Letter 9161: My representatives have given me a very favorable account of your efforts in bringing schismatics back to the unity...
My representatives have given me a very favorable account of your efforts in bringing schismatics back to the unity of the Church. I want you to know that this work is of the highest importance. The wounds of schism are among the most painful that the Body of Christ can suffer, and every soul that returns to communion is a genuine victory. Continue in the same spirit. Use persuasion before compulsion, and truth before authority — but do not hesitate to use authority when persuasion has been tried and has failed. I look forward to hearing further good news.
AI-assisted translation — This translation was produced with AI assistance and has not been peer-reviewed. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek below for scholarly use.
Latin / Greek Original
liesponsalium nostrorum relatione compcrimus, quod pro amore unitatis ccclesiae
tantus voB divini zcli ardor accc'nderit, ut, quoscumque valucritis, non desinatis in Binum
matris ccclesiae revocare atquc ut bonus fidelisque famulus lucnim cotidic de accvpto
dono tuo domino redemptori nostro cum* summa mentis intcntione facere non desistasV
£t quidem venientem ad nos, ut potuimus, ex corporalis visuB oHteusione didicimus,
bonum vero, quod ex divina inspiratione in mentis tuac caritatc manebat occultum,
desidcrabilius nunc operis attcstatione ^* cognoscimus. Unde" divinae misericordiae
gratiaB inelfabili laude redderites hortamur dilectionem tuam atque quibus valeraus am-
monitionibus confortamua, ut quantum de accepti talcnti occultatione'' occultantis pocna
pcrturbat, tantum lucrum facientium atquc pcr hoc dc caeleatis regni pcrccptione
laetantium doroinicac vocis invitatio te desidcrabilitcr appetenda corroborct, Scire
< namquo tc convenit, dilectissimc fili, quod fruetus huius qucm apprehcndisti studii ro-
tributionis suae careat fine. Et idcirco pracpedicDtium te nulla, vcl si cst, debct
contrarietas pcrturbarc, quia, quantura ex difficultate causae bonum perBci Domino co-
opcrante valuerit, tanto tibi erit et gloriosior" rctributionis spcs. Extollcntior' □amquc
nascitur ex dcBperationc victoria, quaecumque laboris nimii fuerit adcpta sudoribus.
TiilueritU Ct.3; pirtueritii Vatk. A (ed. M). ') «cismsticiB C2.3. >") aduralioiiB C7; Hdurstiunem C3;
abortatiuue C2, *ed cott. m. 2; amore rel nni. coiii. i/omnweii. ") coutiuua C'2. ") buos C/. '') amplLun
hMailare Vat.A (ed.M). ■») disp. ope C3. ') hoc verb. om., led m. 2 add. C2. •) exiBlel, tU videtur, Cl,
IX, lei. •) om. verba cui
I edd.; ut de eodd. n. ^) ita mc
in excflUentioT eorr. C2.
IX, 161. Moitalo aHas igitoli
JUg. Grio. 11.
-. m HltMt. Cl.2. «) ila H
mCt: gtorioBius C2; glorioKi C
luK «ri,- noWia quidam in Uigtria fiiit
iM adetar. - Cf. ep. IX, 148
,GoogIe
162 GBEGORII I. EEGISTRI
CogDOTimue etiara, quods TheodoBius'' filius noatcr tui' sequax boDlquc cooperator^
etudii pariter tccum in sollicitudine lucrandarum animarum eoUerter invigilet. Cui
omDipotentem Deum interceseione bcati Petri apoatolurum priucipie retributorem citiue
eese confidimue.
Related Letters
Although what we say is very distressing to us, and fraternal compassion rather moves us to weep than allows us to lay down anything concerning the things we have heard of, yet solicitude for the government undertaken by us pricks our heart with an urgent spur to see with great care to the good of churches, and to arrange what should be done bef...
When our common son the presbyter Veteranus came to the Roman city, he found me so weak from the pains of gout as to be quite unable to answer your Fraternity's letters myself. And indeed with regard to the nation of the Sclaves , from which you are in great danger, I am exceedingly afflicted and disturbed. I am afflicted as suffering already in...
**From:** Gregory I, Bishop of Rome
Gregory to Candidus, abbot of the monastery of St.
Know that your Fraternity's solicitude has pleased us, in that you have evinced, as was right, pastoral vigilance for the guardianship of souls. For indeed it has been reported to us that you have forbidden a monastery to be founded in the house of the late Epiphanius, a reader of your Church, in accordance with his will, for this reason; lest, ...