Letter 11069: Since it is written, Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin makes peoples miserable Proverbs 14:34, a kingdom is then believed to be stable when a fault that is known of is quickly amended. Now it has come to our ears by the report of many, what we cannot mention without exceeding affliction of heart, that certain priests in those parts live so ...

Gregory to Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Since it is written, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin makes peoples miserable," a kingdom is believed to be stable only when a known fault is quickly corrected. Reports from many sources have reached me -- and I cannot mention them without deep anguish of heart -- that certain priests in your territories live so immodestly and wickedly that it is shameful to hear of and painful to speak about. This must not be ignored, lest the wrongdoing of a few become the ruin of many. Bad priests are the cause of a people's destruction. For who will intercede for a people's sins when the priest who should be praying for them commits even worse offenses? But since those whose duty it is to prosecute these matters are moved neither to investigate nor to punish them, send me your letters and, if you authorize it, I will send a representative who, with your backing and working together with other priests, may investigate these things thoroughly and correct them according to God's will. What I speak of is not a thing to be winked at: anyone who can correct a fault and neglects to do so without doubt makes himself a partner in it. Look to your own soul, look to your grandsons whom you wish to reign in peace, look to the provinces. Before our Creator stretches out His hand to strike, take the most earnest action to correct this wickedness, lest He strike all the more severely for having waited so long and so mercifully. Know that you will offer a great sacrifice of expiation to our God if you cut this evil out of your territories swiftly.

Book XI, Letter 69 To Brunichild, Queen of the Franks. Gregory to Brunichild, etc. Since it is written, Righteousness exalts a nation; but sin makes peoples miserable Proverbs 14:34, a kingdom is then believed to be stable when a fault that is known of is quickly amended. Now it has come to our ears by the report of many, what we cannot mention without exceeding affliction of heart, that certain priests in those parts live so immodestly and wickedly that it is a shame for us to hear of it and lamentable to tell it. Lest, then, now that the rumour of this iniquity has extended as far as here, the wrong doing of others should smite either our soul or your kingdom with the dart of its sin, we ought to arise with ardour to avenge these things, lest the wickedness of a few should be the perdition of many. For bad priests are the cause of the ruin of a people. For who may offer himself as an intercessor for a people's sins, if the priest who ought to have prayed for it commits more grievous offenses? But, since those whose place it is to prosecute these things are stirred neither by care to enquire into them nor by zeal to punish them, let letters from you be addressed to us, and let us send over, if you order it, a person with the assent of your authority, who together with other priests may search into these things thoroughly, and amend them according to the will of God. For indeed what we speak of is not a thing to be winked at, since one who can amend a fault and neglects to do so without doubt makes himself partaker in it. See therefore to your own soul, see to your grandsons, whom you wish to reign happily, see to the provinces; and, before our Creator stretches out His hand to smite, take most earnest thought for the correction of this wickedness, lest He afterwards smite by so much the more sharply as He now waits longer and more mercifully. Know moreover that you will offer a great sacrifice of expiation to our God, if you cut off speedily from your territories the infection of so great a sin. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 13. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1898.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360211069.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.