Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 2357
Gregory the Great reminds Bishop Secundinus of Taormina (Sicily) his wish to install a chapel in the place of baptistry in the monastery of Saint Andrew above Mascalae. Gregory the Great, Letter 3.56, AD 593.
Letter 3.56 to Bishop Secundinus of Taormina (August 593)
 
Gregorius Secundino episcopo
 
Pridem praecepimus ut de monasterio sancti Andreae quod est super Mascalas baptisterium propter monachorum insolentias debuisset auferri, atque in eodem loco quo fontes sunt altare fundari. Cuius rei perfectio hactenus est protracta. Admonemus igitur fraternitatem tuam ut nullam iam moram post susceptas praesentes litteras nostras inserere. Sed repleto loco ipsarum fontium, altare ad sacra celebranda mysteria illic sine aliqua dilatione fundetur, quatenus et praedictis monachis opus Dei securius liceat celebrare, et non de neglegentia uestra contra fraternitatem tuam noster animus excitetur.
 
(ed. Norberg 1982: 204–205)
Letter 3.56 to Bishop Secundinus of Taormina (August 593)
 
Gregory to Bishop Secundinus
 
Long ago we gave orders that the baptistry should be removed from the monastery of Saint Andrew above Mascalae, because of the insolence of the monks, and that an altar should be built in the same place where the fonts are. So far, the completion of this matter has been prolonged. We therefore warn your Fraternity not to insert any delay now, after receiving our present letter. But once the plate of these same fonts has been filled in, let the altar be built there to celebrate the holy mysteries without any delay. Thus the aforesaid monks would be able to celebrate the work of God more securely, and our mind will not be aroused against your Fraternity because of your negligence.
 
(trans. Martyn 2004: 277, slightly altered by J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

Mascali is located some 15 km south of Taormina.
 
It is difficult to ascertain what actions on the part of the monks Gregory deemed "insolent". It appears that Gregory was displeased with the contacts monks made with the outside world – baptising children meant certainly that their families were invited inside the monastery.
 
It seems significant that Gregory ordered an altar to be built in place of the fonts. It testifies to the growing importance of Eucharist for monastic communities. It is quite probable that this new altar would not be the first one erected in the monastery, but that it would enable monks to celebrate more Masses.

Place of event:

Region
  • Italy south of Rome and Sicily
  • Rome
City
  • Taormina
  • Mascali
  • 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:

Monastic or common life - Cenobitic monk
    Ritual activity - Baptism and instructing catechumens
      Ritual activity - Eucharist
        Ritual activity - Private mass
          Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER2357, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=2357