教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 829 章

Gregory to Eulogius, bishop of Alexandria. One day, when a discourse had arisen between me and my household concerning the customs of the Churches, a certain man, who in the great city of Alexandria had been trained in the art of medicine, related that he had had a tax-collector at his teacher's, a fellow of the utmost depravity, whom he said had suddenly been ordained a deacon. And he added that he had been ordained through gifts and payments, and he affirmed that this same custom had gained strength in the holy Church of Alexandria.

Hearing this I was astounded, and greatly marveled that the tongue of the most holy and most blessed man, lord Eulogius, which recalls so many heretics to the catholic faith, had not scoured away the simoniac heresy from the holy Church of Alexandria. And who shall there be whose exhortation or correction can amend this, if his great and admirable teaching shall have left it without amendment? Whence, for the absolution of your soul, for the increase of your reward, that before the eyes of the dread Judge your works may in all things be perfect, you ought to hasten to pluck up and utterly eradicate from your most holy see—which is ours—the simoniac heresy, which first arose in the Church.

For it has come about on this account that the holiness of ecclesiastical orders has in very many fallen, because persons are brought to those orders not for their life and character, but for payments. But if merits and not payments be sought, unworthy persons will not come to ordination. And your reward will begin to increase so much the more, the more that all good men, who shall have been brought to holy orders, shall have been zealous to think about the gains of souls.