E06390: Two letters of Pope Gregory the Great (Register 9.58 and 9.59), both of 598, relate to the foundation of an oratory dedicated to *Sabinus (bishop and martyr of Spoleto, S01878) in Fermo, and to the obtaining of relics of the saint from Spoleto; all in central Italy. Written in Latin in Rome.

Pope Gregory the Great, Register of Letters 9.58 (to Passivus, bishop of Fermo)


Full text of the letter:

GREGORIUS PASSIVO EPISCOPO
Valerianus notarius ecclesiae fraternitatis tuae petitoria nobis insinuatione suggessit, quod habetur in subditis, in fundo Visiano iuris sui iuxta muros ciuitatis Firmanae oratorium se pro sua deuotione fundasse, quod in honore beati martyris Sauini desiderat consecrari. Et ideo, frater carissime, si in tuae parrochiae memorata constructio iure consistit et nullum corpus ibidem constat humatum, percepta primitus donatione legitima, id est in reditu solidos tres liberos a tributis fiscalibus, gestis que municipalibus allegata, praedictum oratorium absque missis publicis sollemniter consecrabis ita, ut in eodem loco nec futuris temporibus baptisterium construatur nec presbyterum constituas cardinalem. Et si missas ibi fieri forte maluerit, a dilectione tua presbyterum nouerit postulandum, quatenus nihil tale a quolibet alio sacerdote ullatenus praesumatur. Sanctuaria uero suscepta sui cum reuerentia collocabis.


‘Gregory to Bishop Passivus
Valerianus, a notary of the church of your Fraternity, has suggested to us with an ingratiating petition, included herewith in an appendix, that he has founded an oratory to show his devotion, in the Visianus estate under his control, next to the walls of the city of Fermo. He wants this to be consecrated in honour of the blessed martyr Sabinus. And for that reason, dearest brother, if the building mentioned is under the control of your parish, and it is certain that no human body has been buried there, first of all receive the legal donation, that is, three gold coins in return, free of payments to the treasury, and record the transaction in the municipal records. Then you will solemnly consecrate it, without public masses, [ensuring] that [neither now] nor in the future is a baptistery constructed in that place and that you do not appoint its own priest. And if perhaps he should wish masses to be celebrated there, he should know that he must ask for a priest of your choice, so that nothing of that sort is presumed by another priest in any way at all. Once you have received his relics, you will place them therein with due reverence.’


Pope Gregory the Great, Register of Letters 9.59 (to Chrysantus, bishop of Spoleto)


The opening sentence of a short letter:

Valerianus notarius ecclesiae firmanae sanctuaria beati martyris Sauini oblata petitione sibi postulat debere concedi, quatenus in eius nomine oratorium propriis constructum sumptibus possit sollemniter consecrari.

‘Valerianus, a notary of the church of Fermo, asks with a petition that he has offered, that relics of the blessed martyr Sabinus should be granted him, so that an oratory built at his own expense might be solemnly consecrated in his [Sabinus'] name.’


Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 2, 615-16. Translation: Martyn 2004, vol. 2, 580-1, modified.