Register of the Epistles of St. Gregory the Great.

 Epistle I.

 Epistle II.

 Epistle III.

 Epistle IV.

 Epistle V.

 Epistle VI.

 Epistle VII.

 Epistle IX.

 Epistle X.

 Epistle XI.

 Epistle XII.

 Epistle XVI.

 Epistle XVII.

 Epistle XVIII.

 Epistle XIX.

 Epistle XX.

 Epistle XXI.

 Epistle XXV.

 Epistle XXVI.

 Epistle XXVII.

 Epistle XXVIII.

 Epistle XXIX.

 Epistle XXXIII.

 Epistle XXXIV.

 Epistle XXXV.

 Epistle XXXVI.

 Epistle XXXIX.

 Epistle XLI.

 Epistle XLII.

 Epistle XLIII.

 Epistle XLIV.

 Epistle XLVI.

 Epistle XLVII.

 Epistle XLVIII.

 Epistle XLIX.

 Epistle L.

 Epistle LII.

 Epistle LVI.

 Epistle LVII.

 Epistle LVIII.

 Epistle LXI.

 Epistle LXII.

 Epistle LXIII.

 Epistle LXVI.

 Epistle LXVII.

 Epistle LXXII.

 Epistle LXXIV.

 Epistle LXXV.

 Epistle LXXVII.

 Epistle LXXVIII.

 Epistle LXXIX.

 Epistle LXXX.

 Book II.

 Epistle III.

 Epistle VI.

 Epistle VII.

 Epistle IX.

 Epistle X.

 Epistle XII.

 Epistle XV.

 Epistle XVIII.

 Epistle XIX.

 Epistle XX.

 Epistle XXII.

 Epistle XXIII.

 Epistle XXVI.

 Epistle XXVII.

 Epistle XXIX.

 Epistle XXX.

 Epistle XXXII.

 Epistle XXXIII.

 Epistle XXXIV.

 Epistle XXXVI.

 Epistle XXXVII.

 Epistle XLI.

 Epistle XLII.

 Epistle XLVI.

 Epistle XLVII.

 Epistle XLVIII.

 Epistle XLIX.

 Epistle LI.

 Epistle LII.

 Epistle LIV.

 Book III.

 Epistle I.

 Epistle II.

 Epistle III.

 Epistle V.

 Epistle VI.

 Epistle VII.

 Epistle VIII.

 Epistle IX.

 Epistle X.

 Epistle XII.

 Epistle XV.

 Epistle XXII.

 Epistle XXIX.

 Epistle XXX.

 Epistle XXXI.

 Epistle XXXII.

 Epistle XXXIII.

 Epistle XXXV.

 Epistle XXXVI.

 Epistle XXXVIII.

 Epistle XLV.

 Epistle XLVI.

 Epistle XLVII.

 Epistle XLVIII.

 Epistle XLIX.

 Epistle LI.

 Epistle LIII.

 Epistle LVI.

 Epistle LVII.

 Epistle LIX.

 Epistle LX.

 Epistle LXV.

 Epistle LXVI.

 Epistle LXVII.

 Book IV.

 Epistle I.

 Epistle II.

 Epistle III.

 Epistle IV.

 Epistle V.

 Epistle VI.

 Epistle VII.

 Epistle VIII.

 Epistle IX.

 Epistle X.

 Epistle XI.

 Epistle XV.

 Epistle XVIII.

 Epistle XX.

 Epistle XXI.

 Epistle XXIII.

 Epistle XXIV.

 Epistle XXV.

 Epistle XXVI.

 Epistle XXVII.

 Epistle XXIX.

 Epistle XXX.

 Epistle XXXI.

 Epistle XXXII.

 Epistle XXXIII.

 Epistle XXXIV.

 Epistle XXXV.

 Epistle XXXVI.

 Epistle XXXVIII.

 Epistle XXXIX.

 Epistle XLVI.

 Epistle XLVII.

 Book V.

 Epistle II.

 Epistle IV.

 Epistle V.

 Epistle VIII.

 Epistle XI.

 Epistle XV.

 Epistle XVII.

 Epistle XVIII.

 Epistle XIX.

 Epistle XX.

 Epistle XXI.

 Epistle XXIII.

 Epistle XXV.

 Epistle XXVI.

 Epistle XXIX.

 Epistle XXX.

 Epistle XXXVI.

 Epistle XXXIX.

 Epistle XL.

 Epistle XLI.

 Epistle XLII.

 Epistle XLIII.

 Epistle XLVIII.

 Epistle XLIX.

 Epistle LII.

 Epistle LIII.

 Epistle LIV.

 Epistle LV.

 Epistle LVI.

 Epistle LVII.

 Epistle LVIII.

 Book VI.

 Epistle I.

 Epistle II.

 Epistle III.

 Epistle V.

 Epistle VI.

 Epistle VII.

 Epistle VIII.

 Epistle IX.

 Epistle XII.

 Epistle XIV.

 Epistle XV.

 Epistle XVI.

 Epistle XVII.

 Epistle XVIII.

 Epistle XXII.

 Epistle XXIV.

 Epistle XXV.

 Epistle XXVI.

 Epistle XXVII.

 Epistle XXIX.

 Epistle XXX.

 Epistle XXXII.

 Epistle XXXIV.

 Epistle XXXV.

 Epistle XXXVII.

 Epistle XLIII.

 Epistle XLIV.

 Epistle XLVI.

 Epistle XLVIII.

 Epistle XLIX.

 Epistle L.

 Epistle LI.

 Epistle LII.

 Epistle LIII.

 Epistle LIV.

 Epistle LV.

 Epistle LVI.

 Epistle LVII.

 Epistle LVIII.

 Epistle LIX.

 Epistle LX.

 Epistle LXI.

 Epistle LXIII.

 Epistle LXV.

 Epistle LXVI.

 Book VII.

 Epistle II.

 Epistle IV.

 Epistle V.

 Epistle VI.

 Epistle VII.

 Epistle XI.

 Epistle XII.

 Epistle XIII.

 Epistle XV.

 Epistle XVII.

 Epistle XIX.

 Epistle XX.

 Epistle XXIII.

 Epistle XXV.

 Epistle XXVI.

 Epistle XXVII.

 Epistle XXVIII.

 Epistle XXX.

 Epistle XXXI.

 Epistle XXXII.

 Epistle XXXIII.

 Epistle XXXIV.

 Epistle XXXV.

 Epistle XXXVIII.

 Epistle XXXIX.

 Epistle XL.

 Epistle XLII.

 Epistle XLIII.

 Book VIII.

 Epistle I.

 Epistle II.

 Epistle III.

 Epistle V.

 Epistle VI.

 Epistle X.

 Epistle XIII.

 Epistle XIV.

 Epistle XV.

 Epistle XVII.

 Epistle XVIII.

 Epistle XX.

 Epistle XXI.

 Epistle XXII.

 Epistle XXIII.

 Epistle XXIV.

 Epistle XXIX.

 Epistle XXX.

 Epistle XXXIII.

 Epistle XXXIV.

 Epistle XXXV.

 Book IX.

 Epistle I.

 Epistle II.

 Epistle III.

 Epistle IV.

 Epistle V.

 Epistle VI.

 Epistle VII.

 Epistle VIII.

 Epistle IX.

 Epistle X.

 Epistle XI.

 Epistle XII.

 Epistle XVII.

 Epistle XVIII.

 Epistle XIX.

 Epistle XXIII.

 Epistle XXIV.

 Epistle XXVI.

 Epistle XXVII.

 Epistle XXXIII.

 Epistle XXXVI.

 Epistle XLI.

 Epistle XLII.

 Epistle XLIII.

 Epistle XLIX.

 Epistle LV.

 Epistle LVIII.

 Epistle LIX.

 Epistle LX.

 Epistle LXI.

 Epistle LXII.

 Epistle LXV.

 Epistle LXVII.

 Epistle LXVIII.

 Epistle LXXVIII.

 Epistle LXXIX.

 Epistle LXXX.

 Epistle LXXXI.

 Epistle LXXXII.

 Epistle XCI.

 Epistle XCIII.

 Epistle XCIV.

 Epistle XCVIII.

 Epistle CV.

 Epistle CVI.

 Epistle CVII.

 Epistle CVIII.

 Epistle CIX.

 Epistle CX.

 Epistle CXI.

 Epistle CXIV.

 Epistle CXV.

 Epistle CXVI.

 Epistle CXVII.

 Epistle CXX.

 Epistle CXXI.

 Epistle CXXII.

 Epistle CXXIII.

 Epistle CXXV.

 Epistle CXXVII.

 Book X.

 Epistle X.

 Epistle XV.

 Epistle XVIII.

 Epistle XIX.

 Epistle XXIII.

 Epistle XXIV.

 Epistle XXXI.

 Epistle XXXV.

 Epistle XXXVI.

 Epistle XXXVII.

 Epistle XXXIX.

 Epistle XLII.

 Epistle LXII.

 Epistle LXIII.

 Book XI.

 Epistle I.

 Epistle XII.

 Epistle XIII.

 Epistle XXV.

 Epistle XXVIII.

 Epistle XXIX.

 Epistle XXX.

 Epistle XXXII.

 Epistle XXXIII.

 Epistle XXXV.

 Epistle XXXVI.

 Epistle XXXVII.

 Epistle XXXVIII.

 Epistle XL.

 Epistle XLIV.

 Epistle XLV.

 Epistle XLVI.

 Epistle XLVII.

 Epistle L.

 Epistle LIV.

 Epistle LV.

 Epistle LVI.

 Epistle LVII.

 Epistle LVIII.

 Epistle LIX.

 Epistle LX.

 Epistle LXI.

 Epistle LXII.

 Epistle LXIII.

 Epistle LXIV.

 Epistle LXV.

 Epistle LXVI.

 Epistle LXVII.

 Epistle LXVIII.

 Epistle LXIX.

 Epistle LXXVI.

 Epistle LXXVII.

 Epistle LXXVIII.

 Book XII.

 Epistle I.

 Epistle VIII.

 Epistle XXIV.

 Epistle XXV.

 Epistle XXVIII.

 Epistle XXIX.

 Epistle XXXII.

 Epistle L.

 Book XIII.

 Epistle I.

 Epistle V.

 Epistle VI.

 Epistle VII.

 Epistle VIII.

 Epistle IX.

 Epistle X.

 Epistle XII.

 Epistle XVIII.

 Epistle XXII.

 Epistle XXVI.

 Epistle XXVII.

 Epistle XXXI.

 Epistle XXXIV.

 Epistle XXXVIII.

 Epistle XXXIX.

 Epistle XL.

 Epistle XLI.

 Epistle XLII.

 Book XIV.

 Epistle II.

 Epistle IV.

 Epistle VII.

 Epistle VIII.

 Epistle XII.

 Epistle XIII.

 Epistle XVI.

 Epistle XVII.

Epistle XLVIII.

To Columbus, Bishop158 This Columbus was one of the bishops in Numidia, who seems to have enjoyed the peculiar confidence of Gregory, being written to on various questions concerning the Church there, and charged with seeing to the exercise of discipline over other bishops, though not himself the primate. He is addressed (III. 68; VIII. 13) as being himself especially devoted to the Roman See. Other letters addressed to him are III. 48; IV. 35; VI. 37; VII. 2; VIII. 28; XII. 8; XII. 28. .

Gregory to Columbus, &c.

It is known, most dear brother in Christ, that the ancient enemy, who by cunning persuasion deposed the first man from the delights of Paradise to this life of care, and in him even then inflicted the penalty of mortality on the human race, does now with the same cunning, so as more easily to seize the flock, endeavour to infect the shepherds of the Lord’s sheep with infused poisons, and already to claim them as his own by right. But we, who, though unworthy, have undertaken the government of the Apostolic See in the stead of Peter the prince of the apostles, are compelled by the very office of our pontificate to resist the general enemy by all the efforts in our power. Now the bearers of these presents, Constantius and Mustellus, have in a petition presented to us given us to understand, and the deacons of the Church of Pudentiana constituted in the province of Numidia assert, that Maximianus, prelate of the same Church, corrupted by a bribe from the Donatists, has by a new licence allowed a bishop to be made in the place where he lives; which thing, though previous usage allowed it, is prohibited from remaining and continuing by the catholic faith159 The Donatists had formerly been allowed their own bishop, tolerated along with the Catholic ones. This liberty was now disallowed, probably in accordance with imperial edicts. See I. 74, note 8. . On this account, then, we have deemed it necessary to exhort thy Fraternity by these present writings that, when Hilarus our chartularius comes to thee, this same case be subjected to a thorough and wise investigation in an united general council of bishops, having the terror of the coming judge before their eyes. And if this charge should be proved with sufficient evidences by the bearers of these presents against the aforesaid bishop, let him by all means be degraded from the dignity and office which he enjoys, that both he may return to the gains of penitence through acknowledgment of his fault, and others may not presume to attempt such things.

For it is right that one who has sold our Lord Jesus Christ to a heretic for money received, as is said to have been done, should be removed from handling the mysteries of His most holy body and blood. Further, if, apart from this accusation, there is any contest afoot among them, as is contained in the petition of the deacons themselves, with respect to certain wrongs or private transactions, this let thy Fraternity with our aforesaid chartularius fully enquire into with evidence adduced, and decide it according to justice between all the parties.

But, further, we have learnt through the information given us by the bearers of these presents that the heresy of the Donatists is for our sins spreading daily, and that very many, leave being given them through venality, are being baptized a second time by the Donatists. How serious a matter this is, brother, it behoves us with the whole bent of our minds to consider. Lo, the wolf tears the Lord’s flock, no longer stealthily in the night, but in the open light; and we see him advance in the slaughter of the sheep, and with no solicitude, with no darts of words, do we oppose him. What fruits, then, of a multiplied flock shall we shew to the Lord, if even that of which we have undertaken the feeding we see with easy mind mangled by the wild beast? Let us therefore study to inflame our hearts by imitation of earthly shepherds, who often keep watch through winter nights, pinched with showers and frost, lest even one sheep, and perchance not a profitable one, should perish. And, if the prowler should have bitten it with greedy mouth, how do they busy themselves, with what palpitations of heart do they pant, with what cries do they leap forward to rescue the captured sheep, stimulated by the pressing need, lest anything lost through their carelessness should be required of them by the Lord of the flock! Let us then watch, lest anything should perish: and, if anything should by chance have been seized, let us bring it back to the Lord’s flock by the cries of divine discourses, that He who is the Shepherd of shepherds may mercifully vouchsafe to approve us in His judgment as having kept watch over His sheepfold. This also it is needful for you to attend to wisely; that, if there should be any proper petition on the part of the same bishop against the bearers of these presents, it should be thoroughly enquired into; and, if haply they themselves also should rightly deserve to be smitten for their own fault, we pronounce that they should by no means be spared on the ground of their having had the toil of resorting to us.

In the month of August, tenth indiction.