Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 214

Gregory to Paul, bishop of Naples. If we administer securely the priestly office which we have undertaken, then without doubt both divine assistance and the love of our spiritual sons will be present with us. Therefore let your fraternity strive so to conduct yourself in all things, that the testimony which the clergy, the nobility, and likewise the people of the city of Naples hold concerning it may be strengthened by the increase of your goodness. Thus then you ought to bind yourself by constant occupation in the ceaseless exhortation of the aforesaid people, so that the divine husbandman may store up in his granaries the fruit of your word which you shall have worked from among them.

But until we are able, by the Lord's revelation, to deliberate concerning those things which our aforesaid sons demand should be done by us, we grant that clerics be ordained from among the laity, and also that manumissions be solemnly celebrated in your presence in that same Church. As for the customary dues of the clergy of the above-named Church and of the presbyters, we wish you to render them without delay. In their instruction also keep such diligent watch, that, abstaining from all things unbecoming or unlawful, they may, with your encouragement, stand fast in the service of our God in a worthy ministry of obedience. Given in the month of January, in the tenth indiction. (See below, letter 15.) Gregory to the clergy, order, and people residing at Nepi.

To Leontius, a most illustrious man, the bearer of this letter, we have entrusted the care and charge of the city, that, keeping watch in all matters, he may himself arrange whatever he perceives to pertain to your advantage or to that of the commonwealth. Therefore we admonish your beloved selves by this present writing, that you ought to show him obedience in all things, and that none of you should think him contemptible while he manages affairs for your benefit; for whoever unfittingly resists his ordering will be known to be resisting our own arrangement. But whosoever hears him in those things which we have set forth above, hears us. And if any man — which we do not believe — should think him to be despised after this our admonition, let him know beyond doubt that the peril pertains to himself.