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| To John, Bishop.
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Epistle
LVI.
To John, Bishop.
Gregory to John, Bishop of Ravenna1504
| 1504 This John, and
apparently previous bishops of Ravenna, appear to have assumed a
dignity not conceded to other metropolitans; perhaps on the ground of
Ravenna being the seat of the Exarch, and having been once the imperial
residence. The pallium usually granted to Metropolitans was
allowed to be used by them only during the celebration of the
Eucharist; and we find Gregory, in several epistles, restricting them
to such use of it, when he sent it to them. John was reported to
have worn it while receiving the laity in the sacristy before
celebration; and he owned to having worn it in solemn processions
through the city, alleging custom and peculiar privilege.
Further, his clergy, when accompanying him in processions, had been
accustomed to carry napkins (mappulæ), which appear to have
been signs of dignity. It is for these assumptions that Gregory
now remonstrates with him; but apparently in vain with regard to the
use of the pallium in processions through the city: for
Marinianus, the successor of John, continued the custom, though whether
he finally persisted in it does not appear. Other letters
referring to the subject are V. 15; VI. 34, 61. | .
It is not long since certain things had been
told us about thy Fraternity
concerning which we remember having declared ourselves in full, when
Castorius, notary of the holy church over which we preside, went into
your parts. For it had come to our ears that some things were
being done in your church contrary to custom and to the way of
humility, which alone, as you well know, exalts the priestly
office. Now, if your Wisdom had received our admonitions kindly
or with episcopal seriousness, you ought not to have been incensed by
them, but have corrected these same things with thanks to us. For
it is contrary to ecclesiastical use, if even unjust correction (the
which be far from us) is not most patiently borne.
But your Fraternity has been too much moved; and
when, in the swelling of thy heart, as if to justify thyself, thou
wrotest that thou didst not use the pallium except after the sons of
the Church had been dismissed from the sacristy1505
| 1505 Secretarium,
viz. the chamber adjoining the church in which the vestments and sacred
utensils were kept, and the clergy vested for service; and in which
also as appears from this and the following epistle, the bishop was
accustomed to receive the laity before mass. From the custom of
holding synods in the apartments so called, the sessions of synods were
also themselves sometimes called secretaria. | ,
and at the time of mass, and in solemn litanies, thou madest
acknowledgment in words with most manifest truth of having usurped
something contrary to the usage of the Church in general. For how
can it be that at a time of ashes and sackcloth, through the streets
among the noises of the people thou couldest do lawfully what thou hast
disclaimed the doing of as being unlawful in the assembly of the poor
and nobles, and in the sacristy of the Church? Yet this, dearest
brother, is not, we think, unknown to thee; that it has hardly ever
been heard of any metropolitan in any parts of the world that he has
claimed to himself the use of the pallium except at the time of
mass. And that you knew well this custom of the Church in general
you have shewn most plainly by your epistles, in which you have sent to
us appended the precept of our predecessor John of blessed memory, to
the effect that all the customs conceded in the way of privilege to you
and your church by our predecessors should be retained. You
acknowledge, then, that the custom of the Church in general is
different, seeing that you claim the right of doing what you do on the
score of privilege. Thus, as we think, we can have no remaining
doubtfulness in this matter. For either the usage of all
metropolitans should be observed also by thy Fraternity, or, if thou
sayest that something has been specially conceded to thy church, it is
for your side to shew the precept of former pontiffs of the Roman City
wherein these things have been conceded to the Church of Ravenna.
But, if this is not shewn, it remains, seeing that you establish your
claim to do such things on the score neither of general custom nor of
privilege, that you prove yourself to have usurped in what you have
done. And what shall we say to the future judge, most beloved
brother, if we defend the use of that heavy yoke and chain on our neck
with a view, I do not say to ecclesiastical, but to a certain secular
dignity; judging ourselves to be lowered if we are without so great a
weight even for a short space of time? We desire to be adorned
with the pallium, being, it may be, unadorned in character; whereas
nothing shines more splendidly on a bishop’s neck than
humility.
It is therefore the duty of thy Fraternity, if
thou art firmly determined to defend thy honours with any kind of
arguments, either to follow the use of the generality without written
authority, or to defend thyself under privileges shewn in
writing. Or, if lastly thou doest neither, we will not have thee
set an example of presumption of this sort to other
metropolitans. But, lest thou shouldest perchance think that we,
in thus writing to you, have neglected what belongs to fraternal
charity, know ye that careful search has been made in our archives for
the privileges of thy Church. And indeed some things have been
found, sufficient to obviate entirely the aims of thy Fraternity, but
nothing to support the contentions of your Church on the points in
question. For even concerning the very custom of thy Church which
thou allegest against us, which custom we wrote before should be proved
on your side, we would have you know that we have already taken thought
sufficiently, having questioned our sons, Peter the deacon and
Gaudiosus the primicerius1506
| 1506 The term
primiceriusis variously applied, denoting the chiefs of
departments. In Ep. 22, supra, we find
primicerium notariorum. In VII. 32, we find also the
designation Secundi cerius. | , and also
Michael the guardian (defensorem) of our see, or others
who on various commissions have been sent by our predecessors to
Ravenna; and they have most positively denied that thou hast done these
things in their presence. It is therefore apparent that what was
done in secret must have been an unlawful usurpation. Hence what
has been latently introduced can have no firm ground to justify its
continuance. What things, then, thou or thy predecessors have
presumed to do superfluously do thou, having regard to charity, and
with brotherly kindness, study to correct. To no degree
attempt—I do not say of thine own
accord, but after the fashion set by others,
even thy predecessors,—to deviate from the rule of
humility. For, to sum up shortly what I have said above, I
admonish thee to this effect; that unless thou canst shew that this has
been allowed thee by my predecessors in the way of privilege, thou
presume not any more to use the pallium in the streets, lest thou come
not to have even for mass what thou audaciously usurpest even in the
streets. But as to thy sitting in the sacristy, and receiving the
sons of the Church with the pallium on (which thing thy Fraternity has
both done and disclaimed), we now for the present make no complaint;
since, following the decision of synods, we refuse to punish minor
faults, which are denied. Yet we know this to have been done once
and again, and we prohibit its being done any more. But let thy
Fraternity take careful heed, lest presumption which in its
commencement is pardoned be more severely visited if it proceeds
further.
Furthermore, you have complained that certain of the
sacerdotal order in the city of Ravenna are involved in serious
criminal charges. Their case we desire thee either to examine on
the spot, or to send them hither (unless, indeed, difficulty of proof
owing to the distance of the places stands in the way of this), that
the case may be examined here. But if, relying on the patronage
of great people, which we do not believe, they should scorn to submit
to thy judgment or to come to us, and should refuse contumaciously to
answer to the charges made against them, we desire that after thy
second and third admonition, thou interdict them from the ministry of
the sacred office, and report to us in writing of their contumacy, that
we may deliberate how thou oughtest to make a thorough enquiry into
their doings, and correct them according to canonical
definitions. Let, therefore, thy Fraternity know that we are most
fully absolved from responsibility in this case, seeing that we have
committed to you a thorough investigation of the matter; and that, if
all their sins should pass unpunished, the whole weight of this enquiry
redounds to the peril of thy soul. And know, beloved, that thou
wilt have no excuse at the future judgment, if thou dost not correct
the excesses of thy clergy with the utmost severity of canonical
strictness, and if thou allowest any against whom such excesses shall
have been proved to profane sacred orders any longer.
Further, what you have written in defence of the use of
napkins by your clergy is strenuously opposed by our own clergy, who
say that this has never been granted to any other Church whatever, and
that neither have the clergy of Ravenna, either there or in the Roman
city, presumed, to their knowledge, in any such way, nor, if it has
been attempted in the way of furtive usurpation, does it form a
precedent. But, even though there had been such presumption in
any church whatever, they assert that it ought to be corrected, not
being by grant of the Roman pontiff, but merely a surreptitious
presumption. But we, to save the honour of thy Fraternity, though
against the wish of our aforesaid clergy, still allow the use of
napkins to your first deacons (whose former use of them has been
testified to us by some), but only when in attendance upon thee.
The use of them, at any other time, or by any other persons, we most
strictly prohibit. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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