Letter 4023: Since no one of your race is a Christian, I hereby know that you are better than all your race, in that thou in it art found to be a Christian. For, while all the Barbaricini live as senseless animals, know not the true God, but adore stocks and stones, in the very fact that you worship the true God thou show how much you excel them all. But car...
Pope Gregory the Great→Hospito, Duke of Barbaricini|c. 593 AD|gregory great
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Gregory to Hospito, Duke of the Barbaricini.
Since no one else of your people is a Christian, I know you are better than all your kinsmen — for you alone among them have been found to be a Christian. While all the Barbaricini live like mindless animals, not knowing the true God but worshipping sticks and stones, the very fact that you worship the true God shows how far you surpass them all.
But hold fast to the faith you have received. Carry it out in good deeds and good words. Offer to Christ, in whom you believe, everything within your power: bring as many of your people to Him as you can, see that they are baptized, and urge them to set their hearts on eternal life.
If you are unable to do this yourself, being otherwise occupied, I ask you — with my greeting — to give every assistance to the men we have sent to your region: my fellow bishop Felix and my son, the servant of God, Cyriacus. By supporting their work, you will demonstrate your devotion to Almighty God, and He whose servants you assist in their good labor will be your helper in all good things.
Through them we have sent you a blessing from Saint Peter the Apostle, which I trust you will receive, as you should, with a glad heart. The month of June, Indiction 12.
Book IV, Letter 23
To Hospito, Duke of the Barbaricini.
Gregory to Hospito, etc.
Since no one of your race is a Christian, I hereby know that you are better than all your race, in that thou in it art found to be a Christian. For, while all the Barbaricini live as senseless animals, know not the true God, but adore stocks and stones, in the very fact that you worship the true God thou show how much you excel them all. But carry thou out the faith which you have received in good deeds and words, and offer what is in your power to Christ in whom you believe, so as to bring to Him as many as you can, and cause them to be baptized, and admonish them to set their affection on eternal life. And if perchance you can not do this yourself, being otherwise occupied, I beg you, with my greeting, to succour in all ways our men whom we have sent to your parts, to wit my fellow bishop Felix, and my son, the servant of God, Cyriacus , so that in aiding their labours you may show your devotion to Almighty God, and that He whose servants you succour in their good work may be a helper to you in all good deeds. We have sent you through them a blessing of St. Peter the apostle, which I beg you to receive, as you ought to do, kindly. The month of June, Indiction 12.
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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/360204023.htm>.
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Gregory to Hospito, Duke of the Barbaricini.
Since no one else of your people is a Christian, I know you are better than all your kinsmen — for you alone among them have been found to be a Christian. While all the Barbaricini live like mindless animals, not knowing the true God but worshipping sticks and stones, the very fact that you worship the true God shows how far you surpass them all.
But hold fast to the faith you have received. Carry it out in good deeds and good words. Offer to Christ, in whom you believe, everything within your power: bring as many of your people to Him as you can, see that they are baptized, and urge them to set their hearts on eternal life.
If you are unable to do this yourself, being otherwise occupied, I ask you — with my greeting — to give every assistance to the men we have sent to your region: my fellow bishop Felix and my son, the servant of God, Cyriacus. By supporting their work, you will demonstrate your devotion to Almighty God, and He whose servants you assist in their good labor will be your helper in all good things.
Through them we have sent you a blessing from Saint Peter the Apostle, which I trust you will receive, as you should, with a glad heart. The month of June, Indiction 12.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.