Letter 9009: In the midst of what you have announced to me of your victories over the Sclaves, know that I have been refreshed with great joy that the bearers of these presents, hastening to be joined to the unity of holy Church from the island of Capritana , have been sent by your Excellency to the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles. For hereby you will ...

Gregory to Callinicus, Exarch of Italy. Amid the news you have shared of your victories over the Slavs, I was greatly cheered to learn that the bearers of this letter, eager to be joined to the unity of holy Church from the island of Capritana, have been sent by your Excellency to the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles. You will prevail over your enemies all the more effectively if you bring under the yoke of the true Lord those whom you know to be enemies of God. You will manage your affairs among men with greater success the more sincerely and devoutly you maintain the causes of God. As for your having asked that a copy be shown to me of the order sent to you regarding the defense of the schismatics: your most gracious Excellency should have considered carefully that, although that order was obtained, it does not instruct you to repel those who come voluntarily to the unity of the Church. It only says that at this unsettled time, those who are unwilling should not be compelled. You should therefore inform our most devout Emperors of these developments promptly, so that they may know that in their reign, through the aid of Almighty God and your efforts, schismatics are hastening to return of their own accord. What I have decided regarding the ordering of affairs on the island of Capritana, your Excellency will learn through our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Marinianus. But I must tell you that this matter has caused me considerable distress: your majordomo, who was given charge of the petition from the bishop wishing to return, claimed he had lost it -- and afterward was found to have been gotten hold of by the Church's adversaries. In my opinion, this was not negligence but corruption. I am surprised that your Excellency has not held him accountable for this.

Book IX, Letter 9 To Callinicus, Exarch of Italy . Gregory to Callinicus, etc. In the midst of what you have announced to me of your victories over the Sclaves, know that I have been refreshed with great joy that the bearers of these presents, hastening to be joined to the unity of holy Church from the island of Capritana , have been sent by your Excellency to the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles. For hereby you will the more prevail over your enemies, if you recall under the yoke of the true Lord those whom you know to be the enemies of God; and you will prosecute your causes among men with all the more effect as with sincere and devout mind you maintain the causes of God. Now as to your having desired that a copy should be shown me of the order that has been sent to you for the defense of the schismatic, your to me most sweet Excellency ought to have considered carefully how that, although that order has been elicited, you are still not therein enjoined to repel those who come to the unity of the Church, but only, at this unsettled time, not to compel those who are unwilling to come. Whence it is necessary for you with all speed to inform our most pious Emperors of these things, to the end that they may be aware how that in their times, through the succour of Almighty God and your exertions, schismatics are hastening to return of their own accord. What I have decided as to the ordering of things in the island of Caritana, your Excellency will learn through our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Marinianus . But I would have you know that this has caused me no slight distress; that your Majordomo, who took charge of the petition of the bishop who was wishing to return, declared that he had lost it, and that afterwards he was got hold of by the adversaries of the Church: which proceeding, in my opinion, was due not to his neglect but to his venality. Wherefore I wonder that your Excellency has not in any way visited his fault in him. And yet I soon blamed myself for wondering at this, for where the lord Justinus gives advice, there heretics cannot be arraigned. Moreover you tell us that you wish to keep the anniversary of Peter, Prince of the apostles, in the city of Rome. And we pray Almighty God to protect you with His mercy, and grant you a fulfilment of your desires. But I beg that the aforesaid most eloquent man may come with you, or that, if he does not come, he may retire from attendance on you. Or certainly, if your Excellency should be unable to come owing to business that may arise, let him either communicate with the unity of holy Church, or I beg that he may not be a sharer of your counsels. For I hear of him as a good man, were he not in most mischievous error. As to the cause of Maximus, inasmuch as we can no longer stand against the importunity of your Sweetness, you will learn from Castorius, the notary, what we have determined. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 13. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1898.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360209009.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.