Letter 13048

From: Pope Gregory I To: John the Defender Date: ~603 AD Context: Gregory orders John to restore the fallen monastic discipline of the monastery on Capri The monks of the island of Capri have allowed their discipline to deteriorate to a state that is an embarrassment to the monastic life and a scandal to those who observe it. I am directing you to go to them personally and to restore what has lapsed. This is not a matter for gentle suggestion; the Rule is to be observed, the abbot's authority is to be upheld, and those who have violated the community's standards are to face appropriate correction. If the abbot himself is part of the problem, let me know and I will address his situation separately. Monasteries exist to produce men of God — let that monastery produce them again.

Ubi canonicam districtionem culparum contra se qualitas excitat, postponere ^ quae corrigenda sunt non debemus, ne dissimulatione vires dare*" pravis actibus, quos falcc^ nos disciplinae resecare convenit, videamur. Quia igitur peryenit ad nos monachos monasterii, quod in Capria^ insula, quae iuxta Maiorica® item' insula, est positum^S ita perverse^ agere ac vitam suam diversis facinoribus summisisse, ut non omnipotenti Deo, sed .antiquo se hosti, quod cum gemitu dicimus, ostendant potius militare, experientia tua praesenti auctoritate commonita ad^ praedictum monasterium accedere *>) monasteria R2; mon^l. °) conseusus re Rl. add. se q*J,q3. «) ei Rl. ') corr. in lanuario Rl; lanuari R2. 8) omni gS. privata Q*1.2, sed corr. in probata q*2; pravata q3. ^) ita ec2(2.;j dixerit q*3 et ex iusserit corr, q*2; iusserit, mprascr, vel dixerit q3: iuRRerit R1.q1.q*1. XIII, 48. ») preponere Rl, »>) daret Ql,Q*l, sed corr, q1, ^) ex falces corr, Rl, Capri XIII, 48, De lohanne eiusque Uinere cf. ep. praeced. 1) De Isla Cabrera cufitwr: cf. Gania, Kvrchengeffchichte von Spamen II, /, 188, II, 2, 33 s., qui recte cotUendit, e.v hac ep. effici non posse Imh imulas tunc ad Hiapaniam pertinuisse, qutppe qnae ttmparilms Vandalarnm a Vandtdis et Vmulalis derictis a Sardinia prorincia penderent. et vitam moresque illic conversantium suptili studeat^ investigatione perquirere et ita, quaeque resecatione digna reppererit, sicut canonicus ordo desiderat^, congrua ultione corrigere atque eos, quae™ observare debeant, studeat° informare**, quatenus emenda- tionisP tuae modus et istos ad viam rectae conversationis reducere et te apud nos nullo modo valeat accusare culpabilem.