教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 518 章

Gregory to Januarius, bishop of Sardinia. What our enemies have wrought in Sardinia we learned before the letter of your Fraternity reached us. And because we long ago feared that this would come to pass, we now lament together with you that what we foresaw has come about. But if, according to what we wrote both to you and to our most excellent son Gennadius announcing that this would be, due care had been employed, the enemy would either not have come thither at all, or, on coming, would have incurred the danger which they inflicted. Now at least, therefore, let the things that have happened sharpen your vigilance for the future. For we too, whatever we can do to profit you, by no means omit to do, with the Lord's help.

Know, moreover, that the abbot whom we sent long ago to Agilulf has, by God's favour, so far as has been written to us by the most excellent exarch, arranged peace with him. And therefore, until the pacts for the confirmation of this same peace are drawn up in writing, lest perchance our enemies during this delay should again wish to advance into those parts, cause watches of the walls and diligence to be employed in all places. And we trust in the power of our Redeemer that the incursions or ambushes of our adversaries will not again harm you. But as to what you wrote, that many are laying complaints against you, it is true;

but among various matters no other thing has so saddened us as that which our most beloved son Cyriacus the abbot reported to us: that on the Lord's Day, before Mass, you caused the harvest to be reaped from the field which Donatus possessed. And, as if that were too little, when the sacrifice was completed, going thither yourself, you dug up the boundary-markers. For which reason I exhort that you consider with anxious mind the office which you bear, and that you altogether flee whatever can burden either your reputation or your soul, and that you consent to commit that thing at no man's persuasion.

For know that you have undertaken not the care of earthly things, but the leadership of souls. There, therefore, ought you to fix your heart, there your solicitude, there your whole zeal, and to think the more diligently of their gain, so that, when you shall have rendered to the coming Lord the talents which He entrusted, multiplied, you may deserve to obtain the fruit of reward and to be exalted in glory among the faithful servants in the other life. But know that this, which I rebuke and reprove, proceeds not from harshness but from brotherly love; for I desire you to be found a priest before Almighty God not in name only—which pertains solely to punishment—but also in merits, which regards reward.

For while we are one member in the body of our Redeemer, just as I am torn in your fault, so also am I gladdened in your good action. Furthermore, as to what you wish—that we should appoint a person who is not hidden from us, to whom you may subtly intimate your causes to be reported to us—write whatever you wish to our most beloved son Peter and to Theodore the counsellor, so that, being intimated to us through them, whatever reason shall suggest concerning these matters may, the Lord revealing it, be able to be settled. But concerning our brother and fellow-bishop Marinianus, when peace with the aforesaid Agilulf has been perfectly confirmed, there shall be an inquiry, and whatever the order of reason shall dictate shall be done.