Letter 4030: The Serenity of your Piety, conspicuous for religious zeal and love of holiness, has charged me with your commands to send to you the head of Saint Paul, or some other part of his body, for the church which is being built in honour of the same Saint Paul in the palace. And, being desirous of receiving commands from you, by exhibiting the most re...
Pope Gregory the Great→Constantina Augusta|c. 593 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
Barbarian peoples/invasions; Imperial politics; Persecution or exile
Gregory to the Empress Constantina.
The serenity of your Piety, distinguished by religious devotion and love of holiness, has commanded me to send you the head of Saint Paul, or some other part of his body, for the church being built in his honor at the palace. I wish nothing more than to demonstrate my readiness to obey, so as to deserve your continued favor. But I am deeply distressed that I can neither do what you ask nor dare to do it.
The bodies of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul radiate such mighty miracles and such terrors in their churches that a person cannot even approach to pray without great awe. When my predecessor of blessed memory wished to replace the silver covering over the most sacred body of the blessed Apostle Peter — though standing nearly fifteen feet from the body — a sign of no small dreadfulness appeared to him. I too wished to make an alteration near the most sacred body of Saint Paul the Apostle. When digging was required near his tomb, the superintendent of that place found some bones not connected to the tomb itself. Because he presumed to lift and relocate them, terrible signs appeared, and he died suddenly.
Beyond this, when my predecessor of holy memory was making improvements near the body of Saint Lawrence the martyr, the exact location of the venerable body being unknown, workers began digging in search of it. The tomb was suddenly and unexpectedly uncovered. Those present — monks and caretakers who saw the body of the martyr, though they did not presume to touch it — all died within ten days, so that none who had looked upon the holy remains survived.
Your most pious Majesty should know, then, that it is not the custom of the Romans, when giving relics, to presume to touch any part of the body. Instead, a cloth is placed in a box and set near the most sacred bodies of the saints. When withdrawn, it is deposited with due reverence in the church that is to be dedicated, and miracles occur through it just as if the bodies themselves had been brought there.
Book IV, Letter 30
To Constantina Augusta.
Gregory to Constantina, etc.
The Serenity of your Piety, conspicuous for religious zeal and love of holiness, has charged me with your commands to send to you the head of Saint Paul, or some other part of his body, for the church which is being built in honour of the same Saint Paul in the palace. And, being desirous of receiving commands from you, by exhibiting the most ready obedience to which I might the more provoke your favour towards me, I am all the more distressed that I neither can nor dare do what you enjoin. For the bodies of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul glitter with so great miracles and terrors in their churches that one cannot even go to pray there without great fear. In short, when my predecessor, of blessed memory, was desirous of changing the silver which was over the most sacred body of the blessed apostle Peter, though at a distance of almost fifteen feet from the same body, a sign of no small dreadfulness appeared to him. Nay, I too wished in like manner to amend something not far from the most sacred body of Saint Paul the apostle; and, it being necessary to dig to some depth near his sepulchre, the superintendent of that place found some bones, which were not indeed connected with the same sepulchre; but, inasmuch as he presumed to lift them and transfer them to another place, certain awful signs appeared, and he died suddenly.
Besides all this, when my predecessor, of holy memory, was desiring in like manner to make some improvements not far from the body of Saint Laurence the martyr, it not being known where the venerable body was laid, diggings were made in the course of search, and suddenly his sepulchre was unawares disclosed; and those who were present and working, monks and mansionarii , who saw the body of the same martyr, which they did not indeed presume to touch, all died within ten days, so that none might survive who had seen the holy body of that righteous man.
Moreover, let my most tranquil lady know that it is not the custom of the Romans, when they give relics of saints, to presume to touch any part of the body; but only a cloth (brandeum) is put into a box (pyxide), and placed near the most sacred bodies of the saints: and when it is taken up it is deposited with due reverence in the Church that is to be dedicated, and such powerful effects are thereby produced there as might have been if their bodies had been brought to that special place. Whence it came to pass in the times of Pope Leo, of blessed memory, as has been handed down from our forefathers, that, certain Greeks being in doubt about such relics, the aforesaid pontiff took scissors and cut this same cloth (brandeum), and from the very incision blood flowed. For in the Roman and all the Western parts it is unendurable and sacrilegious for any one by any chance to desire to touch the bodies of saints: and, if one should presume to do this, it is certain that this temerity will by no means remain unpunished. For this reason we greatly wonder at the custom of the Greeks, who say that they take up the bones of saints; and we scarcely believe it. For certain Greek monks who came here more than two years ago dug up in the silence of night near the church of Saint Paul, bodies of dead men lying in the open field, and laid up their bones to be kept in their own possession till their departure. And, when they were taken and diligently examined as to why they did this, they confessed that they were going to carry those bones to Greece to pass for relics of saints. From this instance, as has been already said, the greater doubt has been engendered in us whether it be true that they really take up the bones of saints, as they are said to do.
But what shall I say of the bodies of the blessed apostles, when it is well known that, at the time when they suffered, believers came from the East to recover their bodies as being those of their own countrymen? And, having been taken as far as the second milestone from the city, they were deposited in the place which is called Catacumbas. But, when the whole multitude came together and endeavoured to remove them thence, such violence of thunder and lightning terrified and dispersed them that they on no account presumed to attempt such a thing again. And then the Romans, who of the Lord's loving-kindness were counted worthy to do this, went out and took up their bodies, and laid them in the places where they are now deposited.
Who then, most serene lady, can there be so venturesome as, knowing these things, to presume, I do not say to touch their bodies, but even at all to look at them? Such orders therefore having been given me by you, which I could by no means have obeyed, it has not, so far as I find, been of your own motion; but certain men have wished to stir up your Piety against me, so as to withdraw from me (which God forbid) the favour of your good will, and have therefore sought out a point in which I might be found as if disobedient to you. But I trust in Almighty God that your most kind good will is in no way being stolen away from me, and that you will always have with you the power of the holy apostles, whom with all your heart and mind you love, not from their bodily presence, but from their protection.
Moreover, the napkin, which you have likewise ordered to be sent you, is with his body, and so cannot be touched, as his body cannot be approached. But since so religious a desire of my most serene lady ought not to be wholly unsatisfied, I will make haste to transmit to you some portion of the chains which Saint Peter the apostle himself bore on his neck and his hands, from which many miracles are displayed among the people; if at least I should succeed in removing it by filing. For, while many come frequently to seek a blessing from these same chains, in the hope of receiving a little part of the filings, a priest attends with a file, and in the case of some seekers a portion comes off so quickly from these chains that there is no delay: but in the case of other seekers the file is drawn for long over the chains, and yet nothing can be got from them. In the month of June, Indiction 12.
The serenity of your Piety, distinguished by religious devotion and love of holiness, has commanded me to send you the head of Saint Paul, or some other part of his body, for the church being built in his honor at the palace. I wish nothing more than to demonstrate my readiness to obey, so as to deserve your continued favor. But I am deeply distressed that I can neither do what you ask nor dare to do it.
The bodies of the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul radiate such mighty miracles and such terrors in their churches that a person cannot even approach to pray without great awe. When my predecessor of blessed memory wished to replace the silver covering over the most sacred body of the blessed Apostle Peter — though standing nearly fifteen feet from the body — a sign of no small dreadfulness appeared to him. I too wished to make an alteration near the most sacred body of Saint Paul the Apostle. When digging was required near his tomb, the superintendent of that place found some bones not connected to the tomb itself. Because he presumed to lift and relocate them, terrible signs appeared, and he died suddenly.
Beyond this, when my predecessor of holy memory was making improvements near the body of Saint Lawrence the martyr, the exact location of the venerable body being unknown, workers began digging in search of it. The tomb was suddenly and unexpectedly uncovered. Those present — monks and caretakers who saw the body of the martyr, though they did not presume to touch it — all died within ten days, so that none who had looked upon the holy remains survived.
Your most pious Majesty should know, then, that it is not the custom of the Romans, when giving relics, to presume to touch any part of the body. Instead, a cloth is placed in a box and set near the most sacred bodies of the saints. When withdrawn, it is deposited with due reverence in the church that is to be dedicated, and miracles occur through it just as if the bodies themselves had been brought there.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
Gregorius Theodoro medico * imperatoris.
Ego omnipotenti Deo gratias ago, quia eorum qui se vicissim veraciter diligunt loca animum non divi- dunt. Ecce enim , dulcissiwe et gloriosissime fill, longe ® nobis distamus corpore, et tamen presentes nobſs existimus charitate. Hoc vesira opera, hoc Scripta testantur, hoc de praesenti experins Sum, hoc de absenti vestra gloria recvgnosco. Hoc vos et hominibus amabiles, et omnipotenti Deo dignos in perpetuum ſaciat. Quia enim virtutum mater est cha- ritas, idcirco bonorum operum ſructus proſertis, quia ipsam eorum ſructuum in mente radicem tenetis. Ea aulem quz in redemptionem captivorum, Deo vobis aSpirante transmisistis, lzetus, fateor, et trislis accepi. Lzetus videlicet vobis, quos de preparanda mansione 712 ccoleslis patriz cogitare cognovi; tristis vero vehementer mihi, qui super curam rerum sancli Petri apostoli adhuc etiam de rebus dulcissimi filii mei domai Theodori rationes positurus sum, solli- cile an negligenter eas expenderim, requirendus vado. Omnipotens autem Deus, qui menti veslre suÞ misericordiz viscera inſudit, qui vob s sollicite cogitare concessit, hoc quod de Salvatore nostro per egreginin predicatorem dicitur : (Quia pro nobis ege- nus ſ[aclus est, cum dives esset (11 Cor. viii, 9), in ejusdem Salvatoris adventu, vos virlutibus divites osteudat, ab omani culpa liberos assistere ſaciat, et pro lerrenis celestia, pro transitoriis gaudia vobis mansura concedat.
Hoe autem quod pro vobis agi apud sacratissimum corpus ssancti Petri apostoli scribitis, certum tenete quia etsi lingua vestra laceat, fieri charitas vestra jubet. Sed ulinam digni simus qui pro vobis orare debeamus. Quia vero dignus ego non 8um, non am- bigo. Sed multi hic digni sunt, qui ex oblatione vestra ab hostibus redinuntur, et fideliter nostro Creatori deserviunt, de quibus hoc egistis quod scriptum est :
erorabit (Eccli. xxix, 15).
Sed quia ille plus diligit, qui plus prazsumit, erga dulcissimam mentem Fgloriosissimi filii mei domni Theodori haheo aliquam querelam, quia donum in- genii, donum rerum, donum misericordiz atque cha- Titatis a sancta Trinitate percepit; sed tamen ss2cu- laribus indesincnter causis astringitur, assiduis pro- cessionibus occupatur, et quotidie legere negligit verba Redemptoris sui. Quid es! autem Scriptura Sacra, nisi quzdam episivla omnipotenlis Dei ad creaturam suam? Et cerie sicubi esset gloria vesira alibi conslitula, et 8cripla terreni imperatoris acci-
peret, non cessaret\, non quiesceret, 80mnum oculis
non daret, nisi prius quid sibi imperator terrenus scripsis8et agnovisset. Imperator celi, Dominus ho-
minum et angelorum, pro vita tua libi suas epistolag.
transmisit, et tamen, gloriose fili, easdem-epistolas ardenter legere negligis. Stude ergo, quzso, et quo- lidie Creatoris tui verba meditare. Disce cor Dei in verbis Dei, ut ardentius ad #lerna suspires, ut mens vestra ad ccelestia gaudia majoribus desideriis
accendatur. Tanto enim tunc major ei erit requies,
quanto :nodo amore Conditoris 8ui requies nulla fue- rit. Sed ad hc agenda infundat vobis omnipotens Deus consolatorem spiritum. I Sua presentia .impleat, et implendo levet.
De me autem Ccognoscite quia mullas hic et in- numeras amaritudines patior. Sed ago omnipotenti Deo gratias, quia minus aſſligor valde quam 1ne-
C reor. ; Charissimum avtem filium meum Þ susceptum ve-
» Hane temporis quo scripta est epistola notam D Anaitem et duos parvulos Atticos. Sequitur apud Gus-
exhibent Mss. Vatic., Norm., Turon. S. Gat., Col- beri., vet. Corb., etc.
EersT, XXXI [Al. 40 indict. 43]. — * Addimus im- .pera/oris, ex Omnibus Vatic., Norm., etc. De eo re- lege epist. 66 lib. 11, indict. 11.
EPISTOLA XXXUl. AD NARSEM PATRICIUM.
Cansam presbyterorum cum Joanne patriarcha e ad canonum normam omnino eracturum declnrat. Commendatum a 86 Theodoro Nerzetem. Epistole brevitatem excusat , quod {ribulationibus pre- matur, |
Multa mihi duleissima charitas vestra per episto- Jas 8uas in hon operationis laudibus est locuts, ad quz omnia breviter ego respondeo : Þ Nolite me vo- care Noemi, id est pulckram ; sed vocate me Mara, id es! amaram, quia amaritudine plena sum (Ruth. 1, 20).
ptiones. Etenim si ab ary littus, quod Tullio, Vir- gilio, Ausonio dicitur acta, nomen sumpsit Attica regio, ut Straboni et aliis placet, quoniam major ejus pars ad mare «ita es1, certe littorum decora Seu auna- nitates actaca vel actace poluerunt dici. Conjecturam hanc viri doctissimi, aliorum eruditorum criterio permittimus. At quid vetat obvium sensum, quem precipuc Yaticani Mss. suppeditant, amplecti ? Minit Gregorivs medico familiari et amico unam anatem cum duobus parvulis anaticis, hoc est matrem et duos pullos. Anas quidem nota esL avis, et, communis ; verum aliquz visuntur exquisitis coloribus depicte, corona in verlice insignes et odorate, qua eltjam in _ eorlius regiis inter aves rarivres aluatur. Quid \etat dicere hnjusmodi anatem adbuc Conslantizopoli for- tasse nondum visam, Gregorium curasse miltere ad amicum medicum, quem rerum naluralium stludiosuin el in alendis rarioribus animalibus curiosum haud dubie noverat? Is sane sensus non longius arcessilur ; sed ipsum offert restitua lectio ex 0p.iwma vole Mss. Vaticanis : unm anatem cum duobus parvulis analicis, . hoc es anaticulis, £x anaticis librarii, et qui edendis Gregorii operibus insudarunt, ad bujus vocis vim parum allendentes, conflarunt aticis, et pustea Al- licis.
Eeisr., XNXXI [AL 64, indict. 2], — * Vide epi- Stulam G6 libri 1. Jn Vatic. B legitur Nars@ comii. Ir A et C, solum scribitur, Narse, ut eltiam in Colb. el aliis,
EPISTOLA XXXIlI. AD ANTHEMIUM SUBDIACONUM.
Judais conversis (ribus det s0lidos singulis annts,