The Presbyters Project

Letter 2.38 to Bishop John of Ravenna (July 592)

Gregorius Iohanni episcopo Rauenna

Gregory discusses the defence of Rome from the forces of Ariulf, duke of Spoleto, and the bishops of Istria (in regard to the Three Chapters controversy).

Praeterea de puella, de qua scripsistis nobis, quae de captiuitate redempta est, ut requiri qualiter orta sit debuisset, sciat sanctitas uestra quia ignota persona non facile inuestigari potest. Illud autem quod dicitis ut is qui ordinatus est iterum ordinetur, ualde ridiculum est et ab ingenii uestri consideratione extraneum, nisi forte quod exemplum ad medium deducitur, de quo et ille iudicandus est qui tale aliquid fecisse perhibetur. Absit enim a fraternitate uestra sic sapere. Sicut enim baptizatus semel baptizari iterum non debet, ita qui consecratus est semel in eodem ordine iterum non ualet consecrari. Sed si quis cum leui forsitan culpa ad sacerdotium uenit, pro culpa paenitentia indici debet et tamen ordo seruari.

Gregory then turns again to what actions should be taken regarding Ariulf.

(ed. Norberg 1982: 123–124, summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Letter 2.38 to Bishop John of Ravenna (July 592)

Gregory to John, bishop of Ravenna

Gregory discusses the defence of Rome from the forces of Ariulf, duke of Spoleto, and the bishops of Istria (in regard to the Three Chapters controversy)

Concerning the girl [slave?] ransomed from captivity, about whom you wrote to us that an inquiry should have been made as to her ancestry: your Sanctity must know that an [otherwise] unknown person cannot easily be investigated. The same applies to what you say that one who was ordained should be ordained once more: such notion is utterly ridiculous and should not be the subject for consideration of your mind, unless perhaps the specific case is brought to light, in which case it is the one that is said to have done such a thing [i.e. reordaining someone] who should be judged. God forbid that your Fraternity would claim otherwise! For just as a person once baptized ought not to be baptized again, also someone who was once consecrated should not be consecrated to the same rank again. And if someone comes to a priesthood with a minor sin, he should do penance for his sin, but preserve the rank.

Gregory then turns again to what actions should be taken regarding Ariulf.

(trans. Martyn 2004: 216, heavily altered and summarised by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

It is not clear why John wanted to reordain some clerics, perhaps, as in the case of the slace girls, he was thinking about about those who returned from captivity and whose clerical statues was uncertain.

Place of event:

Region

Italy south of Rome and Sicily
Rome

City

Ravenna
Rome

About the source:

Author: Gregory the Great
Title: Letters, Epistulae, Epistolae, Registrum epistularum, Registrum epistolarum
Origin: Rome (Rome)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

Gregory, later called the Great (Gregorius Magnus), was born ca 540 to an influential Roman family with some connection to the ancient gens Anicia. His great-great-grandfather was Felix III, who served as the bishop of Rome from 526 to 530. Possibly, Agapetus I, pope between 535 and 536, was his relative as well. Little is known about his early career, but in 573 Gregory ascended to the high office of city prefect. Shortly afterwards, however, he resigned from his post and adopted the monastic way of life. He founded a monastery dedicated to St. Andrew within his family estate on Coelian Hill, next to the library established by Agapetus and Cassiodorus. Six other monasteries were founded in the estates his family owned in Sicily. Soon after his monastic conversion, he started to be given various tasks by Popes Benedict I (575–578) and Pelagius II (578–590). At that time, he was ordained a deacon. Between 579 and 585/6, Gregory acted as Pelagius` envoy in Constantinople. In 590, he was elected Pelagius` successor to the bishopric of Rome. The registry of his letters contained copies of Gregory`s papal correspondence up to his death in 604. The scope of Gregory`s original registry is still the subject of scholarly speculation. There are 854 extant letters gathered in fourteen volumes, most of them (686 letters) originating from the collection compiled at the time of Pope Hadrian I (772–795).

It is worth remembering that the majority of Gregory’s correspondence was jointly produced by the pope and his subordinates, see Pollard 2013.

Edition:

D. Norberg ed., S. Gregorii Magni Registrum Epistularum, Corpus Christianorum: Series Latina 140, 140A, Turnhout 1982.

Translation:

The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. J.R.C. Martyn, Mediaeval Sources in Translation 40, Toronto 2004.

Bibliography:

R.M. Pollard, A Cooperative Correspondence: The Letters of Gregory the Great, in: M. Dal Santo, B. Neil (eds.), A Companion to Gregory the Great, Leiden-Boston 2013, pp. 291–312.

Categories:

Described by a title - Sacerdos/ἱερεύς

Act of ordination

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Demotion

Administration of justice - Suspension

Impediments or requisits for the office - Public penance

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER2306, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=2306