Letter 7013: As it is reprehensible and deserving of punishment for any one to sell consecrated vessels except in cases sanctioned by law and the sacred canons, so it is not a matter for reproach or penalty if they should be disposed of with a compassionate purpose for the redemption of captives. Since, then, we find from the information given us by your Fra...
Pope Gregory the Great→Fortunatus|c. 596 AD|gregory great
Gregory to Fortunatus, Bishop of Fanum.
Just as it is reprehensible and punishable for anyone to sell consecrated vessels except in cases approved by law and the sacred canons, so it is not a matter for reproach or penalty if they are disposed of for the compassionate purpose of ransoming captives. Since therefore we find from the information provided by your Fraternity that you have borrowed money for the redemption of captives and have no means of repaying it, and that you therefore wish, with our authority, to sell certain consecrated vessels — in this case, since both the laws and the canons approve, we have thought it right to grant our approval and give you leave to dispose of the consecrated vessels. But lest their sale should lead to any ill feeling toward you, they ought to be sold, up to the amount of the debt, in the presence of John our church advocate, and the proceeds paid to the creditors — so that, the business being completed with these safeguards, neither may the creditors suffer loss from having made the loan, nor may your Fraternity face resentment now or in the future.
Book VII, Letter 13
To Fortunatus, Bishop.
Gregory to Fortunatus, Bishop of Fanum.
As it is reprehensible and deserving of punishment for any one to sell consecrated vessels except in cases sanctioned by law and the sacred canons, so it is not a matter for reproach or penalty if they should be disposed of with a compassionate purpose for the redemption of captives. Since, then, we find from the information given us by your Fraternity that you have borrowed money for the redemption of captives, and have not the means of repaying it, and on this account desire, with our authority, to dispose of some consecrated vessels — in this case, seeing that the decrees of both the laws and the canons approve, we have thought fit to lend our approval, and grant you leave to dispose of the consecrated vessels. But, lest their sale should possibly lead to any ill-feeling against yourself, they ought to be disposed of, up to the amount of the debt, in the presence of John our defensor, and their price should be paid to the creditors, to the end that, the business being completed with observance of this kind, neither may the creditors feel loss from having lent the money, nor your Fraternity sustain ill-will now or at any future time.
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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/360207013.htm>.
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Gregory to Fortunatus, Bishop of Fanum.
Just as it is reprehensible and punishable for anyone to sell consecrated vessels except in cases approved by law and the sacred canons, so it is not a matter for reproach or penalty if they are disposed of for the compassionate purpose of ransoming captives. Since therefore we find from the information provided by your Fraternity that you have borrowed money for the redemption of captives and have no means of repaying it, and that you therefore wish, with our authority, to sell certain consecrated vessels — in this case, since both the laws and the canons approve, we have thought it right to grant our approval and give you leave to dispose of the consecrated vessels. But lest their sale should lead to any ill feeling toward you, they ought to be sold, up to the amount of the debt, in the presence of John our church advocate, and the proceeds paid to the creditors — so that, the business being completed with these safeguards, neither may the creditors suffer loss from having made the loan, nor may your Fraternity face resentment now or in the future.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.