To the Nobles and Landowners of Sardinia, on Their Idolatrous Peasants

Gregory to the nobles, and so on. I have learned from the report of my brother and fellow bishop Felix, and of my son the servant of God Cyriacus, that nearly all of you have peasants on your estates who are given to idolatry. This has grieved me deeply, since I know that the guilt of those under authority weighs down the life of those over them, and that when sin in a subject is not corrected, the sentence is thrown back on those who are set over him. So, magnificent sons, I urge you to be zealous for your souls with all care and concern, and to consider what account you will give to Almighty God for those under you. For they were entrusted to you for this purpose: that they might serve your advantage in earthly things, and that you, through your care for them, might provide for their souls in the things that are eternal. If, then, they pay you what they owe you, why do you not pay them what you owe them? That is, your greatness should admonish them steadily and hold them back from the error of idolatry, so that by drawing them to the faith you may make Almighty God favorable to yourselves. For see how the end of this world is close at hand. You see that now a human sword, now a divine one, rages against us. And yet you, the worshipers of the true God, watch stones being worshiped by those entrusted to you, and you are silent. What, I ask you, will you say at the dread judgment, when you have received God’s enemies into your power and yet disdain to bring them under God and call them back to him? So, addressing you with due greeting, I ask your greatness to be earnestly on the watch to give yourselves to zeal for God, and to be quick to tell me in your letters which of you has brought how many to Christ. And if for some reason you cannot do this, give the task to our brother and fellow bishop Felix, named above, or to my son Cyriacus, and give them help for the work of God, so that in the repayment to come you may be all the more ready to share in life the more you now help a good work. [b]