教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 217 章

Gregory to John, bishop of Velletri. The character of the times admonishes us to transfer episcopal sees, anciently established in fixed cities, to other places of the same diocese which we deem safer, so that the inhabitants may now dwell there and may more easily escape the barbarian peril. Therefore we command you, John, our brother and fellow-bishop of the city of Velletri, thenceforth to remove your see to the place which is called Arenata, to Saint Andrew the Apostle, so that you may be able to be freer from the assault of hostility, and may there arrange the customary observance of the solemn feasts. Given in the month of February, in the tenth indiction. (Cf. John the Deacon, book III, chapter 17.) Gregory to Bishop Paul.

For this reason your fraternity was appointed for the present to preside over the Church of Naples: that you might, by persuasive preaching, convert to God as many as you could. And whereas you ought to carry this out with your whole intention, before you have wrought this fruit for the Lord, you hasten to return and ask of me that I should speedily set that same Church in order, though my mind is not idle in this matter. But because I desire to fortify its interests with lasting stability, I find it necessary to treat of this by lengthy deliberation, so that I may be able, by Christ's revealing, to set it in order with a worthy ordination. Meanwhile, therefore, let your fraternity so strive to keep watch over the winning of souls, that the judgement which I hold concerning you may be strengthened by the effect of your labour.

Concerning the person of Peter the deacon, about whom you wrote, Theodorus, a man of consular rank, has now informed me of everything. And therefore, since I have learned that he cleaves to you and, by your own testimony, is zealous for the interests of the Church, he ought to dread no man's adversity or enmities; but the more he perceives that others envy him, the more vigilantly, so that they may be able to do him no harm, let him persevere in the interests of the Church and in the service of God. And your fraternity ought not, after this, to be anxious on account of his person, because with me no underhand suggestion shall find a place.