Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 781

Gregory to Ciridanus. We received some time ago the writing of your Glory, in which you signified that by the command of the most serene princes the charge of the grain-supply had been committed to your solicitude, and that it had been enjoined that the whole quantity of wheat which had been received into the granaries of our Church ought by all means to be handed over to you, and you wrote that we should have this very thing prepared in kind. Which indeed, since it was not yours—you, to whom such great good has been brought from us—we knew; and you know how hard and altogether difficult it is that a thing which could neither be preserved nor at that time be found for purchase should be sought to be restored in kind.

Nevertheless, that we might be freed from solicitude for this matter, it was our study that, even at greater cost, we should by all means have that very grain, as you wished, prepared in kind. But afterwards, through the bearer of these presents, Eutychius, a magnificent man, who mentions that he is an illustrious prefect, you sent us another letter, that the total amount of the said grain-supply received from the granary-keepers of the Church ought to be entered among the public acts. And therefore, lest through the occasion of the Church some occasion or excuse should seem to arise for anyone, the defenders of the Church have both declared the quantity, as you wrote, and have sought the things which they thought useful.

Let your Glory diligently and solicitously deal with this, and not neglect their words. For whatever loss shall hereafter befall in the matter of the said grain-supply, know that it in no way pertains any longer to the Church's expense, since not even the inhabitants of that city, men truly afflicted, assert that they can take upon themselves the aforesaid grain-supply to their own detriment. Knowing all these things, therefore, let your Glory so strive to think concerning the things committed to it, that it may both promote the public benefit, and that the burden of this work may not again fall upon our Church to the oppression of the poor. Gregory to Desiderius, bishop in Gaul.

Pancratius, the bearer of these presents, a deacon, as he asserts, presenting himself at the thresholds of the Apostles, is known to have petitioned us that we ought to commend him specially to your Fraternity. He also intimated to us that he had been bound in the office of the clericate to your Church. Wherefore, pricked by divine inspiration, he sought the grace of monastic conversion, and desiring to remain there in the same habit which he took up, he also mentions that he was made deacon of that same monastery. From the service of that place he can by no reasoning endure to be torn away. But now, as he wrote, your Fraternity wishes to recall him to the office of your Church, not indeed with intent to hinder, but out of an affection of benevolence.

We exhort you, therefore, that your Fraternity be by no means a hindrance to his ready devotion, which he strives to keep in his holy purpose; but rather, kindle him by such exhortations as you are able, with pastoral admonition, that the fervour of this desire may not grow lukewarm in him; that he who, separating himself from the turbulent tumult of secular cares, sought the harbour of the monastery out of a desire for quiet, may not again be entangled in the perturbations of ecclesiastical cares, but may be permitted, secure from all these, to remain, as he requests, in the praises of God.