To Maximus of Salona, a Summons to Rome

Gregory to Maximus, usurper of the church of Salona. [a]

Whenever anything is said to have been done against the discipline of the church, we dare not leave it unexamined, or we would be guilty before God of looking the other way. Now it has come to our ears that you were ordained through the heresy of simony. Many other things, too, have been said about you here, and there was one in particular on account of which we thought it needful to forbid you urgently by letter to celebrate the solemn rites of mass until we could find out the state of the case more certainly. Therefore, so that the children of the church may not be too long without a shepherd, and so that a vice of this kind may not spread to many if these reports are left unexamined, we urge you to make haste and come to us, laying aside all excuses. In this way, with due regard for justice, we may be able to learn the facts and settle them according to the rules of the canons, with Christ showing us the way. But see to it that there are no more of these repeated delays in your coming. Otherwise your very absence will mark you out as all the more open to these charges against you, and we will be compelled to pass a harsher sentence on you in council, not only for the crimes alleged against you, from which you are avoiding clearing yourself, but also for the fault of disobedience, as one who defies a summons. [b]