Letter 6109: The abbot Opportunus of the monastery of St.

To Bishop Peter. [Summary heading:] Let him grant relics to Opportunus, abbot of Saint Leontius. Gregory to Peter, bishop of Hydruntum [Otranto]. Since Opportunus, abbot of the monastery of Saint Leontius, which is situated at the fifth milestone from the city of Rome, and to whom you render the office of visitation, is known to be a worthy man, it is fitting that, in accordance with our directive, you obey the desires of the aforesaid man, so that he may obtain the fulfillment of the devotion which he asks [...]. Letter 62. To the Patrician Gennadius. [Summary heading:] He complains that Bishop Paul was prevented from coming to Rome. He states that, as soon as he has recovered from his illness, he will occupy himself with the examination of his case. Gregory to Gennadius, patrician of Africa. We do not doubt that your Excellency recalls that two years ago we wrote on behalf of Paul, our brother and fellow bishop, that you should grant him the support of your dignity, since he desired to come to us, on this account: because he was said to be enduring the trouble of persecution from the Donatists, so that, after it was reported there that he could not have any assistance against them, once the truth was known, we might have been able, with brotherly compassion, to provide for him counsel, and might consider, by a salutary arrangement, what ought to be done against the madness of so pestilential a presumption. And as far as the aforesaid brother has made known to us, not only did he deserve to have the comfort of no one, but he was even prevented by various hindrances from being able to come unmolested to the city of Rome. Yet when we had had your letter read to him, he replied that he was not suffering from the hatred of certain persons because he restrained the Donatists, but rather he declares that he endures the ingratitude of many for the defense of the catholic faith; and he related many other things which, since no suitable time for speaking presented itself, we have thought best to keep in silence. Therefore, since the matter treated concerns not earthly things but the salvation of souls, and your assertion and his stand at variance, we could not subtly reply to anything while the truth was undiscussed, because at the time when we received your Excellency's writings we were held by bodily sickness. But when almighty God, if it shall please Him, shall have restored us to our former health, we will search out the truth by diligent inquiry, as far as we are able. And according to those things which we shall have been able to learn, we will so dispose the case, God having mercy, that the salvation of the souls for whose care you deign to be zealous, for your reward, may not only be restored where it has already been lost by those who err, but may also be preserved, by the protecting grace of our Redeemer, in those who are cultivators of the true faith. But concerning the above-mentioned bishop, whom you assert to have been deprived of communion, we have greatly wondered why his primate did not report this to us, but rather your Excellency's letter did. [Editorial notes accompanying the text in the printed edition: Whether this note of time belongs to the following letter, namely 74, indiction 4, according to other Editions, or rather to the present one written to Peter, which was previously reckoned to indiction 4, is doubtful. Letter 62 [number 61]: This passage in other printed editions is corrupt, where it reads "after, while against them," etc., in explaining which who would not be at a loss? "the rational of judgment with the superhumeral from our breast" [an evidently misplaced fragment carried over in the printed apparatus].]

AD PETRUM EPISCOPCM. Opportuno abbati sancti Leontii reliquies concedat. Gregorius Petro episcopo Hydramino, Opportunus abbas monasterii sancti ® Leonlii, quod in quinto Romanz urbis milliario situm es, Sia, Cui visitationis impendis officium, csse digno- Sscitur, prafati viri desideriis ex nostra tc prircep- tione convenit obedire, ut in devotion® quam pos lat sortiatuy effectum *<. EVISTOLA LXEL AD GENNADIUM PATRICIUM, Queritur. impeditum Paulum episcopum ne' Romam veniret. Se, ubi primum ex morbo convaluerit, in caus(@ illius coqnitione versaturum. Gregorius Gennadio patricio Alricz. Excellentiam veslram non ambigimus reminigsei, quia ante bienniam pro Paulo fratre et coepigcopso nostro scripsimus, ut ei ad nos venire FYY deside- ranti dignitatis vestre suffragia preberetis, ob boe quod a Donatistis insecutionis dicebatur molestiam $nstinere, quatenus * prstquam illic eum contra eos nuntiatum est habere 8ubsidium non posse, cognita veritate, ſraterna ei compassione potuissemus ſerre consultum et $alubri dis; ositione quid contra pesti- ſere presumptionis insaniam debuisset fieri tracta- remus. Et quantum nobis predictus froter innotuit, non solum nu'lum meruit cujusquam habere $0la- tium, Þ sed ne immune ad Romanam potuisset ur- bem accedere, diverso est impedſimento prohibitus. Cui tamen dum vestram relegi fecissemns epistolam, respondit se non quorumdam odio, quia, Donatistas cobibebat, laborare, 8d magis pro deſensione ca- thulicz fidei multorum perhibet ingratitudines $usti - nere ; multaque alia retulit, quz, quoniam aptum dicendi tempus non exslitit, © sileutio retinere prae- vidimus. ; Quia ergo non de rebus terrenis, sed de animarum Salute tractatur, ct vestra atque illius diversa exi- SliL assertio, nihil indiscussa verilate subliliter re- sponde:e potuimus, quia tempore quo excellentie vesirz $8cripla suScepimus, Ccorporis #gritudine 1e- nebamur. Sed dum nos omnipotens Deus, si ei pla- cuerit, pri-tinz salJuli reddiderit, veritatem d:ligenti ut pos>umus inquisitione rimabimur. Et secundum quo tamen utrum hxc temporis nota ad sequentem evistolam, Scilicet 74, indict. 4, juxta alias Editiones pertineat, an potius a4 preseniem Petro scriptam, quz prius indictioni 4 acceasebatur, ainbiguum. EeisrT. LXIDI TAL 61]. — © Hie locus in aliis Ex- cusis «SL corruptus, ubi legitur pos!quam dum contra eos, ele., in quibus explicandis quis non c#cutial? ea que valuerimus addiseere, ita causam Deo mise- A nostro pectore rationale judicii cum superhumeralis rante disponemus, ut animarum quarum Yos curz pro vesira mercede $tudere dignamini salus non $0- lum quz ab errantibus jam amissa es reparetur, sed etiam que in verz fidei culloribus est Redemploris nostri 4 gratia proltegente servelur. De auprascripto avtem episcopo, quem commu- nione privatum esse asseritis, valde mirati 8umus cur nobis hoc non primalis ejus, Sed excellentize veslre epistola nuntiavit.