Letter 2024

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Maximianus, Bishop of Syracuse Date: ~592 AD Context: Gregory directs Maximianus to carefully examine a priest named Felix who has been praised by someone, and if Felix is worthy, to promote him. Gregory to Maximianus, bishop of Syracuse [Sicily]. A priest named Felix has come to my attention through favorable reports. I direct you to examine him carefully — his faith, his conduct, his abilities — and if you find him to be what his advocates claim, to promote him to a position appropriate to his merits. Do not take the favorable reports at face value without your own investigation; the reputations of candidates are often shaped by their supporters' interests as much as by their actual qualities. But do not be prejudiced against him either. Examine him honestly and then act on what you find. I trust your judgment in this. You have the ability to assess a priest's suitability; use it. Gregory

AD MAXIMIANUM EPISCOPUM SYRACUSANUM. Ut laudatum a Felice presbyterum diligenter exa- minet, cumque Romam, 8i episcopatu dignum per- spexeril, nuital, Gregorius Maximiano episcopo Syracusano. Felix vir consularis, presentium lator, edocuit nos, esxe quemdam in illis partibus presbyterum, qui ad episcopatus ordiunem provehi vite merito dignus ap- pareat. Hunc ergo ſralernitas tua coram $e deduci ſaciat, eumque, Sicul cerlus $um, propter anime periculum diligenter examinet. Quem $i ad hunc gra- dum provehi dignum esse perspexerit, ad nos studeat deslinare, ut cum, disponente Deo, loco cui praevide- rimus, possimus * ordinare pastorem. Prasentium vero latorem Felicem > virum consularem chartula- rium, Salva ſraternilati tuz juslitia, commendamus, quatenus in iis que jiusle poposcerit , fraternum- invenire possit afſectum. (Cf. Joan. Diac. lib. 1, c. 15.) | D ralde inhumanum es! a nemine accipere; 8ed passim, disum, in persona inſe10s ; 8c aliqut dum in minoribus' eranl, concionibus il;u>lres; illnstrissimi dum fiunl, obmutescunt, Diceres apud quosdam pedum pastorale rudem esse qua donati velterania militia discedebant, cum contra reparandi belli major imponatur per epi- SCopalum necessitas. Plura Sunt apud sanctum Chry- So$tomum , homil. 5 in Acta aposlolorum. Vide epist. 41 lib. v, alias 12 lib. 1v. GousSavv. © lia Mss., quod verbum editores mutarunt in urgel. vilissimum est; et omnia, avarissimum. Tandem con- cludit : Sed nec renia producenda sunt ad munerum qualitatem ; $cilicet munera plus sunt quam xenia. Alciaius, in lege 194, de verborum 8igntf., omnes ſere munerum $pecies explicat, et de xenio dicit pro- prie esse munus quod hospitibus datur; $ed in jure pro munu>culis accipi, que judicibus solent ad 'eo- rum gratiam aucupandam milti. GUsSANVY. bh Procul dubio ad sanctum Petrum. EeisT. XXIV (Al. 18). — * Ea zlate episcopi Ita- lie, Sicilize el aliarum viciniorum provinciarum, nun consecrabantur nisi a Rom. pont. tanquam Patriarcha Uccidentis, vel,de ejus licentia, ett. ALTESERRA. Felicem vicaria charitate. Sequimur Norm., CorbÞ., Yalic. Þ, etc. De chartularii diguitate vide Alteserraul hoc loco. Uo »% > ww aw ok a