Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| To John, Bishop.
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP 
Epistle
XLVI.
To John, Bishop.
Gregory to John, Bishop of Ravenna1444
| 1444 For elucidation of
the circumstances of this Epistle see above, Epistles 3, 29, 30. | .
That I have not replied to the many letters of
your Blessedness attribute not to sluggishness on my part, but to
weakness, seeing that, on account of my sins, when Ariulph, coming to
the Roman city, killed some and mutilated others, I was affected with
such great sadness as to fall into a colic sickness. But I
wondered much why it was that that well-known care of your Holiness for
me was of no advantage to this city and to my needs. When,
however, your letters reached me, I became aware that you are indeed
taking pains to act, but yet have no one on whom you can bring your
action to bear. I therefore attribute it to my sins that this
man1445
| 1445 Viz. Romanus
Patricius, mentioned below, the Exarch of Ravenna, and as such
representing the Emperor in Italy. See I. 33, “Ad Romanum
Patricium et Exarchum Italiæ.” | with whom we are now concerned both evades
fighting against our enemies and also forbids our making peace; though
indeed at present, even if he wished us to make it, we are utterly
unable, since Ariulph, having the army of Authar and Nordulf, desires
their subsidies1446
| 1446 Precaria;
apparently subsidies demanded for the support of the invading
army. Precarium (or Precarim), which has various
applications, appears to be capable of this sense. See Du
Cange. | to be given him
ere he will deign to speak to us at all about peace.
But, as to the case of the bishops of
Istria1447
| 1447 The Istrian
bishops still held out in refusing to accept the condemnation of
“The Three Chapters” passed in the fifth Œcumenical
Council at the instance of the Emperor Justinian. Gregory, soon
after his accession, had summoned Severus, Bishop of Aquileia and
Metropolitan, with his suffragans, to Rome; and this, as he alleges, by
command of the Emperor, though the latter had now, it appears,
forbidden further proceedings. See I. 16, and note. | , I have learnt
the truth of all you had told me in your letters from the commands
which have come to me from the most pious princes, bidding me abstain
for the present from compelling them. I indeed feel with you, and
rejoice greatly in your zeal and ardour, with regard to what you have
written, and acknowledge myself to have become in many ways your
debtor. Know nevertheless that I shall not cease to write with
the greatest zeal and freedom on this same matter to the most serene
lords. Moreover the animosity of the aforesaid most excellent
Romanus Patricius ought not to move you, since, as we are above him in
place and rank, we ought so much the more to tolerate with forbearance
and dignity any light conduct on his part.
If, however, there is any opportunity of
prevailing with him, let your Fraternity work upon him, so that we may
make peace with Ariulph, if to some small extent we may, since the
soldiery have been removed from the city of Rome, as he himself
knows. But the Theodosiacs1448
, who have
remained here, not having received their pay, are with difficulty
induced to guard the walls; and how shall the city subsist, left
destitute as it is by all, if it has not peace?
Furthermore, as to
the gift redeemed from captivity, about whom you have written to us
asking us to enquire into her origin, we would have your Holiness know
that an unknown person cannot easily be traced. But as to what
you say about one who has been ordained being ordained again, it is
exceedingly ridiculous, and outside the consideration of one disposed
as you are, unless perchance some precedent is adduced which ought to
be taken into account in judging him who is alleged to have done any
such thing. But far be it from your Fraternity to entertain such
a view. For, as one who has been once baptized ought not to be
baptized again, so one who has been once consecrated cannot be
consecrated again to the same order. But in case of any
one’s attainment of the priesthood having been accompanied by
slight misdemeanour, he ought to be adjudged to penance for the
misdemeanour, and yet return his orders.
With regard to the city of Naples1449
| 1449 With respect to
Rome Gregory has already complained that the Exarch would neither send
forces for its defence nor allow peace to be made with Ariulph.
So also with regard to Naples, which Gregory understands to be now
threatened by the Lombards. The Exarch, it appears, had been
urgent in insisting that it should hold out against the enemy
(“excellentissimo exarcho instanter imminente”), but
without giving any help for the purpose. What Gregory here says
is that without aid from the Exarch its defence was hopeless. | , in view of the urgent insistance of the
most excellent Exarch, we give you to understand that Arigis1450
| 1450 Aragis was the Lombard
duke of Beneventum. | , as we have ascertained, has associated
himself with Ariulph, and is breaking his faith to the republic, and
plotting much against this same city; to which unless a duke be
speedily sent, it may already be reckoned among the lost.
As to what you say to the effect that alms should
be sent to the city of the schismatic Severus which has been
burnt1451
| 1451 Viz. Aquileia, of
which Severus was bishop and Metropolitan, called here
schismaticus because of his holding out against Rome in the
matter of the Three Chapters. The bribes he is said below to have
sent to Constantinople would be for inducing the Emperor to take his
part against Gregory. | , your Fraternity is of this opinion as
being ignorant of the bribes that he sends to the Court in opposition
to us. And, even though these were not sent, we should have to
consider that compassion is to be shewn first to the faithful, and
afterwards to the enemies of the Church. For indeed there is near
at hand the city Fanum, in which many have been taken captive, and to
which I have already in the past year desired to send alms, but did not
venture to do so through the midst of the enemy. It therefore
seems to me that you should send the Abbot Claudius thither with a
certain amount of money, in order to redeem the freemen whom he may
find there detained in slavery for ransom, or any who are still in
captivity. But, as to the sum of money to be thus sent, be
assured that whatever you determine will please me. If, moreover,
you are treating with the most excellent Romanus Patricius for allowing
us to make peace with Ariulph, I am prepared to send another person to
you, with whom questions of ransom may be better arranged.
Concerning our brother and fellow-bishop
Natalis1452
| 1452 See above, Ep. 20,
in this Book, and I. 19, note 5, where references to other Epistles are
given. | I was at one time
greatly distressed, in that I had found him acting haughtily in certain
matters; but, since he has himself amended his manners, he has overcome
me and consoled my distress. In connexion with this matter
admonish our brother and fellow-bishop Malchus1453
that before he comes to us he render his accounts, and then depart
elsewhere if it is necessary. And if we find his conduct good, it
will perhaps be necessary for us to restore to him the patrimony which
he had charge of.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
