To Aetherius, Bishop of Lyons

Gregory to Aetherius, bishop of Gaul. [a]

The language of your letters, full of a venerable seriousness, has so won the affection of our heart that we would gladly be always exchanging words with you, so that, if we cannot enjoy your presence in body, absence may make no difference to us while this exchange goes on between us. For you show how great a love of church order shines in you, how great is your regard for discipline, and how great your earnestness in keeping wholesome rules, in that you receive our exhortation humbly and altogether willingly, and declare that you will keep it without breach. Since, then, you have a heart ready for the correction of others, and, as becomes you, condemn with a free voice an evil of long standing, and since our other brothers and fellow bishops are of the same mind, it is your duty to rise up with one accord against the Lord’s enemies and to cast greed out of the house of God by the decree of a synod. In conferring church orders, let no fierce hunger for gold find any satisfaction; let no flattery steal any advantage; let no favoritism grant anything. Let a man’s life have the reward of honor, and let his modesty win his advancement. Then, while this practice holds, the one who seeks to rise by bribes will be judged unworthy, and the one to whom his conduct bears good witness will be honored as he deserves. Let this be your care, most beloved brother; let this concern always keep guard over your thoughts, so that you may prove by your deeds that the zeal you show in your letters is the witness of your heart. So press continually and urgently for a synod to be assembled, and acquit yourself so earnestly that in carrying out your office you live up to the dignity of your title.

As for what you ask to have granted to your church on the ground of ancient custom, we have had a search made in our archives, and nothing has been found. So send us the letters you say you have, so that from them we may gather what ought to be granted you. As for the acts or writings of the blessed Irenaeus, we have been searching for them for a long time now, but so far we have not succeeded in finding any of them. [b]

Furthermore, let your fraternity take care to hold as commended to you in every respect the monks whom we have sent to our brother and fellow bishop Augustine, and for God’s sake show them your love. Work with them earnestly in priestly zeal, and make haste to help them on their journey, so that, with nothing in your region to hold them up, they may go on their way more quickly, and you may find a reward for what you have done for them. Given on the 10th of July, in the fourth indiction. [c]