To John, Bishop of Prima Justiniana, on His Election and the Pallium

Gregory to John, bishop of Prima Justiniana in Illyricum.

It is plainly a clear sign of goodness when the consent of all comes together in the election of one person. The account we received from our brothers and fellow bishops declared that you have been called to the position of the priesthood by the unanimous consent of the whole council and the will of the most serene prince. So we have given thanks with great rejoicing to Almighty God our Creator, who has made your life and actions so praiseworthy in the past as to bring it about, very much to your credit, that you have won the approval of all. We too fully agree with them about your fraternity. And we pray Almighty God that, as his grace has chosen your love, so he will keep you under his protection in every way. [b]

We have sent you the pallium, according to custom, and, renewing our commission, we appoint you to act as vicar of the Apostolic See. We admonish you to show yourself so gentle to those under you that they are moved to love you rather than fear you. And if some fault of theirs should need attention, take care to correct their wrongdoing in such a way that you never put a father’s affection out of your mind. Be watchful and diligent in caring for the flock entrusted to you, and strict in your zeal for discipline, so that the wolf lying in wait may not manage to disturb the Lord’s sheepfold, or find an opening for deceit and harm the sheep.

Hurry with your whole heart to win souls for our God, and know that we have received the name of shepherd not for rest but for labor. Let us show in our work, then, what our name means. If we weigh rightly the high privilege of the priesthood, it will be an honor to those who are diligent and do their duty well, but surely a burden to those who are negligent. For as this name, in the sight of God, brings those who labor and are diligent for the salvation of souls to eternal glory, so for the idle and sluggish it leads to punishment. Through our tongue let the people entrusted to us learn that there is another life. Let the teaching of your fraternity be a welcome spur to urge them on, and your life an example for them to follow. For your fraternity’s preaching should show them what to love and what to fear, and your effectiveness in this should reap the fruit of eternal reward.

But above all let your careful attention hold you back from ever attempting to make any unlawful ordinations. Whenever any are promoted to the clergy, or perhaps to some higher rank, let them be ordained not for bribes or entreaties but for merit. In no ordination let any inducement of any kind whatever find its way secretly to your fraternity, or you may be caught (God forbid) in the snares of the heresy of simony. For “what will it profit a man,” as the Truth says, “if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?” So in everything we do we must look to God, despise temporal and perishable things, and direct the desire of our heart to the good things of eternity. I was altogether unwilling to accept your holiness’s present, since it would be very unseemly for us to seem to receive gifts from our plundered and afflicted brothers. But your messengers won me over by another argument, offering it to one from whom your fraternity’s offerings may not be withheld. For this, before everything, you should strive: how you may prepare imperishable gifts to offer to the coming Judge of souls, so that he may look with favor both on you for your fruitful labor and on us likewise for our exhortation.