Letter 6053: Gregory to Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate (Arles), Metropolitan. Although we are confident that your Fraternity is intent on good works, and that you come forward of your own accord in causes well-pleasing to God, we nevertheless deem it advantageous to address you with fraternal charity, that, being provoked also by our letters, you may increase ...

Gregory to Virgilius, Bishop and Metropolitan of Arles. Although we are confident that your Fraternity is intent upon good works and comes forward of its own accord in matters pleasing to God, we nonetheless think it useful to address you with fraternal charity — so that, stirred also by our letters, you may increase the assistance which it is fitting for you to bestow willingly. We therefore inform your Holiness that we have sent Augustine, the servant of God and bearer of these presents, together with other servants of God, for the winning of souls in the region to which he is going — as he will be able to tell you in person. In these circumstances you must assist him with prayer and practical support, and where need arises provide him with your help, and refresh him as is proper with the consolation of a father and a priest. In this way, when he shall have obtained your Holiness's assistance, and if he succeeds in winning any souls for God as we hope he may, you too will share in the reward, having devotedly contributed the abundance of your support to his good work. As for the priest Candidus, our common son, and the small patrimony of our Church in those parts — let your Fraternity, as one who shares our mind, regard both as commended to your care, so that with your Holiness's help something may be raised from it for the support of the poor. Since your predecessor held this patrimony for many years and kept the collected revenues in his own hands, let your Fraternity consider whose money it is and to whom it ought to be paid, and restore it to us by handing it over to the aforesaid priest Candidus, our son. For it is altogether deplorable that what has been preserved by the kings of the nations should be said to be taken away by bishops.

Book VI, Letter 53 To Virgilius, Bishop. Gregory to Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate (Arles), Metropolitan. Although we are confident that your Fraternity is intent on good works, and that you come forward of your own accord in causes well-pleasing to God, we nevertheless deem it advantageous to address you with fraternal charity, that, being provoked also by our letters, you may increase the solace which it becomes you voluntarily to bestow. And accordingly we inform your Holiness that we have sent Augustine, the servant of God, the bearer of these presents, with other servants of God, for the winning of souls in the parts whither he is going, as he will be able himself to inform you face to face. In these circumstances you must needs aid him with prayer and assistance, and, where need may require, afford him the support of your succour, and refresh him, as is fit, with fatherly and priestly consolation, to the end that, when he shall have obtained the succour of your Holiness, if he should succeed in winning any gain for God, as we hope he may, you too may be able to gain a reward along with him, having devoutly administered to his good works the abundance of your support. Moreover, as to Candidus the presbyter, our common son, and the little patrimony of our Church, let your Fraternity, as being of one mind with us, study to hold both as commended to you; that so, with the help of your Holiness, something may thence accrue for the sustenance of the poor. Inasmuch, then, as your predecessor held this patrimony for many years, and kept in his own hands the collected payments, let your Fraternity consider whose the moneys are, and to whom they should be paid, and restore them to us, handing them to the above-written presbyter Candidus, our son. For it is very execrable that what has been preserved by the kings of the nations should be said to be taken away by bishops.