Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series • VOLUME 12
Leo the Great & Gregory the Great
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Chapter XXX.
Chapter XXX. How those are to be admonished who abstain not from the sins which they bewail, and those who, abstaining from them, bewail them not. (Admonition 31.) Differently to be admonished are those who lament their transgressions, and yet forsake them not, and those who forsake them, and yet lament them not. For those who…
1,462 wordsSECTION 162Chapter XXXI.
Chapter XXXI. How those are to be admonished who praise the unlawful things of which they are conscious, and those who while condemning them, in no wise guard against them. (Admonition 32.) Differently to be admonished are they who even praise the unlawful things which they do, and those who censure what is wrong, and yet avoi…
727 wordsSECTION 163Chapter XXXII.
Chapter XXXII. How those are to be admonished who sin from sudden impulse and those who sin deliberately. (Admonition 33.). Differently to be admonished are those who are overcome by sudden passion and those who are bound in guilt of set purpose. For those whom sudden passion overcomes are to be admonished to regard themselves…
1,275 wordsSECTION 164Chapter XXXIII.
Chapter XXXIII. How those are to be admonished who commit very small but frequent faults, and those who, while avoiding such as are very small, are sometimes plunged in such as are grievous. (Admonition 34.) Differently to be admonished are those who, though the unlawful things they do are very small, yet do them frequently, a…
843 wordsSECTION 165Chapter XXXIV.
Chapter XXXIV. How those are to be admonished who do not even begin good things, and those who do not finish them when begun. (Admonition 35.) Differently to be admonished are they who do not even begin good things, and those who in no wise complete such as they have begun. For as to those who do not even begin good things, fo…
1,598 wordsSECTION 166Chapter XXXV.
Chapter XXXV. How those are to be admonished who do bad things secretly and good things openly, and those who do contrariwise. (Admonition 36.) Differently to be admonished are those who do bad things in secret and good things publicly, and those who hide the good things they do, and yet in some things done publicly allow ill …
1,177 wordsSECTION 167Chapter XXXVI.
Chapter XXXVI. Concerning the exhortation to be addressed many at once, that It may so aid the virtues of each among them that vices contrary to such virtues may not grow up through it. These are the things that a Bishop of souls should observe in the diversity of his preaching, that he may solicitously oppose suitable medicin…
876 wordsSECTION 168Chapter XXXVIII.
Chapter XXXVIII. That sometimes lighter vices are to be left alone, that more grievous ones may be removed. But since, when the sickness of two vices attacks a man, one presses upon him more lightly, and the other perchance more heavily, it is undoubtedly right to haste to the succour of that through which there is the more ra…
879 wordsSECTION 169Chapter XL.
Chapter XL. Of the work and the voice of preaching. But in the midst of these things we are brought back by the earnest desire of charity to what we have already said above; that every preacher should give forth a sound more by his deeds than by his words, and rather by good living imprint footsteps for men to follow than by s…
1,396 wordsSECTION 170Book I.
Book I. The Month of September, Indiction IX., Being the First Year of His Ordination. Epistle I. To all the Bishops of Sicily. Gregory, servant of the servants of God [1297] , to all the bishops constituted throughout Sicily. We have plainly perceived it to be very necessary that, even as our predecessors thought fit to do…
1,006 wordsSECTION 171Epistle III.
Epistle III. To Paul, Scholasticus. Gregory to Paul, &c. However strangers smile upon me on account of the dignity of my priestly office, this I take not much account of; but I do grieve not a little at your smiling upon me on this account, seeing that you know what I long for, and yet suppose me to have received advancement.…
1,674 wordsSECTION 172Epistle VI.
Epistle VI. To Narses, Patrician [1305] . Gregory to Narses, &c. In describing loftily the sweetness of contemplation, you have renewed the groans of my fallen state, since I hear what I have lost inwardly while mounting outwardly, though undeserving, to the topmost height of rule. Know then that I am stricken with so great s…
845 wordsSECTION 173Epistle VII.
Epistle VII. To Anastasius, Patriarch of Antioch [1310] . Gregory to Anastasius, &c. I have found what your Blessedness has written to be as rest to the weary, as health to the sick, as a fountain to the thirsty, as shade to the oppressed with heat. For those words of yours did not seem even to be expressed by the tongue of t…
865 wordsSECTION 174Epistle X.
Epistle X. To Bacauda and Agnellus, Bishops. Gregory to Bacauda, &c. The Hebrews dwelling in Terracina have petitioned us for licence to hold, under our authority, the site of their synagogue which they have held hitherto. But, inasmuch as we have been informed that the same site is so near to the church that even the sound o…
978 wordsSECTION 175Epistle XVII.
Epistle XVII. To all the Bishops of Italy. Gregory to all, &c. Inasmuch as the abominable Autharit [1318] during this Easter solemnity which has been lately completed, forbade children of Lombards being baptized in the catholic faith, for which sin the Divine Majesty cut him off, so that he should not see the solemnity of ano…
710 wordsSECTION 176Epistle XIX.
Epistle XIX. To Natalis, Bishop of Salona [1319] . Gregory to Natalis, &c. The acts of your synod which you have transmitted to us, in which the Archdeacon Honoratus is condemned, we perceive to be full of the seed of strifes, seeing that the same person is at one and the same time advanced to the dignity of the priesthood ag…
873 wordsSECTION 177Epistle XXV.
Epistle XXV. To John, Bishop of Constantinople, and the Other Patriarchs. Gregory, to John of Constantinople, Eulogius of Alexandria, Gregory of Antioch, John of Jerusalem, and Anastasias, Ex-Patriarch of Antioch. A paribus [1322] . When I consider how, unworthy as I am, and resisting with my whole soul, I have been compelled…
1,675 wordsSECTION 178Epistle XXVI.
Epistle XXVI. To Anastasius, Patriarch of Antioch. [The beginning of this epistle is the same as that of Epistle VII. to the same Anastasius as far as the words "stand on the shore of virtue"; after which it is continued as follows.] But, as to your calling me the mouth and lantern of the Lord, and alleging that I profit many…
800 wordsSECTION 179Epistle XXVIII.
Epistle XXVIII. To Sebastian, Bishop of Rhisinum [in Dalmatia]. Gregory to Sebastian, &c. Although I deserved to receive no letters from your Blessedness, yet I also do not forget my own forgetfulness; I blame my negligence, I stir up my sluggishness with goads of love, that one who will not pay what he owes of his own accord…
830 wordsSECTION 180Epistle XXXIV.
Epistle XXXIV. To Venantius, Ex-Monk, Patrician of Syracuse [1331] . Gregory to Venantius, &c. Many foolish men have supposed that, if I were advanced to the rank of the episcopate, I should decline to address thee, or to keep up communication with thee by letter. But this is not so; since I am compelled by the very necessity…
1,939 wordsSECTION 181Epistle XXXV.
Epistle XXXV. To Peter, Bishop of Terracina. Gregory to Peter, &c. Joseph, a Jew, the bearer of these presents, has informed us that, the Jews dwelling in the camp of Terracina having been accustomed to assemble in a certain place for celebrating their festivities, thy Fraternity had expelled them thence, and that they had mi…
1,092 wordsSECTION 182Epistle XXXIX.
Epistle XXXIX. To Anthemius, Subdeacon [1338] . Gregory to Anthemius, &c. We charged thee on thy departure, and remember to have afterwards enjoined on thee by letter, to take care of the poor, and, if thou shouldest find any in those parts to be in want, to inform me by letter: and thou hast been at pains to do this with reg…
742 wordsSECTION 183Epistle XLIII.
Epistle XLIII. To Leander Bishop of Hispalis (Seville) [1341] . Gregory to Leander, &c. I should have wished to reply to your letters with full application of mind, were I not so worn by the labour of my pastoral charge as to be more inclined to weep than to say anything. And this your Reverence will take care to understand a…
1,050 wordsSECTION 184Epistle XLIV.
Epistle XLIV. To Peter, Subdeacon of Sicily. Gregory to Peter, &c. With regard to our having so long delayed sending off thy messenger, we have been so occupied with the engagements of the Paschal festival that we have been unable to let him go sooner. But, with regard to the questions on which thou hast desired instruction, …
2,222 wordsSECTION 185Three years ago the subdeacons of all the churches in Sicily, in accordance with the custom of the Roman Church, were forbidden all conjugal
Three years ago the subdeacons of all the churches in Sicily, in accordance with the custom of the Roman Church, were forbidden all conjugal intercourse with their wives. But it appears to me hard and improper that one who has not been accustomed to such continency, and has not previously promised chastity, should be compelled t…
2,283 wordsSECTION 186Epistle XLVI.
[1363] Magnificum virum. Who this Alexander was is not known. His designation implies a position of rank. An Alexander appears afterwards as Prætor of Sicily (VI. 8): but the Prætor of this year was Justinus (see above, Ep. II.), who was apparently succeeded by Libertinus (III. 38). [1364] Ancillæ Dei. So were called, not profe…
944 wordsSECTION 187Epistle XLIX.
Epistle XLIX. To Honoratus, Deacon [1367] . Gregory to Honoratus, &c. Since we have undertaken, however undeserving, a place of government, it is our duty to succour our brethren in need, so far as our power extends. Januarius, then, our brother and fellow-bishop of the metropolitan city of Caralis (Cagliari), has been here i…
1,416 wordsSECTION 188Epistle LVI.
Epistle LVI. To Peter, Subdeacon. Gregory to Peter, &c. Being exceedingly desirous of observing the festivals of saints, we have thought it needful to address this our letter of direction to thy Experience, informing thee that we have arranged for the dedication with all solemnity, with the help of the Lord, in the month of A…
1,032 wordsSECTION 189Epistle LXII.
Epistle LXII. To Januarius, Archbishop of Caralis (Cagliari) in Sardinia. Gregory to Januarius, &c. If our Lord Himself by the testimony of Holy Scripture declares Himself to be the husband of widows and father of orphans, we also, the members of His body, ought with the soul's supreme affection to set ourselves to imitate th…
734 wordsSECTION 190Epistle LXVII.
Epistle LXVII. To Peter, Subdeacon. Gregory to Peter, &c. If with kind disposition we meet the needs of our neighbours by shewing compassion, we shall undoubtedly find the Lord mercifully inclined to our petitions. Now we have learnt that Pastor, who labours under exceeding weakness of sight, having a wife and two slaves, who…
1,340 wordsSECTION 191Epistle LXXV.
Epistle LXXV. To Gennadius, Patrician, and Exarch throughout Africa. Gregory to Gennadius, Patrician, &c. Had not such great success of the military exploits of your Excellency arisen from the merit of your faith and from the grace of the Christian religion, it would not have been so greatly to be wondered at, since we know t…
928 wordsSECTION 192Epistle LXXVIII.
Epistle LXXVIII. To Leo, Bishop in Corsica. Gregory to Leo, &c. Our pastoral charge constrains us to come with anxious consideration to the succour of a church that is destitute of the control of a priest [1391] . And, inasmuch as we have learnt that the church of Saona for many years, since the death of its pontiff, has been…
915 wordsSECTION 193Book II.
Book II. Epistle III. To Velox, Magister Militium. Gregory to Velox, &c. We informed your Glory some time ago that soldiers had been prepared to come to your parts; but, inasmuch as your letter had signified to us that the enemy were collected and were marching hitherward, we for this reason have detained them here. But now …
861 wordsSECTION 194Epistle VII.
Epistle VII. To Maximianus, Bishop of Syracuse [1399] . Gregory to Maximianus, &c. We execute more efficiently our heavenly commission, if we share our burdens with our brethren. For this cause we appoint thee, our most reverend brother and fellow-bishop, to have administration over all the churches of Sicily in the name of t…
849 wordsSECTION 195Epistle X.
Epistle X. To Paulus, Bishop of Naples [1402] . Gregory to Paulus, &c. If we administer safely the priestly office which we have received, without doubt both Divine assistance and the affection of our spiritual sons will not be wanting to us. Wherefore let thy Fraternity take care to shew thyself in all things such that the t…
804 wordsSECTION 196Epistle XVIII.
Epistle XVIII. To Natalis, Bishop of Salona [1406] . Gregory to Natalis, &c. I have learnt, dearest brother, from many who have come from thy city that, neglecting thy pastoral charge, thou occupiest thyself wholly in feastings: which report I should not have believed had not my own experience of thy conduct confirmed it. For…
1,276 wordsSECTION 197Epistle XX.
Epistle XX. To Antoninus, Subdeacon [1407] . Gregory to Antoninus, &c. Honoratus, archdeacon of the Church of Salona, had demanded from my predecessor of holy memory, in a petition that he sent, that he should by no means be forced by his bishop to be advanced against his will, in a way contrary to custom, to a higher order. …
974 wordsSECTION 198Epistle XXIII.
Epistle XXIII. To John, Bishop. Gregory to John, Bishop of Prima Justiniana in Illyricum. It is clearly a manifest evidence of goodness that the consent of all should concur in the election of one person. Since, then, the account which we have received from our brethren and fellow-bishops declared that you are summoned to the…
804 wordsSECTION 199Epistle XXVI.
Epistle XXVI. To John, Bishop. Gregory to John, &c. Inasmuch as we have enjoined on our brother and fellow-bishop Paulus the work of the visitation of the Neapolitan church, therefore let not Fraternity shrink from assuming the visitation of the Nepesine Church, to the end that, according to the requirements of the Paschal fe…
767 wordsSECTION 200Epistle XXX.
Epistle XXX. To Maurilius and Vitalianus. Gregory to Maurilius and Vitalianus, magistris militum [1417] . We have entreated your Glory through our son Vitalianus both by word and letter, charging you to communicate with him. But on the eleventh day of the month of January [1418] Ariulph sent us this letter which we forward to…
2,418 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.