Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 801

Gregory to Brunhild, queen of the Franks. Among other good things, this holds the chief place with you above the rest, that amid the waves of this world, which are wont to confound the minds of those who rule with turbulent vexation, you thus bring back your heart to the love of divine worship and to the disposing of quiet for venerable places, as if no other care solicited you. Wherefore, since the action of rulers of this kind is wont to be a great fortification of their subjects, we assert that the nation of the Franks is happy above other nations, which has deserved to have a queen endowed with all good things.

But learning from your letters which indicate that you have built the church of Saint Martin in the suburb of Autun, and a monastery of the handmaids of God, as also a hospice in that same city, we were greatly gladdened, and gave thanks to almighty God, who moves the sincerity of your heart to work these things. On which account, that we too might be held partakers in some measure in your good deeds, we have granted privileges to those same places for the quiet and fortification of those dwelling there, just as you wished, nor have we allowed the desires of your Excellency, to be embraced by us, to be deferred even a little.

Moreover, sending before with paternal charity the address of a greeting, we make known to our illustrious sons, and the servants and legates of your Excellency, Burgoald and Warmaricarius, that we have furnished them our confidence according to your writings. Who are known to have disclosed to us with subtle explanation all the things which they said had been enjoined upon them. Concerning which it will be our care at a following time to indicate to your Excellency what shall have been done. For whatever is possible, whatever is useful, and pertains to establishing peace between them and the commonwealth, we desire, God being the author, to be accomplished with the utmost devotion. But Mennas indeed (Gratian, 2, question 5, chapter...

Our most reverend brother and fellow bishop, after we had inquired into the things that had been said against him and found him in no way culpable, and after he had moreover given satisfaction under oath at the most sacred body of the blessed Apostle Peter and shown himself a stranger to the charges that had been brought against his reputation, we permitted to return thither cleared and absolved; for just as it was fitting that, if he were in any point guilty, we should punish his fault in him according to the canons, so it was not fitting that, his innocence assisting him, we should any longer detain or afflict him in any way.

Concerning a certain bishop whom, as the aforesaid distinguished men have told us, an infirmity of the head does not allow to administer his own office, we have written to our brother and fellow bishop Etherius, that if he should have intervals free of the same infirmity, he should by a submitted petition profess that he is unable to suffice for the fulfilment of his post, but should request that another be ordained for his Church; for while the bishop is still living, whom not fault but sickness withdraws from the administration of his office, the canons in no way permit that another be ordained in his place.

But if at no time he returns to the exercise of a sound mind, a person must be sought adorned in life and character, who is able both to bear the care of souls and to arrange the affairs and interests of that same Church by a wholesome ordering, and is of such standing that, if he should survive, he may be able to succeed to his place. And also, if there are any to be promoted to holy orders or to the ministry of the clergy, we have decreed that they are to be reserved and reported to our aforesaid most reverend brother Etherius—if indeed the man belongs to his diocese—so that, upon inquiry being made there, if they are subject to no fault which the sacred canons pursue, he himself may ordain them.

Let therefore the care of your Excellency join itself to our arrangement, so that the interests of the Church—for which you have the greatest love—may not perish, and increases of reward may grow up for your Excellency's good deeds. Likewise, being consulted about a certain twice-married man, whether he could be admitted to holy orders, we have altogether forbidden it according to the canonical rule. For far be it that in your times, in which you do so many pious and religious deeds, you should permit anything to be done contrary to ecclesiastical institution. Now the aforesaid distinguished men, our sons, having submitted a memorandum,

among other things they requested—which they declared had been enjoined upon them by your command—that such a person ought to be sent by us into the Gauls, one who, a synod having been held, might be able, with almighty God as author, to correct all things that are perpetrated against the most sacred canons. In this matter we have recognized the care of your Glory, which you take for the life of the soul and for the stability of your kingdom; because, fearing our Redeemer and keeping His precepts in all things, you both act here so that the helm of your kingdom may long endure, and after the long courses of years may pass over from an earthly kingdom to the heavenly kingdom. And at a fitting time, if it please God, we shall take care to fulfil the venerable desires of your Excellency.

We therefore, for the fortification of the places about which your Excellency wrote, have taken pains to sanction everything just as you wished. But lest perhaps these same decrees of ours be at any time suppressed by the officials of those places—because certain things are known to have been forbidden to them—this same constitution is to be inserted into the public records, so that it may be kept both in our archives and likewise in the royal registers. May almighty God ever guard your Excellency in His fear, and so fulfil your prayers and those of the most excellent kings your grandsons—by the intercession of blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, to whom you commend them—that He may grant you to have stable joy from their safety forever, as you desire.

Given in the month of November, in the sixth indiction.