教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 674 章

Gregory to Adeodatus, abbot of Naples. It has reached us through the report of certain monks of the same monastery that the monks of the monastery of Gratteri, which is situated at Plaia, earnestly requested that they and their monastery be united to the monastery of Saint Sebastian, which was built at Naples in a house formerly belonging to Romanus, where, by God's mercy, as has been said, you bear the office of abbot; so much so that, as is reported, they had handed over all the charters of that same monastery to your monastery. But because that monastery itself is established in the diocese of Naples, lest we should seem to establish anything prejudicial—

which God forbid—we wish that, until a bishop be ordained at Naples, the aforesaid monastery of Gratteri be for the time being united to your monastery, together with all things pertaining to it. But when, the Lord favouring, a bishop shall have been ordained at Naples, we shall treat more maturely and more solidly, with God's grace, whether this union ought to be extended in perpetuity or to be temporary. But because the monastery established at Puteoli, which is called of Falcidius, is reported to be so bereft of monks that not only is the work of God there by no means celebrated, but it is even held almost as abandoned—which is grievous to say—

therefore we have determined, by our present authority, that it be united in perpetuity to your monastery, together with all things pertaining to it: admonishing you that you ought to appoint monks in each of the aforesaid two monasteries, who may both diligently have care there, and strive to perform the work of God by regular observance, and so conduct themselves in these matters, as is fitting, that no fault may confound either them for negligence, or you for lesser solicitude. But whatever you know to pertain to those same monasteries, if it is unreasonably withheld by any persons, you shall have full licence, by this our authority, to reclaim, to demand, and to vindicate it for your monastery, with God's help, because it is fitting that you should in no way be defrauded of the goods of those whose care you bear.

But as for the monks whom you shall have appointed in the monastery situated at Puteoli, you shall know them to be indeed under your discipline, yet nevertheless subject to the bishop of Puteoli, whose diocese it is, not to the bishop of Naples.