Letter 8014: Gregory to Boniface concerning the privileges of Guardians. Those who labour faithfully in the interests of the Church should receive the benefit of suitable remuneration, so that both we may be seen to have made a worthy return for their services, and they may show themselves the more useful for the favour of the solace granted them. Seeing, th...

Gregory to Boniface, Chief Defensor [Head of the Church's Legal Defenders]. Concerning the privileges of defensores [church legal advocates]. Those who labor faithfully in the Church's interests deserve proper recognition, so that we give a worthy return for their service and they are motivated to serve even more effectively. Since those who hold the office of defensor are known to work hard on the Church's legal affairs and in service to the pontiffs, I have determined that they should enjoy the following privileges as just compensation: Just as in the colleges of notaries and subdeacons, pontiffs long ago established the rank of regionarii [regional officers], so too among the defensores, seven men who have proven their worth through demonstrated service shall be distinguished with the dignity of regionarii. In the pontiff's absence, these men shall have the right to sit in any assembly of clergy and enjoy the full privileges of their rank. Furthermore, if anyone who has attained this senior position happens to live in another province for personal reasons, he shall still retain his rank of seniority in all respects -- remaining chief among all the defensores, as befits someone who, even before receiving this distinction, devoted himself tirelessly to the Church's business and the pontiff's service. These decrees, which I have established for the constitution and privileges of the defensores, shall remain permanently in force and may not be overturned. No future pontiff shall alter or diminish them in any way. It would be a grave injustice to undo protections granted for faithful service.

Book VIII, Letter 14 To Boniface, First Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Boniface concerning the privileges of Guardians. Those who labour faithfully in the interests of the Church should receive the benefit of suitable remuneration, so that both we may be seen to have made a worthy return for their services, and they may show themselves the more useful for the favour of the solace granted them. Seeing, then, that those who hold the office of Guardians are known to labour in the causes of the Church and in the service of the pontiffs, we have thought fit that they should enjoy the following prerogatives, granted to them for recompense — appointing that, as in the school (schola) of notaries and subdeacons, through the indulgence of pontiffs long ago, there have been constituted regionarii, so also among the Guardians seven who may have commended themselves by proved utility shall be distinguished by the dignity of regionarii. And we appoint that these, in the absence of the pontiff, shall have leave to sit anywhere in any assembly of clergy, and enjoy in all respects the privileges of their dignity. Furthermore, if any one, attaining to this position of priority, should by any chance live in another province for his own advantage, he must needs still occupy in all respects his place of priority, so that he may be the chief of all the guardians, as being one who, even before he obtained his position of priority, had not ceased by assiduous personal attention to devote himself to the interests of the Church and the service of the pontiff. These decrees, then, by us constituted, which have been ordained for the privileges and constitution of Guardians, we appoint to be kept in perpetual force and irrefragably;— whether such things as we have decreed in writing, or such as are seen to have been ordained in our presence: and we decree also that they shall not be upset or changed in whole or in part on any occasion whatever by any of the pontiffs. For it is a very harsh proceeding, and especially contrary to good conduct in priests, that any one should endeavour, under any manner of excuse, to rescind what has been well ordained, and also by his example to teach others to dissolve his own constitutions after his own time. The month of April, first Indiction. 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/360208014.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.