Letter 8032: I have received reports of your conduct and I am pleased by them.

To Dominicus. [Argument:] He praises that man's modesty, his charity, and his reverence for the Apostolic See. Gregory to Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage. The writings of your Holiness, which we received delivered by the bearer of the present letter, spoke with such priestly modesty that they in some way flattered us with what was almost the bodily presence of their author. For speech that is infrequent does no harm where the continuous affection of love abides in our hearts. Now great, beloved brother, is the power of charity, which by the bond of its own sincerity binds hearts together in mutual reciprocal affection, and does not permit them to be loosened from the framework of grace: it joins together things that are separated, it guards things that are united, and through love it renders known to each other those who are unknown. Whoever, therefore, fixes his mind upon this hinge, no assault of any adversity tears him away from the dwelling-place of the heavenly homeland, since wherever he may turn himself, he does not depart from the threshold of the commandments. Whence also, in praise of this same charity, it is said through the excellent preacher: "It is the bond of perfection" (Colossians 3:14). [The source cites Coloss. 11, 14; the verse is Colossians 3:14.] We see, therefore, of how great praise it is, which generates perfection not only in the mind, but also binds it fast. Since, therefore, the speech of your letter betrays that you are kindled by the fire of this virtue, I rejoice with abundant exultation in the Lord, and I wish that this may shine forth in you more and more, because the light of the flock is the flame of the shepherd. For it is fitting, indeed it is fitting, that the bishop of the Lord should be conspicuous in his conduct and in his life, so that in him, as in a mirror of his own life, the people entrusted to him may both choose what to follow and may be able to see what to correct. Moreover, knowing whence the ordination of the priesthood took its beginning in the parts of Africa, you act praiseworthily in that, by loving the Apostolic See, you recur with prudent recollection to the origin of your office, and you remain with commendable constancy in affection toward it. For it is certain that you add to your own honor whatever of reverence and devotion you priestly render to it, because through this you invite that it ought to be bound to you with a reciprocal love. For the rest, dearest brother, let us beg the omnipotent Lord with constant prayer, that He may direct the steps of our heart into the path of His truth; and that, in order to lead us to the heavenly kingdoms, He may grant by the grace of His protection that we exhibit in our works the duty of the name we bear. Given in the month of August, in the first indiction.

AD DOMINICUM. Modestiam illius, charitatem, atque aposloliee gedis revereniliam laudat. Gregorins Dominico episcopo Carthaginensi. Scripta $sanclitatis vestrz#, que latore presentium « De Eudoxio hzretico vide que diximus ad epist. 4 lib. vi, nunc lib. vu. Gus8anv. Eersr. XXXI. — * Castelliense monasterium a Cassiodoro exstructum et tanti viri secessu nobilita- tum prope Squillacium «rat. De quo consule Viuam Cas+iodori ejus voperibus premissam in novissima Editione, parte 1, {F 6 et $eq. Vide eltiam Cagsiodo- rum de institntione divinarum literarum, c. 29. Eersr. XXX [AL. 15, bb. 1x, ind. 4]. — * A ple- risque Mss. abest hzc epislola. Ex omnibus Valicavis Solus eam exhibet Codex A. Legitur quoque in San Victorino. J35 SANCTI GREGORIH MAGNI deferente 8uscepimus, ita 8acerdotalem modestiam A propositum, velle cujusquam monasterii privilegiaolim luquebantur, ut auctoris sui corporalem nobis quo- dammodo prxsentiam blandirentur. Nec enim s8ermo rarus aliquid officit, ubi manet in animis continuus dilectionis afſectus. 921 Magna autem charitalis rirtus est, dilecte frater, quz sincerilatis $Uuz vin- culo alterna mutuo afſectu corda constringit, et ea a graliz non $sinit compage dissolvi : disjuncta conjun- git, unita custodit, et ignotos $ibi imagine reddit co- ginitos per amorem. Quisquis igitar in hujus cardine mentem figit, eum de Supernz patriz habitaculo cu=- juslibet adversitatis impulsio non evellit, quoniam quocunque 8$e verterit, * a mandatorum limine non excedit. Unde et in ejusdem charitatis laude per egregium przedicatorem dicitur : » Qur es! vinculum perſectionis (Coloss. 11, 14). Quantz itaque sil laudis zspicimus, quz perſectionem non solum in menle ge- nerat, sed etiam ligat. Quia igitur hnjus virtutis igne SUCCEnSUM tuarum te prodit locutio litterarum, uberi in Domino exsultatione l:tificor, atque opto ut hxc in te magis magisque resplendeat, quia lux gregis est, pastoris flamma. © Decet enim, decet dominicum zacerdotem moribus 'et vila clarescere, quatenus in eo lanquam in vite $suz speculo plebs commissa et eligere quod sequatur, et videre possit quod cor- rigat. Scientes prxeterea unde in Africanis partibus sum- pserit ordinatio sacerdotalis exordium, laudabiliter agitis quos sedem apostolicam diligendo ad officii veslri originem prudenti recordatione recurritis, el probabili in ejus affectu constantia permanetis. Cer- tum quippe est quia vestro honori additis 4 quidquid ei reverentie ac devolionis sacerdolaliter exhibetis, quia per hoc ut vicaria erga vos dilectione astringi debeat, invitatis. Quod superest, charissime ſrater, omnipoteniem Dominum assidua oratione POSCamus , quatenus cor- dis nostri gressus in veritatis 8uz tramitem dirigat; et ut ad ccelestia regaa perducat, nominis officium protectionis suz gratia operibus nos exhibere con- cedat. * Mense Augusto, indictione prima.