Letter 10007

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna Date: ~600 AD Context: Gregory expresses grief that a nun has been abducted from a monastery a second time, and directs Marinianus to deal with the situation. Gregory to Marinianus, bishop of Ravenna. I am deeply troubled by the news that a nun has been taken from a monastery — for the second time. Once was bad enough; a second abduction of the same woman suggests a complete failure to address the problem after the first occurrence. This is unacceptable. I direct you to address this situation with the seriousness it requires. The woman is to be returned to her monastery. Those responsible for her abduction are to face appropriate consequences. And measures are to be taken to prevent a third occurrence. A consecrated woman abducted from her monastery is not an administrative inconvenience; it is an act of violence against the religious life. Treat it as such. Report to me what you have done and what the outcome is. Gregory

AD MARINIANUM RAVENNATEM FPISCOPUM. Se contris/atum valde, quod monialem e monasterio iterum abductam revorare neglexerit. Ut vel nunc id preslet impense horlalur. Grezorius * Mariniano episcopo Ravennr. Si latoris presentium Stephani viri clarissimi querela verilate $ubsislit, omnino nos fraternilas veslra con!tristatos intelligat, cur tam pigra vel deses exsliſerit, ut ante ad nos facti pravitas quam cor- rectio perveniret. Questus itaque est quod cognatam eju-, cui aliquando Þ Petrus qu dam nequissimus diabulico instinctu de monaslerio exire $Sua-erat, _- alque a Cratios0 votario nostro fucrat mutato ha- bitu unde exierat revocala, nequissimus vir iniqua Eerisrt. VII. [AL. 8], — © Hic titulus spe in Grego- rianis epistolis occurrit. Nunc pass)m unicuique libe- raliter off-rtur; at olim iis sol's concedebator quibus id honoris a <privcipe collatum fuerat, llns autemn conferendi Solemnis formula legitur lib. vi Variar. c. 58. Kerst. VIE (AL. 9], — © In Colbert. vet., necnon in VY..ticanis D et E, inscribitur hc epistola Stephano. sed recent. In R gio, Januario episcopo Caralit. M.nn, 'Eprisr. IX [| Al. in largitionales et privatianos ; alii videntur conſuu- SANCTI GREGORI| MACNI 10]. — * Dislinguunt alii palatinos nuncusque impudice retineat. Ex qua re valde nos Sicut diximus, tua desidia contrislavit, cur necdum in monaslerium revocala Sit ac retrusa. Vel nunc ergo proposili tui consideratio et zelus le castitatis accendat id summopere modis quibus potueris stu- dere, ut asperitatem quam de tanlz iniquitalis per- petratione concepimus, ejus Citius valcas © corre- clione mollire. Nam et Vitali defensori pracipimns ut vobis hac in cansa £0latiari non differat. Sed quia memoratus Petrus ab homine ſilii nostri magni- lici Filoxeni dicitur defensari, apud eum vobis cum omni $tudio et charitate instanter ageydum est, ut eam Sine aliqua facial dilatione reslitui, quem cre- dimus hoc, quia bonus omnino vir esse dicitur, sine B mora facturum. Quod si ſorte, quod non credimus, aliqua hoc ſuerit excusatione dilatum, tunc eltiam 4 publice conteslandus est. Atque fralernitas nobis ve>tra renuntiet, ut exinde ® in urbem regiam LO47 $Cribamus, quatenus, quod fieri honeste negligitur, ea qua dignui est ultione plectatur.