Letter 13025

From: Pope Gregory I To: Pascalis and Consolantia, Sicilians, Debtors of the Roman Church Date: ~603 AD Context: Gregory informs them he has spoken to Hadrian the chartulary about their debt to the Church I am writing to let you know that I have spoken with Hadrian, our chartulary, about the matter of your debt to this Church. He is aware of your situation and the difficulties you have faced, and he has been instructed to deal with you fairly. I want you to understand that the Roman Church is not in the business of crushing those who owe it money when their difficulties are genuine. Arrange to meet with Hadrian and come to a settlement that both parties can honor. I expect you to act in good faith in this negotiation, and I trust you will find him reasonable. Let me know if there are any difficulties.

istolam magnitudinis vestrae latore* praesentium deferente suscepimus et, licet tempora restituendae pecuniae in indutiis ^ data ^ defluxerint, pctitionem tamen vestram nullo modo« duximus contristandam. Adriano** itaque cartulario nostro^, quem illic ad regendum ecclesiae nostrae patrimonium direximus®, de praesenti iniunximus quae Yobiscum exinde loqui debeat, ut nec ecclesiastica in aliquo^ neglegatur utilitas et postulatio vestra sortiatur effectum. Quia ergo plus de animae vestrae salute quam» de terrenarum rerum** utilitate debetis* esse solliciti, salutantes paterno affectu hor- tamur, ut mens onere^ tribulationis oppressa contra Deum non murmuret, ne post amissionem^ rerum etiam animae sequantur dispendia. Nihil'" de pravis actibus, nil cum peccato, necessitate quasi faciente, festinetis adquirere, sed spem in redemptoris nostri misericordia habentes, qui confidentes in se non deserit, tolerabiliter quae per- Mense eet. om. 1. 4 — ian (pro febr.) ^ 1; febr. praeter Jtl,Q*2.3.Q3.R*l etiam Vat. A. B. E (ed. M.J. XIII, 24 litulum om.Q*1.4 — pro Honorio lacuna 9 litt.El; Honorio q.q*2.3. R* 1 — Tarentino Bl.R*l; Terentino Q 1 ; Terontiano q*2, 3. q 3. ») enosceris R 1. XIII, 25 titulum om. q* 1.4 — Pascali Rl — consuli {pro et Consolantiae) Rlet ed. O. ») latore om. Rl. ex indutias corr. Rl. c) nullomo Ql. *) Hadr. Q.Q*. ®) direxiremus qI. ^ ali- quod Rl.Ql. ft) salutom qua Ql. **) rerum om. q1.q*1. debomuH Rl. honore Q* 1. commissionero Rl. <") nil Q»Q*1. Xin, 24. Maxima para hmus ep. scripta eat seciMdum f. IHumi 31. — De praedecessore Honorii cf. ep. III, 44 n. 1) De hoc baptisterio in ecclesia coHocato cf. Baluziwn in editiotie Ditirm Bozi^riana p. 56. XIII, 25. Baluzius in editione Diwmi Bozieriana p. 10 titulum emendat: Paschali exconsuli pro P. et Consolantiae. Quani coniecturam refutandam non esse credo. Siciliae locativum sensum Jiabere videtur. — Momtnsen conicit: praetori. 1) Cf. ep. X, 16 n. 2. XIII, 28 n. 3. 2) De Adriatw cf. ep. IX, 110 n. XI, 30 n. tulistis incommoda sustinete. Erigite aniraos. Tribulatio vires non opprimat. Adversa saeculi patientia superet. Pompam mundi mens secura despiciat. Actio vestra se ad ea quae Dei sunt occupet"; considerantes, quam nullum sit, quicquid casibus subiacet, quicquid fine concluditur. Et cor se vestrum® ultraP quam convenit** non affligat, sed studeat, quatenus' in omnipotentis Dei protectione iure confidat, qui' et* non habita donat, amissa" rcparat et reparata custodit. Potens est enim, si vos in mandatorum suorum via ambulare cognoverit, et hic inlata damna multiplici compensatione sarcire^ et vitam vobis, quae toto magis adnisu petenda est^, uetemam concedere.