Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| To John Bishop of Scyllacium.
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP 
Epistle
XXXIV.
To John Bishop of Scyllacium1757
| 1757 The address in the
text is “Episcopo Scillitano.” That the see was that
of Scyllacium in Brutia appears from the contents of the epistle.
Syllacium itself appears to have been a Castrum, which had
been erected on land belonging to a monastery. The epistle is
illustrative of Gregory’s anxiety to protect the property and
privileges of monasteries against bishops. See Prolegom.,
p. xx., and references in Index under Monasteries. | .
Gregory to John, &c.
It is evidently a very serious thing, and contrary to
what a priest should aim at, to
wish to disturb privileges formerly granted to
any monastery, and to endeavour to bring to naught what has been
arranged for quiet. Now the monks of the Castilliensian monastery
in your Fraternity’s city have complained to us that you are
taking steps to impose upon the said monastery certain things contrary
to what had been allowed by your predecessors and sanctioned by long
custom, and to disturb ancient arrangements by a certain injurious
novelty. Wherefore we hereby exhort your Fraternity that, if this
is so, you refrain from troubling this monastery under any excuse, and
that you try not, through any opportunity of usurpation, to upset what
has been long secured to it, but that you study, without any
gainsaying, to preserve all its privileges inviolate, and know that no
more is lawful to you with regard to the said monastery than was lawful
to your predecessors.
Further, inasmuch as they have likewise complained
that thy Fraternity has taken certain things from the monastery under
the guise of their being, as it were, an offering1758
| 1758 Sub xenii
quasi specie. For the meaning of the word xenium, see
II. 23, note 8. | , it is necessary that, if thou
recollectest having received anything unbecomingly, thou restore it
without delay, lest the sin of avarice seriously convict thee, whom
priestly munificence ought to have shewn liberal towards
monasteries. Therefore, while thou preservest all things which,
as we have said, have been allowed and preserved by thy predecessors,
let it be thy care to keep careful watch over the acts and lives of the
monks residing there, and, if thou shouldest find any one living amiss,
or (which God forbid) guilty of any sin of
uncleanness, to correct such by strict and regular emendation.
For, as we desire your Fraternity to abstain from incongruous
usurpations, so we admonish you to be in all ways solicitous in what
pertains to rectitude of discipline and the guardianship of
souls.
The monks of the aforesaid monastery have also
informed us that the camp which is called Scillacium is built on ground
belonging to their monastery, and that on this account those who live
there pledged themselves in writing1759
| 1759 Libellis
factis; meaning apparently that there had been written memoranda of
agreement. | to pay a
solatium1760
| 1760 The word
solatium is variously used, sometimes for any kind of aid or
succour; sometimes for remuneration for services done, or grants in
aid; here apparently for payment in the way of rent for the land
occupied. | every year; but
that they afterwards thought scorn of it, and idly withheld their
stipulated payment. Let then your Fraternity take care to learn
the truth accurately; and, if you should find it so, urgently see to
their not delaying to give what they promised, and what also reason
requires; that so both they may possess quietly what they hold, and the
rights of the monastery may incur no damage.
Furthermore, the monks of the aforesaid monastery have
complained to us that their abbot has granted to thy Fraternity by
title of gift land within the camp of Scillacium, to the extent of six
hundred feet, under pretext of building a church: and accordingly
it is our will that as much land as the walls of the church, when
built, can surround shall be claimed as belonging to the church.
But let whatever may be outside the walls of the said church revert
without dispute to the possession of the monastery. For the
ordinances neither of worldly laws nor of the sacred canons permit the
property of a monastery to be segregated by any title from its
ownership. On this account restore thou this gift of land which
has been granted against reason. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
