Letter 5042: I have received the most sweet and pleasant letter of your Fraternity, which, though you are never absent from my heart, has nevertheless made your Holiness as it were present with me bodily. But I beseech Almighty God to protect you with His right hand, and to grant you a tranquil life here, and, when it shall please Him, eternal rewards. But I...

Gregory to Sebastian, Bishop of Sirmium. I received your most welcome and pleasant letter. Though you are never absent from my heart, your Fraternity's letter has made you feel present to me bodily, as it were. I pray that Almighty God may protect you with his right hand, grant you a peaceful life here, and when it pleases him, eternal rewards. But I ask you, if you love me with the affection you always showed when we were together, to pray for me more earnestly -- that Almighty God may loose me from the chains of my sins and set me free in his sight, released from the burden of this mortal flesh. However incomparable the sweetness of the heavenly country may be in drawing us toward it, there are also many sorrows in this life that daily drive us to love heavenly things. And these sorrows actually please me, precisely because they allow nothing in this world to hold any attraction. We cannot begin to describe, most holy brother, what we suffer in this land at the hands of your friend the lord Romanus. I may say briefly that his malice toward us has surpassed even the swords of the Lombards, so that the enemies who kill us seem kinder than the republic's officials, who wear us out with anxiety through their malice, their plundering, and their deceit. To bear simultaneously the charge of bishops and clergy, of monasteries and people, to watch anxiously against enemy raids, and to remain ever suspicious of the treachery and malice of the military commanders -- the labor and sorrow this involves, you can judge more truly the more sincerely you love me who endures it. I should also tell you that, according to Boniface the defender's report, our most holy brother the lord Anastasius the patriarch wished to entrust you with the governance of a church in one of his cities, and that you declined. I heartily approve of your decision and your wisdom, and I commend it strongly. I count you fortunate -- and myself unfortunate for having consented, at such a time as this, to take on the governance of the Church. However, if by some chance, out of consideration for your brothers and a desire for works of mercy, you should ever decide to accept such an offer, I beg you: do not prefer anyone's affection over mine. There are churches without bishops on the island of Sicily, and if God should guide you to take charge of a church, you could do so more effectively near the threshold of the blessed apostle Peter, with his help. But if that does not appeal to you, remain happily as you are, hold firm to your resolve, and pray for us unhappy ones. May Almighty God keep you under his protection wherever he wills you to be, and bring you to heavenly rewards.

Book V, Letter 42 To Sebastian, Bishop. Gregory to Sebastian, Bishop of Sirmium. I have received the most sweet and pleasant letter of your Fraternity, which, though you are never absent from my heart, has nevertheless made your Holiness as it were present with me bodily. But I beseech Almighty God to protect you with His right hand, and to grant you a tranquil life here, and, when it shall please Him, eternal rewards. But I beg you, if you love me with that love wherewith you always loved me when we were together, to pray for me more earnestly, that so Almighty God may loose me from the bands of my sins, and make me to stand free in His sight, released from the burden of this corruption. For, however inestimable be the sweetness of the heavenly country for drawing one towards it, yet there are many sorrows in this life to impel us daily to the love of heavenly things. And these only please me exceedingly from the very fact that they do not allow anything to please me in this world. For we can by no means describe, most holy brother, what we suffer in this land at the hands of your friend, the lord Romanus. Yet I may briefly say that his malice towards us has surpassed the swords of the Lombards; so that the enemies who kill us seem kinder than the judges of the republic, who by their malice, rapines, and deceits wear us out with anxiety. And to bear at the same time the charge of bishops and clergy, and also of monasteries and people, and to watch anxiously against the plots of the enemy, and to be ever suspicious of the deceitfulness and malice of the dukes; what labours and what sorrows all this involves, your Fraternity may the more truly estimate as you more purely love me who suffer these things Furthermore, while addressing you with the greeting that I owe you, I inform you that it has come to my knowledge from the report of Boniface the defensor, that our brother the most holy lord Anastasius the patriarch has wished to commit to you the government of the Church in one of his cities, and that you have refused your assent. This your feeling and your wisdom I most gladly approve of, and strongly commend; and I account you happy, and myself unhappy in having consented at such a time as this to undertake the government of the Church. If, however, by any chance, in condescension to your brethren, and as being intent on works of mercy, you should ever decide to consent to such a proposal, I beg you by no means to prefer any one else's love to mine. For there are in the island of Sicily Churches without bishops, and, if by the guidance of God you are pleased to take the government of a Church, you will be able to do this better near the threshold of the blessed apostle Peter, with his aid. But if you are not so pleased, remain happily as you are, that this resolution may continue in you; and pray for us unhappy ones. Now may Almighty God keep you under His protection, in whatever place it be His will that you should be, and bring you to heavenly rewards.