Letter 7019: Gregory to Marinianus, Archbishop of Ravenna. Your Fraternity has been long aware after what manner the Church of Ariminum has been hitherto deprived of pastoral government by reason of the known bodily affliction of the priest who was ordained by us. Now we, moved by the prayers of the inhabitants of that place, having frequently exhorted him t...

Gregory to Marinianus, Archbishop of Ravenna. Your Fraternity has long been aware of how the Church of Rimini has until now been without pastoral governance because of the known bodily ailment of the priest we ordained. Having often urged him, in response to the prayers of that city's inhabitants, to return with the Lord's help to his Church if he should feel relieved of the head ailment that was preventing him, he has now been awaited for four years since the leave of absence was granted. When the clergy and citizens who came from there pressed us urgently with their entreaties and we urged him to return with them, if he was able with the Lord's help, he addressed to us a written supplication asking that, since his ailment is such that he cannot in any way rise to the governance of that Church or to the duties he had undertaken, we should ordain a bishop for that Church. Since therefore the charge laid upon us of caring for all the churches constrains us to ensure that the flock of the faithful is no longer without pastoral protection, and being compelled both by their entreaties and by his own resignation on grounds of incapacity, we have decided that a bishop should be ordained for this same Church of Rimini. Having issued our instruction in the customary manner, we have duly admonished the clergy and people of that church to come together with one accord to choose a bishop. We therefore urge your Fraternity that the person whom all shall choose with one consent — as they have themselves also requested leave to do — you cause to be summoned before you, and test him by cautious inquiry on all sides. And if, by the Lord's grace, none of the offenses punishable by death in the text of the Heptateuch are found in him, and if his manner of life commends itself to you through the testimony of trustworthy persons, send him to us with written confirmation of his election, adding your own letter of attestation — so that, under the Lord's direction, a bishop may be consecrated by us for this church.

Book VII, Letter 19 To Marinianus, Archbishop. Gregory to Marinianus, Archbishop of Ravenna. Your Fraternity has been long aware after what manner the Church of Ariminum has been hitherto deprived of pastoral government by reason of the known bodily affliction of the priest who was ordained by us. Now we, moved by the prayers of the inhabitants of that place, having frequently exhorted him to return with the help of the Lord to his Church, if he should feel himself relieved from this affliction of the head whereby he was kept away, he has been expected now for four years since the leave of absence given him. And, when at the instance of clergy and citizens who have come from thence and urged us with entreaties, we urgently exhorted him to return with them, the Lord helping him, if able to do so, he begged of us by a supplication in writing , that, inasmuch as by reason of this affliction wherewith he is held he can in no wise rise to the government of the same Church, or to the office undertaken by him, we should ordain a bishop to this same Church. Hence, seeing that the charge laid upon us of caring for all the Churches constrains us to see that pastoral guardianship be no longer wanting to the flock of the faithful, and being compelled by their entreaties, and by his renunciation on the ground of his own inability, we have resolved that a bishop should be ordained to this same Church of Ariminum: and, having issued our precept according to custom, we have not failed to admonish the clergy and people of the same Church, to the end that they may concur with concordant provision to choose for themselves a prelate. We therefore exhort your Fraternity that him whom all with one consent shall choose (as they themselves also have requested leave to do) you cause to be summoned before you; and test him by cautious enquiry on all sides. And if, by favour of the Lord, none of the things that are punished with death in the text of the Heptateuch are found in him, and if, on the report of trustworthy persons, his life should approve itself to you, send him to us with the certification of his election, adding your own letter of testification, to the end that a prelate of this same Church may, under the ordering of the Lord, be by us consecrated. 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/360207019.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.