Letter 1074: As the Lord has made your Excellency to shine with the light of victories in the military wars of this life, so ought you to pose the enemies of the Church with all activity of mind and body, to the end that from both kinds of triumph your reputation may shine forth more and more, when in forensic wars, too, you firmly resist the adversaries of ...

Book I, Letter 74 To Gennadius, Patrician and Exarch [supreme military and civil governor] of Africa. Gregory to Gennadius. As the Lord has made Your Excellency shine through military victories in this life, so you should use all your energy of mind and body to defeat the enemies of the Church. From both kinds of triumph -- military and spiritual -- your reputation will shine all the more when you firmly resist the adversaries of the Catholic Church on behalf of the Christian people and bravely fight the Church's battles as a warrior of the Lord. We know that heretics, if given the freedom to cause harm (which God forbid), rise vigorously against the Catholic faith in order to spread the poison of their heresy and corrupt the Christian body. We have learned that they are lifting their heads against the Catholic Church -- though the Lord opposes them -- and seek to pervert the Christian faith. Suppress their efforts and bring their proud necks under the yoke of right doctrine. Furthermore, direct the council of Catholic bishops [in North Africa] to stop appointing their primate [senior bishop] based merely on seniority, without regard to the quality of his life. Before God, it is not higher rank that counts, but better conduct. The primate himself should reside not in various rural locations, as has been customary, but in one city chosen by the council, so he may more effectively use his authority to resist the Donatists [a schismatic North African Christian movement that had been a major problem for centuries]. Also, if any bishops from the Council of Numidia [a province of North Africa] wish to come to the Apostolic See [Rome], permit them to do so, and prevent anyone who might try to discredit them. Great honor will come to Your Excellency from the Creator if through you the unity of the divided churches could be restored. When God sees His own gifts returned to His glory, He bestows gifts all the more abundantly as He sees the dignity of His religion thereby increased. With the affection of paternal charity, we pray the Lord to strengthen your arm against your enemies and sharpen your soul with zeal for the faith like the edge of a keen sword.

Book I, Letter 74 To Gennadius, Patrician and Exarch of Africa. Gregory to Gennadius, etc. As the Lord has made your Excellency to shine with the light of victories in the military wars of this life, so ought you to pose the enemies of the Church with all activity of mind and body, to the end that from both kinds of triumph your reputation may shine forth more and more, when in forensic wars, too, you firmly resist the adversaries of the Catholic Church in behalf of the Christian people, and bravely fight ecclesiastical battles as warriors of the Lord. For it is known that men heretical in religion, if they have liberty allowed them to do harm (which God forbid), rise strenuously against the Catholic faith, to the end that they may transfuse, if they can, the poison of their heresy to the corrupting of the members of the Christian body. For we have learned that they are lifting up their necks against the Catholic Church, the Lord being opposed to them, and desire to pervert the faith of the Christian profession. But let your Eminence suppress their attempts, and subdue their proud necks to the yoke of rectitude. Moreover, order the council of Catholic bishops to be admonished not to appoint their primate on the ground of his standing, without regard to the merits of his life, since before God it is not the more distinguished rank, but the action of a better life, that is approved. But let the primate himself live, not, as is customary, here and there in the country, but in one city according to their selection, to the end that he may be better able to bring to bear the influence of the dignity that has fallen to him in resisting the Donatists. Moreover, if any from the Council of Numidia should desire to come to the Apostolic See, permit them to do so; and stop any who may be disposed to bring charges against their character. Great increase of glory will accrue to your Excellency with the Creator, if through you the union of the divided churches could be restored. For when He beholds the gifts granted by Him given back to His glory, He bestows gifts so much the more abundantly as He sees the dignity of His religion to be thereby enlarged. Furthermore, bestowing on you, as is due, the affection of our paternal charity, we beseech the Lord to make your arm strong for subduing your enemies, and to sharpen your soul with zeal for the faith like the edge of a quivering sword. About this page 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/360201074.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.