Letter 3026: The excommunication placed upon you by the late Bishop Laurentius has been examined, and I have determined that it...

To Magnus the Presbyter. [Argument:] He absolves the man whom Laurentius, formerly bishop, had excommunicated without cause. He exhorts him to minister to his Church purely and diligently, and to admonish the clergy and people to elect a suitable bishop without dissensions. Gregory to Magnus, presbyter of the Church of Milan. [...] on account of the trouble of his body we retain him. And because now [...] one is worthily kept away from the sacrament of communion when his fault demands it, so by no means ought such a penalty to be inflicted upon the innocent. For we have learned that Laurentius, formerly our brother and fellow bishop, deprived you of communion although no faults of yours were present; and therefore, fortified by the authority of this our precept, carry out your office free from care, and take communion without any fear. Moreover, we have judged it necessary to exhort you to this also: that in all the affairs of your Church you so conduct yourself purely and diligently that no offense may regard you on the ground of neglect; and that any fault in you, on account of which you had been deprived of the communion of the Lord's body and blood, whether it lay hidden or has been discovered, you may wipe away by the purity of your faith. Admonish, therefore, the clergy and the people, that they may in no way dissent in electing a priest; but that by one consent they may elect for themselves such a man to be consecrated bishop, whose acts may be praiseworthy and whose person may be pleasing to God and to men; lest, if it be done otherwise, in divers ambitions, which God forbid, harm should befall the goods of the Church. In the month of April, in the eleventh indiction. (Cf. John the Deacon, book 4, chapter 55. See below, letter [...].) Letter [XXVII]. To Marinianus and Benenatus. [Argument:] That they inquire into the case of Bonifacius; who, if he be found guilty, is to be deprived of holy communion and shut up in a monastery. Gregory to Marinianus, abbot of Panormus [Palermo], and to Benenatus, notary and rector of the patrimony of Panormus. If we put off pursuing or avenging those things by which God is vehemently offended, we surely provoke the patience of the Divinity to anger. For many evil reports concerning certain persons living in the city of Panormus have reached us, which, since they call for greater chastisement, ought neither to be rashly believed nor lazily investigated. For which reason we enjoined upon Victor, our brother and fellow bishop, that, if they were true, he ought both to pursue and to avenge them. Now therefore, coming hither, Bonifacius, a most illustrious man, the bearer of these presents, complains that he was deprived of communion without cause, and that other grievous things were inflicted upon him by the aforesaid bishop. Since therefore no one is to be condemned without examination, we have written to the same brother and fellow bishop, that if any person be found who can say anything against him, he ought to send that person to your examination. And therefore we have judged it necessary to exhort you by the page of this precept, that, regarding the person of no one, but having the fear of God before your eyes, you ought there with all equity, mindful of the future judge, if anything be told you concerning him, to inquire into it by subtle investigation. And if in your examination he shall be shown to be guilty of any criminal charge, then by our authority let him not only be deprived of the communion of the Lord's body and blood, but also let him be shut up in a monastery, where he ought to do penance, that he may be able to purge the stains of his crime before the eternal judge by fitting lamentation. But if either nothing be said against him in your examination, or, if anything chance to be said, it shall be established not to be true, and you shall be unable to recognize by any indications that he has fallen into that of which he is accused, you shall take care by all means to report back to us. For we wish the aforesaid Bonifacius to sustain no molestation from anyone, since, just as it is just that worthy vengeance should proceed against offenders, so it is unjust that anyone should be subjected irrationally to certain afflictions. Letter [XXVIII]. To Romanus the Patrician. [Argument:] That he provide for Armenius, an orphan, needy and noble, a place or employment, whereby he may be sustained by daily wages. Gregory to Romanus, patrician throughout Italy. Whatever is bestowed mercifully and out of regard for piety both helps its author here and brings to him the desired reward on the day of recompense. Since this is so, because I greatly love your excellency, I make known to you occasions of reward. Armenius, therefore, a magnificent man, son of the late Antonius, a most illustrious man, has compelled me by his need to write to you on his behalf. Since, as you know, he has been bereaved of both parents, he awaits the protection and the support of your eminence. Wherefore let your Christianity, with the regard of pious consideration, as it is wont, in so far as it perceives to be useful, provide for him a place or an occupation from which he may be able to be sustained by daily wages; for this is the greatest praise and reward, if those things be bestowed upon orphans which could have been bestowed upon their parents for their services.

AD MAGNUM PRESBYTERUM. Quem Laureniius quondum episcopus immerito excom- municaverat, absulvit. Ipzum hortatur ut Ecclesi@ 8ud pure ac diligenter minis!ret, clerumque ac popu- lum de idoneo epi>copo absque dissensionibus eligen- do admoneat. Gregorius Magno presbytero Ecclesiz Mediola- nensis. in tripus Vatic., anest Urbinatt. Urbinum vulgo Ur- bino, urbs Unbriz olim episcopalis, nunc autem ar- chiepiscopalis. Vatic. D, consentientibus Norm., sollicitudinis tut in[uitus cura, Reg., sollicitudinis tu@ cura in tutum conservel. 4 Jdem, Supra, lib. n, indict, 10, epist. 45, et alibi. EyisT. XXVY. — © Quomodo Sit providendum Ec- clesize, cujus episcopus infirmatur, vide infra, lib. xin, epivt. 5 et 6, et concilium Neldeage, c. 47, ncenon Arausican. 1, Cc. 3U. » Sic reslituere' coegerunt Mss. omnes Vatic., Norm., Courb., Rhem., cum prius legeretur, restra pro eorporis 8ui molestia retinemus. Et quia nunc ad A Sicut exigente culpi (Grat. xx1v, q. 5, &. 2) quis a Sacramento communionis * digne abigitur, ita inson- tibus nullo mods talis debet irrogari vindicta. Com- perimus Siqu:dem quod Laurenius, quondam frater el coepiscopus noster, Þ nullis te culpis exstantibus communione privaverit, ideoque hujus precepti 10s{ri auctoritale munitus, officium tuum $: curus perage, el communionem sine al!qua sume formidine. Illud prxterea necessario te duximus adbortan- dum, ut ita te in cunctis utilititibus Eccle>iz tur pw e ac diligenter exhibeas, quatenus nec offensa te aliqua de neglectu respiciat; et culpam, $i qua in te, propter quam Dominici corporis et sanguinis come- munione fueras privatus, vel latens inventa est, luz lidei puritate detergas. Adnone igitur cl-rum et po- B putun, ut ad eligendum wullatenus dissentiant £a- cerdotem ; $ed uno consensu lalem $'bi eligant con- Secrai:dum episcopum, cnjus et actus laudabiles, ct grala Deo et hominibus possit es8e pers0ns ; ne $i aliier actum ſuerit, -in diversis, quod absit, studiis, damnom ecclesiasticis rebus eveniat. © Mense Aprili, indictivne 11, (Cf. Joan. Diac. l. iy, c. 55. Vide inf. ep. W.) EPISTOLA XXVYH. AD MARINIANUM ET BENENATCM. Ut in Boniſacium inquirant; qui, 8i inventus ſuerit reus, S4C1a p!ivelur communtone, alque in monasle- rium reirudatur. Gregorius Mariniano abbati de Panormo, et Bene- nato notario rectori patrimonii Panormi. Si ea de quibus vehementer Deus offenditur inse- qui vel ulcisci differimus, ad irascendum G&4SJ ulique Divinitatis patientiam provocamus. Multa etenim ad nos mala de quibusdam in Panormilana civitate de- genlibus pervenerunt, que quoeniam majorem coer- citionem ex£pectantl, nec temere credenda, nec desi- dio-e querenda sunt. Pro qua re Victori ſratri - et coepiscopo nostro injunximus ut $i vera essent, et ea insequi debuis-et et ulcisci. Nune itaque hue veniens * Boviſacius, vir clarissimns, praeSentium lator, ſrustra - se et communione privatum, et alia Se gravia a pra'- dicto episcopo queritur-fuisxe perpessum. Quia ergo nullus sine cognitione damnandus est, eidem fratri el coepiscopo nostro $Cripsimus, ut Si persona qua: de ips0 quwedam dicere possit inventa ſuerit, eam ad ves|ram debeat cognitionem dirigere. ldeoque h1jis$ precepti vos pagina necessSario duximus adbortan- virtute 8alubriter in omnibus. Negotium - ſfacessit Eci- toribus verbum jutus, Gregorio tlamen-nostro ſami- liare, nec ahiis scr:ptoribus, aut coxvis aut etiam avntiquioribus insvlens. Ennodius, 1. rv, epist. 14, ut jutlus magnitudine vesira. Et in epithalamio dicto maximo : Nune me Pierio favore jutum. Ubi jutus et jutum Significant adjulus, adjutum, 4 verbo juro. Let. XNXVI. — * Editi, 8«spenditur. Sequimur quainor Vatic., Norm., elc. © flJanc temporis notam confirmant duo Teller., Colh. ac Turon. S. Gat. dvs, quatenus nullius personam attendentes, sed Dei A impendantur quz eorum pro suis obsequiis poterant limorem hahentes pre oculis, ibi cum omni xquitate, £1 qua vobis de-eo dicta ſuerm!, memores fut:ri ju- (ici, $ubtili debeatis indagatione perquirere. Et Si in veslra cognitione cujasquam eum facinorosi crimi- nis reum esse patuerit, tunc ex nostra auctoritate non $olum dominici corporis et Sanguinis commu= nione privatus sit, yerum etiam in monaslerium, ubi penitentiam agere debeat, ” retrudatur, ut criminis Sui maculas convenienti valeat apud z#ternum judi- cem lamentat:one purgare. Si vero aut nihil adver- Sus eum in Coguitione vestra dictum fſuerit, aut $i quid dici contigerit, et verum non 'esse cons'i!erit, nec aliquibus illum indiciis in hoc quod dicitur inci- disse polueritis agnoscere, modis omnibus renun- tiare nobis curabitis. Prediclum enim Bonyfacium nullam a quolibet volumus molestiam $usLinere, quo- niam $icut justum est ut in delinquentes. digna de- beat vindicta procedere, ita iniquum est quibus- dam affliciionibus quemquam irrationabiliter subja- cere. EPISTOLA XXYII. AD ROMANIUM PATRICIUM. UMirmeno orphano egenti ac uobili, locum vel operam provideat, unde quotidianis slipend:is snslentetur. Gregorius * Romano patricio per lialiam. Quidquid misericorditer ac respectu pietatis im- penditur, et hic auctorem suum adjuvat, et optatum ei premium in die retributionis apportat, Quod cam ta Sit, quia excellentiam vestram valde diligo, mer- cedis vobis caucas insinuo. Armenius itaque magni- ficus, filius quondam Antonii G4 illosrrissimi viri, $Ua me egeslate compulit, ut pro eo vobis debuissem $cribere. Qui quoniam, Sicut nostis, utroque parente orbatus est, eminentiz vestr#e twitionem et Þ conti- nentiam prestolatur. Unde © christianitas vestra pie considerationis, ut consuevit, intuitu, -in quantum utile perspicit, ei locum 4 vel actionem provideat, ex qua quotidianis Stipendiis valeat conlineri; quo- nam hc maxima laus et merces est, si illa orphanis EeisT. XXVINT.— * lia legunt quidam probati Mss. Codices, quihus cons-6nant quatuor Anglicani. In aliis Sic habetur : Romano patricio, ac populo per Traliam. Antea in Editis ita !egebatur : Universis (pi-copis per Ttaham. Sel tri: ſaciunt ut titulum !unc In>puam :4* emmentiam vesIran ditlg' : non $1” all ri $viet epiSCOPOS ; 2* 8$1cut nos(is. nroque parente orba genitoribus exhiberi.