Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 192

Gregory to Peter, subdeacon of Sicily. As it befits our zeal to withdraw monks from the litigations of the courts, that they may piously and diligently keep watch over the divine ministries, so it is necessary for our provision to ordain how their affairs ought to be arranged, lest the mind, distracted by the various cares of causes, flow away, and grow sluggish and enervated for celebrating the accustomed work. The bearer of these presents, Abbot John, asserts that he has very many affairs of his monastery. Concerning this matter we admonish your Discretion by the page of this present writing that you should speak to Faustus, who had been chancellor of Romanus, the magnificent man, from the time of his praetorship.

And if you find his will inclined to this matter, you ought to commend to him generally the affairs of that monastery, at a fixed salary. For it is expedient, at a small cost, that the servants of God should remain quiet from the noise of lawsuits, so that both the interests of the cell may not perish through negligence, and the minds of the servants of God may be more free for the Lord's work. Gregory to all the bishops throughout Sicily. Your Fraternity's devotion, long since proved, compels us to provide as carefully for you as it shows you eagerly running together, upon hearing of the harm to our Church.

We have learned that certain persons in the island of Sicily, pretending to be defenders of the Apostolic See, afflict you in the matter of grain by forced services and other things; and we have of necessity judged it fitting to counter their deceit by these present writings. Therefore, saluting your Fraternity with due charity, we greatly exhort you henceforth that in no way may any room for defrauding you remain to such persons; but whoever he be, if he be truly a notary or defender of our See, unless he brings to you writings specially from us or from the rector of our patrimony, let him obtain no forced services in the name of our Church; nor allow any burdens to be imposed upon you by him, but let him arrange his own journey at his own expense for his own interests, as he knows how.

Nor allow anyone to be molested by him in those places. For these things, which we are known to have forbidden by our letter for your quiet and that of your people, preserve so much the more steadfastly, that, stripped of this burden, you may be found devout and readier for the divine services.