Letter 2036: Let your Charity believe me that I have been greatly saddened for your sadness, as though I had myself suffered wrong in you. But, when I afterwards learned that, even after the most reverend Maximianus, our brother and fellow bishop, had restored you to his favour and communion, your Love would not accept communion from him, I then knew that wh...

Book II, Letter 36 To Peter, Subdeacon of Sicily. Gregory to Peter. We have seen fit to bring to the attention of your Experience certain matters that require correction. We have learned that on some estates, the custom of exacting labor services [corvee] from the tenants beyond what is established by long tradition has been introduced. This we strictly forbid. Let the tenants provide whatever services custom dictates, nothing more. Furthermore, we have been informed that some of those placed in charge of individual estates have been making private deals for their own enrichment at the expense of both the tenants and the Church. Investigate these charges thoroughly. Where you find them to be true, punish the offenders and make restitution to those who have been harmed. Above all, remember that the patrimony of the Church exists for the relief of the poor. Whatever you do in managing it, keep before your eyes both the welfare of those who work the land and the needs of those whom the Church is obligated to feed. Conduct yourself so that when you render account, you may be found faithful in all things.

Book II, Letter 36 To the Abbot Eusebius. Gregory to Eusebius, etc. Let your Charity believe me that I have been greatly saddened for your sadness, as though I had myself suffered wrong in you. But, when I afterwards learned that, even after the most reverend Maximianus, our brother and fellow bishop, had restored you to his favour and communion, your Love would not accept communion from him, I then knew that what had been done before was just. The humility of God's servants ought to appear in a time of affliction: but those who lift themselves up against their superiors show that they scorn to be God's servants. And, indeed, what he once did ought not to have been done; but still it ought to have been taken by you with all humility: and again, when he restored to you his favour, he ought to have been met with thanks. And because it was not so done by you, I feel that to us in every way there is cause for tears. For it is no great thing for us to be humble to those by whom we are honoured; for even any worldly man would do this: but we ought especially to be humble to those at whose hands we suffer. For the Psalmist says, See my humility before mine enemies Psalm 9:14. What life are we leading, if we will not be humble even to our fathers? Wherefore, most beloved son, I beseech you that all bitterness pass away from your heart, lest perchance the end should be near, and the ancient foe should, through the iniquity of discord, bar against us the way to the eternal kingdom. Further, we have caused a hundred solidi to be given to your Love through Peter the subdeacon, which I beg you to accept without offense. 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/360202036.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.