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| To John, Bishop of Syracuse.
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Epistle
XXXVI.
To John, Bishop of Syracuse142
.
Gregory to John, &c.
I have received your Fraternity’s letters telling me of the sickness of my most sweet son the lord Venantius, and
relating how all things are going on about him. But when I heard
at one and the same time that he was desperately and grievously sick,
and that unfair men were laying claim to the property of the orphans,
the sorrow in my heart could scarce contain itself. But in this
there was comfort, in that tears relieved my groans. Your
Holiness therefore ought not to neglect, what should be your first
care, to take thought for his soul, by exhorting him, beseeching him,
putting before him God’s terrible judgment, and promising His
ineffable mercy, so as to induce him to return even at his last moments
to his former state of life143
| 143 Viz. Monasticism,
which Venantius had renounced in spite of the earnest remonstrance of
Gregory ten years previously. | , lest the guilt of
so great a fault should stand against him in the eternal
judgment. And then it is your duty to take thought how his
daughters, the ladies Barbara and Antonina, may be disposed of, so that
no opportunity be afforded to bad men. For after he had conjured
me to take anxious care for them, adding that I should see to the
disposal of them, he went on in his letter to mention a thing which,
when I consider the matter, I have no doubt might stand in the
way. For he says that I should repeatedly petition the most pious
lord Emperor, that he should himself cause provision to be made for the
disposal of them. You observe how different this is from his
former wish. And I fear lest an apt opportunity might hence be
given to men in Sicily who are seeking all opportunity for interfering
in his affairs. For, when this is known, what will those men do
who have already, as report goes, been attempting to put a seal on his
effects144
| 144 It may have been that
Venantius had filled some public office, in connexion with which it was
alleged that his estate was liable to seizure by the government
officials. Gregory evidently believes that there is not such
liability; but, in view of the attempt to assert it, he is anxious that
no pretext should be afforded to the authorities for taking charge of
the property of the deceased, such as they might have had if the
orphans had been made wards of the Emperor. | ? Would not reason seem to be on their
side, and to afford them as it were a just ground for this
proceeding? If they should say, the girls have been commended to
the lord Emperor; we cannot neglect the matter; it is at our peril if
we do; we make the property safe till such time as the lord Emperor may
order them to be taken to Constantinople;—tell me, I pray thee,
what I could do in such a case, wherein the father’s commendation
seems to support a man that has authority. For he conjures me to see to their being so
disposed of that they may either be in the Roman city or not be taken
away from Sicily; and he so acts as to leave no way of either bringing
them hither or retaining them there. But, do you, as far as you
can, oppose these bad men. Defend their substance for the sake of
Almighty God as if it were your own: and, if it is still
possible, see to all opportunity for wrong being removed with regard to
the will of the aforesaid lord Venantius. But, if it is thought
fit that they should be commended to the palace, he ought not to impose
such a burden on me as to wish to charge my soul with the care of the
disposal of them; as to which be it enough that God Almighty knows how
I am taking thought. Hence I have taken care to write at once to
my most beloved son the deacon Anatolius, bidding him endeavour to
speak with the glorious patrician lady Rusticiana145
, and telling him in what manner he should
enquire and inform me about the persons whose names have been
transmitted to me; that so he may inform us of all things speedily, and
what is to be done, may under the ordering of God be
arranged.
Furthermore, in the letters that have been sent to us we
find that your Fraternity has been grieved at our not having wished you
to come hither, as though it had been on account of some displeasure;
whereas we acted with a sole view to utility, knowing that on account
of persons in your locality your presence there was exceedingly
necessary. But, lest you should hence suppose that we have any
feeling or displeasure towards you (which God forbid), if you have the
will to come to us, present yourself at a suitable time at the
threshold of the apostles. For, so far as we are concerned, we so
love your Charity that we desire to see you often. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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