Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 347

Gregory to Constantius, bishop of Milan. If leave to return to their order were granted to the lapsed, the force of canonical discipline would beyond doubt be broken, since through hope of return anyone would not fear to conceive desires for wicked action. Your Fraternity has consulted us whether Amandinus, a former presbyter and abbot, who was deposed by your predecessor as his fault required, ought to be recalled to the order from which he fell. This indeed is neither lawful, nor do we judge that it can by any reasoning be done. Yet if his manner of life should perhaps deserve it, being wholly deprived of the sacred office as he is, appoint him in the monastery ahead of the other monks, as you shall see fit.

Therefore be zealous above all things that no man's entreaty in any way persuade you to recall the lapsed into the sacred order, lest a penalty of this kind be thought to be not fixed but only temporarily deferred for them. As for Vitalianus, the former presbyter concerning whom you write that he ought to be strictly guarded, we shall have him sent to Sicily, so that, all hope of departing being removed, he may then at least bind himself in the laments of penitence. Jobinus also, once deacon and abbot of Portus Veneris, we have decreed must be deprived of his office, and we have written that another ought to be ordained in his place.

Likewise also, Your Fraternity has informed us that three subdeacons have lapsed, and we decree that they are to be perpetually deprived of their office, to whom nothing else is to be granted than the sacred communion among the laity. As for Saturninus, the former presbyter, that he may never presume to approach the ministry of the sacred order, we have appointed him to keep silent and give surety. And we will that he remain, with deprivation of the sacred order, on the same island where he had been, permitting him to have and exercise the care and oversight of the monasteries, since we believe that, made more cautious by his own fall, he will now guard more carefully those entrusted to him.

But concerning John, notary of your Church, the charity with which we love you, and have long loved you, has prompted us to write, lest, while his fault provokes you, you should command anything to be done that pertains to sin. Guarding against this, therefore, search out the affairs of your Church diligently in such ways as you can, whereby you may neither offend God, nor may he be able to find anything for which he could accuse you before men. For we wrote, not in defending John, nor in commending his person contrary to reason, but lest your soul, goaded by rage, should be burdened in anything. Wherefore it is necessary that, as we said before, you by no means neglect to investigate the affairs of your Church with subtle inquiry and with the fear of God.

Moreover, the letter of your most dear Fraternity concerning the person of Fortunatus has made us marvel greatly. But either those very things were by no means written or dictated by you, or, if they are indeed yours, we in no way recognize in them our brother the lord Constantius. For you ought to have considered, and still ought to consider, that what we write is for the sake of your reputation. For when the aforesaid Fortunatus relates that there he suffered violence and could find no help from a defender, what else does this touch but your ill repute?

Therefore, so that this matter may neither obscure your reputation in the eyes of some, nor be able to bring any harm to your Church, if the cause is good, you ought to send a well-instructed person here, so that, the quality of the case being weighed, it may be concluded without ill repute to you. For especially after his complaint, if a sentence there be pronounced on your side, he will be thought to have been overcome not by reason but by power alone. But we, out of the charity by which we are bound to you, do not cease to admonish you as to what you ought to do for the sake of your reputation, knowing that although this exhortation grieves you for a time, yet afterward, when the intention of contention has been laid aside, it brings gladness. In the month of September, in the thirteenth indiction.