Letter 3036: Gregory to Sabinus, Guardian of Sardinia. Certain serious matters having come to our ears which require canonical correction, we therefore charge your Experience not to neglect to cause Januarius, our brother and fellow bishop, together with John the notary, to appear before us with all speed, all excuses being laid aside, that in his presence w...

Gregory to Sabinus, Defender of Sardinia. Certain serious matters requiring canonical correction have come to our attention. We therefore charge you not to delay in bringing our brother and fellow bishop Januarius, together with the notary John, before us with all possible speed and no excuses. We need to conduct a thorough investigation of these reports in his presence. Furthermore, if the religious women Pompeiana and Theodosia wish to come here, as they have requested, give them every assistance so that they may accomplish their purpose with your help. Above all, make sure you bring with you the very capable Isidore, as he has asked, so that his case — which he is known to have pending against the Church of Cagliari — may be fully examined and legally resolved. We have also received reports of personal misconduct by the presbyter Epiphanius. You must investigate everything thoroughly and bring with you the women with whom he is said to have sinned, or any other witnesses you believe have knowledge of the matter, so that the truth may be fully exposed to the rigor of ecclesiastical discipline. See to all of this so effectively that you give us no grounds for finding you negligent. Know that it will be entirely on your head if this order is carried out in any slipshod manner.

Book III, Letter 36 To Sabinus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Sabinus, Guardian of Sardinia. Certain serious matters having come to our ears which require canonical correction, we therefore charge your Experience not to neglect to cause Januarius, our brother and fellow bishop, together with John the notary, to appear before us with all speed, all excuses being laid aside, that in his presence what has been reported to us may be subjected to a thorough investigation. Further, if the religious women Pompeiana and Theodosia, according to their request, should wish to come hither, afford them your succour in all ways, that they may be able, through your assistance, to accomplish their desires: but especially be careful by all means to bring with you the most eloquent Isidore, as he has requested, that, the merits of his case which he is known to have against the Church of Caralis having been fully gone into, he may be able to have it legally terminated. Furthermore, some personal misdemeanours having been reported to us of the presbyter Epiphanius, it is necessary for you to investigate everything diligently, and to make haste to bring at the same time with you the women with whom he is said to have sinned, or others whom you suppose to know anything about the matter; that so the truth may be clearly laid open to the rigour of ecclesiastical discipline. Now you will take care to accomplish all these things so efficiently as to lay yourself open to no blame for negligence, knowing that it will be entirely at your peril if this our order should in any way be slackly executed. 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/360203036.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.