Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 442

Gregory to Stephen the abbot. The report of Augustine, servant of God and bearer of this letter, has made us glad, in that he has related that your love is vigilant as it ought to be; indeed he affirms that the priests and deacons and the whole community live in unanimity and concord. And since the goodness of superiors is a wholesome rule for their subjects, we beseech the almighty Lord that He may ever kindle you by the grace of His loving-kindness in good works, and may guard those committed to you from every temptation of diabolical deceit, and may grant them to live with you in charity and in a manner of life pleasing to Himself.

But because the enemy of the human race does not cease to lay snares for our deeds, but strives by constant cunning to deceive in any part the souls that serve God, therefore, most beloved son, we exhort you to exercise your solicitude vigilantly, and so to guard those committed to you by prayer and by the care of foresight, that the prowling wolf may find no occasion for tearing them, so that, when you have rendered back to our God unharmed those whose care you have undertaken, His grace may repay your labour with rewards and multiply for you the desires of eternal life.

Moreover, we have received the spoons and rings which you sent, and we give thanks to your charity, for you have shown how you love the poor, in that you have sent things needful for their use.