To Fortunatus, Bishop of Naples, on Testing Monks Before the Tonsure

Gregory to Fortunatus, and so on. [a] When your fraternity pays too little attention to the monasteries under you, you both lay yourself open to reproof and make us sorry for your slackness. Now it has come to our ears that a certain Mauricius, who lately became a monk in the monastery of Barbacianus, has fled from that monastery, taking other monks with him. In this case the haste of this same Barbatianus makes him very much to blame in our sight, since he rashly gave the tonsure to someone living in the world without even testing him first. Did we not write to you that you should test him first, and then, if he were fit, make him abbot? Even now, then, keep a close watch on the man you chose. For his failings are your failings, if he has begun to behave in such a way as to show himself unfit to govern the brothers. [b]

Further, let your fraternity more strictly forbid all monasteries to venture in any way to give the tonsure to those they have received to take up the monastic life before they have completed two years in it. During this time let their life and habits be carefully tested, so that none of them may either be discontented with what he had desired or fail to hold firm to what he had chosen. For if it is a serious matter for untried men to be bound together under obedience to any master, how much more serious is it for any who have not been tested to be bound to the service of God?

Further, if a soldier should wish to become a monk, let no one for any reason whatever presume to receive him without our consent, or before it has been reported to us. If this rule is not carefully kept, know that all the guilt of those under you comes back on yourself, since you prove by the very facts of the case that you are too little concerned about them. [c]