Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 557

Gregory to Constantius, bishop of Milan. By the report of the bearer of the present letter, our common son the deacon Eventius, who brought us your Fraternity's writings, we have learned that the clergy of the Church of Como, whom you admonished with priestly zeal to return to the unity of the Church, replied that such affection is not shown to them by us, that they should be able to return to this by the persuasion of charity; asserting that their various possessions are unjustly detained by others, among whom the possession which is called the villa of Mauriana is detained also by our Church. We indeed have entirely praised the solicitude of your Holiness, because you have by no means neglected what it was your duty to do. But neither do we, if the aforesaid possession lawfully belongs to them,

even if perchance they have delayed to return to communion, allow it to be detained against the order of reason; but we wish it, once the truth is known, to be restored to them. But if, God inspiring them, they be converted to the unity of the Church, which we desire, even if nothing belongs to them, we are prepared to grant it to them. For we wish those to be excused on no occasion whom we longingly await to return to the bosom of Mother Church.

But concerning the gardens which, in the register you sent, you have indicated belong to your Church out of the substance of Italy, and which the aforesaid bearer also pointed out to us, we shall subsequently send a person thither, to whom, among other things, we shall take care expressly to enjoin that he learn the truth by fitting investigation, and do whatever is just. For we who do not allow others to be grieved against equity, much less are able to leave you sorrowful, whom we greatly love. But concerning the other matters, what our answer to each has been, you will learn from the report of the aforesaid common son. And we have written, as you wished, to our most beloved son the deacon Anatolius, for the commendation of your men.