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E06347: A letter of Pope Gregory the Great (Register 3.58) of 593, to Fortunatus, bishop of Naples, mentions the foundation of an oratory dedicated to *Mary (the Mother of Christ, S00033) in the city or territory of Naples (southern Italy). Written in Latin in Rome.
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posted on 2018-09-11, 00:00 authored by francesPope Gregory the Great, Register of Letters 3.58
Extract from the opening of the letter:
Religiosis desideriis sine difficultate praestari decet effectum. Atque ideo Gratiosa abbatissa una cum congregatione sua, oblata petitione quae tenetur in subditis, postulauit quod patriciae recordationis Rustica, per ultimum uoluntatis suae arbitrium, in ciuitate Neapolitana in domo propria in regione Herculensi in uico qui appellatur Lampadi, monasterium ancillarum dei, in quo praefatam Gratiosam abbatissam praeesse disposuit, simul que et oratorium exstruxisse dinoscitur, cui et pro uoto suo quattuor uncias totius substantiae suae dimisisse suggessit, quod que in honore beatae Mariae semper uirginis genitricis dei et domini nostri Iesu Christi desiderat consecrari. Et ideo, frater carissime, praesenti praeceptione dilectionem tuam duximus adhortandam ut, inspecto primitus testamento, si iure subsistit, et easdem quattuor uncias uerissime eidem monasterio collatas esse compereris, ad praedictum locum cum postulauerint ingrauanter accedas, uenerandae sollemnia dedicationis impendens, ut quotiens necesse fuerit a presbyteris ecclesiae in superscripto loco deseruientibus celebrentur sacrificia ueneranda missarum.
‘It is right to fulfil religious desires when it is not difficult. And this is so in the case of Abbess Gratiosa, who has joined her community in presenting a petition, which is contained in her appendix. In it she has claimed that Rustica, recorded as a patrician, is known to have built a monastery for nuns, through the final decision of her will, in the territory [or city] of Naples (in civitate Neapolitana). It is in her own home, in the region 'of Hercules', in the village [or quarter] called Lampas. Here she has arranged that the aforesaid Gratiosa should be abbess in charge. She has also built an oratory and, to carry out her vow, Gratiosa has suggested that she withdraw a third of her whole fortune, and she wants it to be consecrated in honour of the blessed Mary, ever virgin and mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. And for that reason, my very dear brother, we thought that your Beloved should be encouraged with the present injunction to inspect the final will first of all and, if it remains lawful, to make certain that the same third has in all truth been spent on the same convent. Please approach the aforesaid place not unwillingly when they ask you to, using the solemn rites of a venerable dedication. Thus the venerable sacrifices of masses may be celebrated by priests of the church in the above mentioned place, whenever necessary.’
Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 1, 206-7. Translation: Martyn 2004, vol. 1, 278-9, lightly modified.
Extract from the opening of the letter:
Religiosis desideriis sine difficultate praestari decet effectum. Atque ideo Gratiosa abbatissa una cum congregatione sua, oblata petitione quae tenetur in subditis, postulauit quod patriciae recordationis Rustica, per ultimum uoluntatis suae arbitrium, in ciuitate Neapolitana in domo propria in regione Herculensi in uico qui appellatur Lampadi, monasterium ancillarum dei, in quo praefatam Gratiosam abbatissam praeesse disposuit, simul que et oratorium exstruxisse dinoscitur, cui et pro uoto suo quattuor uncias totius substantiae suae dimisisse suggessit, quod que in honore beatae Mariae semper uirginis genitricis dei et domini nostri Iesu Christi desiderat consecrari. Et ideo, frater carissime, praesenti praeceptione dilectionem tuam duximus adhortandam ut, inspecto primitus testamento, si iure subsistit, et easdem quattuor uncias uerissime eidem monasterio collatas esse compereris, ad praedictum locum cum postulauerint ingrauanter accedas, uenerandae sollemnia dedicationis impendens, ut quotiens necesse fuerit a presbyteris ecclesiae in superscripto loco deseruientibus celebrentur sacrificia ueneranda missarum.
‘It is right to fulfil religious desires when it is not difficult. And this is so in the case of Abbess Gratiosa, who has joined her community in presenting a petition, which is contained in her appendix. In it she has claimed that Rustica, recorded as a patrician, is known to have built a monastery for nuns, through the final decision of her will, in the territory [or city] of Naples (in civitate Neapolitana). It is in her own home, in the region 'of Hercules', in the village [or quarter] called Lampas. Here she has arranged that the aforesaid Gratiosa should be abbess in charge. She has also built an oratory and, to carry out her vow, Gratiosa has suggested that she withdraw a third of her whole fortune, and she wants it to be consecrated in honour of the blessed Mary, ever virgin and mother of our Lord Jesus Christ. And for that reason, my very dear brother, we thought that your Beloved should be encouraged with the present injunction to inspect the final will first of all and, if it remains lawful, to make certain that the same third has in all truth been spent on the same convent. Please approach the aforesaid place not unwillingly when they ask you to, using the solemn rites of a venerable dedication. Thus the venerable sacrifices of masses may be celebrated by priests of the church in the above mentioned place, whenever necessary.’
Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 1, 206-7. Translation: Martyn 2004, vol. 1, 278-9, lightly modified.
History
Evidence ID
E06347Saint Name
Mary, Mother of Christ : S00033Saint Name in Source
MariaRelated Saint Records
Type of Evidence
Literary - LettersLanguage
- Latin
