Epistles, Books I–VIII, Book IV

Book IV

• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.1 — To Constantius, Bishop. Gregory to Constantius, Bishop of Mediolanum (Milan). On receiving the letters of your Fraternity I returned great thanks to Almighty God, that I was counted worthy to be refreshed by the…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.2 — To Constantius, Bishop. Gregory to Constantius, Bishop of Mediolanum. My most beloved son, the deacon Boniface, has conveyed to me certain private information through thy Fraternity’s letter; namely that three…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.3 — To Constantius, Bishop. Gregory to Constantius, Bishop of Mediolanum. It has come to my knowledge that certain bishops of your diocese, seeking out rather than finding an occasion, have attempted to sever themselves…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.4 — To Queen Theodelinda. Gregory to Theodelinda, Queen of the Lombards. It has come to our knowledge by the report of certain persons that your Glory has been led on by some bishops even to such an offence against holy…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.5 — To Boniface, Bishop. Gregory to Boniface, Bishop of Regium (Reii). It is a shame for priests to be admonished about matters of divine worship. For they are then to their disgrace required to do what they ought…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.6 — To Cyprian, Deacon. Gregory to Cyprian, Deacon and Rector of Sicily. It has been reported to us that a native of the province of Lucania, Petronilla by name, was converted through the exhortation of the bishop…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.7 — To Gennadius, Patrician. Gregory to Gennadius, Patrician and Exarch of Africa. We are well assured that the mind of your religious Excellency is inflamed with zeal of divine love against those things especially which…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.8 — To Januarius, Bishop. Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). We think indeed that thy position may in itself be enough to compel thee to be instant in the fulfilment of pious duties. But, lest remissness…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.9 — To Januarius, Bishop. Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Pastoral zeal ought indeed in itself to have sufficiently instigated thee, even without our aid, to protect profitably and providently the…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.10 — To All the Bishops of Dalmatia. Gregory to all the bishops through Dalmatia. It behoved your Fraternity, having the eyes of the flesh closed out of regard to Divine judgment, to have omitted nothing that appertains…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.11 — To Maximianus, Bishop. Gregory to Maximianus, Bishop of Syracuse. It had indeed been committed to thy Fraternity long ago by our authority to correct in our stead any excesses or unseemly proceedings that there might…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.12 — To Januarius, Bishop. Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Theodosia, a religious lady, being desirous of carrying out the intention of her late husband Stephen by the building of a monastery, has…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.13 — To Maurus, Abbot. Gregory to Maurus, &c. The care of churches which is evidently inherent in the priestly office compels us to be so solicitous that no fault of neglect may appear with regard to them. Since, however,…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.14 — To Maximus, Pretender (Præsumptorem). Gregory to Maximus, Pretender in Salona. Though the merits of any one’s life were in other respects such as to offer no impediment to his ordination to priestly offices, yet the…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.15 — To Venantius, Bishop. Gregory to Venantius, Bishop of Luna (in Etruria). It has reached us by the report of many that Christian slaves are detained in servitude by Jews living in the city of Luna; which thing has…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.16 — To Hospito, Duke of the Barbaricini. Gregory to Hospito, &c. Since no one of thy race is a Christian, I hereby know that thou art better than all thy race, in that thou in it art found to be a Christian. For, while…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.17 — To Zabardas, Duke of Sardinia. Gregory to Zabardas, &c. From the letters of my brother and fellow-bishop Felix, and of the servant of God, Cyriacus, we have learnt your Glory’s good qualities. And we give great…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.18 — To the Nobles and Proprietors in Sardinia. Gregory to the Nobles, &c. I have learnt from the report of my brother and fellow-bishop Felix, and my son the servant of God, Cyriacus, that nearly all of you have peasants…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.19 — To Januarius, Bishop. Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). We have ascertained from the report of our fellow-bishop Felix and the abbot Cyriacus that in the island of Sardinia priests are oppressed by…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.20 — To Januarius, Bishop. Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Thy Fraternity ought indeed to have been so attentive to pious duties as to be in no need at all of our admonitions to induce thee to fulfil…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.21 — To Januarius, Bishop. Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). It has come to our knowledge that in the place within the province of Sardinia called Phausiana it is said to have been once the custom to…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.22 — To Constantina Augusta. Gregory to Constantina, &c. The Serenity of your Piety, conspicuous for religious zeal and love of holiness, has charged me with your commands to send to you the head of Saint Paul, or some…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.23 — To Theodorus, Physician. Gregory to Theodorus, Physician to the Emperor. I myself give thanks to Almighty God, that distance does not separate the hearts of those who truly love each other mutually. For lo, most…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.24 — To Narses the Patrician. Gregory to Narses, &c. Your most sweet Charity has said much to me in your letters in praise of my good deeds, to all which I briefly reply, Call me not Noemi, that is beautiful; but call me…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.25 — To Anthemius, Subdeacon. Gregory to Anthemius, &c. Those whom our Redeemer vouchsafes to convert to himself from Judaical perdition we ought, with reasonable moderation, to assist; lest (as God forbid should be the…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.26 — To Pantaleo, Præfect. Gregory to Pantaleo, Præfect of Africa. How the law urgently prosecutes the most abominable pravity of heretics is not unknown to your Excellency. It is therefore no light sin if these, whom…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.27 — 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…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.28 — To Leo, Bishop. Gregory to Leo, Bishop of Catana. We have found from the report of many that a custom has of old obtained among you, for subdeacons to be allowed to have intercourse with their wives. That any one…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.29 — To Queen Theodelinda. Gregory to Theodelinda, Queen of the Lombards. It has come to our knowledge from the report of certain persons that your Glory has been led on by some bishops even to the offence against holy…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.30 — To Constantius, Bishop. Gregory to Constantius, Bishop of Mediolanum (Milan). Having read the letter of your Holiness, we find that you are in a state of serious distress, principally on account of the bishops and…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.31 — To Rusticiana, Patrician. Gregory to Rusticiana, &c. On receiving your Excellency’s letters I was glad to hear that you had reached Mount Sinai. But believe me, I too should have liked to go with you, but by no means…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books I–VIII IV.32 — To Sabinianus, Deacon. Gregory to Sabinianus, &c. Thou knowest what has been done in the case of the prevaricator Maximus. For after the most serene Lord the Emperor had sent orders that he should not be ordained,…vatican.va