To Syagrius, Bishop of Autun, on the Gift of the Pallium

Gregory to Syagrius, bishop of Autun. Love is the mistress of all good things. It has no taste of anything foreign, nothing harsh, nothing confused; it so exercises and strengthens hearts that nothing is heavy, nothing difficult, but everything that is done becomes sweet. Since, then, it is love’s own quality to foster what is in harmony, to preserve what is united, to join together what is separated, to set right what is wrong, and to make all the other virtues firm by the bulwark of its own perfection, whoever grafts himself into its roots neither loses his greenness nor is left empty of fruit, because work that achieves its end does not lose the sap of fruitfulness. And so I am very glad of you, and rejoice with you in the Lord, most beloved brother, because I find, by the testimony of many, that you are so endowed with this same love that you both show in yourself, as is fitting, what becomes a priest, and set before others, to your credit, an example to imitate. [a]

In the work of preaching to the nation of the Angles, which after long thought I have taken care to provide through Augustine, then prior of my monastery and now our brother and fellow bishop, I have found you, as was right, so attentive, devoted and helpful in every way that you have laid me under a great debt to you in this matter. Moved, then, by the thought of so great an obligation, I cannot bring myself to set aside your fraternity’s petition, or I might seem to you to be of no use. So, in keeping with your request, we have provided under God for you to be honored with the use of the pallium, to be worn within your church at the celebration of mass only. Even so, we have decided that it should be given to you only on condition that you first promise to correct, by the decision of a synod, the things we have ordered to be corrected. For we certainly think it fitting that, with the seriousness of mind in which, by the mercy of God, we have learned that you excel, a more distinguished ornament of outward dress should come to you; especially as we believe you have asked for it not for the show of needless pride, but out of regard for the character and dignity of your church. And so that we may not seem to be giving, in this vestment, a bare gift as it were, we have also seen at the same time to granting this as well: while the metropolitan keeps his place and dignity in every respect, the church of Autun is to come next after the church of Lyons, and is to claim this place and rank for itself by the favor of our authority. As for the other bishops, we decree that they are to take their places according to the date of their ordination, whether for sitting in council, or for signing, or in any other matter, and are to claim the privilege of their several ranks. For it seems to us reasonable that, together with the use of the pallium, we should also, as we have said, bestow some privileges. [b]

But since, as dignity grows, the sense of responsibility ought to grow too, so that the ornaments of conduct may match the adornment of vestments, your fraternity should apply yourself all the more earnestly in everything you do. Be watchful over the doings of those under you; let your example be their instruction and your life their teacher. By the urging of your tongue let them learn what to fear and be taught what to love; so that, when you hand back the talents entrusted to you with manifold gain, you may be counted worthy on the day of repayment to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your lord.” [d]