Letter 4042: The matter before you requires the kind of episcopal firmness that is sometimes harder to maintain than any other...

[Argument:] That he is driven to the love of heavenly things by the sorrows of this life. He recounts the trials he suffers. He praises Sebastian, because he was unwilling to undertake the governance of the Church offered to him by Anastasius. If he should ever resolve to consent to this, he asks that he set no other before himself in his love. Gregory to Sebastian, bishop of Sirmium. We have received the most sweet and most pleasant writings of your Fraternity. Although [your affection] is never lacking to me [...] I ask Him to protect you with His right hand, and to grant to you both a tranquil life here, and, when it shall please Him, eternal rewards. But I beg, if you cherish me with that love by which you have always loved me when present, that you pray more earnestly for me, so that almighty God [...] [may keep me] watchful and anxious against the snares of the enemy, and ever wary against the deceits and malice of the commanders [or: leaders]: of what labor, of what sorrow this is, let your Fraternity weigh it the more truly, the more purely he loves me who suffer these things. (Cf. John the Deacon, book III, no. 49.) Moreover, discharging the due discourse of salutation, I make known what has reached me by the report of Boniface the defensor: that the most holy man, our brother the lord Anastasius the patriarch, wished to commit to you the governance of a Church in one of his cities, and you were unwilling to consent. This judgment and your wisdom I have embraced very gladly, I have praised exceedingly, and I have reckoned you fortunate and myself unfortunate, who in such a time as this consented to undertake the governance of a Church. If, however, your mind perhaps, in condescending to the brethren and being intent upon works of mercy, should ever resolve to consent to this, I beg that you set no other before me in your love. For there are in the island of Sicily Churches vacant of bishops, and if it please you to govern a Church under God's authority, near the thresholds of the blessed Apostle Peter, with his help you can do so better. But if it does not please you, fare happily, so that this resolve may remain in you, and pray for us who are unfortunate. And may almighty God, in whatever place He shall wish you to be, guard you with His protection, and lead you to the heavenly gifts. (Cf. John the Deacon, book III, no. 41.)

AD SEBASTIANUM EPISCOPUM. Ad amorem celeslium 8e hujus vite doloribus impelli. Quos patitur recenset. Sebastianum, quod oblate ub Anraxlasio Ecclesie regimen suscipere noluerit, lau- dat. Si ad hoc unquam consentire decreverit, petit ut in amore 8ibi alium non preponat. Gregorius Sebasliano ® episcopo Sirmiensi. Dulcissima atque $8navissima ſraternitatis tuz Scripta Suscepi. Que mibhi, quamvis nunquam desit num rogo, ut 8ua vos dextera protegat, > vobisque D et hic tranquillam vitam, et quando ei placuerit, premia zterna concedat. 770 Sed peto, si illo me amore diligitis, quo presentem semper amastis, ut pro me enixius exorelis, qualenus omnipotens Deus Feist. xL1 | AL. 35]. — * In Excusis, episcopo Rhi- Siniensi. In Collect, Pauli et in Vatic. D. episcopo Ri- miers. Quem exbibemus titulum suppeditarunt nobis Pa Stium insidias sollicitum vigilare, contra ducum fal- lacias a:que malitias Suspectum Semper exislere, cujus Jaboris, cujus doloris sit, vesira ſralernitas tanto verius penset, quanto me qui hc patior purius amat. (Cf. Joan. Diac. |. mi, n. 49.) Przx:erea debitum $alutationis alloquium solvens, indico quod ad we Bonifacio deſensore reſerente pervenerit, quia vir sanclissimus ſraler noster dom- nus 4 Anaslasius palriarcha in una Suarum civita- tum regendam vobis Ecclesiam commiltcre voluit, et consentire noluistis. Quem $ensum, ac $apien- tiam vesiram valde ego libenter amplexus sum, lau- davi vehementer, et vos ſelices, me infelicem esse deputavi, qui hoc tali tempore regimen Ecclesia SuSCipere Cconsensi. Si tamen animus vester ſortasse fratribus condescenudendo, et misericordiez operibus intentus ad hoc unquam consentire dec:everit, pelo ut amori meo alium mivime pro*ponatis. Sunt enim in Sicilia insula Ecclesizz vacautes episcopis, el si vobis placet auctore Deo Ecclesiam regere, juxta beati Petri aposloli liminua, cum ejus adjulorio me- lius potestis. Siu vero non placel, ſeliciter state, ut is!a in vobis inter.tio permaneal, et pro nobis inſeli- cibus exorate. Omnipolens autem Deus in quocunque vos esse loco voluerit, sua protectione custodiat, et ad culestia vos dona perducat. (Cf. Joan. Diac. l. m, n. 413.)