教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 422 章

Gregory to Castorius, our notary, at Ravenna. When Florentinus, deacon of the Church of Ravenna, was treating with us on behalf of our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Marinianus concerning the use of the pallium, being asked by us what was the ancient custom, he answered that in all the litanies the bishop of the Church of Ravenna used the pallium. That this was not so, we have both learned from others, and it has evidently appeared from the letters of John, formerly bishop, which we caused to be shown to him. But he asserted this because he was bidden to say it.

For at the time when the same John, formerly bishop, was restrained by you, lest he should presume to use the pallium disorderly and rashly, he wrote to us that this had been the ancient custom, that the bishop of that city should use the pallium in the solemn litanies. Copies of which letters we have transmitted there for your information. But Adeodatus, deacon of the aforesaid Church, when at the time he was here he likewise strove earnestly to treat concerning the use of the same pallium, we, wishing to know the truth, took care that he likewise should be questioned as to what the custom was.

He, in order that he might persuade himself to be believed, and might be able to obtain from us what he sought, testified under oath that it had been the ancient custom that in four or in five solemn litanies the bishop of his city used the pallium. Let your Experience therefore diligently keep watch, and with all solicitude inquire how many solemn litanies there were from antiquity. And let him not be zealous to inquire by naming them as solemn, but as the greater ones; so that by this—which the aforesaid deacon Adeodatus has testified to us, and which the letter of the aforesaid bishop John avows—when it shall have been established how many solemn litanies there were, knowing how often the pallium was accustomed to be worn in the litanies, we may most gladly grant it.

But let him not inquire this of those who are furnished by the ecclesiastics, but of others whom he shall have known to be without favor of a party; and whatever he shall have found out by careful investigation, let him indicate to us subtly, so that, the truth being known, as we have said, we may relieve the mind of our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Marinianus.