To Queen Brunhild, Commending the Presbyter Candidus

Gregory to Brunhild, queen of the Franks. [a]

The praiseworthy goodness of your excellency, which is pleasing to God, shows itself both in the way you govern your kingdom and in the way you have brought up your son. For him you have not only kept the glory of temporal things intact with provident care, but you have also looked to the rewards of eternal life. You planted his mind in the root of the true faith, with a mother’s care for his upbringing, as became you, and a care worthy of praise. So it follows, and not undeservedly, that he surpasses all the kingdoms of the nations, since he both worships purely and confesses truly the Creator of those nations. But so that his faith may shine out in his works all the more worthy of praise, let the words of your encouragement kindle him, so that as royal power shows him lofty among men, goodness of conduct may make him great before God. [b]

Now, since past experience in many instances gives us confidence in your excellency’s Christian faith, we ask you, for the love of Peter, prince of the apostles, whom we know you love with your whole heart, to cherish with the help of your patronage our most beloved son the presbyter Candidus, who brings this letter, together with the little patrimony that we have sent him to govern. So, strengthened by the favor of your support, he will be able both to manage this little patrimony profitably, since it plainly helps to meet the expenses of the poor, and to recover into its possession anything that may have been taken away from it. For it adds not a little to your praise that, after so long a time, a man belonging to the church has been sent to manage this patrimony. Let your excellency, then, be pleased to give your attention so willingly to what we ask of you that blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, to whom the power of binding and loosing was given by the Lord Jesus Christ, may grant you to rejoice here in your offspring, and, after the course of many years, may cause you to be found before the face of the eternal Judge, absolved from all evils. [c]