Letter 1048: The justice which you bear in your mind you ought to show in the light of your deeds. Now Juliana, abbess of the monastery of Saint Vitus which Vitula of venerable memory had once built, has intimated to us that possession of the aforesaid monastery is claimed by Donatus, your official; who, seeing himself to be fortified by your patronage, scor...
Book I, Letter 48
To Theodorus, Duke [military governor] of Sardinia.
Gregory to Theodorus.
The justice you hold in your heart should be made visible through your actions. Juliana, abbess of the monastery of Saint Vitus -- originally built by Vitula of honored memory -- has informed us that your official Donatus is claiming ownership of the monastery. Seeing himself protected by your patronage, he refuses to submit the matter to a proper judicial hearing.
We ask Your Glory to direct this official, together with the abbess, to submit the dispute to arbitration. Whatever the arbitrators decide should be carried out, so that whether Donatus gains or loses, the outcome is determined by the justice of the law, not personal influence.
Furthermore, Pompeiana, a religious woman who established a monastery in her own home, has complained that her deceased son-in-law's mother wants to invalidate his will so that his final wishes regarding his property are overturned.
We urge Your Glory, with paternal affection, to lend yourself willingly to just causes and kindly ensure that these persons receive what they have a rightful claim to. We pray the Lord to direct the course of your life favorably and grant you a successful tenure in your distinguished office.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
Original text not yet available in this corpus.
This letter still needs a Latin or Greek source-text backfill. The source link, when available, is preserved so the text can be checked and added later.
View sourceRevision history
- 2026-05-27v2.2.34-import
Initial corpus import from New Advent / NPNF.
Fields: letter text, metadata, source links. Source: https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360201048.htm
Related Letters
Inasmuch as the desire of a pious purpose and the bent of a laudable devotion ought always to be aided by the earnest endeavours of priests, anxious care should be taken that neither remissness, neglect nor presumption disturb whatever has been ordained for the quiet of monks and of religious conversation. But, as it was right that what reason r...
Since by the testimony of Holy Writ avarice is called the service of idols, with what earnestness it ought to be banished from the temple of God is acknowledged; and yet (we say it with groaning) by some priests this is not regarded. For fierce cupidity holds the heart captive, and persuades one that what it commands is lawful, and so proceeds a...
Gregory to Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate, and Theodorus, Bishop of Massilia, in Gaul. Though the opportunity of a suitable time and suitable persons has failed me so far for writing to your Fraternity and duly returning your salutation, the result has been that I can now at one and the same time acquit myself of what is due to love and fraternal ...
Gregory to Virgilius, Bishop of Arelate (Arles). O how good is charity, which through an image in the mind exhibits what is absent as present to ourselves, through love unites what is divided, settles what is confused, associates things that are unequal, completes things that are imperfect! Rightly does the excellent preacher call it the bond of...
What benefits I enjoy from Almighty God and my most serene lord the Emperor my tongue cannot fully express. For these benefits what return is it in me to make, but to love their footsteps sincerely? But, on account of my sins, by whose suggestion or counsel I know not, in the past year he has promulged such a law in his republic that whoever lov...