教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 478 章

Gregory to Dominicus, bishop of Carthage. Although we believe that your Fraternity, in your care for the monasteries, is watchful with pastoral vigilance, nevertheless those things which we have learned concerning a monastery situated in the province of Africa we have thought it necessary to bring to your notice. For Cumquodeus, the abbot and bearer of these presents, complains that whenever he wishes to restrain under regular discipline the monks over whom he is known to preside, they rashly desert the monastery, and roam about freely wherever they please. Since therefore this is both altogether ruinous to themselves and sets an example of perdition to others, we exhort your Fraternity that, if it is so, you exercise ecclesiastical correction upon them,

and by fitting punishment suspend them, beyond all doubt, from such presumption; and thus, by wholesome provision, subject their proud spirits to the yoke of discipline for obedience, so that those whom the imitation of these men might have provoked to the excess of this depravity may be recalled from guilt by their amendment, and taught, as is fitting, to obey their superiors. But because he asserts that the offending monks are defended by certain bishops, let your Fraternity be zealous to be careful in this matter, and by your interdict restrain those bishops in every way from such defense. In the month of July, in the fifteenth indiction.