasius to John of Spoleto. Olybula, a religious woman, has made known to us in a tearful petition that she has been stripped bare by her sisters, who, holding in contempt her solitary life, divided up the parents' property for themselves alone, propped up by the protection of their own husbands. And since it pertains to the duty of your office that you protect with suitable defense persons of this kind, who endure in the integrity of a devoted mind in their chosen purpose, dearest brother, expend whatever may be sought in the affair of the aforesaid woman, lest you allow her to suffer any oppression from her sisters or from their husbands: so that, having received the portion owed her from the parents' property, she may with a quiet mind be able to serve God. Epistle 41. Of Pope Gelasius, to Bonus, bishop of Sabina. That he should make Rufinus, a monk presented for the basilica of St. Lawrence, a deacon on the following Saturday, the ordination of the presbyterate being deferred until the middle of the week. Gelasius to Bonus, bishop of Sabina. We have learned that in your parish the office of a presbyter is lacking in the basilica of Saint Lawrence, which was founded on the estate of our son and counselor, the magnificent man Theodorus. And since our aforesaid son has reported to us that he has found a certain monk named Rufinus, long approved by him in life and morals, and he requests that this man be consecrated presbyter there, we, by our prerogative of observance, have not consented that this be done suddenly. And therefore let your beloved self, upon receiving this letter, make him a subdeacon on the coming Saturday; and, if God shall will it and we shall live, in the middle of the week we shall make him a presbyter: so that, when the Paschal festival arrives, the sacred mysteries may be able to be fulfilled in the said basilica by a competent person.

Beati Gelasii papae ad Johauuem Spoletauuui. J. Olibitiae relujfiosae feminae Causam contf^a sororum impetitiones tuendam illi commendat. Gelasius Johanni Bpoletano. Olibula religiosa femina flebili nobis petitione suggessit, se a ') Z addit et diuinis, quod rcctius abost a T/7'a*. De ecclesiasticis praediis \n auum ju» non transfcrendis oxstat i^raeceptum Hilari papae ep. 8 n. 7. •') 77' repeltatur. Mox a* instituta, ubi cum 77' Z praeferinms constituta. Sy- nonynia hinc videntur pontificalia constituta, ponlificale Judicium, ct sententia proprii sacerdoiis. Undo et pracdictam Vibonensis ecclesiae causam ad Nolani episcopi jadiciain delatam fuisee coUigitur. sororibus fiiisse nudataui, quae pareutum substautiam solae sibi con- tejupta ejus solitudiue divisere, maritorum suorum suffultae praesidio. Et quia interest offieii tui, ut hujusmodi personas, quae in propo- sito devotae mentis integritate perdurant, eongrua defensione tuea- ris, frater carissime, quidquid in supradictae feminae negotio peta- tur, impende, ne patiaris eam a suis sororibus aut ab earum con- jugibus aliqua oppressione lalwrare: ut recepta de parentum sub- stantia portione debitii Deo possit qiiieta mente servire. £pistola 41. Oelasii papae ad Bonuni epicospum SabinHtem. Vi Kufinum momwhum pro basilica s. Laureniii praeseniatum sequenii SiAbato p.4 diaconum faciat, preshijlerii ordinalione usque ad medianam hebdomadam dUata. Gelasius Bono episcopo Sabinati. In parochia tua' basilica sancti Laurentii, quae in possessione filii et consiliarii nostri viri magnifici Theodori fundata est, officium presbyteri deosse cofj^novimus. £t quia praefatus filius noster nohis retulit invenisse Kufinum quemdam monachum olim sibi rita et^) moribus comprol^atum^ et himc postulat ibi presbyterum consecrari, quod su])ito iieri nos praerogata^) observantia non acquieYimus. Ideo([ue dilectio tua his acceptis sabbato veniente faciat eum sub- diaconum^ et si Deus vohierit et vixerimuS; mediana hebdomada presbyterum faciemus^): quatenus superveniente festivitate paschali sacra mysteriii ') in memorata ])asihca a persona competenti valeant adimpleri.