Letter 2035: We are commanded by the Lord's precepts to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to share in their afflictions as...

To John, Bishop of Ravenna. [He gives thanks for the offices of charity shown to the sick bishop Castorius. He asks that this man be sent on to him by way of Sicily. He entrusts to the bishop of Ravenna the care of the suffragan bishops whom the intervening enemies separated from Rome.] Gregory to John, Bishop of Ravenna. By the Lord's commands we are bidden to love our neighbors as we love our very selves, and to suffer together with their infirmities as if they were our own afflictions. Mindful of these commands, your Fraternity, in a manner befitting you, took care both to visit our brother and fellow-bishop Castorius, having first shown him compassion, and afterward, on account of the growing distress of his body, to receive him in the city of Ravenna. Whence you have without doubt made not only us, by your bestowed charity, but also God himself your debtor, since you are proved to have suffered together with the infirmity of a brother, and not only to have visited that sick man in the affliction of his own member, but even to have received him. Indeed I myself, in keeping with his simplicity, was altogether refusing to ordain him there, but the importunity of those petitioning brought it about that I could in no way contradict them. But if it can be done, you will be of great service both to me and to him, if you send him to me, namely by way of Sicily, provided, however, that you judge it not to be burdensome to him. But concerning the bishops who pertain to us, who nevertheless cannot come hither because of the enemies set in between, let your Fraternity bear the care. Yet in such a way that they be in no wise recalled to the city of Ravenna for their own affairs, lest we seem at this time to vex or weary them in any matter. But if there are any things in them which seem to be justly censured, they ought always to be admonished by the letters of your Fraternity. But if otherwise, [...] we wish you to report to us [...], so that, strengthened by the testimony of your inquiry, we may, with the Lord's help, arrange by wholesome counsel those things which accord with the laws and the canons. [In the month of July, in the tenth indiction. (Cf. John the Deacon, book IV, chapter 52; above, letter 12; below, letters 41 and 42, indiction 11; letters 24 and 25, indiction 13; letter 44, indiction 15.)]

AD JOANNEM EPISCOPUM RAVENNATENM. Gratulatur ob exhibita Cas(orio episcopo infirmo ch1- ritatis officia., Hunc ad 8e per Sicliam franemitti petit. Sufſraganeorum antislitum, quos a Roma di- videbant hostes interposilti, Ravennati,curam com- millit. Gregorius Joann? episcopo Ravennati. Dominicis mandatis precipimur proximos sicut nosmetipsos diligere, ecorumque languoribus lanquam propriis infirmitatibus condolere, Quorum memor ſraternitas vesira competenti sibi more * Castorium ſratrem coepiscum nostrum, et prius compassione habita studnit visitare, et eum postinodum pro ex- crescenti molestia corporis in Ravennati urbe susci- pere. Unde non solum nos impensz charitalis; sed et Veum vobis ſecistis procul dubio debitorem , qui in ſratris infirmitate condoluisse probamini, ipsum- que zgrum in Sui membri molestia non solum visi- lasse, sed etiam suscepisse. Quem quidem ipse pro $va simplicitate illic ordinare omnimode renuebam, sed Þ petentium importunitas ſecit ut contradicere nullatenus poluissem. Si autem fieri potest, multum mihj et ipsi consuletis, si eum © ad me vel per Sici- liam transmillatis, $1 tamen ei grave non esse per- penditis. De episcopis vero ad nos pertinentibus; qui lamen huc pro interpositione hostium venire non possunt, curam vestra fraternitas gerat. Ita tamen ut pro causis Suis ad Ravennatem urbem nullatenus revocentur, ne eos hoc tempore vexare aut ſaligare in aliquo videamur. Sed si qua Sunt, quz in cis vi- deantur jusle reprehendi, debent semper'per ſrater- nilatis veslre evistolas admoneri. Sin vero, quud liter reſerre yos volumus, ut inquisitionis Yeslrs teslimonio roborati, quz legibus canonibusque con- veniunt, 4 galubri, juvante Domino, consilio dispo- namus. * Mense Julii, indictione decima, (Cf. Joan. Diac. |. tv, c. 52; 8np., ep. 12; inf., ep. 41 et 42, indict, 11, ep. 24 et 25, indict. 13, ev. 44, in- dict. 15.)