Letter 4035: Gregory to Victor and Columbus, Bishops of Africa. After what manner a disease, if neglected in its beginning, acquires strength we have proved from our own necessities, whosoever of us have had our lot in this life. If, then, it were met by the foresight of skilful physicians at its birth, we know that it would cease before doing very much harm...
Pope Gregory the Great→Victor|c. 593 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
Theological controversy; Church council; Natural disaster/crisis
Gregory to Victor and Columbus, Bishops of Africa.
We know from our own experience in this life how a disease, if neglected at its onset, gains strength. If it were met by skilled physicians at the start, it would be stopped before the far greater harm that comes from attending to it too late. Reason compels us, then, when diseases of the soul are beginning, to resist them by every means in our power, lest by neglecting timely treatment we lose many of the lives we are striving to win for God. We who have been placed as shepherds over the flocks of Christ must guard them with such vigilant care that the prowling wolf finds everywhere a shepherd to oppose him and no way of entry.
We find that the attacks of the Donatists in your region have so disturbed the Lord's flock that it seems to have no shepherd's guidance at all. What has been reported to us I cannot speak of without deep sorrow: many have already been torn by their poisoned fangs. With the most brazen audacity, they are driving Catholic priests from their churches, and in their most atrocious wickedness they have even killed many people, then rebaptized those on whom the water of regeneration had already conferred salvation.
All of this grieves my mind exceedingly -- that while you hold authority there, such damnable presumption has been allowed to perpetrate such evil. I therefore urge Your Brotherhood by this letter: convene a council, and with united purpose and all your strength oppose this disease while it is still in its early stages. Do not let it grow strong through neglect, nor scatter the plague of destruction through the flock entrusted to your care.
Book IV, Letter 35
To Victor and Columbus, Bishops.
Gregory to Victor and Columbus, Bishops of Africa.
After what manner a disease, if neglected in its beginning, acquires strength we have proved from our own necessities, whosoever of us have had our lot in this life. If, then, it were met by the foresight of skilful physicians at its birth, we know that it would cease before doing very much harm from being attended to too late. On this consideration, then, reason ought to impel us, when diseases of souls are beginning, to make haste to resist them by all the means in our power, lest, while we neglect applying wholesome medicines, they steal away from us the lives of many whom we are striving to win for our God. Wherefore it behooves us so with watchful carefulness to guard the folds of sheep which we see ourselves to be put over as keepers that the prowling wolf may find everywhere shepherds to resist him, and may have no way of entrance thereinto.
For indeed we find that the stings of the Donatists have in your parts so disturbed the Lord's flock, as though it were guided by no shepherd's control. And there has been reported to us what we cannot speak of without heavy sorrow, seeing that very many have already been torn by their poisoned teeth. Lastly, in order with most wicked audacity to drive Catholic priests from their churches, they are said, in their most atrocious wickedness, even to have slain many besides, on whom the water of regeneration had conferred salvation, by rebaptizing them. All this saddens our mind exceedingly, for that, while you are placed there, it has been allowed to damned presumption to perpetrate such wickedness.
In this matter we exhort your Fraternity by this present writing, that, after discussion held and a council assembled, you should eagerly and with all your power so oppose this still nascent disease that neither may it acquire strength from neglect nor scatter the woes of pestilence in the flock committed to your charge. For, if in any way whatever (as we do not believe will be the case) you neglect to resist iniquity in its beginning, they will wound very many with the sword of their error. And it is in truth a most serious thing to allow to be ensnared in the noose of diabolical fraud those whom we are able to rescue beforehand from being entangled. Moreover it is better to prevent any one from being wounded than to search out how one that is wounded may be healed. Considering this, therefore, hasten by sedulous prayer and all the means in your power, to quell sacrilegious wickedness, so that subsequent news, through the aid of the grace of Christ, may cause us more joy for the punishment of those men than sadness for their excesses.
Furthermore, take all possible pains to send to us with all speed our brother and fellow bishop Paul , to the end that, on learning more particularly from him the causes of so great a crime, we may be able by the succour of our Creator to apply the medicine of fitting rebuke to this most atrocious wickedness.
Gregory to Victor and Columbus, Bishops of Africa.
We know from our own experience in this life how a disease, if neglected at its onset, gains strength. If it were met by skilled physicians at the start, it would be stopped before the far greater harm that comes from attending to it too late. Reason compels us, then, when diseases of the soul are beginning, to resist them by every means in our power, lest by neglecting timely treatment we lose many of the lives we are striving to win for God. We who have been placed as shepherds over the flocks of Christ must guard them with such vigilant care that the prowling wolf finds everywhere a shepherd to oppose him and no way of entry.
We find that the attacks of the Donatists in your region have so disturbed the Lord's flock that it seems to have no shepherd's guidance at all. What has been reported to us I cannot speak of without deep sorrow: many have already been torn by their poisoned fangs. With the most brazen audacity, they are driving Catholic priests from their churches, and in their most atrocious wickedness they have even killed many people, then rebaptized those on whom the water of regeneration had already conferred salvation.
All of this grieves my mind exceedingly -- that while you hold authority there, such damnable presumption has been allowed to perpetrate such evil. I therefore urge Your Brotherhood by this letter: convene a council, and with united purpose and all your strength oppose this disease while it is still in its early stages. Do not let it grow strong through neglect, nor scatter the plague of destruction through the flock entrusted to your care.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
Gregorius Victori et Columbo episcopis Africz. Qualiter neglectus-inter initia morbus vires acci-
piat, * ex noslris necessitatibus quicunque in hae
gumus vita constituti probavimus. Huic igitur nas- centi si doctorum obstet provisio medicorum, scimus quidem quia ante cessaret, quam tarde procuratus plurimum noceret. Hujus ergo congideralionis ratio vehementer nos debet impellere ut, animarum mor- bis initiantibus, Lola ſestinemus possibilitate resistere, ne dum salubria adhibere medicamenta negligimus,
mullorum nobis vitam, quos Deo nostro contendi-.
mus lucrari, subripiant. Unde nos oportet ita caulas ovium, quibus nos cuslodes videmur esse prapositi, vigilanti s0!licitudine pr:exmunire, quatenus lupus insidians undique pastores sibi repugnantes inveniat, el viam ingrediendi in eas non habeat.
Comperimus ssiquidem Donatistarum 8timulos sic in illis partibus gregem turbasse dominicum, ac si nullius pastoris moderamine rezeretur. Nuntialumque nobis est, quod dicere sine gravi dolore non possumus, quoniam plarimi eorum venenatis jam sint dentibus laniati. Þ Denique ut sacerdotes catholicos pravissima de suis Ecclesiis JIG temeritaie depellerent, et mvultos iasuper quibus salutem regenerationis aqua prebuerat, rebaptizantes , pravilate neſandissima necavisse. Quz res animos nostros valde maoslificat,
EPisT, XXXVY. — * Recentiores Excusi, ex nosiris necessilatibus quas palimur in hac civitate consluluti probavimus. Certe reiuctantibus omuibus Mss. Valic., Lorb., Anglic., Turon., etc. R
Þ In Vulgatis : Denique 8acerdotes canonicos.., de- pellere ; et mullos... necasse dicuntur, Quan lectio- nem non mntaSsemus, nisi ad id coegis>el communis consensus Mss. Anglic., Vatic., Norm., Corb.., Tu- ron., Reg. Valeal ergo nola quam atlexuit Gussanv. Ge 8acerdotibus canonicis. Aliam ejusdem auctioris ampulare coacli Sumus ad hetc verha : ex necessilatt-
B vilatem sedula oratione ac virlute qua valetis obruere
ſestinale, ut et subsequens nuntius, Chris gratia
suſſraganle, de eorum nos ultione latilicet magis,
quam de excessu contrislet.
Paulum preterea fralrem el coepiscopum nostrum ad nos, quo poleslis studio, omni sub ſestinatione dirigite; quatenus ab eo causas subtilius tanti facts . noris agnogcentes, buic neſandissime pravitati cum Creatoris nostri Solatio medicinam dignz possimus correptionis imponere.