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

Gregory to John, Bishop of Ravenna. We are commanded by the Lord's precepts to love our neighbors as ourselves, and to share in their afflictions as though they were our own infirmities. Mindful of these commands, your fraternity, with fitting devotion, first showed compassion by visiting our brother and fellow bishop Castorius [bishop of an uncertain Italian see], and afterwards, as his bodily illness grew worse, received him into the city of Ravenna. By this act you have made not only us, but God himself without doubt your debtor, since you have shown that you grieved for your brother's sickness, and in the suffering of His own member, you not only visited the sick man but also took him in. I myself, on account of his simplicity, was entirely reluctant to ordain him there, but the insistence of those petitioning made it impossible for me to refuse. However, if it can be arranged, you would do both me and him a great service if you could send him to me by way of Sicily — provided, of course, that you judge the journey would not be too burdensome for him. As for the bishops who belong to our jurisdiction but who cannot come to us because enemy forces stand in the way [the Lombards, who controlled much of central Italy, cutting off Rome's communication with northern dioceses], let your fraternity take care of them. Do so, however, in such a way that they are by no means summoned to the city of Ravenna for their affairs, lest we appear to trouble or exhaust them in any way during these times. Rather, if there are matters in which they seem justly deserving of reproof, they should always be admonished by letters from your fraternity. If, however, there is anything more serious that your letters alone cannot settle, we wish you to refer the matter faithfully to us, so that, strengthened by the testimony of your inquiry, we may, with the Lord's help, arrange what is fitting according to the laws and canons with sound counsel. July, in the tenth indiction [AD 592].

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.)