Epistle
XXVII.
To Anthemius, Subdeacon.
Gregory to Anthemius, Subdeacon of Campania.
As often as we hear things of our brethren and
fellow-bishops that shew them to be to blame and cause us sadness,
necessity compels us in no slight degree to take thought for their
amendment. Seeing, then, that it has been reported to us that the
bishops of Campania are so negligent that, unmindful of the dignity and
character of their office, neither towards their Churches nor towards
their sons do they shew the care of paternal vigilance, nor concern
themselves about monasteries, nor bestow their protection on the
oppressed and the poor,
we
therefore enjoin thee and hereby give thee authority to call them
together, and strictly admonish them in virtue of our mandate, that
they be not any longer idle, but so evince their priestly zeal and
solicitude, and be so vigilant in what it becomes them justly and
according unto God to do, that no murmur concerning them may exasperate
us any more. If, however, thou shouldest find any one of them to
be negligent after this being done, send him to us without allowing any
excuse, that by regular exercise of discipline they may be made to feel
how serious a matter it is to refuse to be corrected in things that are
reprehensible and exceedingly to be condemned.