Letter 9060: Gregory to Romanus the guardian, Fantinus the guardian, Sabinus the subdeacon, Sergius the guardian, Boniface the guardian (a paribus ), and the six patroni. Since, even as cautious foresight knows how to block the way against faults, and to avoid what is hurtful, so neglect opens the way to excesses, and is wont to incur what ought to be guarde...

Gregory to Romanus the Defender, Fantinus the Defender, Sabinus the Subdeacon, Sergius the Defender, Boniface the Defender, and the six patrons. Just as careful foresight can block the way against wrongdoing and avoid what is harmful, so neglect opens the door to excess and invites the very dangers we ought to guard against. We must therefore give our closest attention to both the reputation and the protection of our brothers and priests. It has come to our attention that certain bishops, under the pretense of needing assistance, are living under the same roof with women. To prevent this from giving scoffers a legitimate cause for slander -- or the ancient enemy of the human race an easy opening for deception -- we direct you by this mandate to act with energy and diligence. If any of the bishops within the territory of the patrimony entrusted to you are living with women, put a complete stop to it. Going forward, do not permit any women to reside with them except those whom the sacred canons allow: a mother, an aunt, a sister, and others of that kind about whom no suspicion can arise. Even so, they would do better to refrain from living with even these permitted relatives. We read that the blessed Augustine refused to live even with his own sister, saying: "Those who are with my sister are not my sisters." The caution of so learned a man should be a powerful lesson for us. It is reckless presumption for someone less strong to have no fear of what a strong man found dangerous. The person who wisely avoids what is unlawful is the one who has learned not to indulge even in what is permitted. We bind no one in this matter against their will. But, as physicians do, we prescribe caution against the disease.

Book IX, Letter 60 To Romanus and other Guardians (defensores) of the Ecclesiastical Patrimony. Gregory to Romanus the guardian, Fantinus the guardian, Sabinus the subdeacon, Sergius the guardian, Boniface the guardian (a paribus ), and the six patroni. Since, even as cautious foresight knows how to block the way against faults, and to avoid what is hurtful, so neglect opens the way to excesses, and is wont to incur what ought to be guarded against, we ought to bestow very careful attention, and see alike to the reputation and to the safeguard of our brethren and priests. Now it has come to our ears that certain of the bishops, under pretext, as it were, of help, associate themselves in one house with women. And so, lest hereby just occasion of detraction should be given to scoffers, or the ancient enemy of the human race should take advantage of an easy matter of deceit, we enjoin you by the tenor of this mandate that you study to show yourself strenuous and solicitous. And, if any of the bishops included within the limits of the patrimony committed to you are living with women, do thou entirely put a stop to this, and for the future by no means suffer any women to reside with them, except such as the censorship of the sacred canons allows, that is a mother, an aunt, a sister, and others of this sort, concerning whom there can be no ill suspicion. Yet they do better, if they refrain from living together even with such as these. For we read that the blessed Augustine refused to live even with his sister, saying, Those who are with my sister are not my sisters. The caution, then, of a learned man ought to be a great instruction to us. For it is a mark of uncautious presumption for one that is less firm not to fear what a strong man is afraid of. For he wisely overcomes what is unlawful who has learned not to use even what is allowed him: and indeed we bind none in this matter against their will, but, as physicians are accustomed to do, we prescribe carefulness for health's sake, even though it be for the time distressful. And therefore we impose no necessary obligation; but, if any should choose to imitate a learned and holy man, we leave it to their own will. Let, then, your Experience act with zeal and solicitude for the observance of what we have ordered to be prohibited. For, if hereafter it should chance to be found otherwise, know that you will incur no slight risk with us. Furthermore, let it be your care to exhort these same bishops, our brethren, that they admonish those who are subject to them, to wit those who are constituted in sacred orders, to observe in all ways after their example what they themselves observe; this only being added, that these, as canonical authority has decreed, are not to leave wives whom they ought to govern chastely. Given in the month of March, Indiction 2. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 13. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1898.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360209060.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.