Letter 5046: Our heart greatly rejoices with your Magnificence, because we find you so zealous in your actions that you gain both...

TO BASIL: He praises his zeal for the unity of the Church. He urges him not to be deterred from procuring the return of the schismatics. Gregory to Basil. Much does our heart rejoice together with your Magnitude, because we find you so diligent in your actions, that you may acquire for yourselves both glory among men and the rewards of recompense with almighty God. Among the other praiseworthy things, therefore, which you do, we have come to know—both by the testimony of many and now by the full report of our own people—how the fervor of love has kindled you against the schism of the Istrians for the unity of the Church. Wherefore we entreat the mercy of our Redeemer, that his grace may support you in all things, and may grant you to fulfill in affection that which he has granted you to will. Since, therefore, in this matter the advantages of recompense increase the more as the zeal of labor is augmented, saluting you with paternal love we exhort you, that, the opportunity of the occasion having been found, you ought to exert your efficacy more strenuously, and that you strive to act with all zeal in whatever ways shall be possible, so that, with the Lord assisting, you may fulfill your praiseworthy desire concerning the return of those who err. As for the bearer of these presents, Castorius our chartulary [secretary], whom we have sent there for certain causes, may your Magnitude, that he may multiply his good, strive to aid him with your consolations in all things. May almighty God guard and keep you with your sons and all your household by his protection from every adversity, and grant you both the prosperity of the present life and the joy of the life to come. LETTER XLVII. TO MASTALO. He praises his zeal for the unity of the Church; let him not be deterred from procuring the return of the schismatics. Gregory to Mastalo. From the report of our representatives we have learned that such an ardor of divine zeal has kindled you for love of the unity of the Church, that whomever you have been able, you do not cease to recall to the bosom of mother Church, and, as a good and faithful servant, that you do not cease to make daily gain from the gift you have received, with the highest intention of mind, for our Lord and Redeemer. And indeed, as far as we could, we learned of you from the showing of bodily sight when you came to us; but the good which from divine inspiration was remaining hidden in the charity of your mind we now recognize more desirably by the attestation of the work itself. Wherefore, rendering thanks to the divine mercy with unspeakable praise, we exhort your love, and with such admonitions as we are able we strengthen you, that as much as the penalty of him who hides the talent he has received disturbs you, so much may the invitation of the Lord's voice, to be desirably sought after, strengthen you to the gain of those who profit, and through this to rejoice in the attainment of the heavenly kingdom. For it befits you to know, most beloved Son, that the fruit of this zeal which you have undertaken does not lack the end of its own recompense. And therefore let no opposition of those hindering you, or, if there be any, ought it to disturb you, because the more the good can be accomplished out of the difficulty of the cause, the Lord cooperating, the more glorious will be your hope of recompense. For a more excellent victory is born out of despair—whatever it may be—attained by the sweats of exceeding labor. We have also learned that Theodosius, our son, your follower and the good cooperator of your zeal, watches diligently together with you in the solicitude of winning souls. For whom we trust that almighty God, by the intercession of the blessed Peter the prince of the apostles, will swiftly be his rewarder. LETTER XLVIII. TO ANDREW THE SCHOLASTIC. Donatus having been excluded on account of his faults, and John on account of his ignorance, [he relates that] Marinianus, well known to him, was ordained against his will, whom he commends to Andrew. Gregory to Andrew the Scholastic. We wished to fulfill the will of the most excellent man the lord Patrician in the person of Donatus the archdeacon; but because it is very perilous to the soul rashly to lay a hand upon anyone, it was our care to examine his life and acts by subtle investigation. And since many things were found—as we wrote to the same lord Patrician—which keep him far from the episcopate, fearing the judgment of God, in ordaining him we did not foresee to consent. But neither did we presume to ordain John as a priest, ignorant of the Psalms, because this matter showed him assuredly to have less zeal of life. These things therefore having been removed, when from his own people they were urged by us to elect, and they confessed that they had no one suitable for this office, and a greater affliction held us together with them, at length they more than once requested, with a common and concordant voice and consent, the venerable brother Marinianus the priest, whom they had long ago known to have lived in the monastery together with me. To him, refusing in various ways, it could scarcely at length be persuaded that he should give his consent to their petition. And because his life is well known to us, and we have known him to be solicitous in winning souls, we caused no delay in his ordination. Let your Glory therefore receive him as is fitting, and extend to his newness the help of consolation. For to all, as you know, the newness of any office whatsoever is very burdensome. But I have great confidence that almighty God, who has deigned to set him over his flock, will both sharpen him for the care of inward things, and strengthen him by the piety of his grace for the management of outward things. But because after the long leisure of quiet his newness, as we said before, is without doubt disturbed, I ask that, when he comes fleeing the storms of secular tempests, he may always find with your mind a harbor of quiet, and may grow glad from the good of your charity. But how much you may be able to agree with him you will quickly learn, because he comes to the episcopate unwillingly. LETTER XLIX. TO BISHOP LEANDER. He sends the books on the exposition of blessed Job, and the book of the Pastoral Rule. Gregory to Leander, bishop of Seville. With what ardor I thirst to see you, because you love me greatly, you read in the tablets of your heart. But because I cannot see you, separated as you are by a long expanse of lands, I have done the one thing which charity dictated to me concerning you, that I should send, by our common son Probinus the priest as he came, the book of the Pastoral Rule which I wrote at the outset of my episcopate, and the books which you have known I made long ago in the exposition of blessed Job. And indeed to your charity, in that work, I have not sent the codices of the third and fourth part, because I gave codices from those same parts to the monasteries only. Let your Holiness therefore run through these diligently, and the more diligently weep for my sins, lest it be to me of graver fault that I seem as it were to know what I neglect to do. But in this Church, by how great tumults of affairs I am pressed, the very brevity of my letter to your charity makes known, since I speak little to him whom I love more than all. [...] I was translated; and I trust of the clemency of the Almighty [...]

AD BASILIUM: Laudat ejus zelum pro Ecclesi unitate. Ipsum exci- tat ne a procuranda 8c/lismaticorum reversione de- lerrealur. Gregorius ® Basilio. Multum cornostrum vestre magnitudini congaudet, B quod sic vos sludiosos in vestris aclibus invenimus, C b ut vobis et apud homines gloriam, et apud omnipo- tentem Deum premia mercedis Þ acquiralis. Inter alia igitur laudanda quz agitis qualiter vos contra Istricorum schisma pro unitate Ecclesiz amoris ol m ſervor accenderit, ct multorum testificatione , et no- Strorum modo plene relatione cognovimus, Unde Redemptoris nostri misericordiam exoramus, ut sua yobis in omnibus gratia suffragetur, et aſſectu vos impleze tribuat, quod velle concessit. Quia ergo hac in re tanto commoda retributionis accrescunt, quanto et studium laboris augelur, © paterna vos dilectioue salulantes hortamur, ut opporlunitate occasionis in- venta, eſlicaciam vesiram exercere enixius debealis, alque id modis quibus possibile ſuerit, omni $tudio agere conlendatis, quatenus predicabile desiderium veslrum de reversione errantium adjuvante Domino compleatis. Presentium vero portitorem Castorium chartularium nostrum , quem pro quibusdam itilic causis JG transmisimus, magnitudo vestra, ut bo- "Na SuA multiplicet, suis in omnibus sludeat solatiis adjuvare. Umnipotens Deus $ua vos protectione cum filiis et omni domo vestra ab omni adversitate tuea- tur atque custodiat, vobisque et presentis vitz pro- sperilatem, et lztitiam ſutura: concedal. EPISTOLA XLYII. AD MASTALONEN. Ipsius pro Ecclesie unitale zelum laudat, A procuran- da s8chismaticorum reversione 10n delerrealur. | Gregorius Maslaloni. Responsalium nostrorum relatione comperimus quod pro amore unilatis Ecclesiz tantus vos divini zeli ardor accenderit, ut quoscunque valueritis, non desinatis ad sinum matlris . Ecclesizz revocare, alcue, ut bonus lidelisque famulus lucrum quoltidie de a\. Victorino, in Remigiano 700 ann., alio a Rhemensi jam sxpe commemorato, et in unico ex YVaticanis. EersT. XLVI | Al. 94, indict. 2]. — * In Vatic. A, Basilio episcopo, Sed mendose, ut probat titulus ma- guitudinis Basilio datus. Preterea 8auctus Giegorius in line epistol:e meminit filivrum ejus, quod episcopo rarv convenire pulest. - b Vel acquirant, scilicet actus, ut legitur in tribus at. © In jisdem, paterna ros dulcedine. EersT. XL VII. Al. 95, indict. 2. 717 * EPISTOLARUM LIB. V. — INDICT. XI. — EPIST. XLIX. 773 cepto dono tuo, Domino et Redemptori nostro cum A >Þ non prxvidimus consentire. Sed nec Joannen gumma mentis intentione fſacere non desistatis. Et quidem venientem ad nos, ut potuimus, ex corpora» tis visus ostensione didicimus ; bonum vero quod ex divina inspiratione in mentis tuz2 charitate manebat occultum desiderabilins nunc operis atteslatione co- gnoscimus. Unde divine misericordiz gratias ineffa- bili laude reddentes, hortamur dilectionem tuam, alque quibus valemus admonitionibus confortamus, ut quantum 8e acceplum talentum occultantis pena pertu: bat, tantum lucrum facientium, atque per hoc de ccelestis regni perceptione lztantium, dominice yocis invitatio te desiderabiliter appetenda corrobo- ret. Scire te namqne , dilectissime Fili , convenit, quod fructus hajus quem apprehendisti studii retri- butionis $u2 non careat ſine. Et ideo prepedientium te nulla, vel si est, debet contrarietas perturbare, quia quanto ex difficultate causx bonum perfici, Do» mino cooperante, valuerit, lanto tibi erit et gloriosior relributionis 8pes. Excellentior namque nascitur ex desperatione victoria quzecunque fuerit laboris nimii adepta 8udoribus. Cognovimus etiam quod Theodo- S$ius filins no>ter, tui sequax, bonique cooperator stu- dii, pariter tecum in sollicitudine lucrandarum ani- marum solerter invigilet. Cui omnipotentem Deum intercessione beati Petri apostolorum principis relri- butorem citius esse confidimus. EPISTOLA XLYIIL. AD ANDREAM SCHOLASTICUM. Exclusis ob culpas Donato, ob ignorantiam Joanne, Marinianum $sibi probe notum invitum ordinatum ezze, quem Andree commendat. | Gregorius Andre: Scholastico. Excellentissimi viri domni Patricii vyoluntatem in pers0na Donati archidiaconi implere voluimus; sed quia valde periculosum est anime temere cuiquam manum imponere, cure nobis fuit vitam actusque ejus $sublili invesligatione discutere. Et quoniam multa inventa sunt, sicut eidem JJ domno patri- cio scripsimus, * quz cum procul ab episcopatu re- movent, Dei judicium metuentes, in ordinando eo Eersr, XCVIII [Al. 45}. —* Recent. Ed., que eum pro culpa ab episcopatu removerent, quod in nullis Mss. legimus, preierquam in Vatic. B. Editi habent, non presumpsimus. © In concil. Niczn. 1, ce. 2 2 Decernimus quemlibet idem qui ad episcopalem gradum est provehendus salterium omnino nosse, elc. Legat et expendat Studiosus canonem- integrum, et ex eo judicel quz it mens generalis concihi de episcoporum Sscientia et doctrina. Refert de Gennadio Nicephorus, in Eccles. Hist. lib. xv, c. 23, nullum ab eo consecraturm sa- eerdotem qui non prius Psalterium sedulo in ore habuisset. Vide epist. 6 lib. x1, nune 7 lib. xiv, de Rustico diacono, qui ob ignorantiam Psalmorum ab episcopatu Anconitano repulsus esl. Toletanum vin, c. 8 : Decernitur ut nullum cujuscunyue dignilatis ecclesiastice percipiant gradum , qui non tolum Pzal- terium vel canticorum usnalium, et hymnorum, sive baptizandi perſecte noverint supplementum. In consti- tutionibus Kiculli, Suessionensis episcopi, an. 889, can. 5: Monemus ut unusquisque veslrum Pzalmos, elc., PaTROL. LXXVII. fa presbyterum © Psalmorum nescium presumpsimus ordinare, quia hxc eum res minus 8vi profecto ha- bere studium demonstrabat. His igitur remotis, cum ad eligendum de $vis 4 a nobis partes urgerentur, et nullum $e habere ad hoc oflicium ſaterentur idoneum, majorque nos una cum eis teneret alſlictio, tandem venerabilem ſrairem Marinianum presbyterum, quem diu mecum didicere in monasterio- conversatum , communi concordautique voce alque consensu s2pius petiverunt. Cui refugienti diversis modis vix aliquan- do potvit suaderij ut eorum prxberet pelitioni con- Sensum. Et quia bene nobis ejus vita est cognita, at- que in lucrandis animabus illum novimus esse $0lli- citum, nullam in ordinatione ipsius moram attuli- B mus. Gloria itaque vestra eum sicut decet suscipiat, novitatique ejus consolationis auxilium porrigat. Nam omnuibus, sicut nostis, cujuslibet officii valde onero- 5a est novitas. Ego autem magnam confidentiam ha- beo quia omnipotens Deus, qui eum dignatus est 8u0 gregi przxponere, et ad interiora illum curanda exa- cuet, et ad exteriora gerenda gratiz suz pietate con- fortabit. Sed quia post longa quietis otia, ejus, ut prediximus, novilas procul dubio perturbatur, peto, ut cum venerit tempestatum szcularium procellas fu- giens, semper apud vestram mentem portum quietis invenial, et de vesire bono charitatis hbilarescat. Quantum vero vobis cum illo convenire valeat, ci- tius cognoscelis, © quia ad episcopatum venit invi- tus. EPISTULA XLIX. AD LEANDRUM EPISCOPUM. Libros in 6xpositionem beati Job, et librum Requle Pastoralis transmittit. Gregorius Leandro episcopo *® Hispalensi. Quanto ardore videre te sitiam, quia valde me di- ligis, in tui tabulis cordis legis. Sed quia longs ter- rarum spatio disjunctum te videre nequeo, unum quod mihi de te dictavit charitas feci, ut librum Re- gulze Pastoralis, quem in episcopatus mei exordio Scripsi, et libros quos in expositionem beati Job jamdudum me fecisse coguovisti , sanctitati tuz memoriler et veraciter ac correcle lenere sludeat. Sed et sanclus llieronymns, epist. 4, ad Rusticum : Di- scat Pzalterium ad verbum, etc. Et ep. 7, ad Latam, de institmione filie : Discat primo Paalterium, etc. D Cxterum Psalmos memoriter et sine libro cantandi mos diu viguit, et etiamnum ejus moris. vesligia qui- busdam in locis remanserunt, ut in Ecclesia Lugdu- nensi, Rothomagensi, etc. Taceo Carthusianos, et alios antiquiores azxcetas, apud quos novilii primo conversionis anno Psalterium memoriter addiscere tenentur, quia eosdem memoriter ja Ecclesia can- - tare consueverunt. Goussavvy. Psalmorum elogia vi- desis apud Basilium, Ambrosium, Augustiuum, etc. Gregorius lib. de Reg. Pastorali, maxime parle 1. Eeisr. XLIX [A/. 46]. — ©® In Corb, et Norm. tantum legitur episcopo... In tribus Valic. episcops Hispaniarum. De eo jam diximus in notis ad episto- lam libris Moralium premissam, et alibi. SANCTI GREGORII MAGN communi filio Probino presbytero veniente trans- A patatus sum; et confldo de omnipotentis Ii cle- mitterem. Et tuz quidem-caritati in eo opere tertia: et quartz partis 778 Codices non tran«misi, ” quia eos Solummodso ex eisdem partibus Codices jam mo- nasteriis dedi. Hos itaque $anctilas tua Studiose per- currat, et peccata mea Studiosius defleat, ne mili culpz gravioris 8it quod quasi scire- v.deor quod agere przeiermitto. In hac vero Ecclesia quanlis causarum tumultibus premor, ipsa charitalti twz epistola» mez brevitas innotescit, quando ei parum loquor, quem magis omnibus diligo.