Gregory to Felix, bishop of Messina. It befits us with our own consideration to remit those customs which are said to bring a burden upon the churches, lest they be forced to bring anything thither whence they ought rather to expect things to be brought to them. It is fitting indeed to preserve inviolate the customary payments of clerics or of others, and to transmit yearly the things that are accustomed. But for the rest, we forbid that you should be bound to transmit anything to us. And since we take no delight in gifts, the Palmatian dates which your Fraternity sent we have received with thanksgiving; but, lest you should thereby suffer any loss, we have caused them to be sold at a worthy price, and have transmitted that sum to your Fraternity in full.
189:2
Sedquiacharitatemtuamadnosvenirevellecognovimus, SCIipLispræsentibusadmonemusutadveniendumnondebeaslaboremassumere; sedorapronobis, utquantonositinerisintervalladissociant, tantoanimisnostrisadinviccmChristoadjuvantesimusincharitateconjuncti, quatenusnosalternaobsecrationejuvantes, susceptumofficiumventurointegrumjudiciresignemus. (Cf. Joan. Diac. I. tu, c. 24.)
But since we have learned that your Charity wishes to come to us, we admonish you by these present writings that you should not undertake the labour of coming; but pray for us, that as far as the intervals of the journey separate us, so much the more may we, with Christ's help, be joined together in charity in our mutual minds; so that, aiding one another by mutual intercession, we may render up the office we have undertaken whole and entire to the Judge who is to come. (Cf. John the Deacon, Book III, ch. 24.)