Letter 89: PELAGIUS ASTERIO to the bishop.

Pope Pelagius I to the addressee. We address the question of the disputed ordination submitted to us for our ruling. After examining the facts and the applicable canonical precedents, we determine as follows: the ordination cannot be accepted as valid under the circumstances described, and the person concerned is to be informed of this ruling with all appropriate pastoral care. We are aware that this decision may cause difficulty, and we are prepared to assist in finding a suitable resolution to the pastoral problem that arises. The integrity of canonical procedure is not a mere formality but is essential to the credibility of the Church's ministry.

PELAGIUS ASTERIO EPISCOPO. Uindimius abbas peti- 1 torii nobis insinuatione suggessit, quod habetur in subditis, iuxta muros ciuitatis Salernitanae, intra monasterium suum, oratorium se pro sua deuotione fundasse, quod in honore beatorum marty- rum Chrisancti et Dariae desiderat consecrari. Et ideo, si nullum 2 corpus ibidem constat humatum, praedictum monasterium absque ruissis pubhcis sollem[p]niter consecrabis, ita tamen, ut si funda- Mansi consecrari] seq. con.bis eras, in Dj funda-] cum da- Dj Tit. Asterio episcopo: Salernitano nimirum, qui Concilio Cons- tantinopolitano a. 536 interfuit, idemque subscripsit. Cf. E. SchwarTz, ACO., t. III, p. 113, 1. 26; 126, 1. 12; 234; Mansi, t. VIII, c. 877 B; 969 D; 1141 E. Quod ad urbem et sedem Salernitanam refert, cf. Phhjpp, Sa¬ lernum, in Pauly-Wissowa, t. 1^, c. 1869; F. Eanzoni, 0 . c., p. 250-252; P. Kehr, 0 . c., t. VIII, p. 339-364; P. Testini, Salerno, in Enc. Cattol., t. X, c. 1658-1662. 1. Uindimius abbas: Mihi his solis notus. Nomen monasterii et locum ubi exstructum fuit frustra quaesivi. Unum fuit fortasse ex ilhs quae memorat P. KEhr, 0 . c., t. VIII, p. 364. beatorum martyrum Chrisancti et Dariae: Cf. BHE., 1787-1794, p. 269-270; Suppi. BHE., 1787-1787 a, p. 76; BGH., 313, p. 47. Cultus eorum Romae et Ravennae erat notus Cf. P. Allxkd, Chrysanthe et Daria (Saints), DACE., t. III, c. 1560-1568; H. DEEEHAYE, Les origines du culte des martyrs, Bruxelles, 1912, p. 371-372. Eitterae hae nos docent, eorum cultum insuper Salerni, iam med. s. vi, invaluisse. PEI^AGII I PAPAE tor praedictus missas ibidem fieri forte maluerit, a dilectione tua praesbyterum nouerit postulandum. presbiterum Wolf v. Gl. 2. praesbyterum; Illa enim aetate mondum monachi communiter sacerdotio decorabantur. Cf. Dom V. BEREI^RE, VAscese henedictine des origines d la fin du XII siecle, Essai historique. {Pax, 1) Maredsous, 1927, p. 38-40, Cf. tamen hac super re mentem Pelagii in epp. 27,3; 44,6.8; 57,3, p. 82; 123-124; 152. Patricio Narseti communicat suam voluntatem nihil praebendi his qui nullam patiantur indigentiam. J-K- 962 aa. 556-561 c. 736; MIGNE, PL. 69, c. 417. PEIyAGIUS NARSAE PATRICIO. [<In> anagnostico. Inter cetera]. Bene nouerit excellentia uestra, nos, habentibus dumta¬ xat hominibus et nullam necessitatem patientibus, res dare pau¬ perum nulla ratione praesumere. Quia neque hoc uobis placere nouimus, neque hoc nostro esse officio conueniens indicamus. narsae patricio] nar... patrici, (mutil.) in marg. in] add. Wolf v. Gl. anagnosticon Mansi 1-2 anagnostico... cetera] om. B, 2 bene] ene (init. litt. deest) Bj 3 nullam nec necessitatem parentibus Mansi. Tit. Narsae patricio: Cf. notata in ep. 14,3, p. 45-46. [In anagnostico] : Cf. quae scripsi in titulum ep. 75, p. 189. nos habentibus ... necessitatem patientibus: Num reminiscentia Eph., 4, 28? res... pauperum: Cf. J-K. 684: S. Geeasii I, Ep. lanuario (A. Theee, 0 . c., p. 501; Migne, PL. 59, c. 155). Ea locutione, qua Eccle¬ siae vel S. Petri patrimonium designatur, saepius usus est S. Gregorius Magnus. Cf. L. WENGER, MGH., Epp., t II, Indices, p. 574 c. Defensorem Benegestum docet modum se gerendi in iudidalibus clericorum causis moderandis.