Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 241

Gregory to Castorius, bishop of Rimini. The text of the enclosed petition sets forth what tearful entreaties Luminosus, abbot of the monastery of Saints Andrew and Thomas established in the city of Rimini, has poured out to us. Concerning this matter we exhort your Fraternity that, when the abbot of that monastery dies, your Church shall by no occasion involve itself in the recording and administering of the goods of that same monastery, whether already acquired or to be acquired. But as abbot of that monastery we wish you to ordain no other than the one whom the whole congregation shall by common consent request as worthy in morals and fitted for monastic discipline.

We further utterly forbid public Masses to be celebrated there by the bishop, lest in the retreats of the servants of God any occasion be afforded for popular gatherings, and lest the too frequent entrance of women—which God forbid—should often draw simpler souls into scandal. And we decree that this page of our writings be kept firm and inviolate for all future time by you and by the bishops to be ordained after you, so that both your Church, with the Lord's help, may be content with its own right alone, and that monastery, being subject to no other jurisdiction than the general or canonical, may, with all vexations and burdens removed, perform the divine work with the utmost devotion of soul. (See ep. ...)

Gregory to Castorius, bishop of Rimini. The text of the enclosed petition sets forth what tearful entreaties Luminosus, abbot of the monastery of Saints Andrew and Thomas established in the city of Rimini, has poured out to us. For, by his same report, we have learned that in very many monasteries the monks have endured many prejudices and grievances from the prelates. It is fitting therefore that the providence of your Fraternity should provide for their future peace by a wholesome ordinance, so that those living in them may,

in the service of God, by the support of His grace, persevere with a free mind. But lest anyone should presume to inflict any trouble upon the monks out of that custom which rather ought to be corrected, it is necessary that these things which we have taken care to enumerate below be so guarded by the zeal of the brotherhood of bishops, that from them no occasion of causing further disturbance may henceforth be found. We therefore forbid in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the authority of blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, in whose stead we preside over this Roman Church,

that no bishop or secular person presume in any way to stir up occasions concerning the revenues, goods, or documents of the monasteries, or concerning the cells or farms which belong to them, or to devise any frauds or intrusions; but if by chance some case should arise between land coming to the portion of their churches and of the monasteries, and it cannot peacefully be settled, let it be concluded before chosen abbots and other God-fearing Fathers, without voluntary delay, upon the most holy Gospels set in their midst.

And when the abbot of any congregation has died, let no stranger, but one from that same congregation, whom the harmonious society of the brethren shall by their own free will choose, and who has been chosen without any fraud or venality, be ordained. But if they are unable to find a suitable person among themselves, let them diligently choose one to be ordained likewise from other monasteries. Nor when an abbot has been appointed shall any person be set above him on any occasion whatsoever, unless perchance for existing crimes—which God forbid—such as the sacred canons are shown to punish. Likewise it must be observed that, against the abbot's will, monks be not thence taken away to ordain other monasteries, or for sacred orders or the office of the clergy.

We altogether refuse that inventories of the goods of a monastery be made by the bishops as ecclesiastical documents. But if, when circumstance requires, let the abbot of the place, together with other abbots, draw up the accounts of the goods found, and let it be concluded by their counsel or judgment. Also when an abbot dies, let the bishop by no occasion involve himself in recording and administering the goods of the monastery, whether acquired or given or to be acquired. We likewise altogether forbid public Masses to be celebrated by him in the monastery, lest in the retreats of the servants of God and their dwellings any occasion of a popular assembly be afforded, or a new entrance of women be made, which is in no way expedient for their souls.

Nor let him dare to set up a chair there, or to have any power of commanding, or of making any ordinance however trifling, unless he has been requested by the abbot of the place, so that the monks may always remain under the authority of their abbots; and let no one keep a monk in any church, or promote him to any honor, without the testimony or consent of these. This page of our writings therefore we decree to be kept firm and inviolate for all future time by all bishops, so that they may, with the Lord's help, be content only with the right of their own Church, and that the monasteries

be in no way subject to ecclesiastical conditions or forced services or any secular obligations, nor be in bondage to any canonical claims, but, with all vexations and burdens removed, may perform the divine work with the utmost devotion of soul. (See ep. 15, Book VIII.)