Epistle XXVII.
To Anastasius, Archbishop of Corinth.
Gregory to Anastasius, &c.
In proportion as the judgments of
God
are unsearchable ought they to be an object of fear to
human apprehension; so that mortal reason, being unable to comprehend
them, may of necessity bow under them the neck of a humble heart, to
the end that it may follow with the mind’s obedient steps where
the will of the Ruler may lead. I, then, considering that my
infirmity cannot reach to the height of the apostolic See, had rather
have declined this burden, lest, having pastoral rule, I should succumb
in action through inadequate administration. But, since it is not
for us to go against the will of the
Lord
who
disposes all, I obediently followed the way in which it pleased the
merciful hand of the Ruler to deal with me. For it was necessary
that your Fraternity should be informed, even though the present
opportunity had not occurred, how the
Lord
had
vouchsafed that I, however unworthy, should preside over the apostolic
See. Since, then, reason required this to be done, and an
opportunity having occurred through our sending to you the bearer of
these presents, that is, Boniface the guardian
(
defensorem
), we are careful not only to offer to your
Fraternity by letter the good wishes of charity, but also to inform you
of our ordination, as we believe you would wish us to do.
Wherefore let your Charity, by a letter in reply, cause us to rejoice
for the unity of the Church and the acceptable news of your own
welfare; to the end that our bodily absence from each other, which
distance of place causes us to endure, may become as presence through
interchange of letters. We exhort you, also, since we have
despatched the above-mentioned
bearer of these presents on certain
necessary business to the feet of the most clement prince, and since
the mutability of the time is wont to generate many hindrances on the
way, that your priestly affection would bestow upon him whatever may be
necessary either in provision for his journey by land or in procuring
for him the means of navigation, that through
God’s
mercy, he may be able the more quickly to
accomplish his intended journey.