Letter 2023: Gregory to John, Bishop of Prima Justiniana in Illyricum. It is clearly a manifest evidence of goodness that the consent of all should concur in the election of one person. Since, then, the account which we have received from our brethren and fellow bishops declared that you are summoned to the position of priesthood by the unanimous consent of ...

Book II, Letter 23 To John, Bishop of Prima Justiniana [a major city in Illyricum/the Balkans, designated by Emperor Justinian as a metropolitan see] in Illyricum. Gregory to John, Bishop of Prima Justiniana. It is clearly a powerful testament to goodness when everyone's agreement converges on one person. Since the report from our fellow bishops declared that you were called to the episcopate by the unanimous consent of the whole council and the will of the most serene Emperor [Mauricius], we have given thanks with great joy to Almighty God, who has made your life and character so commendable that -- to your great credit -- you have won the approval of all. We fully concur in their judgment of your person. We pray Almighty God that, as His grace has chosen you, He would keep you under His protection in all things. We have sent you the pallium [the vestment of episcopal authority] according to custom and, renewing our commission, appoint you to act as vicar [representative] of the Apostolic See. We urge you to show yourself gentle to those under you, so they are moved to love you rather than fear you. When their faults require correction, take care to correct their mistakes without ever losing a father's affection. Be watchful and diligent in caring for the flock entrusted to you. Be strict in maintaining discipline, so the prowling wolf cannot break into the Lord's sheepfold or find opportunity to harm the sheep. Hasten with all your heart to win souls for God. Know that we received the title of shepherd not for rest but for labor. Let us show in our work what our name means. If we rightly consider the responsibility of the priesthood, it brings honor to those who are diligent and do their duty well, but becomes a burden of condemnation for those who are negligent. Through our teaching, let the people entrusted to us learn that there is another life. Let your preaching be a welcome spur to urge them on, and your own life an example for them to follow. Your preaching should reveal to them what to love and what to fear. Above all, take careful precaution never to make any unlawful ordinations. Whenever anyone is promoted to the clergy or to a higher office, ordain them for merit, not for bribes or personal appeals. Let no improper consideration whatsoever reach Your Fraternity in any ordination, lest you become entangled -- God forbid -- in the snare of simony [the sin of buying or selling church offices]. "For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). We must look to God in all we do, despise temporal and perishable things, and direct our hearts' desire toward the eternal good. I was altogether unwilling to accept Your Holiness's gift, since it seemed very wrong for us to appear to receive presents from our plundered and suffering brothers. But your messengers persuaded me with another argument, presenting it as an offering that Your Fraternity's gifts should not be withheld from. Study this above all: how you may offer imperishable gifts to the coming Judge of souls, so that He may look with favor both on you for your fruitful labor and on us for our encouragement.

Book II, Letter 23 To John, Bishop. Gregory to John, Bishop of Prima Justiniana in Illyricum. It is clearly a manifest evidence of goodness that the consent of all should concur in the election of one person. Since, then, the account which we have received from our brethren and fellow bishops declared that you are summoned to the position of priesthood by the unanimous consent of the whole council and the will of the most serene Prince, we have rendered thanks with great exultation to Almighty God our Creator, who has made your life and actions so commendable in the past as to bring about (what is exceedingly to your credit) your approving yourself to the judgment of all. With them we also fully agree with regard to the person of your Fraternity. And we implore Almighty God that, as His Grace has chosen your Charity, so He would keep you in all respects under His protection. We have sent you the pallium according to custom, and, renewing our commission, we appoint you to act as vicar of the Apostolic See, admonishing you that you so show yourself gentle to your subjects that they may be provoked to love you rather than to fear you. And, if perchance any fault of theirs should require notice, you will be careful so to correct their transgressions as by no means to discard paternal affection from your mind. Be watchful and assiduous in the care of the flock committed to you, and strict in the zeal of discipline, so that the wolf lying in wait may not prevail to disturb the Lord's sheepfold, or have opportunity for deceit, so as to hurt the sheep. Make haste with full purpose of heart to win souls to our God; and know that we have received the name of shepherd not for repose, but for labour. Let us, then, show forth in our work what our name denotes. If we weigh with right consideration the prerogative of the priesthood, it will be to those who are diligent and do their duty well for honour, but to those who are negligent assuredly for a burden. For, as this name, in the sight of God, conducts those who labour and are assiduous for the salvation of souls to eternal glory, so in the case of the idle and sluggish it tends to punishment. Through our tongue let the people committed to us learn that there is another life. Let the teaching of your Fraternity be to them an acceptable spur to urge them on, and your life an example for imitation. For your Fraternity's preaching should disclose to them what to love and what to fear, and your efficiency in this way should reap the fruit of eternal retribution. But let your deliberate care especially constrain you never to attempt to make any unlawful ordinations; but, whenever any are promoted to the clerical order, or, it may be, to some higher rank, let them be ordained, not for bribes or entreaties, but for merit. In no ordination let any consideration, in any way whatever, surreptitiously reach your Fraternity, lest you should be entangled (which God forbid) in the snares of simoniacal heresy. For what shall it profit a man, as the Truth says, if he shall gain the whole word, and lose his own soul Mark 8:36? Hence it is necessary for us to look to God in all we do, to despise temporal and perishable things, and to direct the desire of our heart to the good things of eternity. Your Holiness's present I was altogether unwilling to accept, since it were very unseemly for us to seem to have received gifts from our plundered and afflicted brethren. But your messengers got the better of me by another argument, proffering it to one from whom your Fraternity's offerings may not be withheld. For this you ought before all things to study: how you may provide imperishable gifts to be offered to the coming judge of souls, to the end that He may have respect both to you for your profitable labour, and to us likewise for our exhortation. 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/360202023.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.