Letter 1077: If ever, most dear brethren in Christ, a troublesome mixture of tares intrudes itself among green grain, it is necessary for the hand of the husbandman to root it up entirely, lest the future fruit of the fertile grain should be obstructed. Wherefore let us too, who, however unworthy, have undertaken the cultivation of the field of the Lord, has...

Book I, Letter 77 To All the Bishops of Numidia [a province in North Africa, roughly modern-day Algeria]. Gregory to all the Bishops of Numidia. Most dear brothers in Christ, when weeds intrude among growing grain, the farmer's hand must root them out entirely so the good grain's harvest is not choked. We too, who have taken on -- however unworthily -- the cultivation of the Lord's field, must hasten to purify the grain from all contamination by weeds, so that the Lord's field may bear ever more abundant fruit. You requested through our secretary Hilarus from our predecessor of blessed memory that you be allowed to retain all your long-standing customs, which have been maintained since the original decrees of the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles. We permit your customs to remain undisturbed -- so long as they clearly do not prejudice the Catholic faith -- whether regarding the appointment of primates [senior bishops] or other matters. However, with respect to those who come to the episcopate from the Donatists [a schismatic Christian movement in North Africa], we absolutely forbid them from being advanced to the rank of primate, even if their seniority would otherwise qualify them. Let it be enough for them to care for the people entrusted to them, without aspiring to the highest position over those bishops whom the Catholic faith has both taught and raised within the Church's own embrace. Therefore, most dear brothers, anticipate our instructions with the zeal of the Lord's love, knowing that the strict Judge will examine all we do and will approve each of us not by the privilege of higher rank but by the merit of our works. I urge you: love one another, maintain peace among yourselves in Christ, and with united purpose oppose heretics and enemies of the Church. Be zealous for the souls of your neighbors. Persuade as many as you can to the faith through charitable preaching, while also holding before them the warning of future judgment. You have been appointed shepherds, and the Lord of the flocks expects from His shepherds the fruit of a multiplied flock. If He foresees His flock growing through your more diligent care, He will surely adorn you with abundant gifts of the heavenly kingdom. Sending you the greeting of fraternal love, I pray the Lord, who has chosen you to be shepherds of souls, to make you worthy in His sight, and so to guide our deeds here that He may accept them as they deserve in the life to come.

Book I, Letter 77 To All the Bishops of Numidia. Gregory to all the Bishops of Numidia. If ever, most dear brethren in Christ, a troublesome mixture of tares intrudes itself among green grain, it is necessary for the hand of the husbandman to root it up entirely, lest the future fruit of the fertile grain should be obstructed. Wherefore let us too, who, however unworthy, have undertaken the cultivation of the field of the Lord, hasten to render the grain pure from all offense of tares, that the field of the Lord may fructify with more abundant increase. Now you requested through Hilarus our chartulary from our predecessor of blessed memory that you might retain all the customs of past time, which, from the beginnings of the ordinances of the blessed Peter, Prince of the apostles, long antiquity has so far retained. And we, indeed, according to the tenour of your representation, allow your custom (so long as it clearly makes no claim to the prejudice of the Catholic faith) to remain undisturbed, whether as to constituting primates or as to other points; save that with respect to those who attain to the episcopate from among the Donatists, we by all means forbid them to be advanced to the dignity of primacy, even though their standing should denote them for that position. But let it suffice them to take care of the people committed to them, without aiming at the topmost place of the primacy in preference to those prelates whom the Catholic faith has both taught and engendered in the bosom of the Church. Do you, therefore, most dear brethren, anticipate our admonitions in the zeal of the charity of the Lord, knowing that the strict Judge will bring into examination all we do, and will approve every one of us with regard not to the prerogative of a higher rank, but to the merits of our works. I beseech you, therefore, love one another mutually, having peace among yourselves in Christ, and with one purpose of heart oppose heretics and enemies of the Church. Be solicitous for the souls of your neighbours: persuade all you can to faith by the preaching of charity, holding before them also the terror of the future judgment; inasmuch as you are appointed to be shepherds, and the Lord of the flocks expects from the shepherds to whom He has committed them the fruit of a multiplied flock. And if He should foresee an augmentation of His own flock through your bestowal of more diligent care upon it, He will assuredly adorn you with manifold gifts of the heavenly kingdom. Furthermore, addressing to you the greeting of fraternal love, I pray the Lord that He would make you, whom He has chosen to be shepherds of souls, worthy in His sight, and Himself so order our deeds here that He may accept them as they deserve in the future life. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360201077.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.