Letter 10064

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Romanus, defender [in Sicily] Date: ~600 AD Context: Gregory instructs that the church's estates should not be leased to a man named Scribonianus, even if he is well known — they should be leased annually. Gregory to Romanus, defender. The church's estates are to be leased annually, not given on long-term or permanent lease to any individual — including the man Scribonianus, however well known or well connected he may be. Annual leases serve the church's interests better: they allow for adjustment of terms, for change of tenants if a particular tenant is not managing the property well, and for the church to respond to changing circumstances. Long-term leases lock us into arrangements that may look reasonable today but create problems over time. Apply this principle consistently and without exception. Gregory

AD ROMANUM DEFENSOREM. Scriboni quamvis bono non locandam Ecetesie P08505- si0nem, 8ed annis sinqulis- id offerendum Geniion quod ex localione ſuisset lucratus. Gregorius Romano delensori. Quouiam lilius nosler Gentio vir magnilicus scribo tanlz, Deo propitio, bonilalis est ut valde sit diligent» dus, si quid ei potuissemus conferre , debuimus, Voluerat enim possessionem juris ecclesiaslict * sub specie libellorum tenere. Sed propler malos scribones judicavimus in hac nos causa nec bono commillere. Proinde excepla de posgessione que potuerunt in ' ejus ulilitatem verli, eadem yolumus ejus magnilu- dini singulis annis offerri , id est, porcos viginli, qualiter ipse previderis, > vervices viginti, el gall nas Sexaginta. Que omnia volumus in exceplis re- pulari. EPISTUOLA LXYV. AD ADEODATAY, Excusat moram in dandis reliquiis, quas tandem miltil. Gregorius Adeodatz illustri ſemine. Ut moram in dandis reliquiis, quas gloria vesin petiit, faceremus, non voluntate distulimus , $ed przxcedentis rei nos casus ſecit ambigere. Deus at tem omnipotens cordis veslri Gevotionem intuens, miraculorum signis admonentibus, a vestra vos in- tentione ſraudari non pertulit. Sed ideo desidrrium nuis8e!. Ee D, E. Eersr. LXIV [Al.'61]. — * De hac voce vide lib. 1, epist. 44, quze diximus de voce libellarie. GUsSAT- Þ Remig. non habet, vervices vigin!:. - _— — p_—_— — A— ——. _ jum ,B, lib. Win 1147 EPISTOLARUM LIB. Xl. — INDICT. IV. — EPIST. 1. 1118 yestrum 4avdica voluit dilatione differri, ut, docen- tibus miraculis, et amor yobis cresceret in venera- tone $anctorum, et major fieret exsultatio gaudio- ru. Quia ergo * in effectu postulatz rei gloriz ve- «rz vola completa sunt, hortamur ut cujus praedi- eatores colitis, ejus LQGY sollicite mandala servelis. Et sicut religiosa devotione terrena Sanclorum hono- ribus 10ca construilis, sic quoque cum eis mansio- nem vobis procurare in celestibus festinetis, quate- nus et hic illos in omnibus adjutores ct in ſutura mereamini habere vita consortes.