Letter 1078: Our pastoral charge constrains us to come with anxious consideration to the succour of a church that is destitute of the control of a priest. And, inasmuch as we have learned that the church of Saona for many years, since the death of its pontiff, has been thus entirely destitute, we have thought it needful to enjoin on your Fraternity the work ...

Book I, Letter 78 To Leo, Bishop in Corsica. Gregory to Leo. Our pastoral responsibility compels us to come to the aid of a church that has been left without a priest. Since we have learned that the church of Saona [a town in Corsica] has been entirely without a bishop for many years since its bishop's death, we consider it necessary to assign Your Fraternity the task of overseeing it. In this church and its parishes, we grant you authority to ordain deacons and priests. However, make sure to investigate candidates carefully so that none are personally disqualified by the sacred canons [church law]. Those whom Your Fraternity finds worthy of such an important ministry -- having confirmed that their character and conduct qualify them for ordination -- you may freely promote to the office by our authority. We want you to manage all the property of this church as though you were its rightful bishop, until we write to you again. Be diligent and careful in all these matters so that through your oversight, everything may be beneficially arranged, with God's help, for the church's welfare.

Book I, Letter 78 To Leo, Bishop in Corsica. Gregory to Leo, etc. Our pastoral charge constrains us to come with anxious consideration to the succour of a church that is destitute of the control of a priest. And, inasmuch as we have learned that the church of Saona for many years, since the death of its pontiff, has been thus entirely destitute, we have thought it needful to enjoin on your Fraternity the work of visiting it, to the end that through your ordering its welfare may be promoted. In this church also and in its parishes we grant you licence to ordain deacons and presbyters; concerning whom, however, let it be your care to make diligent enquiry, that they be not personally in any respect such as are rejected by the sacred canons. But whomsoever your Fraternity has perceived to be worthy of so great a ministry, having ascertained that their manners and actions fit them for ordination, them, by permission of our authority, you may freely promote to the aforesaid office. We desire you, therefore, to make use of all the property of the above named church as though you were its proper pontiff, until we write to you again. Be, then, so diligent and careful in all these matters that through your ordering all things may, with the help of God, be salubriously arranged to the Church's profit. 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/360201078.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.