Letter 3040

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Peter, subdeacon Date: ~593 AD Context: Gregory writes to Peter, his subdeacon, with administrative instructions. Gregory to Peter, subdeacon. The instructions I gave you in my previous letter are to be carried out as directed. I add the following points for your guidance: In all administrative matters, keep clear and accurate records. The church's interests are not served by administrative confusion, and I will not be able to oversee things properly if the records are unclear. In matters involving individuals — whether clergy, monks, tenants, or anyone else — treat people as people, not as problems to be processed. The person before you has a soul for which we are accountable. If you encounter situations for which my instructions do not clearly provide, use your judgment in a way you would be comfortable defending to me if I asked about it. You have good judgment; trust it, while remaining open to correction. Report regularly. Gregory

AD -PETRUM $SUBDIACONUY. Numerium diaconum, 8i episcopatu diqnum judicet, Romam miltal consecrandum. Catellam 8ervam , 5i animo. sincero monaslicum habitum pelit, a Felice redimat. Gregorius Petro subdiacono Campaniz. Ante aliquot dies tibi scripsimus, ut Nnmerium diaconum * Nucerinz Ecclesiz interrogare Þ subtili- © In Cod., lib. 1, tit. 40 : Judeus servum Chrislia- num nec comparare debebit, nec largitatis aut alio quocunque litulo consequetur. Quod 5i aliquis Judao- ruM..... non 80lum mancipii damno mulletur, verum eliam capilali sen'entia puniatur, etc. Kt lege 8-quente: Graecus, seu Paganus, e: Judaus, et Samaritanus, et alius harelicus, id est, non eiislens orthodorus, non potest Christianum mancipium habere, etc. Lege di- Slinct. 04, et extra., leg. 'y, tit. 6, de Judzis, cap. 2. Infra, passim, de Judzis, necnon in conciliis Galliz, ubi plura videbantur Judzis permissa, quz prosequi. nos(ri non esl jnstituti. Gussaxv. Vide, infra, lib. 1y, episl. 21, et Eusebium, lib. iy de Vita Constanlini, Cc. 27, ubi refert pium imperatorem legem tulisse, ne Christianus, ullus Serviret Judatis; et $i quis Chri- S|lane religionis 8ervus penes Judzum deprebende- retur, illum quidem liberate donandum, Judzum vero pecunia multandum, Eeisr. XXXIX [AlL. 58]. — © Recent. Ed., redigere, Inconsullis Sane Mss., sallem antiq. et potioribus. © Turon. Co. S. Gatianij, cui concinit Edit. Pa- ris. 1518, addit ; Mense Junio, indict. 11. Eersr. XL [Al. 59]. — * Nuceria urbs olim Cam- panie in Picentinis, nunc principatus Cciterjoris if regnv Neapolit., adhuc episcopalis $ub archiep. $9 lermtlano. » Id es, curiosius, diligentius ; quo Sensu Spe 2 | OO I OT rr rn Pm e oommmmmmmmw man — —_— -—vo_—_—_ — — __ EPISTOLARUM L1B. II. — INDICT. XI. — EPIST. XLII ter debuisses$; et $i nihil esset quod'ei ad sacerdotii A tradere festinabis; ita ut nulla exiade ei sit quoquo- gradum potuisset obsislere, huc eum consecrandum Deo auctore transmitteres. Et ideo si, facta interro- gatioue quam diximus, Suprascriptum ad nos dia- conum transmissurus es, clerum et populum civita- tis ipsius admonere curabis, ut cum eo quanticun- que potuerint venire non differant, quatenus els presentibus, si Deo placuerit et ordinandus ſuerit, consecretur. G : Preterea quia Felix defensor puellam nomine Catellam habere dicitur, quz enum magnis lacrymis et vehementi desiderio habitum conversationis ap- petit, sed eam prefatus dominus Suus converti © mi- nime permiltit, proinde volumus ut 'experienlia tua prefatum 4 Felicem adeat, aique puella ejusdem animum S$ollicite requirat; ct si ita es:e cognoverit, pretium ejusdem puella suz domino prebeat, et buc eam in monasterio dandam cum personis gra- vibus, Domino auxiliante, transmittat. Ita vero hec age, ut non per lentam G5Z& actionem (uam pra- ſaiz puellze anima detrimentium aliquod in desiderio $UO Suslineat.