Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 564

Gregory to Romanus the defensor, Fantinus the defensor, Sabinus the subdeacon, Adrianus the notary, Eugenius the notary, Felix the subdeacon, Sergius the defensor, Bonifacius the defensor, jointly, and to the patrons. Since a cautious foreseeing of faults knows both to block the ways and to shun what is harmful, while negligence lies open to excesses and is wont to run into what ought to be avoided, it behooves these men to expend great care of solicitude, and to look out both for the reputation and for the safeguarding of our brethren and priests alike. Now it has come to us that certain of the bishops, under the pretext as it were of comfort, dwell in one house with women.

And therefore, lest through this either a just occasion of detraction be given to scoffers, or the ancient enemy of the human race take easy matter of deception, we enjoin upon you by the tenor of this precept, that you strive to show yourself strenuous and solicitous. And if any of the bishops, whom the boundary of the patrimony committed to you includes, dwell with women, restrain this altogether; and henceforth in no way permit them to dwell there, except those whom the censure of the sacred canons permits, that is, a mother, an aunt, a sister, and others of this kind, concerning whom there can be no depraved suspicion. Yet they do better, if they also refrain from cohabitation with such persons.

For it is read that blessed Augustine did not consent to dwell even with his own sister, saying: 「Those who are with my sister are not my sisters.」 Therefore the caution of a learned man ought to be a great instruction to us. For it belongs to incautious presumption not to fear as less strong that which even trembles at thefts. For he wisely overcomes unlawful things who has learned not even to use things permitted; and indeed we bind none in this against their will, but, as physicians are wont to do, even if for a time we prescribe a sad cure, yet we do so for the sake of health. And therefore we do not impose necessity, but if they choose to imitate the learned and holy man, we leave it to their own will.

Let your Experience therefore have zeal and solicitude that those things which we have commanded to be prohibited may be observed. For if it should afterward happen to be found otherwise, let it know that it will incur no light peril with us. Moreover let it be your care to exhort those same brethren our bishops, that they admonish in every way those set under them — namely, those established in sacred orders — to observe, after their own likeness, what they themselves observe: with this only added, that these, as canonical authority has decreed, should not forsake the wives whom they ought to govern chastely. Given in the month of March, in the second indiction.