Letter 6063: Gregory to Gennadius, Patrician of Africa. We doubt not that your Excellency remembers how two years ago we wrote in behalf of Paul our brother and fellow bishop, asking you to afford him the support of your Dignity in his desire to come to us on account of the trouble he was said to be undergoing from persecution on the part of the Donatists, t...

Gregory to Gennadius, Patrician of Africa. We do not doubt that your Excellency remembers how two years ago we wrote on behalf of Paul our brother and fellow bishop, asking you to provide him with the support of your authority in his wish to come to us on account of the trouble he was said to be suffering through persecution at the hands of the Donatists — since it had been reported to us that he could obtain no help against them there, and we wished, having established the truth, to give him advice in brotherly sympathy and discuss with him what should be done by way of a sound remedy against the madness of that pestilential presumption. As far as our aforesaid brother gave us to understand, however, he not only failed to obtain anyone's help, but was prevented by various obstacles from being able to come safely to Rome. Yet when we had his letter read to him, he replied that he is not suffering from the ill-will of certain persons because he suppressed the Donatists — rather, he says that he is in disfavor with many because he has defended the Catholic faith. He told me many other things besides, which, since this is not an appropriate time to mention them, we have thought best to keep to ourselves. Since the matter before us concerns not earthly affairs but the health of souls, and your account and his differ, we have been unable to say anything definitive in reply — not having investigated the truth, for when we received your Excellency's letters we were confined by bodily illness. But when Almighty God, if it please him, shall have restored us to our former health, we will sift the truth as best we can by careful inquiry. And according to what we may learn, we will, through the mercy of God, settle the matter in such a way that not only the spiritual health of those souls in whose welfare you deign to take an interest — now lost to those who err — may be restored, but also that which the defenders of the true faith still possess may, through the protecting grace of our Redeemer, be preserved. As for the aforesaid bishop, whom you state to have been deprived of communion, we wonder greatly how it is that this has been reported to us by a letter from your Excellency rather than from his primate.

Book VI, Letter 63 To Gennadius, Patrician. Gregory to Gennadius, Patrician of Africa. We doubt not that your Excellency remembers how two years ago we wrote in behalf of Paul our brother and fellow bishop, asking you to afford him the support of your Dignity in his desire to come to us on account of the trouble he was said to be undergoing from persecution on the part of the Donatists, to the end that, since it had been reported to us that he could get no aid against them there, we might, after ascertaining the truth, give him advice with fraternal sympathy, and treat with him as to what should be done in the way of a wholesome arrangement against the madness of pestiferous presumption. And, so far as our aforesaid brother gave us to understand, he not only failed to get succour from any one, but was prevented by various hindrances from being able to come with safety to the Roman city. Yet, when we had caused your epistle to be read to him, he replied that he is not suffering from the ill-will of certain persons because he repressed the Donatists, but rather says that he is in disfavour with many for his defense of the Catholic faith; and he told me many things besides, which, since this is not a fit time for mentioning them, we have thought best to keep to ourselves. Since, then, the question before us is not one of earthly affairs, but of the health of souls, and your assertion and his are different, we have been unable to say anything particularly in reply, not having investigated the truth, seeing that, when we received the letters of your Excellency, we were confined by bodily sickness. But when Almighty God, if it should please Him, shall have restored us to our former health, we will sift the truth as we can by diligent enquiry. And according to what we may be able to learn we will so settle the case through the mercy of God that not only the health of souls in the cure whereof you deign to take an interest, lost now by them that err, may be restored, but also that which the maintainers of the true faith still possess may, through the protecting grace of our Redeemer, be preserved. But with regard to the above-named bishop, whom you assert to be deprived of communion, we greatly wonder how it is that a letter from your Excellency, and not from his primate, has announced this to us. About this page 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/360206063.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.