Letter 4025: I have learned from the report of my brother and fellow bishop Felix, and my son the servant of God, Cyriacus , that nearly all of you have peasants (rusticos ) on your estates given to idolatry. And this has made me very sorry, since I know that the guilt of subjects weighs down the life of their superiors, and that, when sin in a subject is no...

Gregory to the Nobles and Proprietors in Sardinia. I have learned from the report of my brother and fellow bishop Felix, and my son the servant of God Cyriacus, that nearly all of you have peasants on your estates who are given to idolatry. This has caused me great sorrow, because I know that the guilt of subordinates weighs upon the lives of their superiors, and that when sin among the governed goes uncorrected, the judgment falls back upon those in charge. Therefore, distinguished sons, I urge you with all care and earnestness: be zealous for your souls. Consider what account you will render to Almighty God for your dependents. They have been entrusted to you precisely so that they may serve your earthly interests while you, in turn, provide for their souls in things eternal. If they pay what they owe you, why do you not pay what you owe them? Your duty is to admonish them persistently and restrain them from the error of idolatry, so that by drawing them to the faith you make Almighty God favorable toward yourselves. Look around you — the end of this world draws near. You see the human sword and the divine sword raging against us in turn. And yet you, worshippers of the true God, watch stones being adored by those entrusted to your care, and say nothing. What, I ask you, will you say at the terrible judgment, when God's enemies were placed in your power and you disdained to bring them back to Him? Greeting you as is proper, I ask your distinguished selves to be earnestly watchful in your zeal for God. Write to inform me which of you has brought how many to Christ. If for any reason you are unable to do this yourselves, entrust it to our brother and fellow bishop Felix, or to my son Cyriacus, and give them your full support.

Book IV, Letter 25 To the Nobles and Proprietors in Sardinia. Gregory to the Nobles, etc. I have learned from the report of my brother and fellow bishop Felix, and my son the servant of God, Cyriacus , that nearly all of you have peasants (rusticos ) on your estates given to idolatry. And this has made me very sorry, since I know that the guilt of subjects weighs down the life of their superiors, and that, when sin in a subject is not corrected, sentence is flung back on those who are over them. Wherefore, magnificent sons, I exhort that with all care and all solicitude you be zealous for your souls, and see what account you will render to Almighty God for your subjects. For indeed they have been committed to you for this end, that both they may serve for your advantage in earthly things, and you, through your care for them, may provide for their souls in the things that are eternal. If, then, they pay what they owe you, why pay you not them what you owe them? That is to say, your Greatness should assiduously admonish them, and restrain them from the error of idolatry, to the end that by their being drawn to the faith you may make Almighty God propitious to yourselves. For, lo, you observe how the end of this world is close at hand; you see that now a human, now a divine, sword rages against us: and yet you, the worshippers of the true God, behold stones adored by those who are committed to you, and are silent. What, I pray you, will you say in the tremendous judgment, when you have received God's enemies into your power, and yet disdain to subdue them to God and recall them to Him? Wherefore, addressing you with due greeting, I beg that your Greatness would be earnestly on the watch to give yourselves to zeal for God, and hasten to inform me in your letters which of you has brought how many to Christ. If, then, haply from any cause you are unable to do this, enjoin it on our aforesaid brother and fellow bishop Felix, or my son Cyriacus, and afford them succour for the work of God, that so in the retribution to come you may be in a state to partake of life by so much the more as you now afford succour to a good work. 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/360204025.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.