Letter 14007: Not undeservedly does the ambition of an elated heart require to be quelled, when, disregarding the force of the sacred canons, the excess of rash presumption in coveting unlawfully what belongs to others is shown to be not only harmful in causing expense, but also opposed to the peace of the Church. Having, then, perused your Fraternity's epist...
Pope Gregory the Great→Alcyson, of Corcyra|c. 604 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
donatismillnessimperial politicspapal authority
Imperial politics; Miracles & relics
Gregory to Alcyson, Bishop of Corcyra.
The ambition of an arrogant heart rightly deserves to be checked when, in disregard of the force of the sacred canons, reckless presumption in coveting what belongs to others proves not only expensive but also destructive to the peace of the Church.
Having read Your Fraternity's letters, we have learned what has been done, both in the past and recently, by the bishop of the city of Euria regarding the settlement of Cassiopus, which lies within your diocese. We are distressed that those who should have been grateful to your Church for the charity shown them have instead become its enemies, with no shame to restrain them. Worst of all, in a manner contrary to proper ecclesiastical order, contrary to priestly moderation, and contrary to the decrees of the sacred canons, they have attempted to remove the said settlement from your jurisdiction and subject it to their own authority -- becoming, as it were, masters in a place where they had previously been received as guests.
On this matter, since Andrew, our brother of venerable memory, Metropolitan of Nicopolis -- acting also with the support of an imperial order assigning the case to him -- is known to have issued a formal ruling that the settlement of Cassiopus should remain under the jurisdiction of your Church as it always has been, we approve the terms of that ruling. We confirm it by the authority of the Apostolic See, as justice requires, and decree that it shall stand firm in all respects.
For no principle of equity and no canonical order permits one person to encroach in any way upon the diocese of another. Although the guilt of this contentiousness seems to call for no small severity of treatment -- since they have returned evil for good -- care should nevertheless be taken that kindness is shown.
Book XIV, Letter 7
To Alcyson, Bishop of Corcyra.
Gregory to Alcyson, etc.
Not undeservedly does the ambition of an elated heart require to be quelled, when, disregarding the force of the sacred canons, the excess of rash presumption in coveting unlawfully what belongs to others is shown to be not only harmful in causing expense, but also opposed to the peace of the Church. Having, then, perused your Fraternity's epistles, we have learned what has been done formerly or of late by the bishop of the City of Euria with regard to the camp of Cassiopus , which is situated in your diocese, and we are distressed that those who should have been debtors to your Church for charity bestowed upon them, should rather become its enemies, no shame restraining them; and at last that, in a way contrary to ecclesiastical arrangement, contrary to priestly moderation, contrary to the ordinances of the sacred canons, they should attempt to withdraw the aforesaid camp from your jurisdiction and subject it to their own power, so as to become as it were masters where they had before been received as strangers. Concerning which matter, seeing that Andrew, our brother of venerable memory, Metropolitan of Nicopolis, with the support also of an imperial order whereby the cognizance of this case had been enjoined on him, is known to have determined in a sentence promulged by him, as has been made manifest to us, that the aforesaid camp of Cassiopus should remain under the jurisdiction of your Church as it always has been, we, approving of the form of that sentence, confirm it, as justice approves, by the authority of the Apostolic See, and decree that it remain firm in all respects. For no reason of equity, no canonical order, sanctions that one person should in any way occupy the parish of another. Wherefore, though the guilt of this contentiousness seems to require no slight strictness of treatment, in that they have returned evil for good, nevertheless care should be taken that kindness be not overcome by excess, nor that what is due to strange brethren, when they are suffering constraint too, be denied them, lest charity should be judged to have no operation in the minds of bishops, if those to whom great compassion is due should be left without the remedy of consolation. It is right, then, that the priests and clergy of the city of Euria be not repelled from habitation of the aforesaid camp of Cassiopus, but that they should have leave also to deposit with due reverence the holy and venerable body of the blessed Donatus, which they have brought with them, in one of the churches of the aforesaid place such as they may choose. Yet so that protection be procured for your Love, in whose diocese this camp is situate, by the issue of a security whereby the bishop of Euria shall promise not to claim for himself any power therein, or any privilege, or any jurisdiction, or any authority in future, as though he were cardinal bishop; but that, peace being restored by the favour of God, they shall return by all means to their own places, taking away with them, if they will, the venerable body of Saint Donatus. So, this promise being kept in mind, neither may they dare on any pretext whatever to claim further to themselves any right of rule there, but acknowledge themselves guests there at all times, nor may the Church of your Fraternity in any degree incur prejudice to its rights and privileges.
The ambition of an arrogant heart rightly deserves to be checked when, in disregard of the force of the sacred canons, reckless presumption in coveting what belongs to others proves not only expensive but also destructive to the peace of the Church.
Having read Your Fraternity's letters, we have learned what has been done, both in the past and recently, by the bishop of the city of Euria regarding the settlement of Cassiopus, which lies within your diocese. We are distressed that those who should have been grateful to your Church for the charity shown them have instead become its enemies, with no shame to restrain them. Worst of all, in a manner contrary to proper ecclesiastical order, contrary to priestly moderation, and contrary to the decrees of the sacred canons, they have attempted to remove the said settlement from your jurisdiction and subject it to their own authority -- becoming, as it were, masters in a place where they had previously been received as guests.
On this matter, since Andrew, our brother of venerable memory, Metropolitan of Nicopolis -- acting also with the support of an imperial order assigning the case to him -- is known to have issued a formal ruling that the settlement of Cassiopus should remain under the jurisdiction of your Church as it always has been, we approve the terms of that ruling. We confirm it by the authority of the Apostolic See, as justice requires, and decree that it shall stand firm in all respects.
For no principle of equity and no canonical order permits one person to encroach in any way upon the diocese of another. Although the guilt of this contentiousness seems to call for no small severity of treatment -- since they have returned evil for good -- care should nevertheless be taken that kindness is shown.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
e [lzc verba videtur sanctus Gregorius ex epistola Patrum Aſricanorum ad Caelestinum data hausisse. Sic enim habet : Nulla Patrum definitione hoc Ec- clesi derogatum es African, 8t decrela Nicena ive inſerioris gradus clericos, give 1ps0s episcopos Suts Me-
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enim juslissimeque providerunt quecungque negotia it 84s locis ubi orta sunt finienda ;j nec cuique provincie graliam sancii S piritus deſuturam... aut quomodo ipsum transmarinum (id est Romanum) judicium rectum eri, ad quod teslinm necessarie persone vel propler. 8eXus, vel propler senectulis in firmitatem, multis etiam aliis tater- currentibus impedimentis adduci non poterunt ? Na: ut aliqui lanquam a 1u@ sanciitatis latere mitlantur, nulla invenimus Patrum synodo constitulum , eiCc. Certe si unquam jus est revocandi domuin, ut 1lo- quuntur jurisconsulti Dig. lib. v, de judiciis, maLt- me in causis in quibus testium usus est. GUsSANY- 4 [n uno e Colbert. hzc nota chronologica pref- itur epistolz, silemiibus aliis Mss. In Remigiano pos! = epist. legitur mense Novembri, indictione Verum hzc ad epist. sequentem pertinere credimus- EPISTOLARUM LIB. XIV. — INDICT. VII. — EPIST. VII.
1310
Non immerito elati cordis retundi postulatur am- A antedicyi loei quam elegerint, sive intus, sive ſoris
habeant recondendi dehita cum veneratione licen- tiam. Sic tamen ut dilectioni tuz, in cujus parochia castrum ipsum est positum, emissa procuretur cau- tione munitio, per quam promitiat episcopus Euries nullam sibi in eo potestatem, nullum privilegium ſore, nullam jurisdictionem, nulfam tanquam et car- dinalis episcopus ulterius auctoritatem defendere ; sed pace Deo propitio reddita, ablato venerabilj san- cti Donati, si maluerint, corpore; ad propria 86 mo- dis omnibns reversuros. Ut hujus promissionis per- 8istente memoria, nec illi 1 26G de cntero quid-
- quam sSibi illic prineipaliter quacunque occasione au-
deant vindicare, sed omni se tempore esse ibidems hospites recognoscant, et ſraternitatis tuz Eeclesia
rentur poleslati subjicere, ut fierent quodammodo B J*ris vel privilegii sui in qualibet parte prajudicium
domini, ubi prius suscepti ſuerant peregrini. Qua de re quoniam Andreas, venerabilis memoriz ſrater nosler, Nicopolitanus metropolitaggdnitente sibi quo- que * principali jussione, in qua ei cause hvjus ſuerat injuncta cognitio, prolata, sicut nobis patuit, noscitur slatuisse sententia antefatum Cassiopi ca- s{rum sub jurisdictione Ecclesiz tux, quemadmodum semper ſuit, debere persistere, formam ejusdem sen- tentiz comprobanites, apostolice sedis auctoritale eam ſayente justitia confirmamus, alque per omnia robustam manere decernimus. Nam nulla equitatis ratio, nullus canonum ordo consentit ut parochiam alterius alter aliquo modo debeat occupare. Unde li- cet disIriclionem contra se non modicam hyjus litigii