Letter 3017

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Gratiosus, subdeacon Date: ~593 AD Context: Gregory instructs Gratiosus to hand over to an abbess named Flora a house with gardens and guesthouses for use as a monastery. Gregory to Gratiosus, subdeacon. The abbess Flora [a woman who wishes to found a monastery] is to receive the house with its gardens and guesthouses for the purpose of establishing a monastery there. Make the transfer with appropriate documentation, ensuring that the abbess has clear legal title to the property for the purposes of her religious community. The establishment of monasteries dedicated to the service of God is one of the goods the church should actively promote. Where suitable property can be made available for this purpose, we should do so. This house appears to be suitable; transfer it promptly. Ensure also that there is no remaining claim on the property that might be used to disturb the monastery once it is established. Gregory

AD GRATIOSUM SUBDIACONUM. Flore abbatisxe Uomum cum horlis et hospitiis ad consiruendum monasterium tradat. Gregorius Gratios0 8':bdiacono. Religiosam vitam eligentibus { Grat. 12, g. 2, c. 75) congrua nos oportet consideratione prospicere, ne cujusdam necessitatis occasio aut desides faciat, aut robur, quod absit, conversationis inſringat. ldcirco praesenti tibi auctoritate precipimus quatenus do- mum positam in hac urbe, regione quarta, juxta locum qui appellatur * Gallinas albas, vel hortum juris sanclz Romanm Ecclesi:e, cui, Deo auctore, prasidemus, in .qua Campana » quondam Partritia mansisse dignoscCitur, Simul et hortum atque hospitia, quze intra eamdem domum janua concludit, GZ7 Florx abbaiisse debeas tradere, proprietatis jure pro- cul dubio possidendain. In qua domo monasterium, nbi cum congregatione Sua habitare- possit, Chrisio queat adjavante construere, ut tam ipsa quam etiam que in ejus loco honoreque Successerit predictam Jomum et hortum cum omnibus ad se pertinentibus, ticut diximas, quielo InconcussS0que jure, a nobis vietalis consideratione Cconcessa , Valeat possidere. liq. legitur tantum, Petro episcopo. In Vatic. A, epist. Bauricis. In B et C, epis!. Bancis, consentientibus coll, lu Andegav., eptsc. de Bancis. In Ed. Rom., 2pisc. de Vibicits, Lege $eq. nolam Gussanv., de Bari- cis, Sic legu ex Codicibus mss. Moissiac., Cluniac., Cisterc., Sorb: n., Victorino et aliis, ex quibus ali qui I-gimt de Barcis. Concordant Editiones antique, Ve- neta 1504, Parisi-nses 1508, 1518, 158", Lugdunensis 1:39, et alize. In posterioribus Ed:tionibus legebatur de Vibicis, quod unde irrepserit non video. Baricis amem corrupte dicitur pro Barce, a qua Barczi po- puli, quos corrupto sermone Afri Bariciaros vocaut, inquit Sanctus Hieronymus, epist. 129, ad Dardamun, licet in vulgaribus Editionibus sancti Hieronymi ha- bealur Barcianos, Verum ex emendatione Erasmi legen- Jum Baricianos. Sicut et ex Editionibus sancti Hiero- nymi Romana 1470, Veneta 1488, Lugdunensi 1508 21 1545, Sic etiam habetur in Codd. mss. Sancti Victoris Paris., Sancti Theodorici Rhemensis, et duo- bus viri clarissmi Claud:i Joly cantoris Parisiensis. Fuit autem Barce olim civitas Aſricze, metropolis Li- by, Ptuleniats etiam appellata, a Scipione Alricano poxt devictam Africam populo Romano 'tributaria ſacia. Sidonius Apoll., carmine vil : Uuz captiva dedit quoudam Stipendia Barche. Ilodie dicitur Barca, eslque regionis Cognominis ca- put, que quivem regio inter Agyplum et Syrtim m.gnam, jixla mire Mediterraneun jacet. GusSavnv. Capluvi, inquit Alleserra, commercii causa deporta- - bantur ii Atricam, ut venuudarentur pro ser vis, elma- Line Yenum exponeb.ntur apud Baricis urbein. ldeo Gregorius misit Yaleriapum presb. iu Aſricain pro PaTrRoL. LXXVII.