Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 125

GREGORY: The verdict on this matter is demonstrated more clearly than light in the words of the Lord which we have already brought forward above. In which, when it had been said: 'There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen, and feasted sumptuously every day; and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who lay at his gate full of sores, desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one gave to him; but even the dogs came and licked his sores' (Luke 16:19), it is subjoined that when Lazarus died he was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom, and the rich man died and was buried in hell.

'And lifting up his eyes, when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom, and he himself cried out, saying: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am tormented in this flame. And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that you received good things in your lifetime, and Lazarus likewise evil things.' But the rich man, now having no hope of salvation for himself, turns to seeking the salvation of his own kin, saying: 'I beseech you, father, that you would send him to my father's house; for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come into this place of torments' (Luke 16:23–28). By which words it is openly declared that both the good recognize the good, and the wicked recognize the wicked.

For if Abraham had by no means recognized Lazarus, he would in no way have spoken to the rich man set in torments about that man's past contrition, saying that he had received evil things in his life. And if the wicked did not recognize the wicked, the rich man set in torments would in no way have remembered his brothers, even though absent. For how could he not recognize those present, who took care to pray even for the memory of the absent? In which matter this too is shown, which you did not at all ask: that both the good recognize the wicked, and the wicked recognize the good. For the rich man is recognized by Abraham, to whom it was said: 'You received good things in your life'; and the elect Lazarus is recognized by the reprobate rich man, whom he entreats for me by name, saying:

'Send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue' (Luke 16:24). In this recognition, indeed, the heap of retribution for both parties grows: both that the good may rejoice the more, when they behold in bliss those whom they loved; and also, while those are tormented with whom, despising God, the wicked loved in this world, not only their own but also those others' punishment consumes them. Now among the elect something more wonderful comes about, for they not only recognize those whom they had known in this world, but as if seen and known they recognize good souls whom they never saw. For when they behold the ancient Fathers in that eternal inheritance, they will not be unknown to them through vision, whom they had always known by working.

For since there all behold God with a common charity, what is there that they should not know in that place where they all know Him who knows all things?