Letter 2006: Gregory to the clergy, nobles, gentry, and commonalty dwelling at Naples. Although the sincere devotion of spiritual sons in behalf of their mother Church needs no exhortation, nevertheless, it ought to be stirred up by letter, lest it should suppose itself slighted. On this account I approach your love with an admonition of paternal charity, t...

Book II, Letter 6 To the Neapolitans. Gregory to the clergy, nobles, gentry, and common people of Naples. Although the sincere devotion of faithful children on behalf of their mother Church needs no encouragement, it should still be stirred by letter so it does not feel neglected. I therefore approach you with an admonition of fatherly love: let us with many tears and with one voice give thanks to our Redeemer, who has not allowed you to wander down wrong paths under so corrupt a teacher, but has publicly exposed the crimes of your unworthy bishop. Demetrius -- who even before did not deserve to be called a bishop -- has been found involved in offenses of such number and gravity that, had he been judged without mercy according to his deeds, he would certainly have been condemned to a most severe penalty under both divine and human law. But since he has been reserved for penance and stripped of his priestly office, we cannot allow the Church of God to remain long without a leader. Canon law [church rules] requires that when a pastor dies or is removed, the church should not be left long without a bishop. I have therefore thought it necessary to urge you by this letter: do not let delay or the kind of discord that breeds scandal obstruct your election of a bishop. Search with all care for such a person as everyone can agree on with joy, and who is in no way disqualified by the sacred canons. The office that a most wicked man polluted through his corrupt administration must be worthily filled by whoever, by the grace of Christ and with His approval, is ordained.

Book II, Letter 6 To the Neapolitans. Gregory to the clergy, nobles, gentry, and commonalty dwelling at Naples. Although the sincere devotion of spiritual sons in behalf of their mother Church needs no exhortation, nevertheless, it ought to be stirred up by letter, lest it should suppose itself slighted. On this account I approach your love with an admonition of paternal charity, that with many tears and with one accord we may render thanks to our Redeemer, who has not suffered you to walk along pathless ways under so perverse a teacher, but has made publicly known the crimes of your unworthy pastor. For Demetrius, to wit, who even before had not deserved to be called a bishop, has been found to be involved in transactions to such an extent and of such a kind that, if he had received judgment without mercy according to the character of his deeds, he would undoubtedly have been condemned to a most hard death by both divine and human laws. But since, being reserved for penance, he has been deprived of the dignity of the priesthood, we cannot suffer the Church of God to remain long without a teacher, since it is laid down by canonical rules that, on the death or removal of a pastor, the church should not be long deprived of the priesthood. Wherefore, I have thought it necessary to admonish your Charity by this present writing that neither delay nor the discord which has been wont to generate scandals ensue to hinder your election of a pontiff. But seek you out with all care such a person as all by common consent may rejoice in, and as is in no respect rejected by the sacred canons; to the end that the office which the most wicked of men had polluted by his evil administration may be worthily filled and administered by him, whoever he may be, who, by the grace of Christ, and with His approval, shall be ordained. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360202006.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.