Letter 6006: Gregory to Childebert, King of the Franks. As much as royal dignity is above that of other men, so much in truth does the high position of your kingdom excel that of the kingdoms of other nations. And yet to be a king is not extraordinary, there being others also; but to be a Catholic, which others are not counted worthy to be, this is enough.
Pope Gregory the Great→Childebert|c. 595 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
Gregory to Childebert, King of the Franks.
As much as royal dignity stands above that of other men, so does the eminence of your kingdom truly surpass that of other nations. To be a king is not unusual -- there are others who are kings. But to be a Catholic, which others are not counted worthy to be -- that is enough. For as the splendor of a great lamp shines in the darkness of night, so the clear light of your faith gleams amid the dark faithlessness of other nations. Whatever other kings glory in, you possess as well. But they are far surpassed because they do not have the one supreme good that you have. So that they may be overcome in deeds as well as faith, let your Excellency always show kindness to your subjects. And when something offends you, do not punish without inquiry. You will please the King of kings -- the Almighty Lord -- all the more if, restraining your power, you recognize that you may not do everything you are able to do.
That you maintain purity of faith in both mind and deed is shown by your love of the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, whose property has been well governed and preserved under your authority. But since Dynamius the Patrician, who on our recommendation looked after this property, is no longer able to manage it, I have sent our most beloved son the priest Candidus to govern it, lest the small patrimony in your territory be ruined by neglect. I commend him to your Excellency, greeting you with fatherly charity and asking that if any wrong has been done or any property wrongfully detained, the matter be set right.
Book VI, Letter 6
To King Childebert.
Gregory to Childebert, King of the Franks.
As much as royal dignity is above that of other men, so much in truth does the high position of your kingdom excel that of the kingdoms of other nations. And yet to be a king is not extraordinary, there being others also; but to be a Catholic, which others are not counted worthy to be, this is enough. For as the splendour of a great lamp shines by the clearness of its light in the darkness of earth's night, so the clear light of your faith glitters and flashes amid the dark perfidy of other nations. Whatever the other kings glory in having you have. But they are in this regard exceedingly surpassed, because they have not the chief good thing which you have. In order, then, that they may be overcome in action as well as in faith, let your Excellence always show yourself kind to your subjects. And, if there are any things such as to offend your mind, punish them not without enquiry. For then you will the more please the King of kings, that is the Almighty Lord, if, restraining your power, you feel that you may not do all that you can.
Now that you keep purity of faith both in mind and deed, the love that is in you of the blessed Peter, Prince of the apostles, evidently shows, whose property has been so far well governed and preserved under the sway of your supremacy. But since Dynamius the Patrician, who on our recommendation looked after this property, is not able, as we have learned, to govern it now, lest the little patrimony which is in your parts should be ruined from neglect, we have therefore sent the bearer of these presents, our most beloved son the presbyter Candidus to govern it, whom we commend in all respects to your Excellency, greeting you in the first place with paternal charity, with the request that, if by any chance any wrong has been done there, or if the property of the same little patrimony is detained by any one, the matter may be set right, and what has been alienated may be restored to its original ownership; that so your equity, as well as your faith, may shine forth to all nations, which will be something very glorious and laudable.
Moreover we have sent to your Excellency Saint Peter's keys, containing a portion of his chains, to protect you from all evils, when hung on your neck.
As much as royal dignity stands above that of other men, so does the eminence of your kingdom truly surpass that of other nations. To be a king is not unusual -- there are others who are kings. But to be a Catholic, which others are not counted worthy to be -- that is enough. For as the splendor of a great lamp shines in the darkness of night, so the clear light of your faith gleams amid the dark faithlessness of other nations. Whatever other kings glory in, you possess as well. But they are far surpassed because they do not have the one supreme good that you have. So that they may be overcome in deeds as well as faith, let your Excellency always show kindness to your subjects. And when something offends you, do not punish without inquiry. You will please the King of kings -- the Almighty Lord -- all the more if, restraining your power, you recognize that you may not do everything you are able to do.
That you maintain purity of faith in both mind and deed is shown by your love of the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, whose property has been well governed and preserved under your authority. But since Dynamius the Patrician, who on our recommendation looked after this property, is no longer able to manage it, I have sent our most beloved son the priest Candidus to govern it, lest the small patrimony in your territory be ruined by neglect. I commend him to your Excellency, greeting you with fatherly charity and asking that if any wrong has been done or any property wrongfully detained, the matter be set right.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
CHILDEBERTUM REGEM.
Laudat ia illo s/udium fidei catholice, Candidumgque commendat patrimonii reclorem, Dynamii patricii loco, designatum.
uxore, filia, Sigebert» regi Francorum nupsit, ex eoque Childebe: tum geauit, patrem Theodeberti ac Thevdorici. Quod ait Mariana, a Gregorio episcopo Komano Brunichildem duabus epislolis aut potius decem esse laudatam , et ob id scelera Fredegundis 2 nostris hjsloricis ei aſlicta arbitratur, refelli non meretur, Quippe Gregorius novno regui Theodeberti ac Theodorici frairum anno, iv Idus Mariias deces- Sit, ante annos novem quam Brunichildis periret; quo Llempore nondum itla proceres preter unuim aut allerum, nondum Degiderium Viennensem episcopum jugulari jusseral, nondum nepvtes su0s crudeliter occideral, Praterea quot et quas basilicas Bruaichil- dis exs/ruxisset, ex ipsius epistohs scivit Gregorins ; quut et quam atrocia facizora facercet, scire facile nou potuit. Denique laudat eam nonunquem Gregy- Tius ut proniore animo Eccles.2 Gallicaute, et Cau- didi, Augustini, aliorumque quos ipsi commenadal, habeat rationem,. curamque SuscCipiat. De bis ſuse el elacle vir clariss. Adrianus Valesius, in |. xvu Re- run Francicarum, quem lege. Gussanv. Multi alii preler Marianam a Bruvichilie tot Scelerum £usPpi- civnem amovere conati Sunt, et in his Cordemoisius In Historia Francorum haud ita pridem Gallicescripta.