Gregory to Magnus, presbyter of the Church of Milan. Just as, when fault demands it, one is worthily driven from the communion of the sacrament, so upon the innocent ought such a vengeance by no means to be inflicted. We have indeed ascertained that Laurentius, formerly our brother and fellow-bishop, deprived you of communion, no faults existing; and therefore, fortified by the authority of this our command, discharge your office in security, and take up communion without any fear. This moreover we have judged it necessary to exhort you to, that you so purely and diligently show yourself in all the interests of your Church, that no offence may regard you concerning any neglect;
276:2
etculpam, siquainte, propterquamDominicicorporisetsanguiniscommunionefuerasprivatus, vellatensinventaest, tuaefideipuritatedetergas. Admoneigiturclerumetpoputum, utadeligendumnullatenusdissentiantsacerdotem; sedunoconsensutalemabieligantconsecrandumepiscopum, cujusetactuslaudabiles, etgrataDeoethominibuspossitessepersona; nesialiteractumfuerit, indiversis, quodabsit, studiis, damnumecclesiasticisrebuseveniat. cMenseAprili, indictione \ I. (Cf. Joan. Diac. I. IV, c. 33. Videinf. ep. 29.)
and any fault, if any there be in you, on account of which you had been deprived of the communion of the Lord's body and blood, or if any lurking one has been found, wipe it away by the purity of your faith. Admonish therefore the clergy and people, that they in no wise dissent in electing a priest; but with one consent let them elect for themselves such a one to be consecrated bishop, whose acts also may be praiseworthy, and whose person may be pleasing to God and men; lest, if it be done otherwise, harm should, God forbid, befall the ecclesiastical goods amid diverse partisanships. In the month of April, in the second indiction. (Compare John the Deacon, book 4, chapter 33. See below, letter 29.)