To Respecta, Abbess of Marseilles, Granting Privileges to Her Monastery

Gregory to Respecta, abbess of Marseilles in Gaul. [a]

The request of a devout wish ought to be carried through to its result, so that the benefit asked for may be firmly obtained and sincere devotion may shine out to its praise. Accordingly, at the petition of our children Dynamius and Aureliana, we have seen fit to grant the following privileges to the monastery consecrated in honor of Saint Cassian, over which you have been chosen to preside. In their religious devotion they are shown to have joined it to the house they own by connecting the buildings. We appoint that on the death of the abbess of this monastery, no outsider shall be ordained, but one whom the community may choose for itself from among its own members. The bishops of that place shall ordain her, provided, however, that she is judged worthy of this ministry. Further, with regard to the property and management of this monastery, we decree that neither the bishop nor any churchman shall have any power over them. We appoint that these things shall in every respect belong to the charge of your solicitude, or of whoever may be abbess there after you. If on the day of the saint’s feast, or on the anniversary of the dedication of this monastery, the bishop should go there to celebrate the sacred solemnities of mass, he must still carry out his office in such a way that his chair is not set up there, except on those days while he is celebrating the solemnities of mass there. And when he leaves, let his chair be removed from that chapel at the same time. But on all other days let the services of mass be performed by the presbyter whom the bishop may appoint. [b]

Further, as to the life and conduct of the handmaidens of God, or of the abbess who may be appointed in the monastery named above, we charge the bishop, in the fear of God, to give them careful attention. So if any of those who live there ought to be subjected to punishment, as her fault demands, he may himself punish the offense according to the strictness of the sacred canons. These things, then, being ordained and granted by us, take care, in the ordering of your community, to show yourself so earnestly watchful in every respect that the malice of the malignant enemy may find nothing there that it can defile. All these things, therefore, contained in this written charge, we ordain to be kept, under Christ’s protection, in every respect, by all persons, and forever in your monastery, so that the benefits of the privileges granted may always remain firm and unbroken. The month of November, in the fifteenth indiction. [c]