Letter 11059: The letter of your Excellency, which is the index of your heart, has so shown, in its flow of lucid language, what great prudence is conspicuous in you, along with royal power, that there can be no doubt of the truth of whatever fame has reported in your praise. And inasmuch as you signify, by what you say in praise of it, that our exhortation h...

Gregory to Theoderic, King of the Franks. Your Excellency's letter -- a window into your heart -- has shown in its clear and flowing language what great prudence accompanies your royal power. There can be no doubt about the truth of whatever fame has reported in your praise. And since you indicate that my exhortation has pleased your royal mind, and that you wish whatever pertains to the worship of God, the honor of churches, and the dignity of priests to be both carefully established and fully protected -- I appeal to you again, for your greater reward. Order a synod to be convened. As I have written before, have all the bishops formally condemn the moral failings of priests and the corruption of simoniacal heresy [buying and selling church offices]. Root it out within the borders of your kingdom. Do not allow money to carry more weight than the commands of the Lord. "All avarice is the service of idols" -- and whoever does not guard against it, especially in the conferral of sacred offices, subjects himself to the destruction of faithlessness, even if he appears to hold the faith. Just as you take up arms against external enemies, so also be on guard against the enemies of souls within your own borders. Through this faithful opposition to God's enemies, may you reign prosperously here under his protection and come hereafter by his grace to eternal joys. We have been told by certain returning monks how generously your Excellency supported our brother Bishop Augustine on his journey to the Angli. I thank you warmly and ask that you extend the same support to the monks I am now sending to him.

Book XI, Letter 59 To Theoderic, King of the Franks . Gregory to Theoderic, etc. The letter of your Excellency, which is the index of your heart, has so shown, in its flow of lucid language, what great prudence is conspicuous in you, along with royal power, that there can be no doubt of the truth of whatever fame has reported in your praise. And inasmuch as you signify, by what you say in praise of it, that our exhortation has so pleased your royal mind that you wish whatever you know to pertain to the worship of our God, to the veneration of Churches, or to the honour of priests, to be both carefully established and in all ways guarded, we appeal to you with a renewed exhortation, with a view to your greater reward, that you would order a synod to be assembled, and, as we have before written, cause corporal vices in priests and the pravity of simoniacal heresy to be condemned by the definition of all the bishops, and to be cut off within the limits of your kingdom, and allow not any longer money to have more effect than the precepts of the Lord. For, since all avarice is the service of idols, whosoever does not watchfully guard against it, and especially in the bestowal of ecclesiastical honours, is subjected to the perdition of infidelity, even though he may seem to hold the faith which he disregards. As, then, against external enemies, so also against adversaries of souls among yourselves, take earnest heed, that on account of this your faithful opposition to God's enemies you may both reign prosperously here under His protection, and also come hereafter by the leading of His grace to eternal joys. Furthermore, what benefits your Excellence bestowed on our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Augustine on his progress to the nation of the Angli we have been told by certain monks who have returned to us from him. Wherefore, returning abundant thanks, we beg that you will deign to afford your support in full measure to these monks also who have been sent to him, and to aid them on their onward journey, so that the more amply you show your kindness to them, the greater return you may expect from Almighty God, whom they serve.