Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 807

Gregory to Venantius, patrician of Palermo. We make known that your Excellency's choice in the person of Urbicus the abbot has pleased us greatly; since, as befitted the discernment of your judgment, you have sought for the governance of the Church a man vigilant and solicitous, and instructed in the knowledge of divine Scripture—which is above all to be looked for in priests. But because one man is to be set over the rest in such a way that, while he himself advances outwardly, he does not decrease inwardly, we cannot disturb his repose, lest, when we advance him to higher things, we compel him to be made less than himself, cast into the waves.

But as for the person of Crescens the deacon, because he is altogether unknown to us, it was our first care to inquire how he had governed the hospice over which he had presided, so that from the least things we might come to know what sort he might be able to be in the greatest. But what the bearers of your letters answered us, you will learn from them themselves. But your Excellency should know that it is altogether difficult for us to give a priest from here, because the necessity of persons for ordaining other places destitute of pastors presses us with no light straitness.

And therefore, because we know that you fear God and have regard for your soul, sending before us the address of a greeting with fatherly charity, we exhort that, as is fitting, you ought to scrutinize inwardly, by cautious and diligent investigation, the life, character, and conduct of the aforesaid deacon. And if you recognize that he can rise to the government of the Church, let all by your exhortation unite in him.

But if the solicitude of your judgment feels otherwise, and considers that he cannot effectively administer the pastoral care, action must be taken in concord with all, that they may be able to choose from that same Church another who shall be seen to be suitable, so that, when both the deacon who has already been chosen and also he who is yet to be chosen come to us, the one who shall please God may be ordained. But indeed, if in that Church no one of this kind can be found among the priests or deacons or the rest of the clergy, let them hasten to choose from another Church such a prelate to be ordained, who by vigilant solicitude may prove useful, God having mercy, both to their outward interests and, by priestly exhortation, to their souls.

Moreover, lest there be any delay in this matter, and their sins bring it about that none of the elect proves suitable, the clergy and people are to be exhorted that they ought to give their proxy to those who shall come to us, so that here they may have licence to elect, and may make this same thing known to us by their letters corroborated with their own subscriptions, so that, if he can be found here, without any difficulty he may, with the cooperating grace of Christ, be consecrated. Yet this we say not impelled by our own will, but compelled by necessity, because, as far as concerns the judgment of our authority, we wish that they should have their pastor from among their own. Gregory to Passivus, bishop of Fermo.

Proculus, deacon of the Church of Asculum, our petitioner, has made known to us by his statement that upon the Gressian estate, which is under his own jurisdiction, he has, out of his own devotion, founded a monastery, which he desires to have consecrated in honor of the holy martyr Savinus. And therefore, most dear brother, if the aforesaid construction lawfully stands within your parish, and it is established that no body has been buried there, then, once a lawful endowment has first been received — that is, one homestead, one yoke of oxen, five head of cattle, twenty head mixed of sheep and goats, on the Gressian estate where the monastery itself is founded eight ounces (of gold), on the Stacian estate eight ounces, the Paternian estate in its entirety, ten swine, bedding, and things bound by municipal deeds, and so forth — proceed according to custom.

Given in the month of December, in the sixth indiction. The bearer of the present letter, John, our brother and fellow bishop, is known to have communicated certain matters to us concerning the affairs of his Church in a written memorandum; and having learned of these, we would have had to blame your discretion, if what had been brought to you had until now remained unresolved. But upon inquiry we have learned that these things were by no means brought to your notice. Therefore that very memorandum which was presented to us, we have had appended below.

And so, when all things have been examined and discussed, if by manifest truth it becomes clear to you that the matter stands as it was represented, we wish you to approach our brother and fellow bishop Marinianus, and to exhort him by all means that he ought to appoint those who are recognized as having a concern in conducting the affairs of that same Church, so that, all things being weighed with the aforesaid man concerning the disputes that have arisen, they may settle them between themselves with ecclesiastical tranquillity. But if they choose to resist, let your discretion press upon them that there be a judgment; and whatever sentence of the arbiters shall have been determined among them, it ought to be carried out through your execution;

lest the poverty of that same Church, being deferred by long-drawn delays, be aggravated by various losses, as it asserts has already come to pass. He has also informed us that a certain bishop, Exuperantius, has with rash presumption built an oratory within his diocese, and that he has presumed to dedicate it against custom without the authority of a precept, and did not fear to celebrate public Masses there. This matter you ought to correct with the utmost speed and strictness, that you may not permit any such thing to be attempted henceforth. But the oratory which you shall find to have been built by an incompetent person, we wish you, if the matter is established to be as has been said, to restore to that same church together with its own bishop without any delay.