To Fortunatus, Bishop of Naples, on the Monk Barbatianus

Gregory to Fortunatus, and so on.

The father of the servants of God whom I had sent to the city of Naples has, by God’s ordering, as it pleased him, departed this life. So it has seemed good to me to send the bearer of this letter, the monk Barbatianus, to govern those same monks. For the present we decide that he is to be prior, so that, if his life proves itself to your fraternity, you may after a little while ordain him as their father. For he has some good qualities that commend him. But he has this great fault: he is exceedingly wise in his own eyes. And it is plain to see how many branches of sin can spring from this root. So let your holiness keep careful watch over him. If you find that he becomes prudent in governing and humble in his own mind, then, with God’s permission, advance him to the rank of abbot. But if he makes little progress in humility, put off his ordination and report to me. [b]