Letter 2047: Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage. We have received with the utmost gratification the letters of your Fraternity, which have reached us somewhat late by the hands of Donatus and Quodvultdeus, our most reverend brethren and fellow bishops, and also Victor the deacon with Agilegius the notary. And though we thought that we had suffered loss...

Book II, Letter 47 To Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage [the chief city of Roman North Africa, modern Tunisia]. Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage. We received Your Fraternity's letters with the greatest pleasure, though they reached us somewhat late, carried by those who came here for official business. Your letter speaks of faith and charity, which is exactly what we expect from one in your office. But we are compelled to express our concern about certain matters in your province. We have learned that the Donatist heresy [a centuries-old schismatic movement in North African Christianity] is once again spreading in some regions. This troubles us deeply, since the unity of the Church -- for which so many great men labored -- must not be allowed to fragment again. We urge Your Fraternity to use every effort, through preaching and gentle persuasion, to bring those who have strayed back to Catholic unity. Use the authority entrusted to you, but temper it always with pastoral love. Where correction is needed, apply it firmly but without cruelty. The souls of those who wander are not to be driven away but called home. Please keep us informed about conditions in your province so we can assist you where needed. We commend to your care the bearer of this letter, and we pray the Lord to strengthen you in the faithful administration of your office. Send us reports whenever opportunity allows, that we may know how things stand and respond accordingly.

Book II, Letter 47 To Dominicus, Bishop. Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage. We have received with the utmost gratification the letters of your Fraternity, which have reached us somewhat late by the hands of Donatus and Quodvultdeus, our most reverend brethren and fellow bishops, and also Victor the deacon with Agilegius the notary. And though we thought that we had suffered loss from the tardiness of their coming, yet we find gain from their more abundant charity; seeing that from this delay in point of time there appears no interruption, but rather increase of the love which, by the mercy of God, through your contemplation of the priestly office, your practice of reading, and your maturity of age, we know to be already firmly planted in you. For it would not flow so largely from you, had it not very many most abundant veins in your heart. Let us, therefore, most holy brother, hold fast with unshaken firmness this mother and guard of virtues. Let not the tongues of the deceitful diminish it in us, or any snares of the ancient enemy corrupt it. For this joins what is divided, and keeps together what is joined. This lifts up what is lowly without tumour; this brings down what is lifted up without dejection. Through this the unity of the universal Church, which is the knitting together of the Body of Christ, rejoices in its several parts through the mind's equalization of them, though having in it dissimilarity from the diversity of its members. Through this these members both exult in the joy of others, though in themselves afflicted, and also droop for the sorrows of others, though in themselves joyful. For seeing that, as the teacher of the Gentiles testifies, if one member suffers anything, the other members suffer with it, and if one member glories, all the members rejoice with it, I doubt not that you groan for our perturbation, as it is quite certain that we rejoice for your peace. Now as to your Fraternity rejoicing with us on our ordination, it displays to me the affection of most sincere charity. But I confess that a force of sorrow strikes through my soul from contemplation of this order of ministry. For heavy is the weight of priesthood; seeing that it is necessary for a priest, first to live so as to be an example to others, and then to be on his guard not to lift up his heart because of the example which he shows. He should ever be thinking of the ministry of preaching, considering with most intense fear how that the Lord, when about to depart to receive for Himself a kingdom, and giving talents to His servants, says, Trade till I come Luke 19:13. Which trading surely we carry on only if by our living and our speaking we win the souls of our neighbours; if by preaching the joys of the heavenly kingdom we strengthen all that are weak in divine love; if by terribly sounding forth the punishments of hell we bend the froward and the timid; if we spare no one against the truth; if, given to heavenly friendships, we fear not human enmities. And indeed it was in thus showing himself that the Psalmist knew that he had offered a kind of Sacrifice to God, when he said, Did I not hate them, O God, that hated you, and was I not grieved with your enemies! Yea I hated them with a perfect hated, and they became enemies unto me Psalm 138:21. But in view of this burden I tremble for my infirmity, and look to the returning of the Master of the house, after receiving His kingdom, to take account of us. But with what heart shall I bear His coming, if from the trading I undertook I render Him no gain, or almost none? Do thou, therefore, most dear brother, help me with your prayers; and what you see me to fear for myself, consider daily on your own account with anxious dread. For through the bond of charity both what I say of myself is your concern, and what I desire you to do is mine. Further, as to what your Fraternity writes about ecclesiastical privileges, keep to this without any hesitation, since, as we defend our own rights, so we observe those of several churches. Nor do I through partiality grant to any Church whatever more than it deserves, nor do I under the instigation of ambition derogate from any what belongs to it by right; but I desire to honour my brethren in all ways, and study accordingly that each may be advanced in honour, so long as there can be no opposition to it of right on the part of one against the other. Further, I greatly rejoice with you in the manners of your messengers, in whom it has been shown me how much you love me, in that you have sent to me elect brethren and sons. Given the tenth of the Kalends of August, tenth indiction. 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/360202047.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.