教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 742 章

Gregory to Brunhild, queen of the Franks. Since it is written: Justice exalts a nation, but sin makes peoples wretched (Prov. 14:34), then is a kingdom believed to be stable, when a fault that is discovered is the more speedily amended. It has therefore come to us by the report of many—which we cannot utter without exceeding affliction of heart—that certain priests in those parts live unchastely and wickedly, so that it is both a reproach for us to hear and lamentable to relate. Lest, therefore, after the report of this wickedness has thus far extended itself, another's depravity should strike either our soul or your kingdom with the dart of its sin, we ought ardently to rise up to avenge these things, lest the crime of a few might become the perdition of many.

For evil priests are the cause of the people's ruin. For who shall interpose himself as an intercessor for the sins of the people, if the priest who ought to have prayed commits graver things? But since neither solicitude for inquiry nor zeal for vengeance rouses those whose office it is to pursue these things, let your written orders hasten to us, and, if you command, with the assent of your authority let us send a person who, together with other priests, ought both to investigate these matters subtly and to amend them according to God. For the things we speak of are not to be dissembled, because he who can amend and neglects to do so undoubtedly constitutes himself a partaker of the offence. Provide, therefore, for your soul; provide for your grandsons, whom you desire to reign happily; provide for the provinces;

and before our Creator stretches forth His hand to strike, most diligently consider the correction of this crime, lest afterward He strike the more sharply, by as much as He now waits the longer and more clemently. Know, moreover, that you offer to our God a great sacrifice of propitiation, if you the more speedily cut away the stain of so great a crime from your borders.