教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 669 章

Gregory to Donus, bishop of Messina. Although our glorious son Gregory, the ex-prefect, has great confidence in your Fraternity, so that he does not doubt that priestly affection will be bestowed upon him by you, yet because he trusts that the measure of your Charity will be increased at our request and commendation, we have seen fit to exhort you by this letter, that you ought to concur with his advantage and to expend upon his help whatever reason may counsel. And because he desires to conduct certain matters with your Fraternity for his own security, as he says, let him find with you a welcome such as truly befits priests, and let him know that you have compassion upon him with fatherly love; so that, while the burden of his solicitude is relieved by the zeal of your Charity,

both he himself may be able to prove by deeds the confidence which he bears toward you, and your Fraternity may be seen to have expended itself salutarily upon the desires of petitioners. Gregory to Leontius, the ex-consul. Since the vigour of justice in your cognizance, and truth, suffice to aid those whom it protects, there was no need of anyone's commendation with you, seeing that of yourself you bestow those things which ought to be sought in the name of equity. But lest we seem to postpone the desires of petitioners, who trust that the zeal of good sons is increased by fatherly exhortation, we are for that reason invited in every way to conduct with your Glory those things which you present unbidden.

Therefore, greeting you with fatherly love, we ask that you more bountifully bestow upon our glorious son Gregory, the ex-prefect, the grace of the charity with which you are endowed; so that he may be able to prove by true effects whatever of equity he trusts in your kindness, and that we, learning the good things which are so manifoldly proclaimed concerning you, may be able assiduously to beseech the Almighty Lord for the wellbeing of your Glory.