E06427: A letter of Pope Gregory the Great (Register 12.2) of 601, to Sabinella, Columba and Galla, three noblewomen of north Africa, is accompanied by a key containing a fragment of the chains of *Peter (the Apostle, S00036); hung round the neck, it will them grant the grace of absolution. Written in Latin in Rome.

Pope Gregory the Great, Register of Letters 12.2


The closing sentences of the letter:

Praeterea gloriam uestram paterno salutantes affectu, indicamus per latorem praesentium Hilarum cartularium nostrum clauem nos a sacratissimo corpore beati Petri apostolorum principis transmisisse, in qua de catenis quoque ipsius benedictio continetur. Quae collo uestro suspensa, hoc uobis eo intercedente gratia absolutionis fiat, quod illi fuit causa martyrii. Omnipotens Deus in suo uos timore custodiat atque sic cor uestrum ad bonam semper operationem accendat, ut et hic uobis, suam gratiam tribuat et ad gaudia uos postmodum aeterna perducat.

‘Furthermore, greeting your Glorious selves with fatherly affection, we indicate through the bearer of this letter, our cartularius Hilary, that we have sent over a key from the most sacred body of Saint Peter, prince of the apostles, in which a relic is also contained from Peter’s chains. Hung around your neck, let this relic become a means of absolution for the three of you with his intercession, as it was a cause of his martyrdom. May almighty God protect you through fear of him, and may he so inspire your hearts always to do good deeds that he may pour his grace on you here and lead you afterwards to eternal joys.’


Text: Norberg 1982, vol. 2, 970. Translation: Martyn 2004, vol. 3, 808, lightly modified.