Letter 7035: Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage. Though we believe that your Fraternity gives attention with pastoral vigilance to the care of monasteries, yet we think it necessary to inform you of what we have learned about a monastery in the African province. Now the abbot Cumquodeus, the bearer of these presents, complaints that, if at any time he ...
Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage.
I trust that your Fraternity already gives careful pastoral attention to the monasteries under your care, but I must bring a specific problem to your notice. The abbot Cumquodeus, who carries this letter, reports that whenever he tries to enforce proper discipline over his monks, they simply leave the monastery and are allowed to wander freely wherever they choose.
This is dangerous to the monks themselves and sets a terrible example for others. I urge your Fraternity to take firm action: apply ecclesiastical discipline, impose appropriate penalties, and put an end to this presumption. Bring them back under obedience. Subdue their proud spirits to the yoke of monastic rule, so that their correction teaches others not to imitate their disobedience, and so that all learn to obey their superiors as they should.
He also tells me that some bishops are providing cover for these wandering monks. Your Fraternity must look into this carefully and put a stop to it by every means available.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.
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