Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 389

Gregory to all the bishops of Gaul who are under the kingdom of Childebert. To this end has the provision of divine dispensation appointed that there be distinct degrees and orders, that while the lesser show reverence to the greater, and the greater bestow love upon the lesser, one fabric of concord might be woven out of diversity, and the administration of the several offices might be rightly carried on. For the whole could not subsist by any other principle, unless a great order of difference of this kind preserved it. And because the creation cannot be governed or live in one and the same equality, the pattern of the heavenly hosts instructs us; for since there are angels and there are archangels, it is clear that they are not equal.

but in power and order, as you know, one differs from another. If, therefore, this distinction is established to exist even among those who are without sin, what man would refuse willingly to submit himself to this arrangement, to which he knows that even the angels are obedient? For hence peace and mutual charity embrace one another in turn, and there remains firm and steadfast the sincerity of a concord eternal and pleasing to God in love.

Since, therefore, each office is then healthfully ordered when there is one appointed head to whom recourse may be had, we have accordingly judged it fitting, in the churches which are under the kingdom of our most excellent son King Childebert, to grant, according to ancient custom, our vicariate to our brother Virgilius, bishop of the city of Arles, so that the integrity of the catholic faith—that is, of the four holy synods—may, God protecting, be preserved with careful devotion; and if perhaps some contention should arise among our brothers and fellow-priests, he, functioning by the vigor of his authority, indeed with the vicariate of the apostolic see, may restrain it with discerning moderation.

We have also enjoined upon him that if some dispute of the kind should arise in which the presence of others is needed, he should, with the brothers and fellow-bishops gathered to him in a suitable number, discuss it healthfully with fairness preserved, and define it with canonical integrity. But if any contention—which may the divine power keep far off—should chance to arise concerning the cause of the faith, or a matter should emerge whose doubtfulness is perhaps grave, and which by reason of its magnitude requires the judgment of the apostolic see, then, the truth having been examined more diligently, let him take pains to bring it by his report to our notice, so that a fitting sentence may without doubt be brought to a conclusion by us.

And since it is necessary that the bishops ought, as often as he shall have judged it needful, to convene at suitable times before him to whom we have granted our vicariate, for the sake of holding a conference, we exhort that no one presume to be disobedient to his mandates, nor neglect to attend the common assembly, unless perhaps either bodily infirmity should prevent someone, or the just excuse of some cause should by no means permit him to come.

Yet those who, prevented by some necessity, cannot come together to the synod, let them send in their place a presbyter or a deacon, so that whatever things shall have been defined by our vicar, God aiding, may reach him who is absent by a faithful report through the very one he sent, that they may be kept in unshaken firmness, and that no excuse of any occasion may dare to violate them. This too we have likewise foreseen that you must be admonished: that none of you attempt in any way to set out for more distant places without the authority of our aforesaid brother and fellow-bishop Virgilius, knowing that even our predecessors, who granted their vicariate to his predecessors, thus without doubt define their mandates.

We exhort you moreover that each of you be solicitous concerning his office, so that he who desires to receive the promised reward of shepherding may guard the flock committed to him with solicitude and prayer, lest the lurking wolf, by invading, tear apart the sheep entrusted to him, and there be, in the recompense, punishment instead of reward. We desire therefore, most dear brothers, and we pray the Almighty Lord with our prayers, that he may make your love grow ever more and more fervent in the constancy of his love, and grant that you be greatly kept in the peace of the Church and in one concord. But it has been reported to us that through the Simoniac heresy certain men are brought to sacred orders, and we have mandated to our aforesaid brother and fellow-bishop Virgilius that this be by all means forbidden;

and in order that your Fraternity may know this and carefully guard against it, the letter itself is to be read out in your presence. Given on the eleventh day of the month of August, in the thirteenth indiction.