Letter 2010: If we administer safely the priestly office which we have received, without doubt both Divine assistance and the affection of our spiritual sons will not be wanting to us. Wherefore let your Fraternity take care to show yourself in all things such that the testimony which the clergy, the nobility, and all the people together, of the city of Napl...

Book II, Letter 10 To Paul, Bishop of Naples. Gregory to Paul. If we faithfully carry out the priestly office we have received, both divine assistance and the affection of our spiritual children will surely follow. Let Your Fraternity therefore take care to show yourself in all things such that the testimony borne by the clergy, nobility, and all the people of Naples together may be strengthened by your continued good conduct. You should devote yourself to constant work in teaching and encouraging the people, so that the divine Farmer may store in His granaries the harvest of your preaching, gathered through your labors. Until we are able -- God revealing His will to us -- to deliberate on what our sons in Naples have requested, we grant permission for clergy to be ordained from the laity and for manumissions [the freeing of slaves] to be formally celebrated before you in this church. We also direct you to observe without hesitation the customary practices of the clergy and priests of the church. Keep diligent watch over their instruction, so that by abstaining from all that is improper or unlawful, they may stand firm under your guidance in faithful service to our God. The month of January; the tenth Indiction [592 AD].

Book II, Letter 10 To Paulus, Bishop of Naples. Gregory to Paulus, etc. If we administer safely the priestly office which we have received, without doubt both Divine assistance and the affection of our spiritual sons will not be wanting to us. Wherefore let your Fraternity take care to show yourself in all things such that the testimony which the clergy, the nobility, and all the people together, of the city of Naples bears to you may be strengthened by the increase of your goodness. You ought, then, so to bind yourself to continual employment in exhorting the aforesaid people that the Divine husbandman may store in his garners the fruit of your word, which you shall have gathered from them by your labours. But till such time as we shall be able, God revealing to us His will, to deliberate concerning the things which our aforesaid sons request us should be done, we grant leave for clerics to be ordained from the ranks of the laity, and also for manumissions to be solemnly celebrated before you in the same church. Moreover we desire you to observe without hesitation the customs of the clerical order and of the presbyters of the above-named church: and do thou also keep such diligent watch in the instruction of the same, that, abstaining from all that is unsuitable or unlawful, they may stand fast, under your exhortations, ministering with due obedience, in the service of our God. The month of January, the tenth Indiction. 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/360202010.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.