Gregory to Venantius the bishop. As often as we are asked for those things which it is fitting for us to encourage, we ought not to make delays in granting them, lest we seem to defer good desires, which rather ought to be fostered. And therefore, since the glorious Aldio, master of the soldiers, greatly desires that priests and deacons be ordained in his city, as he has indicated to us by his own letters, let your fraternity diligently inquire into those who are chosen for consecration. And if there is nothing that canonically hinders their ordination, let him strive, God being propitious, to ordain them.
With whom also it is fitting that you speak, that by the solicitude of their exhortation they may strive to recall the people dwelling there from unbelief, and to withdraw them from the worship of the heathen, and to teach them to persist in the fear of God almighty and to love the rewards of eternal life—so that this consecration may profit both them, before God, unto glory, and the people dwelling there unto salvation.