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Home > Fathers of the Church > Registrum Epistolarum (Gregory the Great) > Book I, Letter 1

Book I, Letter 1

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To all the Bishops of Sicily.

Gregory, servant of the servants of God, to all the bishops constituted throughout Sicily.

We have clearly seen, just as our predecessors did, that we should commit your affairs to one and the same person; and that our authority should be represented through him to whom we send our instructions, where we cannot be present ourselves. And so, with God's help we have appointed Peter, subdeacon of our See, our delegate in the province of Sicily. Nor can we doubt as to the conduct of him to whom, with God's help, we are known to have committed the charge of the whole patrimony of our church.

We have also clearly seen that your entire Fraternity should assemble annually at Syracuse or Catania, receiving, as we have charged him, the honour due to you; to the end that, together with the aforesaid Peter, subdeacon of our See, you may settle with due discretion whatever things pertain to the advantage of the churches of the province, or to the relief of the necessities of the poor and oppressed, or to the admonition of all, and the correction of those whose transgressions may perhaps be proved. From which council far be animosities, which are the nutriment of crimes, and may inward grudges die away, and that discord of souls which is beyond measure execrable. Let concord well-pleasing to God, and charity, approve you as His priests. Conduct all things, therefore, with such deliberation and calmness that yours may most worthily be called an Episcopal Council.

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Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360201001.htm>.

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