Letter 8007

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Leo, bishop Date: ~598 AD Context: Gregory directs Bishop Leo to separate out a quarter of the church's revenues for the clergy, according to their services and merit. Gregory to Leo, bishop. The canonical portion of the church's revenues that is to go to the clergy must be properly calculated and distributed. The rule is clear: a quarter of the revenues is to be set aside for this purpose, distributed among the clergy in proportion to their services and according to their needs and merits. This is not discretionary; it is a canonical obligation. The clergy who serve the church are entitled to support from it. The distribution should be made regularly and fairly, with the records maintained clearly so that I can verify compliance if I need to. If there are clergy whose situation is particularly difficult — through illness, old age, or exceptional circumstances — bring this to my attention so that I can consider whether additional provision is appropriate. Gregory

AD LEONEM EPISCOPUM. Segregatam ex ecclesie'sue redituum quartam portionem clericis juxta laboris meritum dividat. Gregorius Leoni episcopo Catanensium. Ad boe locorum (Grat. 16, q. 1, c. 65) gradus ra- tionis ordo distinxit, et judicia esse constituit, ut nec prepositi in opprimendos se ſrustra valeant occnpa- re subjectos, nec $ubjectis ilerum coutra $u0s pre- positos effrenata sit resuliandi licentia. Et ideo quia per decimam quintam nuper indictionem elapsam ec- clesiz tuz acolythi, dato contra te capitulari, BOO quedam conquesti sunt, ne aut in tuz fraternitalis invidia remanerent, aut illos in suis videremur pe- titionibus non audire, dilectissimo filio nosiro Cy- priano diacono ea subtiliter inquirenda mandavimns. Qui injuncta cognoscens, quid de capitulo unoquo- que decreveril, inquisitioni nostrz es sublilius pa- tefactum. Et quia inter alia de quarta portione * cle- rus hoc tenendum statuit, ut unam portionem hi qui. in sacro loco sunt positi, et reliquas duas clerus ac- cipiat, et latores praesentium Donatus presbyter, necnon et Theodosianus atque Viator diaconi, alio- rum quoque qui in sacrato sunt ordine constituti re- lationem ad nos deferentes, conquesti Sunt hoc con- tra antiquam consuetudinem in $vu0 gravamine prie- judicialiter Statutum ; quippe quia de eadem quarla semper $e duas partes et tertiam clerum perhibent consecutum, et petiverunt ne hxc definitio in $u0 pra;judicio permaneat ; nos hoc ſraternilatis luz dis- positioni oporteie pravidimus commitiendum. Volumus ergo (Grat. ibid.) ut quidquid Ecclesizx tur. ex reditu vel quolibet alio litulo [ortassis acces- ' $erit, quartam exinde portionem Sine diminutione aliqua debeas segregare, atque eam $ecundum Dei strare, nisi eos probatos districtio pontificis observare preceperit. Ejusdem conc. can. 26 : De cleticis qui in polentum domibus observantes negliqunt implere quod Ecclesice debent. Gus8axv. Observare hic est a$5idue cum aliquo ess* oflicii honoriSque Causa, Ci- que winistare. Acolythus idem $0nat ac prdisse- quus, apparitor. Liquet tamen ex epist. | hujus li- . bri acolythos aliquando magis $piritualibus olficiis deſunctus essC : quem (acolythum) ad obsequia vestra relransmusimus, ut 8i in lucrandis animabus ampl:us servieril, Eeist., VII [Al. 8]. — * In Vatic. B, clero hoc te- suwm ſuerit, discrete dividere; ita sane ut u-icuique, sicut meritum laboris exegerit, libera libi sit, juxta quod pr:evideris, largiendi licentia, quatenus el hi qui merentur etiam temporali $e seutiaut hoe com- modo consolari, et alii adjuyante Doiniuo eorumn ad melius conteudant imitatione proficere.