Letter 3063

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Fortunatus, bishop Date: ~593 AD Context: Gregory directs Bishop Fortunatus on the consecration of a monastery belonging to the abbess Gratiosa. Gregory to Fortunatus, bishop. The monastery of the abbess Gratiosa is to be consecrated, and I direct you to perform the consecration. Before you do so, ensure that everything is properly in order: that the community is canonically constituted, that the abbess has been properly elected or appointed, that the monastery has adequate provision for the sisters' sustenance, and that there are no outstanding legal issues that might disturb the monastery after its consecration. When you are satisfied that all is in order, proceed with the consecration with appropriate solemnity. The inauguration of a new religious community is an occasion of genuine spiritual significance; treat it as such. Report to me when the consecration has taken place. Gregory

AD FORTUNA TUM EPISCOPUN. De monasterio Gratiose abbatizs@ consecrando. Gregorius ®* Fortunato episcopo Neapolitano. Religiosis dexideriis sine diflicultate prestari decet effectum. Aique ideo Gratioga abbatissa una cum congregatione $ua, oblata pelitione, > quz tenetur in 8ubditis, postulavit quod patlriciz recordationis Ru- SLlica per ultimum voluntatis sv# arbitrium in civi- tale Neapolitana, in domo propria, in regione Her- ei.lensi, © in vieo qui appellatar Lampadi, monaste- rium construi veluerit ancillarum Dei, in quo prefa- lam Gratiosam abbatissaw przesse disposuit; simul- que et oratorium exstruxi:zse dignoscitur, cui et pro voto suo 4 qualuor uncias totius substanlie $uz di- misisse suggesSit, quodque in honorem beatz Marie Semper Virginis , genitricisque Dei et Domini n6stri Jesu Christi desideravit consecrari. Et ideo, ſrater charissime , prasenti preceptione dilectionem tuam duximus adhortandam , ut inspecto primitus lesta- ment», $i jure $ubsistat, et easdem quatuor uncias verissime eidem monasterio collatas esse compere- ris, ad predietum locum cum postulaverint, ingra- vanter accedas, venuerandz $0leinnia dedicationis impendens, ut © quoties necesse fuerit, a presbyie- ris Ecclesie in $uprascripto loco deservientibus G74 celebrentur sacrificia veneranda missarum ; ita ut in eodem monasterio neque fraternitas tua, neque presbyleri preter diligentiam diseipline ali- cerni, nec altingi, nec comprehendi posse, ct oporlere per angelos divinam s8ibi benevolentiam conciliare. Ne vero culilum angelorum om:em ab Apostolo ami- quisve Patribus damnatum cogites , audi nounullos, Angelos venerari, inqunit Eusebins Demonstr. Evang. lb. m, p. 107, pro ratione graduqne dignitatis edocti Sumus, wt s0ls Dev, qui Rex est univ rai, adorationis honorem i(ribuamus. Obserrandos angelos asseril Ambros. lib. de Viduis. [{lorum enim intercessione, immat Hilarins, m ps. cxxrx, eget infirmiias nostra. EersT. LXIH [At. 56]. — © Post depositionem De- metrii episcopi Neapoliiant , cum Paulus Nepesinus eji>copus, et postea Florentius ejns Subdiaconns ele- ctionem de se factam renuissent, consentiente Sancto Greg-rio electus est Fortunatns ann. 595, qui sub- $Cripsit concilio Romano ann. 595. De Florentic vi de, Supra, episto/aui 15. Gussanv. © Ita Vatic. B et D, Norm. owmnes, Corb. et vet. D Ed. In Yatic. A et C legitur : in rico quondam Lam- padi. Ja recent. Vulgatis : in vico in quo Lampadius monaslerium ancillarum Dei conslitnit. sepel retur, in quo. lizc unde desuinpia £in!, nos latel, nec minus uvbscurum ext quis his verbis Sensus sit alliugendus. 4 Seu tertiam bonorum suorum pariem. © In monasteriis piures olim dirs caruisse liturgia prohbat ex velerum monachorum- regulis card. Bona de Rebus liturgicis lib. 1, ce. 18, num, Þ., bs prefat. ad 11 sxc. Bened., & 4, observat Mabillonius gundum quoti:tianam miss# frequentationem ita sacerdolbus in more posiiam fuisse s:rculo Seplimo, ut Singult in dies ad atlare sacra ceiebratwri accederent, kx lib. iv bÞialog., cap. 56, Cassius Narviensis episcopes quulicdianum ofjerre consueverat Deo sacrificium. Alivs nouuulivs laudat ibidem Mabill. qui per s&eculun Sep uu rem Sacram quotidie frequentarunt : id quod Inquit, anterioribus s&culis non tam obviuin videlur 661 EPISTOLARUY LIB. WW. — iNDICT. XL. — EPIST. LXV. 662 quid molestiarum inferat ; * aut si quid pro divers0- A nullo eis vel sacri canones, vel ecelesiasticz regulze rum devotione commodilatis accesserit , $ibi zslimet vindicandum. Sive aurum, sive argentuin, ive pre- dium, sive veslimentum, omnibus modis construclio przeſata possideat, cum ancillis Dei in eodem loco deservientibus debeat proſicere quidquid offerri ibi- dem conligerit.