Letter 5005: Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage. Prosper your delegate (responsalis), the bearer of these presents, has been with us, and after other expressions of your charity handed us your second letters with an allegation of the imperial commands, and a paper giving an account of the synod that has been held among you. Having read all, we rejoiced...
Pope Gregory the Great→Dominicus|c. 594 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
imperial politics
Theological controversy; Imperial politics; Church council
Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage.
Your delegate Prosper, the bearer of this letter, has been with us. After conveying other expressions of your charity, he handed us your second letter along with the imperial directives and a record of the synod held among you. Having read everything, we rejoiced at your pastoral zeal and at the fact that our most pious lords gave no hearing to the bought slanders brought against you under the guise of religion. We especially rejoiced that Your Brotherhood has worked so diligently to preserve the African province, never failing to restrain the wayward sects of heretics with priestly vigor. On the suppression of these heretics, I recall that I laid down the law so thoroughly -- even before receiving your letters -- that I do not think anything more needs to be said in reply on that subject.
However, though this is so, and though we desire all heretics to be repressed always with vigor and good judgment by Catholic priests, on looking more closely at what has been done among you, I am in fact concerned that offense may be caused -- which the Lord avert -- to the primates of other councils. For in the concluding acts of your proceedings you issued a sentence that, while ordering the search for heretics, also imposed punishment by forfeiture of possessions and rank on those who neglect the duty.
It is therefore best, dearest brother, that in correcting matters outside ourselves, we first preserve charity among ourselves, and that we remain subject in spirit -- as I judge especially fitting for a man of your gravity -- even to those below us in rank. For you will be far more effective in opposing heretical errors with your united strength when, as befits your priesthood, you devote yourselves to maintaining harmony among yourselves.
Book V, Letter 5
To Dominicus, Bishop.
Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage.
Prosper your delegate (responsalis), the bearer of these presents, has been with us, and after other expressions of your charity handed us your second letters with an allegation of the imperial commands, and a paper giving an account of the synod that has been held among you. Having read all, we rejoiced for your pastoral zeal, and that our most pious lords had given no ear to the calumnies of venal persons brought against you on the plea of religion; but especially that your Fraternity has so taken pains to preserve the African province as in no wise to neglect to restrain with priestly fervour the devious sects of heretics; concerning the quieting of whom we remember having laid down the law so fully, even before consulting the letters of your Charity, that we do not believe that anything needs to be said again in reply to you about them. Although, however, this is so, and though we desire all heretics to be repressed always with vigour and reason by Catholic priests, yet, on looking thoroughly into what has been done among you, we are in fact apprehensive lest offense should thereby be caused (which thing may the Lord avert) to the primates of other councils. For at the conclusion of your acts you have promulged a sentence, in which, while ordering the searching out of those heretics, you have brought in that those who neglect the duty are to be punished by forfeiture of their possessions and dignities. It is therefore best, most dear brother, that, in dealing with matters outside ourselves that require correction, charity among ourselves should first be preserved, and that we should be subject in mind (as I judge to be peculiarly proper to your Gravity) even to persons below us in dignity. For you will then more advantageously meet the errors of heretics with your whole united powers when, as befits your priesthood, you study to keep ecclesiastical concord among yourselves.
Your delegate Prosper, the bearer of this letter, has been with us. After conveying other expressions of your charity, he handed us your second letter along with the imperial directives and a record of the synod held among you. Having read everything, we rejoiced at your pastoral zeal and at the fact that our most pious lords gave no hearing to the bought slanders brought against you under the guise of religion. We especially rejoiced that Your Brotherhood has worked so diligently to preserve the African province, never failing to restrain the wayward sects of heretics with priestly vigor. On the suppression of these heretics, I recall that I laid down the law so thoroughly -- even before receiving your letters -- that I do not think anything more needs to be said in reply on that subject.
However, though this is so, and though we desire all heretics to be repressed always with vigor and good judgment by Catholic priests, on looking more closely at what has been done among you, I am in fact concerned that offense may be caused -- which the Lord avert -- to the primates of other councils. For in the concluding acts of your proceedings you issued a sentence that, while ordering the search for heretics, also imposed punishment by forfeiture of possessions and rank on those who neglect the duty.
It is therefore best, dearest brother, that in correcting matters outside ourselves, we first preserve charity among ourselves, and that we remain subject in spirit -- as I judge especially fitting for a man of your gravity -- even to those below us in rank. For you will be far more effective in opposing heretical errors with your united strength when, as befits your priesthood, you devote yourselves to maintaining harmony among yourselves.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Denim offeudatis, nec ille vos unde apud homines ac- cuset, valeat invenire. Nam nos non Joanuem defen-
Eper<T, IV [Al. 17]. — ® Norm et plerique, ex presbytero. Et ita infra, ubi de Saturnino vel Sa- trao aut Saturo (sic enim in plerisque Mss. fe- gimus) agit sanctus Doctor. In Reg., expresbyter et abbas,