教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 491 章

Gregory to Eusebius of Thessalonica, Urbicius of Dyrrachium, Constantius of Milan, Andrew of Nicopolis, John of Corinth, John of Prima Justiniana, John of Crete (of Scorilo), John of Larissa, Marinianus of Ravenna, Januarius of Cagliari in Sardinia, and to all the bishops of Sicily. The law which the most pious emperor has issued—lest perhaps those who are bound to military service or to public accounts, while they flee the peril of their causes, should come to the ecclesiastical habit or be converted in monasteries—I have taken care to transmit to your Fraternity:

exhorting this especially, that those who are entangled in the affairs of the world are not to be hastily received into the clergy of the Church, since while they live in the ecclesiastical habit not unlike as they had lived before, they by no means strive to flee the world, but to change it. But if any such also seek a monastery, they are by no means to be received unless they have first been released from public accounts. And if any from the military ranks make haste to be converted in monasteries, they are not to be received rashly, unless their life has been subtly inquired into. And according to the regular norm they ought to be tested in their own habit for three years, and then to receive the monastic habit, God being the author.

Those who have thus been tested and received, and who are zealous to do penance for their souls' sake concerning the faults they have committed, on account of their life and heavenly gain, their conversion is not to be refused. Concerning which matter also the most serene and most Christian emperor, believe me, is by all means appeased, and gladly receives the conversion of those whom he recognizes not to be entangled in public accounts. In the month of December, in the first indiction.