Epistle
VIII.
To Januarius, Bishop.
Gregory to Januarius, Bishop of Caralis
(
Cagliari
).
We think indeed that thy position may in itself be
enough to compel thee to be instant in the fulfilment of pious
duties. But, lest remissness of any kind should intervene to
abate thy zeal, we have thought it right to exhort thee especially with
regard to them. Now it has come to our knowledge that your
Stephen, when departing this life, by his last will and testament
directed a monastery to be founded. But it is said that his
desire is so far unaccomplished owing to the delay of the honourable
lady Theodosia, his heiress. Wherefore we exhort thy Fraternity
to pay the utmost attention to this matter, and admonish the
above-named lady, to the end that within a year’s space she may
establish a monastery as has been directed, and construct everything
without dispute according to the will of the departed. But if she
should put off the completion of the design out of negligence or
artfulness (as, for instance, if she is unable to found it in the place
that had been appointed, and it is thought fit that it be placed
elsewhere, and the matter is neglected through the intervening delay),
then we desire that it be built by the diligence of thy Fraternity, and
that, all things being set in order, the effects and revenues that have
been left be appropriated by thee to this venerable place. For so
thou wilt both escape condemnation for remissness before the awful
Judge, and, in accordance with our most religious laws, wilt be
accomplishing with episcopal zeal the pious wishes of the departed,
which had been disregarded
1530
.
1530
For subsequent
proceedings with regard to this intended monastery, see IV. 15; V.
2.