To Symmachus the Defensor, on Monasteries in Corsica

Gregory to Symmachus, and so on. [a]

My son Boniface the deacon has told me that your experience wrote to say that a monastery built by Labina, a religious lady, is now ready for monks to be settled in it. I did indeed praise your care. But we want some other place provided than the one assigned for the purpose, on this condition, given the insecurity of the times: that a site above the sea be found which is either strong by its position, or can at least be fortified without much labor. Then we may send monks there, so that the island itself, which has had no monastery until now, may be improved by having this way of life on it.

To carry out and provide for this business we have given instructions to Horosius, the bearer of this present order. Your experience must go round the shores of Corsica with him, and if a more suitable place owned by some private person is found, we are ready to pay a fair price, so that we can make some secure arrangement. We have directed Horosius to go on to the island of Gorgonia. Let your experience go with him, and the two of you so punish the evils we have learned have found their way in there that, through the punishment you inflict, the island may stay corrected for the future as well. Let the same abbot Horosius set the monasteries of this island in order, and then hurry back to us. Let your experience act, then, so that in both these matters, that is, in providing monasteries in Corsica and in correcting the monks of Gorgonia, you may hasten to obey not our will but that of Almighty God. [b]

Moreover, we want the priests who live in Corsica to be forbidden to have any dealings with women, except perhaps a mother, a sister, or a wife, toward whom chastity is to be kept. But to the three persons about whom your experience wrote to my son, the deacon Boniface, give whatever you judge enough for them, since they are in grave need; and we will allow it to you later in your accounts. Given in the month of July. [c]