To Columbus, Bishop in Numidia, on Ordinations and the Council

Gregory to Columbus, and so on. [a]

Even before I received your fraternity’s letter, I knew from the report of your well-earned reputation that you were a good servant of God. Now that I have received it, I understand more fully that what rumor had already spread abroad was well founded. I greatly rejoice in your merits, since you show ways and deeds that bear witness to a praiseworthy life. Since, then, I feel that these things are given to you by the Majesty on high, I congratulate you, and I bless God our Creditor, who does not withhold the gifts of his mercy from his humble servants. For this reason I declare it true that your fraternity so kindles me with the flame of love to love you, and my spirit is so joined to you, that I both long to see you and am with you in heart, though absent. You can tell in your own thoughts that this is so. For truly, oneness of minds in love has more power to unite than bodily presence has. Furthermore, I am now assured that you hold fast to the Apostolic See and are devoted to it with your whole mind, your whole heart and your whole soul; indeed, I knew it plainly even before your letter bore witness to the fact. So, first greeting you with the greeting of love that is due, I urge you not to stop remembering what you have promised to the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles. [b]

So press the primate of your synod hard that boys be in no way admitted to sacred orders, lest they fall all the more dangerously the more quickly they hurry to climb to higher places. Let there be no buying and selling in ordination. Let no one’s influence or pleading obtain anything against these prohibitions of ours. For God is without doubt offended if anyone is promoted to sacred orders not for merit but by favor (God forbid) or for money. [c] If, then, you know that these things are being done, do not keep silent, but oppose them urgently. For if you should neglect them, or hide them once you know of them, the chain of sin will bind not only those who do such things; no light guilt before God will touch you too in the matter. If anything of the kind is committed, then, it ought to be restrained by canonical punishment, so that so great a wickedness may not, along with the sin of others, gather strength from being winked at.

I have therefore given leave to depart all the sooner to the bearer of this letter, Victorinus, your fraternity’s deacon, whom I take to be your imitator and whom I have received with love. By him I have sent you, as a blessing, keys of the blessed Peter, in which something from his chains is enclosed. [d] Lastly, as for the unity and peace of the council which, under God, you are arranging to assemble, let your love gladden my mind by telling me of everything in detail.