Epistles, Books IX–XIV, Book IX

Book IX

• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.1 — To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, &c. The preacher of Almighty God, Paul the apostle, says, Rebuke not an elder (1 Tim. v. 1). But this rule of his is to be observed in cases where the…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.2 — To Vitalis, Guardian (Defensorem) of Sardinia. Gregory to Vitalis, &c. What we have learnt about our brother the bishop Januarius the bearers of these presents, as well as the copies of our letters, will sufficiently…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.3 — To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, &c. The most distinguished lady Nereida has complained to us that your Fraternity does not blush to exact from her a hundred solidi for the burial of…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.4 — To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, a Bishop of Sardinia. We knew before the letter of your Fraternity reached us what our enemies had effected in Sardinia. And, having for some time…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.5 — To Marcellus, Pro-Consul of Dalmatia. Gregory to Marcellus, &c. We have received the letter of your Greatness, in which you speak of having incurred our displeasure, and of your wish to be in favour with us through…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.6 — To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, &c. The Jews who have come hither from your city have complained to us that Peter, who has been brought by the will of God from their superstition to…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.7 — To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, &c. It has been laid down by the plain definition of the law that those who go into a monastery for the purpose of entering on monastic life are no…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.8 — To the Bishops of Sardinia. Gregory to Vincentius, Innocentius, Marinianus, Libertinus, Agatho, and Victor, Bishops of Sardinia. We have learnt that it is the custom of your island after the paschal festival, for you…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.9 — To Callinicus, Exarch of Italy. Gregory to Callinicus, &c. In the midst of what you have announced to me of your victories over the Sclaves, know that I have been refreshed with great joy that the bearers of these…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.10 — To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna. Gregory to Marinianus, &c. The bearers of these presents, the most distinguished men, Vicedominus and Defensor, came to us asserting that a certain bishop, by name John, coming from…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.11 — To Brunichild, Queen. Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. With what firmness the mind of your Excellency is settled in the fear of Almighty God you shew in a praiseworthy manner, among the other good things…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.12 — To John, Bishop of Syracuse. Gregory to John, &c. One coming from Sicily has told me that some friends of his, whether Greeks or Latins I know not, as though moved by zeal for the holy Roman Church, murmur about my…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.13 — To Demetrian and Valerian. Gregory to Demetrian and Valerian, clerks of Firmum (Fermo). Both the ordinances of the sacred canons and legal authority permit that ecclesiastical property may be lawfully expended for…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.14 — To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, &c. Our care for the purpose before us prompts us to commit the looking after ecclesiastical interests to active persons. And so, since we have found thee,…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.15 — To the Husbandmen (Colonos) of the Syracusan Patrimony. Gregory to the Coloni, &c. I would have you know that we have arranged for you to be put under the care of our guardian (defensoris). And accordingly we order…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.16 — To John, Bishop of Syracuse. Gregory to John, &c. Our son the glorious exconsul Leontius has made a serious complaint to us of our brother and fellow-bishop Leo; and his complaint has altogether disturbed us, since a…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.17 — To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, &c. Our son Theodosius, abbot of the Monastery founded by the late Patrician Liberius in Campania, is known to have intimated to us that the late illustrious…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.18 — To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, &c. Although the law with reason allows not things that come into possession of the Church to be alienated, yet sometimes the strictness of the rule should be…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.19 — To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, &c. It has come to our ears that certain men, having altogether too little discernment, desire us to become implicated in their risks, and wish to be so defended…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.20 — To Andrew. Gregory to Andrew. On hearing that your Glory had been severely afflicted with grief and sickness, I condoled with you exceedingly. But learning presently that the malady had entirely left you, I soon…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.21 — To Fortunatus, Bishop of Neapolis (Naples). Gregory to Fortunatus, &c. Having learnt what zeal inflames your Fraternity in behalf of Christian slaves whom Jews buy from the territories of Gaul, we apprize you that…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.22 — To Julianus, Scribo. Gregory to Julianus, &c. If in secular offices order and the discipline handed down by our ancestors is observed, who may bear to see ecclesiastical order confounded, to disregard such things…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.23 — To Agilulph, King of the Lombards. Gregory to Agilulph, &c. We return thanks to your Excellency, that, hearkening to our petition, you have concluded such a peace as may be of advantage to both parties, as we had…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.24 — To Theodelinda, Queen of the Lombards. Gregory to Theodelinda, &c. How your Excellency has laboured earnestly and kindly, as is your wont, for the conclusion of peace we have learnt from the report of our son, the…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.25 — To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Gregory to Anastasius, &c. I received the letters of thy Fraternity, rightly holding fast the profession of the faith; and I returned great thanks to Almighty God, who, when the…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.26 — To Fantinus, Guardian (Defensorem), of Panormus (Palermo). Gregory to Fantinus, &c. A little time ago we wrote to Victor, our brother and fellow-bishop, that—inasmuch as certain of the Jews have complained in a…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.27 — To Martin, Scholasticus. Gregory to Martin, &c. Seeing that questions arising in civil affairs need, as is known to thy Greatness, very full enquiry, let thy wisdom consider with what care and vigilance the causes of…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.28 — To John, Bishop of Syracuse. Gregory to John, &c. I have received your Fraternity’s letter, wherein you inform me that the most eloquent Martin has come from the African province and communicated something to you…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.29 — To Romanus and other Guardians (defensores) of the Ecclesiastical Patrimony. Gregory to Romanus the guardian, Fantinus the guardian, Sabinus the sub-deacon, Sergius the guardian, Boniface the guardian (a paribus),…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.30 — The epistle of Rechared, King of the Goths, addressed to the blessed Gregory, Bishop of Rome. Here begins the epistle of Rechared, King of the Goths, addressed to the blessed Gregory, Bishop of Rome. Rechared to the…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.31 — To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, &c. It has come to our ears that the tonsuratores in Sicily, with wicked presumption, take to themselves the name of defensores, and that they not only are of no…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.32 — To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Sardinia. It has come to our ears that some of your clerics, inflated with a spirit of elation (which is a serious thing to be said),…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.33 — To Constantius, Bishop of Milan. Gregory to Constantius, &c. Maximus, the prevaricator of the Church of Salona, after he had failed to obtain anything through the greater powers of the world, has betaken himself to…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.34 — To Eusebius of Thessalonica. Gregory to Eusebius of Thessalonica, Urbicus of Dyrrachium, Andrew of Nicopolis, John of Corinth, John of Prima Justiniana, John of Crete, John of Larissa and Scodra, and many other…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.35 — To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria. Gregory to Eulogius, &c. I have received at the hands of the bearer of these presents the letter of your most sweet Holiness, speaking to me about your cause being terminated…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.36 — To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna. Gregory to Marinianus, &c. What is to be done in the case of Maximus you have learnt from the letters which we have before sent to you. But, since we have ascertained from the report…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.37 — To Castorius, Notary. Gregory to Castorius, &c. The more thou seest thyself to be trusted by us, and charged with the conduct of cases when need arises, the more oughtest thou to shew thyself energetic and…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.38 — To Maximus, Bishop of Salona. Gregory to Maximus, &c. Although to what was faulty in thy ordination at the first thou hast added serious evil through the fault of disobedience, yet we, tempering with becoming…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.39 — To Anatolius, Constantinopolitan Deacon. Gregory to Anatolius, &c. To good and devoted sons it is worth our labour so to respond as to double, because we are paying a debt, what it would befit us of our own mere…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.40 — To Fortunatus, Bishop of Neapolis (Naples). Gregory to Fortunatus, &c. Inasmuch as the Father of God’s servants whom I had sent to the city of Naples has, by the ordering of God as it hath pleased Him, departed this…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.41 — To Gulfaris, Magister Militum. Gregory to Gulfaris, &c. The bearers of these presents, who come to us from the Istrian parts, have reported such good things of your Glory as to inflame us ardently to return you…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.42 — To Romanus the Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, &c. The bearers of these presents, who came hither from the parts of Istria to find their bishop who is now living in the parts of Sicily, have asked us to…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.43 — To Theodore, Curator of Ravenna. Gregory to Theodore, &c. Although from the report of our responsalis we have long heard many things of you to rejoice our heart, yet now our son the abbot Probus, who has returned to…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.44 — To Serenus Bishop of Massilia (Marseilles). Gregory to Serenus, &c. That we have been so long in sending a letter to your Fraternity attribute not to sluggishness, but to press of business. We now commend to you in…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.45 — To Syagrius, Ætherius, Virgilius, and Desiderius, Bishops. Gregory to Syagrius of Augustodunum (Autun), Etherius of Lugdunum (Lyons), Virgilius of Aretale (Arles), and Desiderius of Vienna (Vienne), bishops of Gaul.…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.46 — To Aregius, Bishop of Vapincum. Gregory to Aregius, Bishop in Gaul. The affliction of your Fraternity, which we have learnt that you have had for the loss of your people, has given us such cause of grief that, since…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.47 — To Syagrius, Bishop. Gregory to Syagrius, Bishop of Augustodunum (Autun). Mistress of all good things is charity, which savours of nothing extraneous, nothing rough, nothing confused; which so exercises and…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.48 — To Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Gregory to Brunichild, &c. Now that your Excellency’s royal solicitude is in all matters of government praiseworthy, you ought, for the increase of your glory, to show yourself…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.49 — To Theoderic and Theodebert, Kings of the Franks. Gregory to Theoderic, &c. Since the renown of your kingdom has been resplendent of old among all others by the grace of the Christian religion, great pains should be…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.50 — To Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate (Arles). Gregory to Virgilius, &c. Inasmuch as the desire of a pious purpose and the bent of a laudable devotion ought always to be aided by the earnest endeavours of priests, anxious…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.51 — To Virgilius and Syagrius, Bishops. Gregory to Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate (Arles), and Syagrius, Bishop of Augustodunum (Autun). The nature of the office committed to me, dearest brethren, drives me to break out…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.52 — To Syagrius, Bishop of Augustodunum (Autun). Gregory to Syagrius, &c. If in secular affairs every man should have his right and his proper rank preserved to him, how much more in ecclesiastical arrangements ought no…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.53 — To Theoderic and Theodebert, Kings of the Franks. Gregory to Theoderic, &c. It is the chief good in kings to cultivate justice, and to preserve to every man his rights, and not to suffer subjects to have done to them…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.54 — To Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Gregory to Brunichild, &c. Whereas for the government of a kingdom valour stands in need of justice, and power of equity, nor for this purpose can one suffice without the other,…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.55 — To Claudius in Spain. Gregory to Claudius, &c. The renown of good deeds being fragrant after the manner of ointment, the odour of your glory has extended from the Western parts as far as here. Besprinkled by the…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.56 — To Leander, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville). Gregory to Leander, Bishop of Spain. I have the epistle of thy Holiness, written with the pen of charity alone. For what the tongue transferred to the paper had got its…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.57 — To Rechared, King of the Visigoths. Gregory to Rechared, &c. I cannot express in words, most excellent son, how much I am delighted with thy work and thy life. For on hearing of the power of a new miracle in our…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.58 — To Venantius and Italica. Gregory to the lord Venantius, Patrician, and Italica his wife. I have taken care, with due affection, to enquire of certain persons who have come from Sicily about your Excellency’s health.…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.59 — To Maximus, Bishop of Salona. Gregory to Maximus, &c. Having received the letters of our brother and fellow-bishop Marinianus, and Castorius, our chartularius, having also returned, we learn that your Fraternity have…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV IX.60 — From S. Columbanus to Pope Gregory. To the holy lord, and father in Christ, the Roman [pope], most fair ornament of the Church, a certain most august flower, as it were, of the whole of withering Europe,…vatican.va