Nicene/Post-Nicene, Series II, Volume 36
Leo the Great, (390 - 400) - 461
... Let them by their public confession
condemn the authors of this presumptuous error and
renounce all that the universal Church has repudiated in
their doctrine: and let them announce by full and open
statements, signed by their own hand, that they embrace
and entirely approve of all the synodal decrees which the
authority of the Apostolic See has ratified to the
rooting out of this heresy....
Letter I, To the
Bishop of Aquileia, § II
Leo, bishop of the city of Rome, to all the bishops ... .
VI. ... This admonition of ours, therefore, proclaims
that if any of our brethren endeavour to contravene these
rules and dare to do what is forbidden by them, he may
know that he is liable to deposition from his office, and
that he will not be a sharer in our communion who refuses
to be a sharer of our discipline....
Letter IV, To the
Bishops Appointed in Campania, Picenum, Etruria, and All
the Provinces, § VI
IV. ... But let any bishop who, contrary to our command,
is ordained by his metropolitan without your knowledge,
know that he has no assured position with us, and that
those who have taken on themselves so to do must render
an account of their presumption....
V. ... But if any more important question spring up, such
as cannot be settled there under your presidency,
brother, send your report and consult us, so that we may
write back under the revelation of the LORD, of whose
mercy it is that we can do ought, because He has breathed
favourably upon us: that by our decision we may vindicate
our right of cognizance in accordance with old-established
tradition and the respect that is due to the Apostolic
See ... .
Letter VI, To
Anastasius, Bishop of Thessalonica, §§ IV, V
...since the most blessed Peter received the headship of
the Apostles from the LORD, and the church of Rome still
abides by His institutions, it is wicked to believe that
His holy disciple Mark, who was the first to govern the
church of Alexandria, formed his decrees on a different
line of tradition ... .
Letter IX, To
Dioscorus, Bishop of Alexandria, § I
I. ... He has placed the principal charge on the blessed
Peter, chief of all the Apostles: and from him as from
the Head wishes His gifts to flow to all the body: so
that any one who dares to secede from Peter's solid rock
may understand that he has no part or lot in the divine
mystery. For He wished him who had been received into
partnership in His undivided unity to be named what He
Himself was, when He said: "Thou art Peter, and upon
this rock I will build My Church:" that the
building of the eternal temple by the wondrous gift of
GOD'S grace might rest on Peter's solid rock ... .
II. ... desiring to subject you to his power in such a
way as not to suffer himself to be subject to the blessed
Apostle Peter ... he diminishes even the reverence that
is paid to the blessed Peter himself with his proud words:
for not only was the power of loosing and binding given
to Peter before the others, but also to Peter more
especially was entrusted the care of feeding the sheep.
Yet any one who holds that the headship must be denied to
Peter, cannot really diminish his dignity: but is puffed
up with the breath of his pride, and plunges himself into
the lowest depth.
Letter X, To the
Bishops of the Province of Vienne. In the Matter of
Hilary, Bishop of Arles, §§ I, II
I. ... If with true reasoning you perceived all that has
been committed to you, brother, by the blessed apostle
Peter's authority, and what has also been entrusted to
you by our favour ... .
XII. ... even among the blessed Apostles, notwithstanding
the similarity of their honourable estate, there was set
certain distinction of power, and while the election of
them all was equal, yet it was given to one to take the
lead of the rest. From which model has arisen a
distinction between bishops also, and by an important
ordinance it has been provided that every one should not
claim everything for himself: but that there should be in
each province one whose opinion should have the priority
among the brethren: and again that certain whose
appointment is in the greater cities should undertake a
fuller responsibility, through whom the care of the
universal Church should converge towards Peter's one
seat, and nothing anywhere should be separated from its
Head....
Letter XIV, To
Anastasius, Bishop of Thessalonica, §§ I, XII
I. ... BY GOD's precepts and the Apostle's admonitions we
are incited to keep a careful watch over the state of all
the churches ... . inasmuch as we are warned by the
LORD'S own command whereby the blessed Apostle Peter had
the thrice repeated mystical injunction pressed upon him,
that he who loves Christ should feed Christ's sheep, we
are compelled by reverence for that see which, by the
abundance of the Divine Grace, we hold, to shun the
danger of sloth as much as possible: lest the confession
of the chief Apostle whereby he testified that he loved
GOD be not found in us ... .
II. ... if the see of the blessed Apostle Peter, which is
the mother of your priestly dignity, were the recognized
teacher of church-method. We could indeed have endured
your departure from its rules with less equanimity, if
you had received any previous rebuke by way of warning
from us. But now as we do not despair of correcting you
... .
VIII. ... there should be two meetings of bishops every
year ... . this council must always meet and deliberate
in the presence of the blessed Apostle Peter, that all
his constitutions and canonical decrees may remain
inviolate ... .
¶ These matters ... we wish brought to your knowledge by
our brothers and fellow-bishops, Bacillus and Paschasinus.
May we learn by their report that the institutions of the
Apostolic See are reverently observed by you.
Letter XVI, To the
Bishops of Sicily, §§ I, II
I. ... We are surprised, therefore, that you who ought to
have been a strict observer of the injunctions of the
Apostolic See have acted so carelessly, or rather so
contumaciously ... .
II. ... The aforesaid presbyters ... that we may show the
gentleness of the Apostolic See in sparing them, are to
be put last of all the presbyters of the Church ... .
Letter XIX, To Dorus,
Bishop of Beneventum, §§ I, II
... But when our LORD and Saviour Himself would instruct
His disciples' faith by His questionings, He said, "Whom
do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" And when
they had put on record the various opinions of other
people, He said, "But ye, whom do ye say that I am?"...
Whereupon blessed Peter ... said, "Thou art Christ,
the Son of the living GOD." And not undeservedly was
he pronounced blessed by the LORD, drawing from the chief
corner-stone the solidity of power which his name
also expresses, he, who, through the revelation of the
Father, confessed Him to be at once Christ and Son of GOD
... .
Letter XXVIII, To
Flavian Commonly Called "The Tome", § V
... The devout faith of our most clement prince ... has
paid such deference to the Divine institutions as to
apply to the authority of the Apostolic See for a proper
settlement: as if he wished it to be declared by the most
blessed Peter himself what was praised in his confession,
when the LORD said, "whom do men say that I, the Son
of man, am?"... the chief of the apostles, embracing
the fulness of the Faith in one short sentence, said,
"Thou art the Christ, the son of the living God:"
... . For Peter received this answer from the Lord for
his confession. "Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona;
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but
My Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee, that
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My
Church: and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against
it." But he who both rejects the blessed Peter's
confession, and gainsays Christ's Gospel, is far removed
from union with this building ... .
Letter XXXIII, To the
Synod of Ephesus, § I
I. ... from the beginning, in the synods which have been
held, we have received such freedom of speech from the
most holy Peter, chief of the Apostles, as to have the
power both to maintain the Truth ... .
II. ... I entreat you therefore before the undivided
Trinity ... that they await the weightier decision of the
Synod at which the whole number of the bishops in the
whole world is gathered together ... .
Letter XLIII, To
Theodosius Augustus, §§ I, II
... Which our delegates from the Apostolic See saw to be
so blasphemous and opposed to the catholic Faith that no
pressure could force them to assent; for in the same
synod they stoutly protested, as they ought, that the
Apostolic See would never receive what was being passed
... .
Letter XLIV, To
Theodosius Augustus, § I
... And they indeed, who were sent ... reported to us
what took place in the Synod ... protesting that those
things which were being carried through by violence and
fear could not reverse the mysteries of the Church and
the Creed itself composed by the Apostles, and that no
injuries could sever them from that Faith which they had
brought fully set forth and expounded from the See of the
blessed Apostle Peter to the holy synod....
Letter XLV, To
Pulcheria Augusta, § II
From Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, to Leo. I. ... If Paul,
the herald of the Truth, the trumpet of the Holy Ghost,
had recourse to the great Peter, in order to obtain a
decision from him for those at Antioch who were disputing
about living by the Law, much more do we small and humble
folk run to the Apostolic See to get healing from you for
the sores of the churches. For it is fitting that you
should in all things have the pre-eminence ... .
IV. ... having ruled through your prayers the church
committed to me by the GoD of the universe for 20 years,
neither in the time of the blessed Theodotus, president
of the East, nor in the time of those who have succeeded
him in the See of Antioch ... .
V. ... I however await the verdict of your Apostolic See,
and beg and pray your Holiness to succour me when I
appeal to your upright and just tribunal, and bid me come
to you and show that my teaching follows in the track of
the Apostles....
Letter LII, From
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, to Leo, Bishop of Rome, §§
I, IV, V
... Flavianus, the bishop of Constantinople, because he
had sent an appeal to the Apostolic See, and to all the
bishops of these parts by the hands of those who had been
deputed to attend the Synod by the most reverend Bishop
of Rome ... . For this cause we pray your clemency to
oppose such disturbances with the Truth, and to order the
Faith of the catholic religion to be preserved without
spot, in order that according to the standard and
decision of the Apostolic See, which we likewise revere
as pre-eminent ... the matter be referred to the Synod of
the Apostolic See, wherein assuredly he first adorned the
primacy, who was deemed worthy to receive the keys of
heaven: for it becomes us in all things to maintain the
respect due to this great city, which is the mistress of
all the earth ... .
Letter LVI, From Galla
Placida Augusta to Theodosius
Ceretius, Salonius and Veranus to the holy Lord, most
blessed father, and pope most worthy of the Apostolic
See, Leo.
I. ... and while you extract the old Serpent's infused
poison from the hearts of others, standing as it were on
the watch-tower of Love, with Apostolic care and
watchfulness you cry aloud ... O holy Lord, most blessed
father and pope, most worthy of the Apostolic See.
Moreover we; who specially belong to you, are filled with
a great and unspeakable delight, because this special
statement of your teaching is so highly regarded wherever
the Churches meet together, that the unanimous opinion is
expressed that the primacy of the Apostolic See is
rightfully there assigned, from whence the oracles of the
Apostolic Spirit still receive their interpretations.
II. ... May Christ the Lord long keep your eminence
mindful of our humility, O holy Lord, most blessed father
and pope most worthy of the Apostolic See.
I, Ceretius, your adopted (son?), salute your apostleship
... .
I, Salonius, your adorer, salute your apostleship ... .
I, Veranus, the worshipper of your apostleship ... .
Letter LXVIII, From
three Gallic bishops to St. Leo, §§ I, II
Leo, the bishop of the city of Rome, to the holy Synod,
assembled at Nicaea.
... so far respecting the rights and dignity of the most
blessed Apostle Peter as to invite us too by letter to
vouchsafe our presence at your venerable Synod.... in
these brethren, that is Paschasinus and Lucentius,
bishops, Boniface and Basil, presbyters, who have been
deputed by the Apostolic See, let your brotherhood reckon
that I am presiding at the Synod; for my presence is not
withdrawn from you, who am now represented by my vicars
... .
Letter XCIII, To the
Synod of Chalcedon, § I
I. ... And this golden chain leading down from the Author
of the command to us, you yourself have stedfastly
preserved, being set as the mouthpiece unto all of the
blessed Peter ... .
IV. ... And we further inform you that we have decided on
other things also ... being persuaded that your holiness
will accept and ratify them ... . The long prevailing
custom, which the holy Church of God at Constantinople
had of ordaining metropolitans for the provinces of Asia,
Pontus and Thrace, we have now ratified by the votes of
the Synod ... . We have ratified also the canon of the
150 holy Fathers who met at Constantinople in the time of
the great Theodosius of holy memory, which ordains that
after your most holy and Apostolic See, the See of
Constantinople shall take precedence, being placed second
... . Accordingly vouchsafe most holy and blessed father
to accept as your own wish, and as conducing to good
government the things which we have resolved on ... . For
your holiness' delegates, the most pious bishops
Paschasinus and Lucentius, and with them the right Godly
presbyter Boniface, attempted vehemently to resist these
decisions ... . Accordingly, we entreat you, honour our
decision by your assent, and as we have yielded to the
head our agreement on things honourable, so may the head
also fulfil for the children what is fitting....
Letter XCVIII, From
the Synod of Chalcedon to Leo, §§ I, IV
{It is worthy of note here that the Synod acted against
the wishes of Leo, and granted the second place of honor
to Constantinople, which honor formerly belonged to
Alexandria.}
Let the city of Constantinople have, as we desire, its
high rank ... . Yet things secular stand on a different
basis from things divine: and there can be no sure
building save on that rock which the Lord has laid
for a foundation.... Let it be enough for Anatolius that
by the aid of your piety and by my favour and approval he
has obtained the bishopric of so great a city. Let him
not disdain a city which is royal, though he cannot make
it an Apostolic See ... .
Letter CIV, Leo, the
bishop, to Marcian Augustus, § III
... But the bishops' assents, which are opposed to the
regulations of the holy canons composed at Nicaea in
conjunction with your faithful Grace, we do not
recognize, and by the blessed Apostle Peter's authority
we absolutely dis-annul ... .
Letter CV, Leo the
bishop to Pulcheria Augusta, § III
II. ... Let no synodal councils flatter themselves upon
the size of their assemblies, and let not any number of
priests, however much larger, dare either to compare or
to prefer themselves to those 318 bishops, seeing that
the Synod of Nicaea is hollowed by God with such
privilege, that whether by fewer or by more
ecclesiastical judgments are supported, whatever is
opposed to their authority is utterly destitute of all
authority.
V. ... The rights of provincial primates may not be
overthrown nor metropolitan bishops be defrauded of
privileges based on antiquity. The See of Alexandria may
not lose any of that dignity which it merited through S.
Mark, the evangelist and disciple of the blessed Peter,
nor may the splendour of so great a church be obscured by
another's clouds, Dioscorus having fallen through his
persistence in impiety. The church of Antioch too, in
which first at the preaching of the blessed Apostle Peter
the Christian name arose, must continue in the position
assigned it by the Fathers, and being set in the third
place must never be lowered therefrom.
Letter CVI, To
Anatolius, Bishop of Constantinople, in rebuke of his
self-seeking, §§ II, V
II. ... remember that system of doctrine of which the
chief of all the Apostles, the blessed Peter, laid the
foundation, not only by his uniform preaching throughout
the world, but especially by his teaching in the cities
of Antioch and Rome ... . the rock (petra) of the
catholic Faith, from which the blessed Apostle Peter took
his name at the LORD'S hands, rejects every trace of
either heresy ... .
III. ... For it is right that you should share this
responsibility with the Apostolic See, and realize that
the privileges of the third See in Christendom [Antioch]
give you every confidence in action, privileges which no
intrigues shall in any way impair ... . For different
sometimes as are the deserts of individual prelates, yet
the rights of their Sees are permanent ... .
Letter CXIX, To
Maximus, Bishop of Antioch, by the Hand of Marian the
Presbyter, and Olympius the Deacon, § II
... for in the letter which we issued from the Apostolic
See, and which has been ratified by the assent of the
entire holy Synod ... .
Letter CXX, To
Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus, on Perseverance in the Faith,
§ IV
Your letter ... has caused me great joy. For it was
seemly that such an epistle should be sent by the head of
the church of Alexandria to the Apostolic See, as showed
that the Egyptians had from the first learnt from the
teaching of the most blessed Apostle Peter through his
blessed disciple Mark ... .
Letter CXXIX, To
Proterius, Bishop of Alexandria, § I
Since, therefore, the universal Church has become a rock
(petra) through the building up of that original Rock*,
and the first of the Apostles, the most blessed Peter,
heard the voice of the LORD saying, "Thou art Peter,
and upon this rock (petra) I will build My Church,"
... .
Letter CLVI, To Leo
Augustus, § II
{* The note of the Edinburg editors: Per illius
principalis petroe oedificationem : here petra
is apparently Christ Himself, cf. Letter XXVIII. chap. 5,
and Bright's n. 64.}
... the dissensions which spring from the variety of
earthly opinions may be driven away, most glorious
Emperor, from that solid Rock, on which the city
of God is built....
Letter CLXII, To Leo
Augustus, § I
... Recognize, therefore, august and venerable Emperor,
how that you are called by Divine providence to the
guardianship of the whole world, and understand what aid
you owe to your Mother, the Church, who makes especial
boast of you....
Letter CLXIV, To Leo
Augustus, § I
... Nor ... is the fostering condescension and true love
of the most blessed Apostle Peter absent from this
congregation ... . he too rejoices ... commending the
well ordered love of the whole Church, which ever finds
Peter in Peter's See ... .
Sermon II, § II
II. ... though He has delegated the care of His sheep to
many shepherds, yet He has not Himself abandoned the
guardianship of His beloved flock. And from His
overruling and eternal protection we have received the
support of the Apostles' aid also, which assuredly does
not cease from its operation: and the strength of the
foundation, on which the whole superstructure of the
Church is reared, is not weakened by the weight of the
temple that rests upon it. For the solidity of that faith
which was praised in the chief of the Apostles is
perpetual: and as that remains which Peter believed in
Christ, so that remains which Christ instituted in Peter.
For when, as has been read in the Gospel lesson, the LORD
had asked the disciples whom they believed Him to be amid
the various opinions that were held, and the blessed
Peter had replied, saying, "Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living GOD," the LORD says, "Blessed
art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and flood hath
not revealed it to thee, but My Father, which is in
heaven. And I say to thee, that thou art Peter, and upon
this rock will I build My church, and the gates of
Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto
thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever
thou shall bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven; and
whatsoever thou shall loose on earth, shall be loosed
also in heaven."
III. ... Peter persevering in the strength of the Rock,
which he has received, has not abandoned the helm of the
Church, which he undertook. For he was ordained before
the rest in such a way that from his being called the Rock,
from his being pronounced the Foundation ... . And still
to-day he more fully and effectually performs what is
entrusted to him ... if anything is rightly done and
rightly decreed by us, if anything is won from the mercy
of GOD by our daily supplications, it is of his work and
merits whose power lives and whose authority prevails in
his See.... For throughout the Church Peter daily says,
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living GOD,"
and every tongue which confesses the LORD, accepts the
instruction his voice conveys....
IV. ... in my humble person he may be recognized and
honoured, in whom abides the care of all the shepherds,
together with the charge of the sheep commended to him,
and whose dignity is not abated even in so unworthy an
heir.... transfer the chief honour of this service ... to
him whom they know to be not only the patron of this see,
but also the primate of all bishops. When therefore we
utter our exhortations ... he is speaking whose
representative we are: because it is his warning that we
give ... and not to let your mind forget his supremacy
... . founded as you are on the very citadel of the
Apostolic Rock ... the blessed Apostle Peter has
instructed you far beyond all men.
Sermon III, §§ II,
III, IV
... dearly beloved, whom I address in no less earnest
terms than those of the blessed Apostle Peter, "a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
for GOD's own possession," built upon the
impregnable rock, Christ ... .
Sermon XXIV, § VI
... the Apostle Peter, by the revelation of the most High
Father passing beyond things corporeal and surmounting
things human by the eyes of his mind, saw Him to be Son
of the living God ... and was endued with the holy
firmness of the inviolable Rock on which the
Church should be built and conquer the gates of hell and
the laws of death, so that, in loosing or binding the
petitions of any whatsoever, only that should be ratified
in heaven which had been settled by the judgment of Peter.
Sermon LI, § I
... And rightly was the blessed Apostle Peter praised for
confessing this union, who when the Lord was inquiring
what the disciples knew of Him, quickly anticipated the
rest and said, "Thou art Christ, the Son of the
living God."... but by the very Spirit of the Father
working in his believing heart, that in preparation for
ruling the whole Church he might first learn what he
would have to teach, and ... might receive the assurance,
"Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will
build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail
against it." The strength, therefore, of the
Christian Faith, which, built upon an impregnable rock
... .
Sermon LXII, § II
... For though to the blessed Peter first and foremost He
says, "Feed My sheep;" yet the one LORD directs
the charge of all the shepherds, and feeds those that
come to the rock with such glad and well-watered
pastures ... .
Sermon LXIII, § VI
... through the Lord's breathing upon them, the Holy
Ghost is poured upon all the Apostles, and to the blessed
Apostle Peter beyond the rest the care of the Lord's
flock is entrusted, in addition to the keys of the
kingdom....
Sermon LXXIII, § II
I. ... These are they who promoted thee to such glory,
that being made a holy nation, a chosen people, a
priestly and royal state, and the head of the world
through the blessed Peter's holy See thou didst attain a
wider sway by the worship of God than by earthly
government.
III. ... For when the twelve Apostles, after receiving
through the Holy Ghost the power of speaking with all
tongues, had distributed the world into parts among
themselves, and undertaken to instruct it in the Gospel,
the most blessed Peter, chief of the Apostolic band, was
appointed to the citadel of the Roman empire ... .
Sermon LXXXII, §§ I,
III
Gregory the Great, 540 - 604 (Part I)
... But we shall more fully understand
this distinction, if we look at the examples given by the
first pastor. For Peter, who had received from God the
principality of Holy Church ... . he soon shews with how
great power he had been made eminent above all others....
and he recollected himself as chief within the Church
against sins, though he did not acknowledge this, when
honour was eagerly paid him ... . Paul, too, knew not
himself as preferred above his brethren who acted well,
when he said, Not for that we have dominion over your
faith, but are helpers of your joy....
¶ Supreme rule, then, is ordered well, when he who
presides lords it over vices, rather than over his
brethren.... Hence also Peter says, Not as being lords
over God's heritage, but being made ensamples to the
flock (1 Pet. v. 3)....
The Book of Pastoral Rule of Saint
Gregory the Great Roman Pontiff to John, Bishop of the
City of Ravenna, Part II, Chapter VI
... Hence Peter, when he saw some affrighted by
consideration of their evil deeds, admonished them,
saying, Repent, and be baptized every one of you.... With
what conscience, then, can those who neglect to weep for
their past misdeeds live secure of pardon, when the chief
pastor of the Church himself believed that penitence must
be added even to this Sacrament ... .
The Book of Pastoral Rule of Saint
Gregory the Great Roman Pontiff to John, Bishop of the
City of Ravenna, Part III, Chapter XXX
We therefore interdict in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, and forbid by the authority of the blessed Peter,
Prince of the apostles, in whose stead we preside over
this Roman Church, that any bishop or secular person
hereafter presume in any way to devise occasions of
interfering with regard to the revenues, property, or
writings of monasteries ... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book II, Epistle XLI. To Castorius, Bishop
After the Pope Vigilius of illustrious memory, having
been appointed in the royal city ... . I have judged it
of advantage to send you the book which my predecessor of
holy memory, Pope Pelagius, had written on this subject....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book II, Epistle LI. To All Bishops
To the most blessed Lord pope Gregory, Licinianus, bishop.
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book II, Epistle LIV
... by the authority of the blessed Peter, Prince of the
apostles, we decree that, the decrees of thy judgment
being first annulled and made of none effect, thou be
deprived of holy communion for the space of thirty days,
so as to implore pardon of our God for so great
transgression with the utmost penitence and tears. But,
if we should come to know that thou hast been remiss in
carrying out this our sentence, know thou that not the
injustice only, but also the contumacy, of thy Fraternity
will have to be more severely punished....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book III, Epistle VI. To John, Bishop
... if thou shouldest attempt at any time, on any pretext
or by any surreptitious device, to contravene these our
ordinances, know that we decree thee to be deprived of
holy communion, and not to partake of it except at the
close of thy life, unless upon leave granted by the Roman
pontiff....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book III, Epistle VII. To John, Bishop
... by him I have transmitted to thee for a blessing keys
of the blessed Peter ... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book III, Epistle XLVIII. To Columbus, Bishop
... For either the usage of all metropolitans should be
observed also by thy Fraternity, or, if thou sayest that
something has been specially conceded to thy church, it
is for your side to shew the precept of former pontiffs
of the Roman City wherein these things have been conceded
to the Church of Ravenna....
¶ ... even though there had been such presumption in any
church whatever, they assert that it ought to be
corrected, not being by grant of the Roman pontiff, but
merely a surreptitious presumption....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book III, Epistle LVI. To John, Bishop
... we have held it necessary to send you these specially
strict written orders, whereby, with the authority of the
blessed Peter, Prince of the apostles, we enjoin that you
presume not to lay hands on any one whatever in the city
of Salona, so far as regards ordination to episcopacy,
without our consent and permission; nor to ordain any one
in the same city otherwise than as we have said.
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book IV, Epistle X. To All the Bishops of Dalmatia
... But, if you should presume to act in contravention of
this order, be ye anathema from God and from the blessed
Peter, Prince of the apostles ... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book IV, Epistle XX. To Maximus, Pretender (Proesumptorem)
... it is right that you should have no further scruple
of doubt with respect to the Church of the blessed Peter,
Prince of the apostles: but persist ye in the true faith,
and make your life firm on the rock of the Church;
that is on the confession of the blessed Peter ...
.
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book IV, Epistle XXXVIII. To Queen Theodelinda
... with what daring or with what swelling of pride I
know not, you have attempted to seize upon a new name,
whereby the hearts of all your brethren might have come
to take offence.... having confessed thyself unworthy to
be called a bishop, thou ... despising thy brethren ...
covet to be named the only bishop.... I beseech you, and
... demand of you, that your Fraternity gainsay all who
flatter you and offer you this name of error, nor
foolishly consent to be called by the proud title....
¶ ... Certainly the apostle Paul, when he heard some
say, I am of Paul, I of Apollos, but I of Christ (1
Cor. i. 13), regarded with the utmost horror such
dilaceration of the Lord's body, whereby they were
joining themselves, as it were, to other heads ... . If
then he shunned the subjecting of the members of Christ
partially to certain heads, as if beside Christ, though
this were to the apostles themselves, what wilt thou say
to Christ, who is the Head of the universal Church ...
having attempted to put all his members under thyself by
the appellation of Universal?...
¶ ... Certainly Peter, the first of the apostles,
himself a member of the holy and universal Church, Paul,
Andrew, John ... . all were members under one Head....
all these making up the Lord's Body, were constituted as
members of the Church, and not one of them has wished
himself to be called universal....
¶ ... the prelates of this Apostolic See which by the
providence of God I serve, had the honour offered them of
being called universal by the venerable Council of
Chalcedon. But yet not one of them has ever wished to be
called by such a title, or seized upon this ill-advised
name ... .
¶ What then, dearest brother, wilt thou say in that
terrible scrutiny of the coming judgment, if thou
covetest to be called in the world not only father, but
even general father?... Lo, by reason of this execrable
title of pride the Church is rent asunder, the hearts of
all the brethren are provoked to offence....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book V, Epistle XVIII. To John, Bishop
{This letter of reproof from Gregory, bishop of Rome, to
John, bishop of Constantinople (New Rome), imploring him
to cease from the arrogance of seeking to be called by
the title 'Universal Bishop'.}
In the cause of our brother the most reverend John,
bishop of Constantinople ... .
¶ ... For he has come even to this ... he transmitted
hither the acts, wherein almost in every line he called
himself ... (oecumenical) patriarch. But I hope in
Almighty God that the Supernal Majesty will confound his
hypocrisy.... if the Lord Emperor wishes to observe
justice, he ought to have admonished him to refrain from
the proud title ... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book V, Epistle XIX. To Sabinianus, Deacon
For to all who know the Gospel it is apparent that by the
Lord's voice the care of the whole Church was committed
to the holy Apostle and Prince of all the Apostles, Peter.
For to him it is said, Peter, lovest thou Me? Feed My
sheep (John xxi. 17). To him it is said, Behold
Satan hath desired to sift you as wheat; and I have
prayed for thee, Peter, that they faith fail not. And
thou, when thou art converted,strengthen thy brethren
(Luke xxii. 31). To him it is said, Thou art Peter,
and upon this rock I will build My
Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of
heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind an earth shall be
bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on
earth shall be loosed also in heaven (Matt. xvi. 18).
¶ Lo, he received the keys of the heavenly kingdom, and
power to bind and loose is given him, the care and
principality of the whole Church is committed to him, and
yet he is not called the universal apostle; while the
most holy man, my fellow-priest John [bishop of
Constantinople], attempts to be called universal bishop.
I am compelled to cry out and say, O tempora, O mores!
¶ ... priests, who ought to lie weeping on the ground
and in ashes, seek for themselves names of vanity, and
glory in new and profane titles.
¶ Who is this that, against the evangelical ordinances,
against the decrees of canons, presumes to usurp to
himself a new name? Would indeed that one by himself he
were, if he could be without any lessening of others,—he
that covets to be universal.
¶ ... If then any one in that Church takes to himself
that name, whereby he makes himself the head of all the
good, it follows that the Universal Church falls from its
standing (which God forbid), when he who is called
Universal falls. But far from Christian hearts be that
name of blasphemy, in which the honour of all priests is
taken away, while it is madly arrogated to himself by one.
¶ Certainly, in honour of Peter, Prince of the apostles,
it was offered by the venerable synod of Chalcedon to the
Roman pontiff. But none of them has ever consented to use
this name of singularity, lest, by something being given
peculiarly to one, priests in general should be deprived
of the honour due to them. How is it then that we do not
seek the glory of this title even when offered, and
another presumes to seize it for himself though not
offered?
¶ He, then, is rather to be bent by the mandate of our
most pious Lords [emperors], who scorns to render
obedience to canonical injunctions. He is to be coerced,
who does wrong to the holy Universal Church, who swells
in heart, who covets rejoicing in a name of singularity,
who also puts himself above the dignity of your Empire
through a title peculiar to himself.
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book V, Epistle XX. To Mauricius Augustus
... But, when this my brother with new presumption and
pride calls himself universal bishop, having caused
himself in the time of our predecessor of holy memory to
be designated in synod by this so proud a title, though
all the acts of that synod were abrogated, being
disallowed by the Apostolic See ... my aforesaid brother
and fellow-priest is acting against evangelical
principles and also against the blessed Apostle Peter,
and against all the churches, and against the ordinances
of the Canons....
¶ Still it is very distressing, and hard to be borne
with patience, that my aforesaid brother and fellow-bishop,
despising all others, should attempt to be called sole
bishop. But in this pride of his what else is denoted
than that the times of Antichrist are already near at
hand? For in truth he is imitating him who, scorning
social joy with the legions of angels, attempted to start
up to a summit of singular eminence, saying, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of heaven, I will sit
upon the mount of the testament, in the sides of the
North, and will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
and I will be like the most High (Isai. xiv. 13).
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book V, Epistle XXI. To Constantina Augusta
... Now eight years ago, in the time of my predecessor of
holy memory Pelagius, our brother and fellow-bishop John
in the city of Constantinople, seeking occasion from
another cause, held a synod in which he attempted to call
himself Universal Bishop. Which as soon as my said
predecessor knew, he despatched letters annulling by the
authority of the holy apostle Peter the acts of the said
synod ... .
¶ For ... this name of Universality was offered by the
holy synod of Chalcedon to the pontiff of the Apostolic
See which by the providence of God I serve. But no one of
my predecessors has ever consented to use this so profane
a title; since, forsooth, if one Patriarch is called
Universal, the name of Patriarch in the case of the rest
is derogated. But far be this, far be it from the mind of
a Christian, that any one should wish to seize for
himself that whereby he might seem in the least degree to
lessen the honour of his brethren....
¶ But may Almighty God make known to your Blessedness
with what sore groaning I am tormented by this
consideration; that he, the once to me most modest man,
he who was beloved of all, he who seemed to be occupied
in alms, deeds, prayers, and fastings, out of the ashes
he sat in, out of the humility he preached, has grown so
boastful as to attempt to claim all to himself, and
through the elation of a pompous expression to aim at
subjugating to himself all the members of Christ, which
cohere to one Head only, that is to Christ....
¶ ... For, if this expression is suffered to be
allowably used, the honour of all patriarchs is denied
... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book V, Epistle XLIII. To Eulogius and Anastasius,
Bishops
... And if any one presumes ever to speak anything
against the faith of these four synods and against the
tome and definition of pope Leo of holy memory, let him
be anathema....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VI, Epistle II to the Clergy and People of Ravenna
... Let your Excellency, then, deign so willingly to give
your attention to what we request of you that the blessed
Peter, Prince of the apostles, to whom the power of
binding and loosing has been given by the Lord Jesus
Christ, may both grant to your Excellence to rejoice here
in your offspring ... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VI, Epistle V. To Queen Brunichild
Now that you keep purity of faith both in mind and deed,
the love that is in you of the blessed Peter, Prince of
the apostles, evidently shews, whose property has been so
far well governed and preserved under the sway of your
supremacy....
¶ Moreover we have sent to your Excellency Saint Peter's
keys, containing a portion of his chains, to protect you
from all evils, when hung on your neck.
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VI, Epistle VI. To King Childebert
... And to the shepherd of holy Church it is said, Simon,
son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Feed My sheep (John xxi.
17). From which words it appears that, if one who is able
refuses to feed the sheep of Almighty God, he shews that
he does not love the chief Shepherd....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VII, Epistle IV. To Cyriacus, Bishop
... And as to your saying that you cried out, This is
the day which the Lord hath made, you ought to have
considered of whom this is said. For what comes before is
this; The stone which the
builders refused, the same is made the head-stone
of the corner. This is the Lord's doing, and it is
marvellous in our eyes (Ps. cxvii.22). And with
regard to this same stone it is forthwith added, This
is the day which the Lord hath made. For He who for
strength of building is said to be a stone, for
the grace of illumination is called the Day, being also
made, because He became incarnate....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VII, Epistle VII. To Peter, Domitian, and Elpidius
Furthermore, I send you, as a blessing from Saint Peter
the apostle, a key from his most sacred body; with
respect to which key the miracle has been wrought which I
now relate. A certain Lombard, having found it on his
entrance into a city in the parts beyond the Po, and,
paying no regard to it as Saint Peter's key, but wishing
to make something of it for himself in that he saw it to
be of gold, took out a knife to cut it. But presently
seized by a spirit, he plunged the knife wherewith he had
thought to cut it into his own throat, and in the same
hour fell down dead. And when Autharith, king of the
Lombards, and many others belonging to him came to the
place, and he who had stabbed himself was lying apart in
one place dead, and this key on the ground in another,
exceeding fear came upon all, so that no one ventured to
lift this same key from the ground. Then a certain
Lombard who was a Catholic, and known to be given to
prayer and almsgiving, Minulf by name, was called, and
himself lifted it from the ground. But Autharith, in
consideration of this miracle, made another golden key,
and sent it along with this to my predecessor of holy
memory, declaring what kind of miracle had through it
occurred. I have taken thought, then, to send your
Excellence this key, through which Almighty God cut off a
proud and faithless man, that through it you who fear and
love Him may be enabled to have both present and eternal
welfare.
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VII, Epistle XXVI. To Theoctista, Patrician
... it was not worth my while to make a difficulty on
account of the profane title ... I took care to admonish
him with respect to this same superstitious and proud
title ... . You, however, ought not to say that this is a
matter of no consequence, since, if we bear it with
equanimity, we are corrupting the faith of the Universal
Church ... . if one bishop is called Universal, the
Universal Church comes to ruin, if the one who is
universal falls.... Yet I trust in Almighty God that what
He has promised He will soon fulfil; Whosoever
exalteth himself shall be humbled (Luke xiv. 11).
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VII, Epistle XXVII. To Anastasius, Bishop
We send you as the benediction of Saint Peter, Prince of
the apostles, whom you greatly love, a key from his most
sacred body, in which is enclosed iron from his chains,
that what bound his neck for martyrdom, may loose yours
from all sins.
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VII, Epistle XXVIII. To Theodore, Physician
... You ought ... to discard that word of pride whereby
grave offence is engendered in the Churches ... . I
desire that all should be great and honourable, yet so
that their honour detract not from the honour of Almighty
God. For whoso covets to be honoured against God to me is
not honourable.... because Antichrist, the enemy of God,
is near at hand, I studiously desire the he may not find
anything belonging to himself, not only in the manners,
but even in the titles of priests. Let then what has been
introduced after a new fashion be removed in like manner
as it was brought in, and peace in the Lord will remain
with us inviolate....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VII, Epistle XXXI. To Cyriacus, Bishop
{Gregory, bishop of Rome, here remonstrating with the
bishop of Constantinople (New Rome) regarding his use of
the title 'Universal Bishop'.}
... my mind has been wounded in no slight degree by a
proud and profane title ... .
¶ I have however taken care to admonish earnestly the
same my brother and fellow-bishop that, if he desires to
have peace and concord with all, he must refrain from the
appellation of a foolish title.... I confidently say that
whosoever calls himself ... Universal Priest, is ... the
precursor of Antichrist, because he proudly puts himself
above all others. Nor is it by dissimilar pride that he
is led into error; for, as that perverse one wishes to
appear as above all men, so whosoever this one is who
covets being called sole priest, he extols himself above
all other priests. But, since the Truth says, Every
one that exalteth himself shall be humbled (Luke xiv.
11; xviii. 14) ... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VII, Epistle XXXIII. To Mauricius Augustus
... Now the representatives (responsales) of our
brother and fellow-bishop Cyriacus came to me, bringing
me his synodical epistle. And indeed between us and him
there is, as your Blessedness knows, serious difference
on account of the appellation of a profane name ... . my
deacon ought not to celebrate the solemnities of mass
with our aforesaid-brother Cyriacus, since, through a
profane title, he has either committed or accedes to the
sin of pride ... . if he does not correct it, he will in
no way have peace with us.
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VII, Epistle XXXIV. To Eulogius, Bishop
Your most sweet Holiness has spoken much in your letter
to me about the chair of Saint Peter, Prince of the
apostles, saying that he himself now sits on it in the
persons of his successors.... I gladly accepted all that
has been said, in that he has spoken to me about Peter's
chair who occupies Peter's chair.... holy Church has been
made firm in the solidity of the Prince of the apostles,
who derived his name from the firmness of his mind, so as
to be called Petrus from petra. And to him it is
said by the voice of the Truth, To thee I will give
the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matth. xvi. 19)....
though there are many apostles, yet with regard to the
principality itself the See of the Prince of the apostles
alone has grown strong in authority, which in three
places is the See of one. For he himself exalted the See
[Rome] in which he deigned even to rest and end the
present life. He himself adorned the See [Alexandria] to
which he sent his disciple as evangelist. He himself
stablished the See [Antioch] in which, though he was to
leave it, he sat for seven years. Since then it is the
See of one, and one See, over which by Divine authority
three bishops now preside ... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VII, Epistle XL. To Eulogius, Bishop
... we trust in the favour of our Protector that their
mouths which have been opened against the solidity of the
truth may be the sooner stopped, inasmuch as, however
sharp may be the swords that are employed, they recoil
broken when they strike the rock....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VIII, Epistle II. To Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch
... if you should wish to come to the threshold of the
blessed apostle Peter, you will be able to have me as a
close associate in the study of Holy Writ....
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VIII, Epistle XVII. To Maurentius
... plant, as thou hast begun to do, the steps of thy
soul on the solidity of that rock on
which thou knowest that our Redeemer has founded the
Church throughout the world ... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VIII, Epistle XXIV. To Sabinianus, Bishop of Jadera
Your Blessedness has also been careful to declare that
you do not now make use of proud titles, which have
sprung from a root of vanity ... and you address me
saying, As you have commanded. This word, command,
I beg you to remove from my hearing ... For in position
you are my brethren, in character my fathers. I did not,
then, command, but was desirous of indicating what seemed
to be profitable. Yet I do not find that your Blessedness
has been willing to remember perfectly this very thing
... lo, in the preface of the epistle which you have
addressed to myself who forbade it, you have thought fit
to make use of a proud appellation, calling me Universal
Pope.... do this no more, since what is given to another
beyond what reason demands is subtracted from yourself....
I do not seek to be prospered by words but by my conduct.
Nor do I regard that as an honour whereby I know that my
brethren lose their honour. For my honour is the honour
of the universal Church: my honour is the solid vigour of
my brethren. Then am I truly honoured when the honour due
to all and each is not denied them. For if your Holiness
calls me Universal Pope, you deny that you are yourself
what you call me universally.... Away with words that
inflate vanity and wound charity.
¶ And, indeed, in the synod of Chalcedon and afterwards
by subsequent Fathers, your Holiness knows that this was
offered to my predecessors. And yet not one of them would
ever use this title ... .
Epistles of Saint Gregory the
Great, Book VIII, Epistle XXX. To Eulogius, Bishop of Alexandria
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