Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 385

Gregory to Andreas the Scholasticus. We wished to fulfill the will of the most excellent man the lord Patricius in the person of Donatus the archdeacon; but because it is very perilous to the soul rashly to lay hands upon anyone, it was our care to examine his life and acts with subtle investigation. And since many things were found — as we wrote to that same lord Patricius — which set him far from the episcopate, fearing the judgment of God, we did not foresee to consent in his being ordained. But neither did we presume to ordain John the presbyter, ignorant of the Psalms, because this very thing showed that he assuredly had less zeal for his own advancement.

These, therefore, being set aside, when they were urged by us to choose from among their own, and confessed that they had no one fit for this office, and a greater affliction held us together with them, at last they with common and concordant voice and consent repeatedly asked for our venerable brother Marinianus the presbyter, whom I had long since known to have lived in monastic converse with me. To him, refusing in divers ways, it could at length scarcely be persuaded to lend his consent to their petition. And because his life is well known to us, and we have known him to be solicitous in the winning of souls, we brought no delay in his ordination. Let therefore your Glory receive him as is fitting, and extend to his newness the aid of consolation.

For to all, as you know, the newness of any office whatsoever is very burdensome. But I have great confidence that Almighty God, who has deigned to set him over His flock, will both sharpen him for tending inward things, and strengthen him for managing outward things by the mercy of His grace. But because, after the long leisure of his quiet, his newness — as we have said — is doubtless disturbed, I ask that, when he shall come, fleeing the storms of secular tempests, he may ever find with your mind a haven of quiet, and may take cheer from the good of your charity. But how much you may be able to agree with him, you will very soon learn, because he came to the episcopate unwillingly.