Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 328

Gregory to Maurus, abbot. The care of the Churches, which is plainly fixed upon priestly offices, so compels us to be solicitous that no fault of neglect may appear in them. But since we have learned that the church of Saint Pancras, which had been committed to presbyters, has frequently suffered neglect — so that the people, coming on the Lord's Day to celebrate the solemnities of the Masses, finding no presbyter, would return murmuring — it has been settled by our judgment, after mature deliberation, that, these being removed, we should with God's grace establish a congregation of monks in a monastery adjoining that same church, so that the abbot who should preside over it might by all means have care and solicitude for the aforesaid church.

In which monastery also we have seen fit that you, Maurus, be set as abbot, ordaining that the lands of the aforesaid church, or whatever shall have entered there, or shall have accrued from its revenues, ought to be applied to your aforesaid monastery, and to belong there without any diminution — yet indeed so that whatever must be done and repaired in that same above-written church, be repaired by you without doubt. But lest, the presbyters being removed to whom that church had formerly been committed, it seem to be void of ministries, therefore by the tenor of this authority we command you not to cease to employ there a visiting presbyter, who may be able to celebrate the sacred solemnities of the Masses.

Whom, however, it is necessary both to dwell in your monastery and to have thence the supports of life. But let this above all be your care, that there daily, at the most sacred body of blessed Pancras, the work of God be performed beyond doubt. These things therefore, which we assign to you to be done by the tenor of this precept, we wish not only that you fulfill, but also that they be thus kept and fulfilled forever by those who shall succeed in your office and place, so that henceforth no neglect may be found in the above-said church. Gregory to Leo, acolyte. The care of venerable places admonishes us to think in all things of their advantage. Since therefore the church of Saint Agatha, situated in the Subura, which is found to be a cave.

(Although Panciroli observes) was once of heretical depravity, and has, God favoring it, been brought back to the cultivation of the catholic faith; therefore, admonished by the tenor of this authority, do not cease to gather yearly the rent of all the houses established in this city which it shall be established that the aforesaid church possessed in the times of the Goths, and whatever shall be necessary for the roof-repairs, or lights, and other repair of that same church, you shall by all means take care to disburse. But whatever can be over and above, we command you faithfully to bring in to the ecclesiastical accounts. In the month of April, in the twelfth indiction.