To John, Bishop of Ravenna, a Rebuke for His Tongue and His Pride

Gregory to John, bishop of Ravenna. In the first place, this makes me sad: that your fraternity writes to me with a double heart, showing one kind of flattery in letters and another kind with the tongue in worldly company. In the next place, it grieves me that my brother John still keeps on his tongue, even to this day, the gibes that notaries are in the habit of indulging in while they are still boys. He speaks bitingly and seems to delight in such joking. He flatters his friends to their faces and maligns them behind their backs. Third, it is grievous to me and altogether hateful that he charges his servants with shameful crimes, at any hour of the day, calling them “effeminate.” And what is more grievous still, this is done openly. Then there is this besides: that there is no discipline for keeping watch over the life of the clergy, and he shows himself only as their lord. The last thing, but the first in weight as evidence of his pride, is his use of the pallium outside the church. He never presumed to do this in the times of my predecessors, and none of his predecessors ever presumed to do it, as our delegates testify, except perhaps when relics were being laid in place; and even as to relics, only one person could be found to say that it was so. Yet in my days, in contempt of me and with extreme audacity, he has not only done it but even made a habit of it. [a]

From all these things I find that with him the dignity of the episcopate lies all in outward show and not in his mind. And indeed I give thanks to Almighty God that at the time this came to my knowledge, which had never reached the ears of my predecessors, the Lombards were stationed between me and the city of Ravenna. For perhaps I had it in mind to show people how severe I can be. [c]

But so that you do not suppose I want your church to be put down or lessened in dignity, remember where the deacon of Ravenna used to stand at the celebration of mass in Rome, and ask where he stands now. Then you will recognize that I wish to honor the church of Ravenna. But that anyone at all should grasp at anything out of pride, this I cannot tolerate. [d]

Nevertheless, I have already written on this matter to our deacon at Constantinople, telling him to inquire of all who have even thirty or forty bishops under them. And if there is a custom anywhere of their walking in the litanies wearing the pallium, God forbid that the dignity of the church of Ravenna should seem to be lessened in any way through me. [e]

So think over all I have said above, dearest brother. Think of the day of your calling; consider what account you will give of the burden of the episcopate. Mend those notary’s manners. See what befits a bishop in word and in deed. Be entirely sincere with your brothers. Do not say one thing and have another in your heart. Do not wish to seem more than you are, so that you may be able to be more than you seem. Believe me, when I came to my present position, I had such regard and love for you that, if you had wished to keep hold of this love of mine, you would never have found such a brother as I am, or one who loved you so sincerely, or one so at one with you in all devotion. But when I came to know of your words and your manners, I confess I drew back. I beg you, then, by Almighty God, to mend everything I have spoken of, and above all the vice of double-dealing. Let me love you; and for this life and the life to come it may be to your good to be loved by your brothers. Answer all this, however, not with words but with your conduct. [f]