教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 266 章

Gregory to Scholasticus, judge of Campania. While we were being the more vehemently distressed over the care of the city of Naples, deprived of the comfort of a priest, the bearers of the present letter, arriving with the decree drawn up in favour of our subdeacon Florentius, had found for us some relief in so great a weight of anxieties. But when our aforesaid subdeacon, fleeing that very city, had tearfully avoided his ordination, know that our sadness increased as if by some greater dispensation. And therefore, greeting you, we exhort Your Greatness that, calling together the leading men or the people of the city, you take thought concerning the election of another who may worthily be promoted, with Christ's help, to the priesthood.

In which decree, solemnly made and transmitted to this city, may the ordination at length take place there, Christ aiding. But if you do not find a suitable person on whom you can agree, at least choose three upright and wise men, whom you shall send to this city in the stead of the whole community, to whose judgement also the whole people may consent. Perhaps, coming hither, by the granting of God's mercy they will find such a one as may be ordained your prelate irreproachably, so that your destitute city may lack neither, within, an inspector of its own deeds, nor may access be afforded to hostile snares from without, the solicitude of a priest being applied. (See above, letter 1. Compare John the Deacon, book 3, chapter 8.)