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| To Anthemius the Subdeacon.
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Epistle
L.
To Anthemius the Subdeacon1368
| 1368 Anthemius was
Defensor ecclesiæ in Campania. | .
Gregory to Anthemius, &c.
Even as, through the ordering of God as it hath pleased Him, we have received the place of
government, so ought we to be solicitous for the souls committed to
us. Now we find that in the Eumorphian island1369
| 1369 An island, as well
as Palmaria mentioned afterwards, near the Campanian coast, and hence
under the care of Anthemius. | , in which, as is well known, there is an
oratory of the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, a large number of
men with their wives from various patrimonies have fled to it for
refuge, through stress of barbarian ferocity.1370
| 1370 Alluding to the
Lombards, who at this time were ravaging Italy. | This we consider inexpedient:
for, there being other places of refuge near at hand, why should women
have their abode there with monks? Wherefore we enjoin thy
Experience by this present order from this time forward to allow no
woman, whether she be under ecclesiastical jurisdiction or any other,
to take up her abode or tarry there; but let them provide for
themselves a place of refuge (there being, as has been said above, so
many in the neighbourhood) wherever they may choose; so that all
intercourse with women may henceforth be put an end to; lest, if we
should desist from taking all the care we can, and guarding against the
snares of the enemy, we henceforth (which God
forbid) should be culpable in case of anything wrong taking
place. Delay not, therefore, to give to the abbot Felix, the
bearer of these presents, one thousand five hundred pounds of lead,
which he is known to be in want of in the same island, which may be
charged afterwards in thy accounts, when the whole quantity shall be
known. So proceed, then, that thou mayest provide thyself with
some, if any can be profitably used for the buildings of the same
island. Moreover, since congregations of monks in the islands are
exposed to hardship, we forbid boys under eighteen years of age to be
received into these monasteries. Or, if there are any now there,
let thy Experience remove them, and send them to the city of
Rome. We desire thee in all respects to observe this in Palmaria
also and the other islands.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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