Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 606

Gregory to Brunhilde, queen of the Franks. Since the royal solicitude of your excellency is everywhere praiseworthy in its governance, it ought, for the increase of its glory, to show itself the more vigilant and provident, so that those whom it rules outwardly by counsel it may not permit to perish inwardly; that through the fruit of pious solicitude, after the summit of this temporal kingdom which you hold, you may, God being the author, be able to attain unto eternal joys and kingdoms. And this we trust can befall you by this means: if, among other good things, you take care over the ordaining of priests. Whose office, as we have learned, has there been led into so great ambition, that priests — which is exceedingly grievous — are suddenly ordained from among laymen.

But what shall these men furnish for the clergy, what for the people, who covet to become bishops not for usefulness, but for honour? These, then, who have not yet learned what they ought to teach, what else do they do but make the unlawful advancement of a few the destruction of many, and bring the observance of ecclesiastical moderation into confusion — since indeed no regular order is there preserved? For he who, improvident and headlong, comes to its governance, by what admonition shall he edify his subjects, whose example has taught not reason but error? It shames indeed, it shames, to command others in what one knows not himself to keep.

Nor indeed do we pass over that which likewise must be handed over to amendment, but we detest as altogether execrable and most grievous, that sacred orders there are conferred through the simoniacal heresy — which first arose against the Church and was condemned by strict malediction. Hence, then, it comes about that the dignity of the priesthood is in contempt, and the holy honour is in crime. Reverence therefore perishes, discipline is taken away, because he who ought to have amended faults commits them, and by wicked ambition is led, in the depraving of the honourable priesthood, unto censure. For who again would revere what is sold, or would not deem cheap what is bought? Wherefore I am exceedingly saddened,

and I grieve with that land, because while they disdain to have the Holy Spirit — whom Almighty God deigns to bestow upon men by the laying on of hands — as a divine gift, but obtain Him by rewards, I do not think that the priesthood can long subsist there. For where the gifts of supernal grace are sold, not a life is sought for the service of God, but rather monies are venerated against God. Since, therefore, so great a wickedness is a peril not only to those men, but also is exceedingly noxious to your kingdom, saluting your excellency with paternal affection, we beg that concerning the amendment of this depravity you make God placable toward you.

And that henceforth it may not by any occasion be committed, let your command establish that a synod be held, wherein, in the presence of our most beloved son the abbot Cyriacus, it must under the strict interposition of anathema be interdicted, that no one from a lay habit may dare suddenly to approach the grade of the episcopate, nor may anyone presume to give or even venture to receive anything for ecclesiastical orders; so that our Lord and Redeemer may so bring about the things that are yours, as He shall have seen your excellency to be piously solicitous with devotion in the things that are His. But the care and solicitude of that same synod, which we have decreed is to be held, we have taken pains to delegate especially to our brother and fellow-bishop Syagrius, whom we know to be your own particular one;

whom we beg that you may deign both to hear willingly as he supplicates and to aid with your power, so that that which looks to your reward — the whole contagion of the evil being removed — throughout all the borders subject to your jurisdiction there may proceed a pious ordination of priests, pleasing to God. To which our brother, because he showed himself vehemently devoted in that preaching which, God being the author, was made to the nation of the Angles, we have transmitted the pallium to be used at the solemnities of the Masses, so that, since he was zealous to aid in spiritual things, he may be found in the very solace of the prince of the Apostles also to have advanced in the spiritual order. Moreover, we are altogether amazed why you permit the Jews to possess Christian slaves in your kingdom.

For what are all Christians but members of Christ? Of which members we all know that you faithfully honour the Head. But let your excellency weigh how contrary it is to honour the Head, and to permit His members to be trodden underfoot by His enemies. And therefore we beg that a constitution of your excellency may remove the evils of this depravity from your kingdom; so that in this you may show yourselves the more a worthy cultivatress of the Almighty Lord, in that you set His faithful ones free from His enemies. (Cf. John the Deacon, book III, chapter 2.)