Letter 1063: Though your Fraternity in the zeal of righteousness gives fitting attention to the protection of various persons, yet we believe that you will be the more prone to succour those whom a letter from us may commend to you. Know then that Pompeiana, a religious woman, has represented to us through one of her people that she endures many grievances c...
Pope Gregory the Great→Januarius|c. 590 AD|gregory great
Military conflict
Book I, Letter 63
To Januarius, Bishop of Cagliari [chief city of Sardinia].
Gregory to Januarius.
Although Your Fraternity, in your zeal for righteousness, already gives proper attention to protecting various people, we believe you will be all the more willing to help those whom a letter from us commends to you.
Pompeiana, a religious woman, has informed us through one of her people that she continually and unreasonably suffers grievances from certain men, and has asked us to commend her to you by letter. Greeting Your Fraternity with the affection of charity that is your due, we commend this woman to you. With proper respect for justice, do not allow her to be wronged in any way that violates fairness, or subjected to unwarranted expense.
If she has any legal disputes, let the matters be debated before chosen arbitrators, and whatever is decided, carry it out peacefully with your assistance -- so that you gain the reward for such good work, and she who has been commended by our letter may rejoice in having found justice.
Book I, Letter 63
To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari) in Sardinia.
Gregory to Januarius, etc.
Though your Fraternity in the zeal of righteousness gives fitting attention to the protection of various persons, yet we believe that you will be the more prone to succour those whom a letter from us may commend to you. Know then that Pompeiana, a religious woman, has represented to us through one of her people that she endures many grievances continually and unreasonably from certain men, and on this account has petitioned us to commend her in our letters to you. Wherefore, greeting your Fraternity with the affection of charity that is due to you, we have felt that we must needs commend the aforesaid woman to you, that, with due regard to justice, your Fraternity may not allow her to be aggrieved in any way contrary to equity, or to be subjected to any expense unadvisedly. But if it should happen that she has any suits, let the matter of dispute be debated before chosen arbitrators, and whatsoever shall be decided, let it be so carried into effect quietly through your assistance that both reward may accrue to you for such a work, and she who has been commended by our letters may rejoice in having found justice.
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Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360201063.htm>.
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Book I, Letter 63
To Januarius, Bishop of Cagliari [chief city of Sardinia].
Gregory to Januarius.
Although Your Fraternity, in your zeal for righteousness, already gives proper attention to protecting various people, we believe you will be all the more willing to help those whom a letter from us commends to you.
Pompeiana, a religious woman, has informed us through one of her people that she continually and unreasonably suffers grievances from certain men, and has asked us to commend her to you by letter. Greeting Your Fraternity with the affection of charity that is your due, we commend this woman to you. With proper respect for justice, do not allow her to be wronged in any way that violates fairness, or subjected to unwarranted expense.
If she has any legal disputes, let the matters be debated before chosen arbitrators, and whatever is decided, carry it out peacefully with your assistance -- so that you gain the reward for such good work, and she who has been commended by our letter may rejoice in having found justice.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.