Letter 9041: If in secular offices order and the discipline handed down by our ancestors is observed, who may bear to see ecclesiastical order confounded, to disregard such things when heard of, and postpone their amendment by improperly condoning them? And indeed you do well to love charity and to persuade to concord. But, since we are compelled by consider...

Gregory to Julianus, Scribo [a military secretary]. If order and the discipline handed down by our ancestors is observed even in secular offices, who can tolerate seeing ecclesiastical order thrown into confusion -- hearing about abuses and doing nothing, condoning what should be corrected? You do well to love charity and to encourage harmony. But my position, and my duty before God, compels me not to leave uninvestigated the reports that have reached me. When Maximus comes, I will demand a strict accounting for the things said about him. And I trust in the protection of our Creator that I will not be swayed -- by anyone's favor or anyone's fault -- from upholding the canons and the straight path of justice. I will follow what reason requires. If we neglect ecclesiastical rigor -- God forbid -- indolence destroys discipline, and the souls of the faithful are harmed when they see such examples set by their pastors. You mention in your letter that Maximus still has the goodwill of the imperial court and the love of the people. That does not turn me aside from my commitment to justice, nor will it cause my determination to uncover the truth to falter through any failing of mine. Magnificent son, everyone should strive to win the love of God. Without divine favor, what good will human popularity do for us in the end? Among ourselves, it often does more harm than good.

Book IX, Letter 41 To Julianus, Scribo . Gregory to Julianus, etc. If in secular offices order and the discipline handed down by our ancestors is observed, who may bear to see ecclesiastical order confounded, to disregard such things when heard of, and postpone their amendment by improperly condoning them? And indeed you do well to love charity and to persuade to concord. But, since we are compelled by consideration of our position, and for God's sake, by no means to leave uninvestigated the things that have come to our knowledge, we shall take care, when Maximus comes, to require a strict account from him of the things that have been said about him. And we trust in the guardianship of our Creator, that we shall not be turned aside by either the favour or the fault of any man from maintenance of the canons and the straight path of equity, but willingly observe what is agreeable to reason. For if (which God forbid) we neglect ecclesiastical solicitude and vigour, indolence destroys discipline, and certainly harm will be done to the souls of the faithful, while they see such examples set them by their pastors. But with regard to your saying in your letter that the good will of the palace and the love of the people are not alienated from him, this circumstance does not recall us from our zeal for justice, nor shall it cause our determination to enquire into the truth to fail through sin of ours. Every one, then, should strive, magnificent son, to conciliate to himself the love of God. For without divine favour what can I say that human love will do for us hereafter, when even among ourselves it harms us the more? 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/360209041.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.