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540 - 604 AD
Note. For the full texts of Gregory the Great’s letters,
visit the electronic library at
Wheaton University. The passages quoted here have been adapted into modern
English and divided into numbered paragraphs, by John
Wijngaards.
- 1. The pallium is a sign of episcopal authority,
which only a Pope can give.
- 2. The pallium may only be worn during the liturgy of
Mass or during solemn litanies
1. The pallium is a sign of episcopal
authority, which only a Pope can give.
Gregory to Donus, Bishop of Messana (Messene).
§1. Moved by the benevolence of the Apostolic See, and following
ancient custom, I have thought fit to grant to you, who are known to have
undertaken the office of government in the Church of Messana, the use of the
pallium. You should wear it at such times and in such manner as I dispute not
that your predecessor used it. At the same time I warn you that, as you rejoice
in having received from me a decoration of this kind to the honour of your
priestly office, so also you strive, by probity of manners and deeds, to
adorn, to the glory of Christ, the office which you have undertaken under our
authority. For your external and internal decorations should mutually
correspond, by the dress on your body agreeing with the good qualities of your
soul.
§2. All the privileges which are known to have been granted of old
to your Church I confirm by my authority, and decree that they shall continue
inviolate.
Register of Letters by Pope Gregory the Great, Book 6, no
9.
2. The pallium may only be worn during
the liturgy of Mass or during solemn litanies
Gregory to John, Bishop of Ravenna.
§ 1. It is not long since certain things have been told us about
your Fraternity concerning which I remember having declared ourselves in full,
when Castorius, notary of the holy church over which I preside, went into your
area. For it had come to my ears that some things were being done in your
church contrary to custom and to the way of humility, which alone, as you well
know, exalts the priestly office. Now, if your Wisdom had received my
admonitions kindly or with episcopal seriousness, you ought not to have been
incensed by them, but have corrected these same things with thanks to us. For
it is contrary to ecclesiastical use, if even unjust correction (which,
however, is far from whqat I am doing) is not most patiently borne.
§2. But your Fraternity has been too much moved; and when, in the
swelling of your heart, as if to justify yourself, you wrote that you did
not use the pallium except after the laity had been dismissed from the
sacristy, and at the time of mass, and in solemn litanies, your words
betrayed you with most manifest truth as your having usurped something contrary
to the usage of the Church in general.
§3. For how can it be that at a time of ashes and sackcloth,
through the streets among the noises of the people you could do lawfully what
you have disclaimed of ever doing, as being unlawful in the assembly of the
poor and nobles, and in the sacristy of the Church? Yet this, dearest brother,
is not, I think, unknown to you; that it has hardly ever been heard of any
metropolitan in any parts of the world that he has claimed to himself the use
of the pallium except at the time of mass. And that you knew well this
custom of the Church in general you have shown clearly in your letters, in
which you have sent to us appended the precept of my predecessor John of
blessed memory, to the effect that all the customs conceded in the way of
privilege to you and your church by my predecessors should be retained.
§4. You acknowledge, then, that the custom of the Church in general
is different, seeing that you claim the right of doing what you do on the score
of privilege. Thus, as I think, I can have no remaining doubt in this matter.
For either the usage of all metropolitans should be observed also by your
Fraternity, or, if you say that something has been specially conceded to your
church, it is for your side to show the precept of former pontiffs of the Roman
City wherein these things have been conceded to the Church of Ravenna. But, if
this is not shown, it stands, seeing that you establish your claim to do such
things on the score neither of general custom nor of privilege, that you prove
yourself to have usurped in what you have done.
§5. And what shall I say to the future judge, most beloved brother,
if I defend the use of that heavy yoke and chain on my neck with a view, I do
not say to ecclesiastical, but to a certain secular dignity; judging ourselves
to be lowered if I am without so great a weight even for a short space of time?
How could one desire to be adorned with the pallium, even though unadorned in
character; whereas nothing shines more splendidly on a bishop's neck than
humility?
§6. It is therefore the duty of your Fraternity, if you art firmly
determined to defend your honours with any kind of arguments, either to follow
the use of the general Church without written authority, or to defend yourself
under privileges shown in writing. Or, if lastly you do neither, I will not
have you set an example of presumption of this sort to other metropolitans.
But, lest you should perhaps think that I, in thus writing to you, have
neglected what belongs to fraternal charity, know that careful search has been
made in my archives for the privileges of your Church. And indeed some things
have been found, sufficient to obviate entirely the aims of your Fraternity,
but nothing to support the contentions of your Church on the points in
question. For even concerning the very custom of your Church which you allege
against us, which custom I wrote before should be proved on your side, I would
have you know that I have already taken thought sufficiently, having questioned
my assistants, Peter the deacon and Gaudiosus the primicerius, and also Michael
the guardian of my see, or others who on various commissions have been sent by
my predecessors to Ravenna; and they have most positively denied that you have
done these things in their presence.
§7. It is therefore apparent that what was done in secret must have
been an unlawful usurpation. Hence what has been latently introduced can have
no firm ground to justify its continuance. What things, then, you or your
predecessors have presumed to do on your own authority, I urge you, having
regard to charity, and with brotherly kindness, to correct. To no degree
attempt--I do not say of your own accord, but after the fashion set by others,
even your predecessors,--to deviate from the rule of humility.
§8. For, to sum up in brief what I have said above, I admonish you
to this effect: that unless you cans show that this has been allowed you by my
predecessors in the way of privilege, you presume not any more to use the
pallium in the streets, lest you come not to have even for mass what you
audaciously usurpest even in the streets. But as to your sitting in the
sacristy, and receiving the prominent laity with the pallium on (which thing
your Fraternity has both done and disclaimed), I now for the present make no
complaint; since, following the decision of synods, I refuse to punish minor
faults, which are denied. Yet I know this to have been done once and again, and
I prohibit its being done any more. But let your Fraternity take careful heed,
lest presumption which in its commencement is pardoned be more severely visited
if it proceeds further.
Register of Letters by Pope Gregory the Great, Book 3, no
56.
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