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| To Maximus, Bishop of Salona.
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Epistle
LXXXI.
To Maximus, Bishop of Salona53
| 53 See above, Ep. LXXX. and
III. 47, note 2. | .
Gregory to Maximus, &c.
Although to what was faulty in thy ordination at the first thou hast added serious evil through the fault of
disobedience, yet we, tempering with becoming moderation the authority
of the Apostolic See, have never been incensed against thee to the
extent that the case demanded. But our displeasure which thou
hadst excited against thyself continued the longer in that a sense of
the responsibility entrusted to us tormented us exceedingly, lest we
might seem to be passing over without attention certain unlawful doings
of thine that we had heard of. And, if thou considerest well,
thou wilt see that thou thyself, by deferring to satisfy us, didst
confirm these reports, and thereby didst exasperate us the more against
thee. But now that, following wholesome counsel, thou hast
submitted thyself humbly to the yoke of obedience, and that thy love,
in doing penance54
| 54 According to a narrative
found in some few codices of the Registrum Epistolarum, and printed in
an appendix by the Benedictine Editors, the penance done by Maximus at
Ravenna consisted in his prostrating himself on the pavement of the
city for three hours and exclaiming, “Peccavi Deo, et beatissimo
papæ Gregorio.” | , has purged itself, as
we directed, by fitting satisfaction, understand thou that the favour
of brotherly charity is
restored to thee, and give thanks that thou art received into our
fellowship: for, as it becomes us to be strict with those who
persevere in a fault, so does it to be kind in pardoning those who
return to a better mind. Now, therefore, that thy Fraternity
knows that he has recovered the communion of the Apostolic See, let him
send some one to us, according to custom, to receive and convey to him
the pallium. For, whilst we do not suffer unlawful things to be
perpetrated, we no less refuse not what is customary. Further,
though the discharge of the duties of our position might have called
upon us to concede this, yet we are greatly constrained thereto by the
request of our most sweet and excellent son, the lord Exarch
Callinicus, that we would treat thee with moderation. His most
dear wish we cannot resist, nor can we cause him sorrow.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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