Letter 8023: Furthermore, let it be your care to enquire with all zeal and diligence whether the above-named monastery over which the aforesaid lady presides has sufficient means, or whether it suffers any need. And whatever you may truly ascertain, as well as what is done with respect to those who desire to be baptized, make haste to inform us in full. The ...

Gregory to Fantinus, Defensor [church legal officer]. The Lady Abbess of the monastery of Saint Stephen in the territory of Agrigento [in Sicily] reports that many Jews there, moved by divine grace, wish to convert to the Christian faith -- but someone needs to go there on our authority to assist them. I am sending you. Set aside every excuse and go to that place at once. With God's help, encourage their desire through your exhortations. If waiting until Easter [the traditional time for baptism] seems too long for them, and you find them eager for baptism now, then speak with our brother the bishop of that place -- do not let prolonged delay risk changing their minds, God forbid. Have him prescribe forty days of penance and fasting, then baptize them on a Lord's Day or any notable feast day that falls near. The dangers of our present time make it unwise to put off fulfilling their desire. For any among them who are poor and cannot afford baptismal garments, supply them at our expense -- charge it to your accounts. If, however, they prefer to wait for the holy season of Easter, speak again with the bishop. Let them become catechumens [formal candidates for baptism] for now, and have him visit them regularly, instruct them carefully, and kindle their desire, so that the longer they wait, the more fervently they prepare. Also investigate whether the monastery I mentioned is being properly managed, and report back to me.

Book VIII, Letter 23 To Fantinus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Fantinus, etc. From the information of the lady abbess of the monastery of Saint Stephen in the territory of Agrigento we find that many of the Jews, divine grace inspiring them, wish to be converted to the Christian faith; but that it is necessary for some one to go there by our command. Accordingly we enjoin you, in virtue of the authority hereby given you, that, putting aside every excuse, you make haste to go to the aforesaid place, and with the favour of God aid their desire by your exhortations. If, however, it seems long and dreary for them to look forward to the Paschal solemnity, and you find them anxious for baptism now, then lest long delay should possibly change their minds (which God forbid), speak with our brother the bishop of that place, that, penitence and abstinence having been prescribed them for forty days, he may baptize them under the protection of the mercy of Almighty God on a Lord's day, or on any very noted festival that may chance to occur; since the character of the present time too, on account of impending calamity, impels us not to defer the fulfilment of their desires by any procrastination. Further, whomsoever of them you ascertain to be poor and without sufficient means for buying vestments for themselves, we desire you to supply with vestments for their baptism; and know that the price that you may give for them is to be charged in your accounts. But, if they should choose to wait for the holy season of Easter, speak again with the bishop, that they may for the present become catechumens, and that he may go to them frequently, and pay careful attention to them, and kindle their minds by the admonition of his exhortations, so that the more distant the expected festival is, the more may they prepare themselves and with fervent desire look forward to it. Furthermore, let it be your care to enquire with all zeal and diligence whether the above-named monastery over which the aforesaid lady presides has sufficient means, or whether it suffers any need. And whatever you may truly ascertain, as well as what is done with respect to those who desire to be baptized, make haste to inform us in full. The Month of June, 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/360208023.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.