Letter 2042: Gregory to Luminosus, abbot of the monastery of Saint Thomas of Ariminum. We were glad to receive your own and your congregation's petition, and accede to your requests, in accordance with the statutes of the Fathers and with form of law. For to our brother and fellow bishop Castorius a letter has been sent by our order, whereby we have taken aw...

Book II, Letter 42 To John, Bishop of Ravenna [the second most important city in Italy, seat of the imperial Exarch]. Gregory to John. The very fact that I write less often than I should shows how overwhelmed I am by the burdens of this place. But let Your Fraternity take the will for the deed, since what I cannot express in frequency of letters, I hold constantly in the affection of my heart. We commend to you the bearer of this letter, who has business requiring your attention. Please assist him as justice and charity demand, so that he may accomplish what he needs without unnecessary delay. Moreover, I urge Your Fraternity to keep diligent watch over the church entrusted to your care. The times are difficult, and the needs of the people grow greater daily. Let your pastoral vigilance increase in proportion to the dangers, so that when the Chief Shepherd appears, He may find you a faithful steward of His flock.

Book II, Letter 42 To Luminosus, Abbot. Gregory to Luminosus, abbot of the monastery of Saint Thomas of Ariminum. We were glad to receive your own and your congregation's petition, and accede to your requests, in accordance with the statutes of the Fathers and with form of law. For to our brother and fellow bishop Castorius a letter has been sent by our order, whereby we have taken away entirely from him and his successors all power to harm your monastery; so that neither may he any longer come among you to be a burden to you, nor schedules be made of the property of the monastery, nor any public procession take place there; this only jurisdiction being still left to him, that he must ordain in the place of a deceased abbot another whom the common consent of the congregation may have chosen as worthy. But now, these things being thus accomplished, be you diligent in the work of God, and assiduously devote yourselves to prayer, lest you should seem not so much to have sought security of mind for prayer, as to have wished to escape strict episcopal control over you while living amiss.