Letter 9178

From: Pope Gregory I To: Castorius, His Notary in Ravenna Date: ~599 AD Context: Gregory instructs about Maximus of Salona: if he clears himself of simony, he is to be received back I need to give you instructions about the case of Maximus, bishop of Salona. If he presents himself before you and is able to demonstrate clearly that he is innocent of the charges of simony and the other offenses with which he has been charged — if he purges himself of these accusations according to canonical procedure — then you are to receive him back into communion and treat him accordingly. But you must be rigorous about the purgation. It must be full and convincing. A half-hearted clearing of charges that leaves residual doubt is not sufficient. Let me know the outcome.

Quanto credi tibi a nobis et neceasarias vides causas iniungi, tanto te strenuam debea et BoUicitum exhibere. Proinde si Maximua Salonitanus praestito sacrameDto is firmaverit simoniaca ae hereai non teneri atque de aliia ante corpus sancti Apollinaris* tantum modo requisitus inaoxium ae ease'' responderit et de inoboedientia aua paeni- tentiam, aicut deputavimuB, egerit, volumua, ut ad conaolandum illum epistolam quam ad eum scripBimus, ubi ei et gratiam noatram et communionem nos reddidisse signavi- mua ', experientia tua dare debeat; quia, aicut in contumacia persistentibus severos' jo esse nos convcnit, sic iterum humiliatis'' et paenitentibue negare locum veniae non debemus. Praeterea de fratre nostro Sabiniano* episcopo ladertino'^ atquc Honorato archi- diacone Salonitano'^ vel alits, qui ae ad sedem apoatolicam contulerunt, cum eodem Maximo omnino studiose agendum fst, ut iiloa in ea qua decet caritate recipiat et do- » lorem contra eos nullo modo in cordc retineat, sed pura cum eis gratia et sincera dilectione vivat.