Letter 6007: Gregory to Candidus, Presbyter, going to the patrimony of Gaul. Now that you are proceeding, with the help of our Lord God Jesus Christ, to the government of the patrimony that is in Gaul, we desire your Love to procure with the money you may receive clothing for the poor, or English boys of about seventeen or eighteen years of age, who may prof...

Pope Gregory the GreatCandidus, Presbyter|c. 595 AD|gregory great
illnessmonasticismproperty economics
Conversion/baptism; Trade & commerce

Gregory to Candidus, priest, departing for the patrimony in Gaul. As you proceed with the help of our Lord God Jesus Christ to take charge of the Church estates in Gaul, I want you to use whatever funds you receive to purchase clothing for the poor and English boys of about seventeen or eighteen years of age who may benefit from being placed in monasteries to serve God. This way, the revenue from Gaul that cannot be transferred to our own country can be put to good use where it is collected. If you also manage to obtain anything from the funds classified as ablata, use that money too for clothing for the poor or for acquiring boys who can be dedicated to the service of Almighty God. Since the boys available there are likely pagans, I want you to send a priest along with them on the journey, so that if anyone falls gravely ill on the way, the priest can baptize them before they die. Act on this without delay.

Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.

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