Epistles, Books IX–XIV, Book XI

Book XI

• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.1 — To John, Abbot. Gregory to John, Abbot of Mount Sina. The Epistle of thy Humility testifies to the holiness of thy life; whence we give great thanks to Almighty God, for that we know that there are still some to pray…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.2 — To Conon, Abbot of Lirinus (Lerins). Gregory to Conon, Abbot of the Monastery of Lirinus. The carefulness of persons in authority is the safeguard of subjects, since one who watches over what is entrusted to him…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.3 — To Serenus, Bishop of Massilia (Marseilles). Gregory to Serenus, &c. The beginning of thy letter so showed thee to have in thee the good will that befits a priest as to cause us increased joy in thy Fraternity. But…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.4 — To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, &c. Know ye that your Fraternity’s solicitude has pleased us, in that you have evinced, as was right, pastoral vigilance for the guardianship of…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.5 — To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli. Gregory to Augustine, &c. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke ii. 14); because a grain of wheat, falling into the earth, has died, that it…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.6 — To Bertha, Queen of the Angli. Gregory to Bertha, &c. They who desire, after earthly dominion, to obtain the glory of a heavenly kingdom ought to labour earnestly to bring in gain to their Creator, that they may be…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.7 — To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse. Gregory to Venantius, &c. In addressing to you the greeting which is due I was intending to speak of what I suffer. But I think I need not relate to you what you know.…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.8 — To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna. Gregory to Marinianus, &c. When the bearer of these presents, Candidus the abbot, came hither to ask for relics (which have also been granted), as much as I rejoiced in thy…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.9 — To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna. Gregory to Marinianus, &c. On the arrival here of a certain man of Ravenna, I was smitten by most grievous sorrow for that he told me of thy Fraternity being sick from vomiting of…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.10 — To Barbara and Antonina. Gregory to Barbara, &c. Having received your Glory’s letters, which spoke with tears for words, we, most beloved daughters, are affected by no less sorrow than yourselves for your father’s…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.11 — To John, Bishop of Syracuse. Gregory to John, &c. I have received your Fraternity’s letters telling me of the sickness of my most sweet son the lord Venantius, and relating how all things are going on about him. But…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.12 — To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, Guardian of Sicily. It has come to our knowledge that, if any one has a suit against any clerics, thou causest these clerics to be brought before thee for…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.13 — To Vitus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Vitus, &c. If thou art held bound by no condition or liability to bodily service, and hast not been a cleric of any other city, and if there is no canonical objection to…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.14 — To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna. Gregory to Marinianus, &c. Great infirmity constrains us, dearest brother, from which if we were free, we should seem justly blamable. But since, while we are in this fragile body,…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.15 — To Rusticiana, Patrician. Gregory to Rusticiana, &c. I have received the letters of your Excellency, which altogether relieved me, while I was in a state of most grievous sickness, with regard to your health, your…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.16 — To Theoctista, Patrician. Gregory to Theoctista, &c. We ought to give great thanks to Almighty God, that our most pious and most benignant Emperors have near them kinsfolk of their race, whose life and conversation…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.17 — To Isacius, Bishop of Jerusalem. Gregory to Isacius, &c. In keeping with the truth of history, what means the fact that at the time of the flood the human race outside the ark dies, but within the ark is preserved…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.18 — To Anatolius, Deacon at Constantinople. Gregory to Anatolius, &c. Thy Love has written to me that our most pious lord orders a successor to be appointed to my most reverend brother John, bishop of Prima Justiniana,…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.19 — To Adrian, Notary. Gregory to Adrian, Notary of Panormus. Agathosa, the bearer of these presents, complains that her husband has, against her will, been converted in the monastery of the abbot Urbicus. And, since…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.20 — To Desiderius, Bishop of Gaul. Gregory to Desiderius, &c. Many good things having been reported to us with regard to your pursuits, such joy arose in our heart that we could not bear to refuse what your Fraternity…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.21 — To Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate (Arles). Gregory to Virgilius, &c. Since by the testimony of Holy Writ avarice is called the service of idols, with what earnestness it ought to be banished from the temple of God is…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.22 — To Ætherius, Bishop of Lugdunum (Lyons.). Gregory to Ætherius, Bishop of Gaul. The language of your epistles, full of venerable gravity, has so engaged our heart’s affection that it would please us to be ever…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.23 — To Aregius, Bishop of Vapincum. Gregory to Aregius, Bishop of Gaul. There being in brotherly love one heart and one soul, as the mind rejoices in the prosperity of another, so is it afflicted in his adversity, since…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.24 — To Divers Bishops of Gaul. Gregory to Mennas of Telona (Toulon), Serenus of Massilia (Marseilles), Lupus of Cabillonum (Châlons-sur-Saône), Aigulfus of Mettæ (Metz), Simplicius of Parisii (Paris), Melantius of…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.25 — To Theoderic, King of the Franks. Gregory to Theoderic, &c. The letter of your Excellency, which is the index of your heart, has so shewn, in its flow of lucid language, what great prudence is conspicuous in you,…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.26 — To Theodebert, King of the Franks. Gregory to Theodebert, &c. One who receives with willing mind and embraces in the bosom of his heart words of fatherly admonition declares himself without doubt to be one who would…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.27 — To Clotaire, King of the Franks. Gregory to Clotaire, &c. Among so many cares and anxieties which you sustain for the government of the peoples under your sway, it is to your exceeding praise and great reward that…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.28 — To Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Gregory to Brunichild, &c. We render thanks to Almighty God, Who, among all the other gifts of His loving-kindness that He has bestowed upon your Excellency, has so filled you with…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.29 — To Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Gregory to Brunichild, &c. What good gifts have been conferred on you from above, and with what piety heavenly grace has filled you, this, among all the other proofs of your…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.30 — To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli. Here begins the epistle of the blessed Gregory pope of the city of Rome, in exposition of various matters, which he sent into transmarine Saxony to Augustine, whom he had himself…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.31 — To Augustine, Bishop of the Angli. Gregory to Augustine, &c. Though it is certain that for those who labour for Almighty God ineffable rewards of an eternal kingdom are reserved, yet we must needs bestow honours upon…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.32 — To Edilbert, King of the Angli. Gregory to Edilbert, &c. On this account Almighty God advances good men to the government of peoples, that through them He may bestow the gifts of His loving-kindness on all over whom…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.33 — To Quiricus, Bishop, &c. Gregory to Quiricus, Bishop, and the other catholic bishops in Hiberia. Since to charity nothing is afar off, let those who are divided in place be joined by letter. The bearer of these…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.34 — To Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate (Arles). (To Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate (Arles).) Gregory to Virgilius, &c. What affection should be bestowed on brethren who come to us of their own accord is apparent from the fact…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.35 — To Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Gregory to Brunichild, &c. Since it is written, Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin maketh peoples miserable (Prov. xiv. 34), a kingdom is then believed to be stable when a…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.36 — To Mellitus, Abbot. Gregory to Mellitus, Abbot in France. Since the departure of our congregation, which is with thee, we have been in a state of great suspense from having heard nothing of the success of your…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.37 — To Boniface, Guardian (Defensorem), in Corsica. Gregory to Boniface, &c. Thy experience is not free from blame, in that, knowing Aleria and Adjacium, cities of Corsica, to have been long without bishops, thou hast…vatican.va
• Epistles, Books IX–XIV XI.38 — To Barbara and Antonina. Gregory to Barbara, &c. On receiving your epistles, I was in all manner of ways delighted to hear of your well being, and I entreat Almighty God that He would guard you by His protection from…vatican.va