Letter 4074: I am directing you to demand a full accounting from the hospices under your jurisdiction — when were they last...

TO BISHOP JANUARIUS. Let him exact accounts from the keepers of the hostels; let these be clergy of recognized probity and diligence. The man who has accused the presbyter Epiphanius by letters of charges, if he fails in proving them, is to be deprived of communion. Let the cleric Paulus, caught in evil practices, be handed over to penance. Let clerics be ordained, or joined in wedlock, without payment; let virgins be veiled without payment. Let clerics not take refuge in the patronage of laymen. Gregory to Januarius, bishop of Cagliari. It would indeed have been fitting that your fraternity should be so attentive to pious affairs that you should have no need whatever of our admonitions to carry them out fully; nevertheless, because certain matters have reached us which are points to be corrected, it is in no way unsuitable if the page of our authority too should be added on your behalf. Wherefore we signify that there has reached us [a report concerning] the custom that has existed, that the hostels [xenodochia, charitable hospices] which are established in the districts of Cagliari [should render their accounts] subtly, from each successive period, to the bishop of the city, that is, to be governed under his protection and care. And because your charity is said hitherto to have neglected this, we exhort that, as has been said, the hostels which are or have been established in them should set down their accounts to you subtly at each successive period. And let such men be ordained to preside over them as are found, by their life, character, and diligence, to be most worthy, men of religion at least, over whom the judges may have no power to harass them; lest, if they should be such persons as the judges can summon into their own court, occasion be given for the laying waste of the goods of the helpless poor that lie there; concerning which goods we wish you to take the greatest care, that none be given away without your knowledge, lest matters proceed from your fraternity even to the plundering of them. Moreover, you know that the bearer of the present [letter], the presbyter Epiphanius, has been criminally accused by the letters of certain Sardinians [Grat. 5, q. 6, c. 4]. Having, as we wished, examined his case, and finding in him nothing of the things objected against him, we have absolved him so that he might return to his own place. We therefore wish you to investigate the authors of the charge against him. And unless he who transmitted those same letters shall be ready to prove what he objected by canonical and most rigorous proofs, let him by no means approach the mystery of the holy communion. But as for the cleric Paulus, who is repeatedly said to have been caught in evil practices, and who, despising his own habit and returning to the lay life, had fled into Africa, if it is so, [...] [the original entry breaks off here]. [The following passages in the source are editorial commentary, not part of Gregory's letter. They are rendered here for completeness:] [Editorial note: That the administration of pious affairs should be committed to the care of the bishops is no recent institution. See the Code, On Bishops and Clerics, the law "Omnes," and the law "Omnia privilegia," law 46, "Sancimus"; and the law "Illud," On the Most Sacred Churches. See further, On Religious Houses, chapters 5 and 4, and in the Clementines, "Quia contigit," under the same title; the Council of Trent, session 22, chapter 9; in the Council of Chalcedon, chapter 8. The laws of the Gauls agree, and usage confirms it. Saint Augustine, in tractate 97 on the Gospel of John, says: "Hostels and monasteries have been called by new names, yet the things themselves existed even before these names, and are confirmed by the truth of religion," etc. The apostate emperor [Julian], writing to Arsacius, high priest of Galatia, in Sozomen, book v, chapter 16, says: "Establish numerous hostels throughout the several cities, that strangers may enjoy our humanity.... From this take resources for these things, it has been provided," etc. This the impious one did out of hatred for the Christians indeed, yet after their example; by which words he teaches that at that time the hostels were under the power of our bishops. Hence they were called the hostels of the Churches. In the Tripartite History, book ix, chapter 31, where it speaks of the wife of Theodosius going about through the hostels of the Churches. See letter 8 of this book. GUSSANV. Would that [the author cited] had read this letter of Saint Gregory. In the great collection of royal sanctions and edicts, commonly called "La grande conference des ordonnances," etc., under the title on hospices, hospitals, and other pious places, both in the text and in the annotations, there exist almost countless monuments on this matter, which it will not displease the diligent reader to have read; yet not without indignation will he read these words of Louis Bochel: "Because our kings have recognized that too great an avarice has slipped in among the ecclesiastics, and that they apply the goods of the poor rather to their own particular profit than to their nourishment," etc., "they have taken away from them the governance," etc. With his leave I would say, neither everywhere, nor of all of them. GUSSANV. [Editorial note: It was formerly read corruptly as "of the priests." Thus, however, we have restored it from very many manuscript codices and editions.] [Editorial note continued, on whether presbyters or only bishops administered the hostels: Concerning the old custom of our Church, it is sufficiently indicated that a different practice flourished in other Churches. The practice of the Easterners is well known. Of the Spaniards, indeed of the Gallicans themselves, we are silent; for it is not part of our undertaking to discuss either the canons of Elvira and Toledo, or that of Orange, made famous by the sharp controversy between Sirmond and Aurelius. One thing concerning Africa, to whose exarchate Sardinia had been allotted, we observe here: that it had been forbidden to African presbyters by very many canons to confect the chrism; yet John the Deacon, in his letter to Senarius, which Mabillon published in the "Musaeum Italicum," tome I, supposes that around the ninth century they did confect the chrism. He says (number 8): "Nor let it touch the mind that some force of necessity sometimes assumes to itself, as (what is now said to be done throughout Africa) that presbyters confect the holy chrism; which is deservedly" [...]. Certainly where letter 9 is read: "But let the presbyters anoint those to be baptized on the breast, so that the bishops may afterward anoint on the forehead," namely the infants whom he above called those to be baptized, by the same reasoning one might argue: Therefore the bishops were signing and confirming those not yet baptized, but only to be baptized. Therefore let no one understand Gregory as referring to catechumens being touched with chrism on the forehead before immersion, since we read that those to be baptized, before they were immersed, were indeed anointed with simple oil, but never with chrism, concerning which see Bede on the Song of Songs, chapter 1, verse 15. Then, as we have already observed, the restriction of his concession proves that Gregory speaks of that chrismation of the forehead which was reserved to the bishops and was done only over the baptized: "where bishops are lacking." For, as Innocent I declares, in letter 1 to Decentius of Gubbio, chapter 3: "It is permitted to presbyters, whether apart from the bishop or in the bishop's presence, when they baptize, to anoint the baptized with chrism, but with that which has been consecrated by a bishop; yet not to sign the forehead with the same oil, which is due to bishops alone when they bestow the Spirit, the Paraclete." GUSSANV.] TO CANDIDUS THE DEFENSOR. [a second letter] That he should provide to Albinus, who has been deprived of his eyesight, two tremisses each year. Gregory to Candidus the defensor. It is fitting that pontifical support should be present to those suffering necessity. For which reason we instruct your experience by the present authority that you do not cease to furnish, without any delay, two tremisses each year to Albinus, the son of the late tenant-farmer Martinus, who has been deprived of his eyesight; not doubting that this will without doubt be charged to your accounts.

AD JANUARIUM EPISCOPUM. A renodochis rationes exigat; ii sint nol@ probitatis atque industrie clerici, ui Epiphanium presbyterum scriptis epist6lis accusarit, 8i in probatione deficiat, communione privelur. Paulus clericus in maleſiciis deprehensus delur in penitentiam. Gratis ordinen- tur, vel connubio jungantur clerici ; gratis velentur virgines. Ad laicorum patrocinia clerici non conſu- giant. Gregorius Januario episcopo Caralitano. Oportebat quidem ſraternitatem tuam ita de rebus piis esse $0llicitam, ut nibil ad explendas eas. nostris admonitionibus penitus indigeret; tamen quia quz- dam ad nos pervenerunt quz JOG sunt corrigenda capitula, nihil est incongruum $i nostre quoque Yo- bis pagina auctoritalis accedat. Quamobrem significamus pervenisse ad nos con- Suetudinem fſuisse ut * xenodochia quz $unt in Cara- litanis parlibus conslitula, apud episcopum civilatis veterem EcclesioO Romance, imo Ecclesiarum ſere om- nium Occidentaliom, non a presbyteris adhibitam unquam, Sed a <o0lis episcopis : nec alia lege Sardis presbyteris illam administrandi jus collatum, nisi ubi deessent episcopi. At quzenam alia potest excogitari pr:eler 8+-cramentalem chrismationem? Unciio enim vel in pectore vel in verlice b»ptizandorum ex chri- smate ad pre>byteros pertlinebat in qualibet Ecclesia, adeoque in Romana, modo baptizandi licentiam ab episcop0 con<ecuti essent. At, inquies, agit sanctus Gregorius de infantibus baptizandis, qui cum bapti- s$mi experies adhuc essent, ad confirmationem reci- piendam nondum erant idonei. Agit sanctus Doctor de infantibus qui baptizabantur, eodemque fere tem- pore consignabantur, pro illorum lemporum more. A $ingulis' quibusque temporibus suas subliliter rationes exponerent, ejus videlicet tuitione alque $oſlicitudine gubernanda. Quod quia tua hactenus fertur charitas neglexisse, hortamur ut, sicut dictum est , tibi #1n- gulis quibusque temporibus rationes suas xenodochi, qui in eis $unt conslituti vel ſuerunt, subliliter po- nant. Atque Þ tales in eis qui prasint ordinentur, qui vita, moribus, alque industria inveniantur egse dignissimi, religiosi duntaxat, quos yexandi judices non habeant poteslalem, ne si tales personz ſuerint, quas in Suum possint evocare judicium, vastandarum rerum debilium qui illic rejacent prebeatur occasio ; de quibus rebus summam te curam gerere volumvus, ut nulli sine tua dentur notitia, ne usque ad dire- plionem earum ex ſralernitatis tuz perveniatur iu- B Curia. Przterea nosti latorem prasentium Epipbanium presbylerum quorumdam * Sardorum liltteris crimi- moveretl, 8i isfam pontificalis auctorilas licentiam non dediszet. Unde conslat a pontificilus quodammodo fieri quod in tania rerum necessilale ut a presbyteris eſfici possit superior ordo conslituitl. Eeist. XX VII | AL. 24]. — * Rerum piarum admini- $trationem episcoperum cure committi, non recens es instiiutum. Codice de episc. et clericis, leg. Omnes, et leg. Omnia privilegia, leg. 46, Sancimus. Nec nog de 8acros. eceles., ley. Illud. Vide exira, de religiosis domibus, c. 5 et 4, et in Clement. Quia contigit, eod. tit.; cone. Trid., sess. 22, c. 9. In Chalced., c. 8, leges Gal'izz conspirant, usus coalirmat. Sanctus Au- guslinus tract. 97, in Evang. Joan. Xenodockia, in- quit, et monasleria sunt appellata novis nominibus, res tamen ips@ et ante 8ug nomina erant , & religionis ve- Certe ubi legitur epist. 9 : Sed presbyteri baptizandos C ritate firmantur, etc. Imperator apostata $Ccribens ungant in pectore, ut episcopi postmodum ungere de- beant in ſronte, $cilicet infantes, quos Supra dixit baptizandos, eadem ratione quis arguet : Ergo epi- Scopi nondum baplizatos, sed tantum baplizandos consignabant et confirmabant. Itaque de catechume- nis ante immersionem chrismate in ſronte langendis Gregorium inlelligat nemo, quippe baptizandos, an- lequam immergerentur, simplici quidem oJeo. inun- etos legimus, al nunquam chrismate, de quo Beda in Cantic. cant. cap. 1, 15. Deinde, ut jam observavi- mus, Gregoriumde illa ſrontis chrismatione loqui quz episcopis reservabatur, nec nisi super bapiizatos fiebat, evincit concessionis ejus hc restriciio : ubi episcopi desunt. Etenim , ut declarat Innocentius [, epist. 1, ad Decentium kugubinum, cap. 3 : Presby- leris seu extra episcopum, s8eu prasente episcopo, cum baptizant, chrismate baptizatos ungere licet, sed quod ab episcopo ſuerit consecratum ; non tamen ſrontem ex eodem oleo signare, quod 80lis debetur episcopis cum tradunt Spiritum Paracletum. Porro vocibus illis, se- candum usum veterem Ecclesie& nostre, Satis innuitur viguisse diversum in aliis Ecclesiis morem. Nota est Orientalium praxis. De Hispanis, . imo de Gallicanis ipsis tacemus; neque enim Eliberitanos Toletanosve cauones, neque Arausicanum, ex acri Sirmondum inter et Aurelium controversia celebrem, disculere nostri est instituti. Ugum de Africa, cujus exarcha- lui - ontributa erat Sardinia, hic observamus : Afris presbyteris ne chrisma conſicerent plurimis canoni- bus prohibitum ſuerat; illos tamen circa nonun $2- culum chrisma conſecisse $4p; onit Joannes Diac., in epist. a4 Senariuin, quam Musxi lali tomo I Ma- billonius edidit. Sed nec itluc tangat animum, inquit num. $, qriod $161 aliquando quedam vis necessilalis ass1umit, reluti (quod nunc per Aſricam fieri dicitur) ut presbyleri sanclum chrigma conſiciant; quod merito Arsacio Summo Sacerdoti Galatiz, apud Sozome- num, lib. v, c.. 16. Frequentia, inquit, zenodockia per singulas civitales conslitue ut humanitate nostre peregrini ſruantur.... Unde arcipias ad isla ſacultates, provisum esl, etc. Id laciebat impius odio Christia- norum quidem, sed eorum tamen: exemplo, quibus - verbis docet tunc tlemporis xenodochia 8ub nosiro- rum episcoporum ſuisse potestate. Hine vocata ſuere zenodochia Ecclesiarum. In Histor. tripart., lib. 1x, cap. 51, ubi de uxore Theodosii per Ecclesiarum xe- nodochia discurrente. Vide epist. 8 hujus libri. Gus- SANV. | tvisset hanc sancli Gregorii epistolam. In magna collectione sanclionum et edictoruim regiorum, vulgo La grande conference des ordonnances, eic., lit. de nosocomiis, hospilalibus, et aliis locis piis, cum in textu lum in annotationibus;, infinita |ropemodum exslant ea de re monumenta, quz legisse sludiosum non pienitebit; nec tamen sine indignatione leget hzc Ludovici Bochelli verba : Con:me nos rois ont reconnu une trop grande ararice 88 glisser enire les ec- clesiastiques, et qu'ils appliquent le bien des pauvres plitost @leur profit particulier qu'a la nourriture, eic., ils leur en ont os1E le gouvernement, elc. Ejus pace dixerim, n*e ubique, nec omnium. Gyss4axv. © Corruple antea legebatur sacerdotum. Sic autem resliluiuus ex quampluriuuis mss, Codd. et Edit. 699 SANCTI CREGORI MACNI 700 naliter accusatum (Grat. 5, q. 6, c. 4). Cujus nos, ut A voluimus, discutientes causam, nihilque in eo obje- clorum reperientes; ut 2d locum $suum reverleretur, absolvimus. Criminis ergo ejus anclores te volumus perscrulari. Et nisi qui easdem transmisit JQ7 epi- 8tolas paratus ſuerit hoc quod objecit canonicis atque « disIrictissimis probationibus edocere, nullatenus ad 8ancle mysterium communionis accedat. Paulum vero clericum, qui szpe dicitur in male- ficiis deprehensus, qui, dezpecto habitu $uo ad Jai- cam reversus vitam, in Africam fugerat, si ita est, EPISTOLA X XVII. AD CANDIDUM DEFENSOREM. Ut Albino luminibus privato 8ingulis aftnis duos tremis8es prebeat, Gregorius Candido defensori. Necessilatem patientibus pontilicale convenit ades- 8 8ubsidium. I'ro qua re experientie tus pregenti auctoritate praecipimus quatenus Albino privato lu- minibus filio quondam Martini coloni singulis aftinis «* duos Lremisses $ine aliqua dilatione prazslare non de- Sinat, non dubitatura $Suis hoc sige dubio rationibus imputari.