Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 652

Gregory to Maximus, bishop of Salona. Our common son the presbyter Veteranus, coming to the city of Rome, found me so enfeebled by the pains of gout that I could by no means reply through myself to the letters of your fraternity. And indeed, concerning the nation of the Slavs, which greatly threatens you, I am both vehemently afflicted and disturbed. I am afflicted in those things which I already suffer in you; I am disturbed, because through the approach of Istria they have now begun to enter Italy. But what shall I say concerning Julianus the Scribo, when everywhere I see that our sins requite us, so that we are disturbed both outwardly by the nations, and inwardly by the judges? But do not be at all saddened by such things, for those who shall live after us will see worse times;

so that in comparison with their own time they will esteem us to have had happy days. But as far as your fraternity prevails, you ought to set yourself against them on behalf of the poor, on behalf of the oppressed. And even if it should avail nothing, that very devotion of mind which He has given suffices for Almighty God. For it is written: Deliver them that are drawn to death, and cease not to rescue those who are led to slaughter (Proverbs 24:11). But if you should say, 'My strength does not suffice,' He who is the searcher of the heart understands it. In all therefore that you do, seek to have the searcher of the heart appeased. Whatever there is by which you may please Him, do not omit to do. For human terrors and favors are like smoke, which, snatched by a light breeze, vanishes.

Know this most certainly, that no one can please both God and wicked men. Let your fraternity therefore esteem itself to have pleased Almighty God in as great a measure as it shall have known itself to have displeased perverse men. Yet let the very defense of the poor be moderate and grave, lest, if anything be done too rigidly, men suppose out of youthfulness that you are behaving proudly. But such must our defense on behalf of the oppressed be found, that both the humble may feel protection, and the oppressors may not easily find what they may reprehend out of a malevolent mind. Attend therefore to what is said to Ezekiel: Son of man, unbelievers and subverters are with thee, and thou dwellest with scorpions (Ezekiel 2:6). And blessed Job says:

I was a brother of dragons, and a companion of ostriches (Job 30:29). And Paul says to his disciples: In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world (Philippians 2:15). So much the more cautiously therefore ought we to walk, as we know ourselves to live among the enemies of God. But concerning the Photinianists, let your fraternity be altogether solicitous, and, as it has begun, let it strive that they may be recalled to the bosom of the holy Church. But if any of them should wish to come to me and receive instruction, let them first give an oath that they will not permit their own people to persist in their error, even after instruction has been received. And afterward let your holiness promise them that they will suffer no violence from me, but that I will render an account.

If they acknowledge the truth, let them receive it; if they do not acknowledge it, I dismiss them unharmed. But if any of them should wish to come to us against you, let your fraternity by no means detain them, for those who come will either receive instruction, or know for certain that, once sent forth, they will never again see that land.