教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 500 章

Gregory to Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna. How necessary it is to provide for the tranquillity of monasteries, and to take thought for their perpetual security, the office which you formerly exercised in the governance of a monastery instructs you. And therefore, since we have learned that the monastery of the blessed John and Stephen, which is established in the city of Classe, over which our common son the abbot Claudius is known to preside, has endured many prejudices and grievances from your predecessors, it is fitting that the provision of Your Fraternity should by a salutary ordinance dispose for their tranquillity in the future; so that those who dwell there in the service of God may, with His grace also aiding, persevere with a free mind.

But lest, out of a custom which ought rather to be amended, anyone should at any time presume to inflict any molestation there, it is necessary that these things which we have taken care to enumerate below should be so guarded by the zeal of Your Fraternity, that from them no occasion of further disquiet to be inflicted may be found. Let no one, therefore, henceforth dare in any way, by any pretext, to diminish anything from the revenues or charters of the aforesaid monastery, or from any place which pertains to it, nor to make any encroachments or frauds.

But if perchance some case should arise between the Church of Ravenna and the aforesaid monastery, and it cannot be settled peacefully, let it be concluded, without voluntary delay, before God-fearing men chosen by the parties, with the most holy Gospels placed in the midst. And when the abbot is deceased, let no stranger be ordained, but only one from that same congregation whom the congregation itself shall by its own will have chosen, and let him who is chosen be ordained without any deceit or venality;

and if they should be unable to find a suitable person among themselves, let them carefully choose one likewise from other monasteries to be ordained. Nor let any person, on any occasion, be set over the incoming abbot in his own monastery, unless perchance there exist—which God forbid—crimes which the sacred canons are shown to punish. Likewise it must be guarded that, against the will of the abbot of that same monastery, monks be not thence taken away to found other monasteries, or to the sacred orders or the office of the clergy. But if they should be abundant and sufficient both for celebrating the praises of God and for accomplishing the utilities of the monasteries, let the abbot with devotion offer of those who are in excess such as he shall have been able to find worthy in the sight of God.

But if, having a sufficient number, he should be unwilling to give any, then let the bishop of Ravenna take from those who are in excess for the founding of other monasteries. Yet let no one be advanced thence to ecclesiastical office, except him whom the abbot of the place, when admonished, shall of his own will have offered (Gratian, distinction 58, canon 1). Whoever, moreover, shall have come from the aforesaid monastery to an ecclesiastical order, let him thenceforth have there neither any power nor licence of dwelling. It must also be observed that a description of the goods or charters of that same monastery ought not to be made by ecclesiastics, if ever the matter requires it: but let the abbot of the place, together with other abbots, make an inventory of the goods.

But as often as, for the utility of his monastery, the abbot should perchance wish to come or send to the Roman pontiff, let it be permitted him by all means. Moreover, since the coming of bishops ought to be awaited by monasteries with desire, yet because it was reported to us that the aforesaid monastery was in the times of your predecessor burdened on occasion of hospitality, it is fitting that Your Holiness should fittingly moderate this, so that for the sake of visitation and exhortation the bishop of that same city may approach the monastery as often as he pleases. But let the bishop there so fulfil the office of charity that the monastery incur no burden.

But the aforesaid abbot not only does not fear to approach Your Fraternity frequently at the monastery, but even desirously longs for it, knowing that through you the substance of the monastery can in no wise be burdened. Given in the month of April, in the first indiction.