教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 299 章

Gregory to Adeodatus, bishop and Primate of the province of Numidia. In what manner the charity of love has bound your Fraternity to us, the tenor of your writings has evidently made known; and they have afforded us a great kindling of joy, in that we have learned that they were composed with kindly piety and glow with a love pleasing to God. As we have briefly said, so did the letter you sent set forth your mind, that its author was believed to be in no way absent. For those are not to be judged absent whose spirit does not differ from mutual charity.

But although, as you write, neither your strength nor your age permits you to come to us, so that we might rejoice in the bodily presence of your Fraternity, nevertheless, because our mind is united to you and yours to us, we are in turn present to one another in all things, while we behold ourselves with a mind made one through love. Saluting moreover your Fraternity, we exhort you with fitting affection of charity, so to strive to discharge sagaciously with all earnestness the office of primacy which you hold, God being its author, that your having come to this rank may both profit your soul and stand as an example of good imitation to others in the future. Be therefore especially solicitous in ordination;

and by no means admit any to aspire to holy orders unless they are advanced in age and clean in deed, lest perchance they cease forever to be what they hasten immaturely to be. Concerning those who are to be placed in holy orders, examine first their life and morals; and that you may be able to appoint worthy men to this office, let neither the power nor the entreaty of any persons whatsoever steal upon you. But above all it behoves you to be cautious that no venality arise in ordination, lest—which God forbid—a greater peril threaten both the ordained and those who ordain. Whenever therefore it is necessary to treat of these matters, take grave and experienced men as partners in your counsels, and weigh this by common deliberation with them.

But before all it befits you to take Columbus, our brother and fellow bishop, into consultation in all things. For we believe that if you do the things which are to be done with his counsel, no one will find in you anything that he could in any way reprove; and know that it will be as pleasing to us as if they were done with our own counsel, since his life and morals are so approved by us in all things, that it is clearly established to all that whatever is done with his consent is stained by the blemish of no fault. And the bearer of these presents, Victorinus, deacon of our aforesaid fellow bishop, has proved himself such a herald of your merits, that he vehemently renewed our minds concerning your conduct.

And we pray the almighty Lord that He may cause the good things which he has reported concerning you to shine forth more fully in operation pleasing to Himself. The council therefore which you are arranging to gather, when by God's comforting aid it shall have been accomplished, gladden us concerning its unity and concord, and render us more certain in all things.