Letter 10060

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Azimarcus, scribo [a court official or military secretary in Sicily] Date: ~600 AD Context: Gregory explains that the ex-prefect Gregorius came to Sicily late not from sloth but from ill health. Gregory to Azimarcus, scribo. I want to address a misunderstanding about the ex-prefect Gregorius and why he arrived in Sicily later than expected. The delay was not from laziness or lack of diligence — it was from genuine illness. His body did not cooperate with his intentions. I ask you to extend to him the charity appropriate to someone who has been genuinely ill and is now trying to resume his responsibilities. Do not penalize him for a delay that was not of his choosing. Gregory

AD AZIMARCHUM SCRIBONEM. Quod tardius ad Siciliam venerit Gregorius, non studio ſactum, 8ed corporis in firmitalte. Gregorius Azimarcho-scriboni. Quod presentium portitor gloriosus filius noster derelicto, quod dici grave est, habeatur : idcirco illud monaslerio tuo prxsenti auctoritate cum omnibus ad se pertinentibus in perpetuum duximus uniendum : admonentes ut monachos in predicta utraque mona- steria debeas depulare, qui -: curam illic diligenter habeant, et opus Dei regulari studeant institutione peragere, atque ita $e in his, sicut convenit, exhi- bere, ut nec illos de neglectu, nec te de minori sol- licitudine culpa conſundat. Quidquid vero ad eadem monas(eria pertinere cognoscis, si ab aliquibus irra- tionabiliter detinentur, ex hac nostra auctoritate re- petendi, exigendique, atque tuo monasterio veudi- candi habebis per omnia. Deo juvants, licentiam, quia diguum est ut quorum curam geris rebus nullo Gregorius tarde ad Siciliam venit, non voluntate di- B modo deſrauderis. Monachos autem quos in mona- Sulit, sed ita infirmitate corporis debilis ſactus est, ut vix in multis diebus reparari potuerit. Cujus debili- talis indicia etiam ipsi adhuc in eo.cognoscetis. Mox autem ut aliquantulum convaluit, Yenire illue sicut magnitudini vestrz promiserat , non neglexil. Quod ideo his apicibus scribendum previdimus, ne eum distulisse Sponte credentes, hanc moram ejus ſorsiian 8tudio ſaclam putaretis. |