Letter 3.58 to Bishop Fortunatus of Naples (August 593)
Gregory to Fortunatus, bishop of Naples
Gregory asks Bishop Fortunatus to inspect the will of late patrician Rustica who left the third of her possessions to the convent instituted in her own home in the vicus of Lampas, near Herculaneum.
Please approach the aforesaid place not unwillingly when they ask you to, using the solemn rites of a venerable dedication. Thus the venerable sacrifices of Masses may be celebrated by the presbyters of the church serving in the above-mentioned place, whenever necessary. Act in such a way that neither your Fraternity nor the presbyters cause any trouble in this same convent, except for careful discipline. And if you should derive some advantage through the devotion of various people, you should judge that you ought to be punished. For whatever might happen to be offered, should benefit the nuns who are serving in the same place.
(trans. Martyn 2004: 279, slightly altered by J. Szafranowski)