Letter 3044: I return to the matter raised in my previous letter because I want to be sure there is no ambiguity about what I am...

TO BISHOP BONIFACIUS. That he restore to Stephania the property seized by the agents of his predecessor. Gregory to Bonifacius, bishop of Reggio. Just as the Church ought not to lose its own property, so it is not fitting for it to invade, in a burning desire for plunder, the property of others. Stephania, indeed, the bearer of the present letter, complains that certain of her possessions were seized by force, in the times of your predecessor Lucius the late bishop, by his agents. And since she petitions that they ought to be restored to her, justice favoring her cause, therefore let your fraternity, with the fear of God, take care to learn carefully the things she asserts. And if it shall be found to be so, just as the aforesaid woman states, let him cause whatever has been wrongfully taken away to be restored without any loss or delay. [...editorial notes omitted...] So therefore hasten to bring the complaint of the aforesaid woman to a wholesome end, in such a way that neither do we thereafter suffer trouble anew over this matter, nor does this cause show you to be greedy or slothful. LETTER XLV. TO BISHOP ANDREAS. He exhorts him to lay down the priesthood himself, if he is conscious of sin with a concubine. Because he ordered a woman to be beaten with cudgels, he orders him to abstain from the celebration of Mass for two months. Gregory to Andreas, bishop of Tarentum [Taranto]. He shall look upon the tribunal of the eternal Judge in security, whoever, conscious of his own guilt, strives to appease Him by worthy penitence in due manner. We have learned by manifest truth that you have indeed had a concubine, concerning whom there is also among certain persons a contrary, ill suspicion. But because in ambiguous matters the judgment ought not to be absolute, we have chosen to commit this to your own conscience. Wherefore, if, being established in holy orders, you recall that you have been defiled by intercourse with her, then, having laid down the honor of the priesthood, presume in no way to approach the administering of it, knowing that you minister at the peril of your soul, and that you will without doubt render an account to our God, if, conscious of this crime, you choose to remain in the order in which you are, concealing the truth. Therefore we again exhort you that, if you recognize that you have been deceived by the cunning of the ancient enemy, you hasten, while it is permitted, to overcome him by fitting penitence, lest with him you be reckoned a partaker - which we do not wish - on the day of judgment. But if you are not conscious to yourself of this guilt, then it is necessary for you to remain in the order in which you are. Furthermore, since you cruelly condemned a woman of the matricula [the church's roll of those receiving alms] to be beaten with cudgels, contrary to the dignity of the priesthood - a woman who, although we judge she by no means died from it after eight months, yet because you would not have respect for your order - therefore we have determined that you abstain from the administration of the Masses for two months. During these, suspended from your office, it is fitting that you weep for what you have done. For it is altogether fitting that, since the examples of praiseworthy priests do not summon you to the tranquil uprightness of this life, at least the medicine of correction may compel you. LETTER XLVI. TO BISHOP JOANNES. That Bishop Andreas, if while established in holy orders he has touched a concubine, is to be prohibited from the ministry. That the same is to be suspended from the celebration of Masses on account of the woman beaten with cudgels. That the complaints of the clergy concerning him are also to be weighed. Gregory to Joannes, bishop of Gallipoli. From the proceedings which your fraternity has forwarded to us, it has been found that Andreas, our brother and fellow bishop, has without doubt had a concubine. But because it is uncertain whether he touched her while established in holy orders, it is necessary that you admonish him with careful exhortation, so that if, set in holy orders, he knows himself to have been joined with her, he shall desist from the office which he holds, and shall in no way presume to administer. But if perchance, conscious to himself of this matter and suppressing his sin, he shall presume to administer, let him know that the peril of his soul threatens before the divine judgment. Furthermore, by a petition presented to us concerning the way in which he holds his subordinates, the clergy of the aforesaid bishop record that they endure many evils from him. For which reason let your fraternity take care to learn all things carefully, and so to amend and arrange them in a reasonable manner, that no necessity be imposed upon them of returning here again over this matter henceforth. In the month of July, in the eleventh indiction. LETTER XLVII. TO THE CLERGY OF THE CHURCH OF SALONA. He approves the election of Honoratus as bishop. Gregory to the clergy of the church of Salona. Reading again your charity's letter, we have learned that you have made your election upon Honoratus, your archdeacon, and know that it has been altogether pleasing to us that you long ago chose to the order of the episcopate a man tested and grave in his ways. Whose person we also approve, since he has long been well known to us, and we too have wished that he be ordained for you, as your priest, according to your desire. For which reason we exhort you to persist in his election without any ambiguity. Nor ought any matter to turn you aside from his person, because, just as this election is now proved praiseworthy, so if - which God forbid - anyone should seduce your charity to deviate from him, he will impose both a burden upon your souls and a stain of infidelity upon your reputation. But those who dissent from the unity of your desired election, that they may be able to feel as you do, we have caused to be admonished by Antoninus our subdeacon. To whom also we have already long since enjoined what ought to be done concerning the person of Malchus, our brother and fellow bishop. But since we have also written to him ourselves, we believe that he will without delay cease from disturbing you. And if perchance he neglects to obey in any way, his contumacy shall by all means be punished by the strict severity of canonical retribution. LETTER XLVIII. TO BISHOP COLUMBUS. Having first given testimony of his singular benevolence, he exhorts him not to allow boys to be ordained, nor orders to be conferred out of favor or out of venality, and to inform him of the state of the council. Concerning the chains of blessed Peter he sends something enclosed in keys. Gregory to Columbus, bishop. Even before I received your fraternity's letter, I knew, by truthful report announcing it, that you were a good servant of God. And after I received it, I more fully understood that what report had long ago spread abroad was certain; you show your character and your deeds to be praiseworthy. Since therefore I perceive these things conferred upon you by the heavenly majesty, I rejoice; and I altogether bless God our Creator, who does not deny to humble servants the gifts of His mercy. Wherefore I confess truly that your fraternity so kindles me to love of you with the flame of charity, and my spirit is so united to you, that I both desire to see you, and yet, though you are absent, I always attend upon you with my heart. These things therefore you rightly consider to be so from yourself. For assuredly unity in the charity of souls can unite more than bodily presence. Furthermore, that you cleave with your whole mind, your whole heart, and your whole soul to the apostolic see, and are devout, I both know now, and, even before your letter bore this testimony, I clearly recognized. Having therefore first set forth the address of greeting due from charity, I exhort you not to cease to be mindful of the things you promised to blessed Peter, the chief of the apostles. Therefore be solicitous toward the primate of your synod, that boys be in no way admitted to holy orders, lest they fall the more perilously the more quickly they hasten to ascend to higher things. Let there be no venality in ordination; let the power or supplication of persons obtain nothing against these things which we forbid. For without doubt God is offended, if anyone is advanced to holy orders not from merit but from favor - which God forbid - or from venality. But if you come to know that these things are being done, do not be silent; but resist insistently: for if you perhaps neglect to investigate these things, or, having understood them, conceal them, not only will the bond of sin bind those who do these things, but also the fault of this matter, no light one, will regard you before God. It is fitting therefore that, if any such thing is committed, it be restrained by canonical retribution: lest so great a crime, through dissimulation, gain strength along with the sin of others. Therefore I have received with charity the bearer of the present letter, Victorinus the deacon of your fraternity, whom I reckon to be an imitator of you, and I have released him to return the more quickly, by whom also I have transmitted to you, for a blessing, the keys of blessed Peter, in which is enclosed something of his own chains. Furthermore, concerning the unity and peace of the council which you are arranging to gather, with God as its author, let your charity gladden our minds by indicating all things carefully.

AD BONIFACIUM EPISCOPUM. Stephanie res a decess0ris $ui actoribus occupatas restitual. Gregoriids BonIfacio episcopo Regilano. Sicut Ecclesia (Grat. 12, q. 2, c. 49) proprias res amittere non debet, ita eam rapacitatis ardore inva- dere alienas non oportet. Stephania siquidem latrix presentium, quasdam res 8uas temporibus decess0- . ris tui GHG Lucii quondam episcopi ab actoribus ejus vi queritur occupatas. Et quia $ibi eas petit, pustitia favente, debere restitui, proplterea ſraterni- las tua cum Dei timore hc que asserit sabliliter curet addiscere. Et si ita, quemadmodum $suprascri- pta ſemina ait, esse repererit, quecunque male ablata Sunt, ſaciat sine aliquo damno vel dilatione reslitui. Eeisr. XL [Al. 42]. — *- Refertur extr. de adult. c, 2. Vide concil. Meld., an. 845, c. 64, 65, 66. nam corporalem? - Moriem videtur intelligere. Vide caus. 56, q. 2, et in Cod., 1. 1x, lit. 12 et 13, et novell. 143. Gussaxv. EeisT. NLY [Al. 43]. — © Tarentum vulgo Ta- ranto, urbs olim Salentinorum, in magna Grecia, in $inu cognomine, hodie regni Neap., in provincia Hy- druntina, ubi validum . Hispanorum p:sidium ; ti- tulo principatus gaudet ; olim epi-copalis, nunc au- lem archiepiscopali sede donata, GUSSANY, Ecclesiam detinere. Ita ergo querimoniam preſatz mulieris 83luhriter finire ſeslina, ut nec nos exinde denuo molestiam patiamur, nec te avarum vel desi- diosum hec causa demonstret. EPISTOLA XLY. AD ANUVREAM EPISCOPCUM. Ut 8acerdotium .ipse deponat, 8i peccali cum conou- bina 8it conscius, hortatur. Quod mulierem ſugstibus crdi jusserit, a mis8urum celebratione per duos menses abslinere jubet. Gregorius Andrez episcopo * Tarentino. Tribunal judicis aterni $ecurus aspiciet (Grat dist, 55, c. T), quisquis reatus 8ui conscius digna eum modo pcenitentia placare contendit. Habuisse B te siquidem concubinam > maniſesta veritate com- C D perimus, de © qua etiam contraria est quibusdam nala suspicio. Sed quia in rebus ambiguis absolutum non debet esse judicium, hoc tux conscientie elegi- mus commiltendum. Qua de re, $i, in $acro ordine conslitulus, ejus te permistione esse recolis macu- latum, sacerdolii honore deposito, ad administran- dum nullo modo presumas accedere , $cilurus in anima tne periculo te ministrare, et Deo nostro sine duhio te reddere rationem, $i hujus sceleris conscius, in eo quo es ordine, celans veritatem, permanere volueris. Unde le jterum adhortamur, ut si te deceptum antiqui hostis calliditale cognoscis, competenti eum, dum licet, penitentia superare le- *tines, ne cum eo particeps, quod non oplamus, in die judicii deputeris. Si vero hnjus reatus tibi con- SEIUS NON ES, In Co te necesse esl quo es ordine per- manere. 7 Prezterea quoniam 4 mulierem de matriculis con- ira ordinem $acerdolii cedi crudeliter * fustibus de- putasti, quam licet post octo menses exinde minime arbitramur fuisse deſunctain, tamen quia ordinis tui habere noluisti respectum, proplterea duobus te men- Sibus ab administratione missarum $statuimus abs- tinere. In quibus ab officio tuo suspensum flere te convenit quod fecisti. Nam valde GS dignum est, Frustra in explicanda sancti Gregorii menle labora- vit Gussanvilleus, cum ex epist. Sequenti clare paleal. GussSanv., qui tamen ea retinenda censuit. Certe non $unt in Seplem Norman., in quatuor Romanis, in Corb., in Rhiem., in Turon., in Andeg., etc. Redun- dare videniur currectoribus, Decret dist. 33, el priores Editiones i!la ne$ciunt. : Mulierem qua ſustibus c&sa el, fuisse unam © ma- tricula Ecclesize argumento est, quod id facium esl jussu episcopi, :d quem pertinebat cura et poleslas In matriculis Ecclesiz. ALTESERRA. © De epi>copo percussore, dist. 45, late Esperr $2us, digress. in Timoth., lib. 11, Cc. 3, et nos infra, episl, 52, GUSSANV. © OS —_— ——_—_ (644 at pPo>iguan te ad vite istius tranquillam rectiludi- A nem laudabilium sacerdotum exempla non provo- cant, Saltem f correptionis medicina compellat. (Cf. Joan. Diac. l. 3, c. 435.) EPISTOLA . XLVI. AD JOANNEM EPISCOPUM. Andream episcopum, $i concubinam .in 8acro ordine conslitulus conligerit , a minislerio prohibendum. Suspendendum eumdem a missarum celebratione 0b casam ſustibus mulierem. Expendendas quoque cle- ricorum de illo querelas. Gregorius Joaani episcopo * Calliopolitano. Ex gestis quze ad nos fraternitas tua direxit, inven- tum est Andream ſfratrem et coepiscopum nosirum habuisse sine dubio concubinam. Sed quia incertum est si eam ir sacro ordine conslitutns contigerit, ne- cesse est ut eum s0llicita adhortatione commoneas, ut 8i positus in $acro ordine cum ea Se novit im- mistum, ab eo.quo est officio quiescal, et nullatenus administrare praxsumat. Quod $i forte conscius $ibi hujus rei peccatum - $uum $supprimens administrare presumpserit, animz $uz periculum divino judicio miminere cognoscat. Prelerea, vblata nobis petitione, quz# tenelur in Subditis, clerici predicti episcopi multa- se mala, ab eo SuSlinere commemorant. Ob quam rem ſraternitas lua Subtiliter cuncta curet addiscere, el ita ca ralio- nabili modo emendare atque disponere, ut nulla eis pro hac re huc remeandi de cztero necessilas impo- natur. © Mense Julio , indictivne 11. (Vid. sup. ep. 44. Cf. Joan. Diac. l. iv, c. 27.) Novali, etc. Inflectatur rigor sancti Cypriani, et alio- rum Patrum, concilii Eliberit. et altorum concilio-- rum adversus lapsos, ita tamen ut sacerdotis Heli mollitiem aversemur. Tot dispensationibus, tot gra- liis aut laxaiz aut luxatz leges vilescunt, enervantur, concidunt. Que vero politia slare potest Sine legibus? eui bono leges qias impune transgredi aut librrum est, aut passim venia dignum ? Nostros, quzes9, mo- res componatl lector cum antiquis moribus, ut vel hinc discat quam Sit necessaria corrept onis medi- cina, quam perniciosa facilitas venix, Prudentis est medici ea adhibere remedia quibus vulnera sanentur, nou quibus t:intummodo tegantur et jncrus'enture Auliquitus infrequens erat relaxationum usus, $-d legum vigebat observalio; nunc aſfluentibus remis- Siombus inundat peccaltum. GUSSANY. Eeisr. XEVI [Al. 45]. — © In Vatic. D, Colbert., Pratell. ac nonnullis, legitur, Galliopolitano. Ft EPISTOLA XLYIE. AD CLERUM ECCLESLE SALONITAXNA Honorati elecltionem in episcopum approbat. Gregorius Clero ecclesiz Salonitanze, Dilectionis vestr $cripla relegentes, electionem vos *® in honoratum archidiaconum vestrum ſecisse didicimus, et omnino nobis gratum ſuisse 658 C0- gnoscite quod olim expertum virum et gravem mo : ribus ad episcopalus ordinem elegislis. Cujus etiam et nos pers0nam, quia dudum est nobis bene cognita, com- probamus, eumque vobis juxta desiderium vestrum et nos ordinari voluimns sacerdotem. Pro qua re hor- tamur vos in <jus electione sine aliqua ambiguitate persistere. Nec quzedam vos res ab ejus dehet per- s0na deflectere, quia sicut isia laudabilis nunc pro- B batur electio, ita $i, quod absit, dilectionem vestram ab eo quisquam deviare seduxerit, et anime vesirae gravamen , et opinioni maculam infidelitatis impo- C net. Eos vero qui ab electionis vestre unilate desi- deratze ” discordant, ut yobiscum sentire possint, © ab. - Antonino subdiacono nostro ſecimus admoneri. Cui etiam de persona Malchi ſrairis et coepiscopi nostri quid oporteal fieri , jam pridem injunximus. Sed4 quoniam et ipsi scripsimus, credimus eum ab inquie- Ludine vesira Sine mora quiescere. Qui $i forlasse obedire quocunque modo neglexerit, contuimacia ejus modis omnibus canonicz ultionis districtione mul- labitur. EPISTOLA XLYIIL. AD COLUMBUM EPISCOPUM. Premiss0 sinqularis benerolentia leslimonio, illum ne pueros ordinari, nee ordines ex ſavore wut ex vena- lirale conſerri s8inat, alque ut *tbi concilit s1atum indicet, hortatur. De catenis beati Petri aliquid clavibus inclusum millil, Gregorius Columbo. © episcopo. Et antequam fraternitatis tuz scripta susciperem, bonum te Dei ſamulum esse, nuntiante veridica opj- nione, cognovi. Et postquam SusScepi, certaum ſuisse: hoc quod [ama dudum asperseral, plenius intellexi; vero Callipolis, vulgo Gallipoli, urbs Calabriz episco- palis, Sub archiepi>c:po Hydruntino. © Sic habent Turen. S. Gat., Colbert. velus et Corb. EeisT. XLVIL (AL. 46], — © De Honorato, ejusque: cum Natali Salonitano episcopo dissidiis jam dictuas epist. 20 libri primi. Electio ipsius in Salonitanum: episcopum irrita ſuit, et a provincialibus episcopis Maximus, cui Mauricius Augustus ſavebat, in Salq- nilanam $edem esl intrusvs. Qua de re atque de va- ria Honorati fortuna, vide uostros de Sancu Gregorit Vila commentaries, lib, 11. © Reg., ab Anthimo. Eei>t. XL V1 [AL. 47]. — * Excusi, episcopo Nu- midi, nec viliose, licet Numidi@ absit a Mss.: Norm., Vlic., Corb., denique ab omuibus quos consulere licuit. 643 | [audabilis mores tuos et actus oslendis. Hc ergo quoniam $uperna Ubi sentio majestale collata,, gra- tulor ; et Deum Creatorem nostrum utique benedico, qui servis humilibus misericordiaze $uz dona non de- uegat. Qua de re verum fateor quia sic me fralerii- tas tua ad amoremsuum flamma charilatis acceudit, Sicque tibi unitus est meus $piritus, ut et videre te cupiam, et !tamen absentem corae semper attendam. flzec igitur ita esse ex le bene consideras. Nam pro- ſecto plus in charitate animorum unitas quam cor- poralis Þ polest unire presentia. Preterea tota te mente, toto corde, totaque anima apostolice sedi inbzrere ac esse devotum et nunc scio, GY et prinsquam epistola tua hoc testimomum perhiberet, maniſeste cognovi. Praemiss0 itaque debila ex chari- tate salutalionis alloquio, - adhortor ut corum gue Heato Petro apostolorum principi promisisti memor esse non desinas. | ltaque erga primatem 8ynodi tua ecsto sollicitus. at © pueri (Grat. 1, 9. 1, c. 120) ad 8acros ordines nullatenus admilttantur, ne tanto periculosius cadant, quanto citius conscendere ad altiora ſestinant. Nulla Sit in ordinatione venalitas; poltentia vel supplicatio personarum nihil adversus - hxc que prohibemus »blineat. Nam proculdubio 4 Deus offenditur, si ad Sacros ordines quisquam non ex merito, sed ex fa- vore, quod absit, aut ex venalitate provehitur. Hec autem $i fieri cognoscis, non taceas; sed instanter obsiste : quoniam $i he aut investigare fortasse ne- glexeris, aut intellecta celaveris, non solum illos qui hae agunt, peccati vinculum illigabit ; sed et te hujus rei non levis ante Deum culpa respiciet. Oporlet ergo canonica ultione'si quid tale commilti- tur, coerceri : ne tantum facinus © cum aliorum pec- calo vires ex dissimulatione percipiat. Presentium jgitur portitorem Victorinum ſraterni- atis luzediaconum, quem twum reor imitatorem existe- re, el cum charitate SusScepi, et ad remeandun citius relaxavi, per quem etiam claves beati Petri, in qui- bus de calenis ipsius inclusum est, tibimet pro be- nedictione transmisi. Preterea de -unitate ac pace concilii, quod Deo auclore congregare disponilis, charitas tua animos uoslros subtiliter omnia indicando Iztilicel. Communis tamen Mss. lectio est : plus in charitate animos unilas, quam corporalis potest venerari pre@sen- tia. Eadem est Editorum, mulato tantum animos in animorum. Canoniske, dist. 77 et 78, cuique ordini designant certum annorum numerum quo recipialur, cerla 1n- tervalla quibus administretur, cerlam in quoque gradu moram, ne $it ascenSus preceps et in lapsum uimia feslinatione pronus. Patres Sanctiss1ni neophy- lvs excludebant mullis de causis, inscitiaw, imperi- SANCTI GREGORII MAGN meritisque luis valde congaudeo, quod testes viie A