To Dominicus, Bishop of Carthage, on His Recovery from Illness

Gregory to Dominicus, and so on. [a]

You show how abundant the love in your heart is by its interpreter, your tongue, since it seasons the words of your letters with such sweetness that everything you write is pleasant and delightful. That is why we embrace your fraternity in the arms of love, though we cannot do so in the body. For it is the work of love to supply to souls that are of one mind what distance of place denies them. And since the sickness of our most loving brothers saddens us, just as their health refreshes us, we give thanks to Almighty God, who has comforted our sadness with good news. For we had heard that you had fallen into a very severe illness, and before your letter arrived we were in great distress. [b]

But when we are snatched from the danger of death, dearest brother, it is uncertain for what we are being kept. So let us turn this time of respite to the profit of our souls. Since we must render our accounts to the Judge who is coming, let us strengthen our case before him with tears and good works, so that we may be counted worthy to be given security for the things we have done. For in worldly cases too a kind judge often grants a delay for this very purpose, so that someone who was not prepared before may come to his trial prepared afterward. And what a thing it would be if, for the salvation of the soul, we neglected what we attend to so carefully in earthly matters!

And so, since according to the words of the apostle John no one is without sin, let us call to mind the enticements of our thoughts, the lack of restraint in our tongues, and our deeds of transgression. And while we may, let us do away with the stains of our iniquities with great knocking, so that our just and loving Redeemer may not take vengeance as we deserve, but may be moved by his mercy to pardon. And since we do not fully carry out our office by weeping for our own sins only, let us devote ourselves all the more earnestly to guarding the flock entrusted to us. By persuading, by exhorting, by alarming, by preaching, as far as the mercy of heaven gives us power, let us hasten to fulfill our office in very deed, so that through the bounty of our Creator we may look for the reward we long for. But since we cannot do anything good without divine help, most beloved brother, let us implore Almighty God with united prayers that he would direct us, together with the flock entrusted to us, into the way of his commandments by the leading of his grace. And may he who by the gift of his mercy has willed us to bear the name of shepherds grant us to understand and to do what is well pleasing to him.

Moreover, we have received the blessing of the blessed martyr Agileus, sent to us by your holiness, with the same love with which you sent it. In the month of September, in the fifth indiction.