Letter 9094: The bearers of these presents, who came hither from the parts of Istria to find their bishop who is now living in the parts of Sicily, have asked us to speed them in their way, and we have arranged for their journey hence. Let, then, your Experience receive them, and arrange for their reaching their said bishop as soon as possible; lest, as they...

Gregory to Romanus, Defensor [church legal officer]. The people who came here from Istria are looking for their bishop, who is now living in Sicily. They asked me to help speed them on their way, and I have arranged their journey from here. Receive them and arrange for them to reach their bishop as quickly as possible. They warn that other schismatics in Istria might get to them first and try to change their minds if there is any delay. From what they tell me, the bishop himself wants to come to us on behalf of the unity of the faith. Help them accomplish the good they desire, with the Lord's aid. If the bishop is nearby, urge him in person -- otherwise by letter -- to lose no time in coming to the threshold of the Apostles under the Lord's favor. Assure him he will be received with complete warmth. Pay his travel costs so he can come to us. If, however, he finds the journey burdensome and prefers to settle in Sicily -- and if he agrees, with a formal guarantee, to remain in the unity of the Church among those who twist Scripture -- then inform me of this too, so I can arrange how to cover his expenses there. Also see to it that the bearers of this letter receive your full attention and support in reaching their bishop.

Book IX, Letter 94 To Romanus the Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, etc. The bearers of these presents, who came hither from the parts of Istria to find their bishop who is now living in the parts of Sicily, have asked us to speed them in their way, and we have arranged for their journey hence. Let, then, your Experience receive them, and arrange for their reaching their said bishop as soon as possible; lest, as they allege may be the case, others of the schismatics in those parts should be beforehand to persuade them. For, so far as they indicate, the bishop himself has a desire to come to us in behalf of the unity of the faith. Assistance therefore should be given them, that, with the help of the Lord, they may accomplish the good things they desire. But let your Experience, in person if he is near at hand or otherwise by letter, exhort this same bishop to lose no time in hastening, with the Lord's good favour, to the threshold of the Apostles, being assured that he will be received by us with all affection. We also desire you to pay him the cost of his journey to enable him to come to us. But, if he finds coming here burdensome, and arranges to live in Sicily, and consents, with his security given, to remain in the unity of the Church among the perverters of Scripture, this also do not delay to inform us of, that we may arrange, with the help of the Lord, how provision may be made for his expenses there. But lend also your concurrence and succour for the bearers of these letters to come to their said bishop, so that after leaving us they may experience no less attention. 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/360209094.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.