Letter 11036: 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...

Gregory to John, Bishop of Syracuse. I received your Fraternity's letter telling me of the illness of my dearest son, the lord Venantius, and giving me an account of the situation around him. When I heard simultaneously that he was desperately and gravely ill, and that unscrupulous men were already moving to seize the orphans' property, the sorrow in my heart could barely contain itself. But tears, at least, gave some relief to my grief. Your Holiness must not neglect what should be your first concern: his soul. Exhort him, plead with him, set before him the terrible judgment of God and his inexpressible mercy -- do whatever it takes to persuade him, even at these last moments, to return to his former way of life [likely meaning reconciliation with the Church or abandonment of a second marriage], so that the guilt of so great a failing does not stand against him at the eternal judgment. Then you must see to the practical matter of how his daughters, the Ladies Barbara and Antonina, are to be provided for -- so that no opportunity is given to bad men. He has begged me to take anxious care for them and oversee their placement. But then in the same letter he adds something quite different -- that I should petition the Emperor to handle it himself. You see how contradictory that is. And I fear it will give an opening to men in Sicily who are already looking for any excuse to interfere in his affairs. For if word gets out that the girls have been entrusted to the Emperor, those men who have reportedly been trying to seal his property will say: this is the Emperor's business, we cannot neglect it, we act at our own peril if we do. Can you see where that leads? Handle this with the utmost care.

Book XI, Letter 36 To John, Bishop of Syracuse . Gregory to John, etc. 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 life , 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 effects ? 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 you, 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 Rusticiana , 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.