Letter 4036: We have found from the report of many that a custom has of old obtained among you, for subdeacons to be allowed to have intercourse with their wives. That any one should any more presume to do this was prohibited by the servant of God, the deacon of our see, under the authority of our predecessor , in this way; that those who at that time had be...

Gregory to Leo, Bishop of Catania. We have learned from many reports that it has long been the custom among you for subdeacons to be permitted relations with their wives. My predecessor's representative, the servant of God who serves as deacon of our See, prohibited anyone from continuing this practice. Those who were at that time married were given a choice: either abstain from relations with their wives, or under no circumstances presume to exercise their ministry. According to the reports, a subdeacon named Speciosus suspended himself from his administrative duties for this reason. Until his death he held the title of notary but ceased performing the ministry a subdeacon should exercise. After his death, we learned that Your Brotherhood relegated his widow, Honorata, to a monastery for having taken a second husband. But if, as reported, her first husband had suspended himself from ministry, it should not count against this woman that she remarried -- especially if she had not originally married the subdeacon with the intention of living in continence. If you find the facts to be as we have been told, you should release the woman from the monastery entirely, so that she may return to her husband without any fear. For the future, let Your Brotherhood be extremely careful: when anyone is promoted to the subdiaconate, examine with the utmost diligence whether, if they have wives, they understand that they will have no permission for marital relations. And you must still strictly require them to observe all things according to the practice of the Apostolic See.

Book IV, Letter 36 To Leo, Bishop. Gregory to Leo, Bishop of Catania. We have found from the report of many that a custom has of old obtained among you, for subdeacons to be allowed to have intercourse with their wives. That any one should any more presume to do this was prohibited by the servant of God, the deacon of our see, under the authority of our predecessor , in this way; that those who at that time had been coupled to wives should choose one of two things, that is, either to abstain from their wives, or on no account whatever presume to exercise their ministry. And, according to report, Speciosus, then a subdeacon, did for this reason suspend himself from the office of administration, and up to the time of his death bore indeed the office of a notary, but ceased from the ministry which a subdeacon should have exercised. After his death we have learned that his widow, Honorata, has been relegated to a monastery by your Fraternity for having associated herself with a husband. And so if, as is said, her husband suspended himself from ministration, it ought not to be to the prejudice of the aforesaid woman that she has contracted a second marriage, especially if she had not been joined to the subdeacon with the intention of abstaining from the pleasures of the flesh. If, then, you find the truth to be as we have been informed, it is right for you to release altogether the aforesaid woman from the monastery, that she may be at liberty to return without any fear to her husband. But for the future let your Fraternity be exceedingly careful, in the case of any who may be promoted to this office, to look to this with the utmost diligence, that, if they have wives, they shall enjoy no licence to have intercourse with them: but you must still strictly order them to observe all things after the pattern of the Apostolic See. 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/360204036.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.