教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 464 章

Gregory to Martin, deacon and abbot. Just as crimes truly charged against religious men are worthy to be punished with due chastisement, so likewise they are to be absolved from charges laid upon them when no guilt of fault binds them. Since, therefore, certain things had been reported to us concerning you which stained the purpose of your office not lightly, we took care to inquire into them by long and subtle investigation. And since we found nothing that might harm you, lest any suspicion should remain concerning those things which had been said, we caused you, for your fullest satisfaction, to render binding oaths at the most sacred body of blessed Peter, prince of the Apostles, that you were innocent of them. And therefore, after satisfaction had been made to us, as was fitting,

we have determined that your Beloved is by all means to be absolved, and we have decreed that you should in every respect return to your own Church, namely in that place and rank which you held, and that you should suffer no contradiction or disquiet from anyone concerning those things which had been reported to us: admonishing you that henceforth you ought so to show yourself cautious and careful, that you may answer to your office both in your morals and in your action, so that every occasion of speaking any adverse opinion against you may be utterly withdrawn. In the month of May, indiction 15. Gregory to Marinianus, archbishop of Ravenna. How (Gratian 7, q. 1, c.

13). Your Fraternity long ago learned that the Church of Rimini, on account of the sickness which, as is known, hinders the body of the priest ordained by us, has hitherto been left destitute of pastoral governance. And while, moved by the prayers of the inhabitants of that place, we more than once exhorted him that, if he should feel himself improved from that same affliction of the head by which he was held, he should, with the Lord's aid, return to his own Church, we have waited, granting a respite, through this space of four years.

And while, at the admonition of the clergy and citizens coming thence, and by us urging with prayers, we more insistently exhorted him that, if he were able, he should with the Lord's aid return with them, he, offering a supplication in writing, petitioned us that, since on account of the same affliction by which he was held he could in no way rise to the governance of that Church or to the office he had undertaken, we should ordain a bishop for that Church itself. Whence, since the enjoined care of solicitude for all the Churches constrains us, lest the pastoral guardianship should any longer be lacking to the flock of the faithful, being compelled by their prayers and by his own renunciation on account of his incapacity, it seemed good to us that a bishop ought to be ordained for that same Church of Rimini;

and, the precepts being given according to custom, we did not cease to admonish the clergy and people of that same Church, that they should concur with harmonious provision in electing a bishop for themselves. We exhort therefore that your Fraternity cause him whom all shall elect with one consent — even as they too are known to have asked of us — to be summoned to you; and examine him with careful scrutiny in all respects. And if there be found in him, with the Lord's help, none of those things which in the text of the Heptateuch are punished with death, and if by the report of faithful persons his life shall be pleasing to you, send him to us with the page of the decree, and with a letter of your testimony added as well, so that he may, with the Lord disposing, be consecrated as bishop for that same Church. (Cf. John

the Deacon, book iv, no. 39.)