Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 315

Gregory to Theodelinda, queen of the Lombards. It has come to us by the report of certain persons that by some bishops your Glory has been led even to this scandal against the holy Church, so that you have suspended yourself from the communion of catholic unanimity. And as much as we purely love you, so much the more strongly do we grieve concerning you, because you give credence to unskilled and foolish men, who not only know not the things they say, but scarcely can grasp the things they have heard. For they say that in the times of Justinian of pious memory certain things were established against the Synod of Chalcedon; and they, since they neither read nor believe those who do read, remain in that very error which they have themselves fashioned for themselves concerning us.

For we, with conscience as our witness, confess that nothing has been moved, nothing violated, concerning the faith of that same holy Council of Chalcedon; but whatever was done in the times of the aforesaid Justinian was done in such a way that the faith of the Council of Chalcedon was troubled in nothing. If, however, anyone presumes to speak or to think anything against the faith of that same Synod, we detest his understanding under the interposition of anathema. Since, therefore, you recognize our integrity from the attestation of our conscience, it remains that you never separate yourself from the communion of the catholic Church, lest so many of your tears and so great good works perish, if you are found alien from the true faith.

It befits your Glory, therefore, with all speed to send to my most reverend brother and fellow-bishop Constantius, whose faith and life were long ago well approved by me, and by directing your letters to him to make known that you have kindly received his ordination, and that in nothing are you separated from the communion of his Church. Although in this matter I think I say to you what is superfluous, because even if there was any doubt in your mind, I think it was removed from your heart on the coming of my son John the abbot and Hippolytus the notary.