To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna, on His Vomiting of Blood

Gregory to Marinianus, and so on.

When a certain man of Ravenna arrived here, I was struck with the deepest sorrow, because he told me that your fraternity was sick and vomiting blood. For this reason we have had careful inquiry made, one by one, of those here whom we know to be well-read physicians, and we have sent your holiness their several opinions and prescriptions in writing. All of them, however, prescribe before anything else rest and silence, and I greatly doubt whether your fraternity can have these in your own church. So it seems good to me that, once the church there has been provided for, whether with men who can celebrate the solemn masses, or with men who can take charge of the bishop’s house, show hospitality and receive visitors, or with men who can oversee the care of the monasteries, your fraternity should come to me before the summer season. Then I may, as far as I can, take special charge of your sickness and keep you from being disturbed, since the physicians say that the summer season is extremely dangerous for this kind of sickness. And I greatly fear that if you should have any cares on top of the unfavorable season, this disorder might put you in further danger. I too am very weak myself. In every way it is best that you should, by God’s favor, return to your church in health; or certainly, if you are to be called away, that you should be called away in the hands of your friends; and that I, who see myself very near death, should pass away in your hands, if Almighty God is pleased to call me before you. But if the circumstances of the present time stand in the way of your coming, an arrangement may be made with Ago by giving him some small present, so that he himself may send one of his people with you as far as Rome. If, then, you feel this sickness weighing heavily on you and arrange to come, you must come with few attendants, since while you stay with me in the bishop’s residence you will be looked after every day by this church. [b]

Further, I do not exhort or advise you; I strictly charge you that you by no means presume to fast, since the physicians say the practice is very harmful for this disorder. I allow it only five times in the year, if by chance a great feast requires it. You must also refrain from night vigils. And let the prayers that are customarily said over the wax candle in the city of Ravenna, and the expositions of the Gospel that priests give around the time of the paschal feast, be delivered by someone else. And by no means, beloved, lay on yourself any labor beyond your strength. I have said this so that, if you should feel better and put off your coming, you may know what to observe by my command. [d]