Gregory to Claudius the abbot. When the most reverend Severus, the bishop, came, I believed that your Charity too was coming together with him to the thresholds of blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, for so it had been announced to me, and I greatly rejoiced at that same announcement. But I believe you were hindered by the occupations of the monastery, and that therefore you by no means came to me. Receiving, however, the letters which your Charity had sent before this time, I read them over in secret, as you wished. But concerning the three persons of whom you had written, I saw nothing to be possible; especially concerning that person who was here with me, I do not suspect that anything of the kind can usefully be done, since she seemed to me to be sluggish either from simplicity of nature or from negligence.
And therefore let your Charity make inquiry there, if it can accomplish anything, and dispose the matter carefully, and come to me. But if you cannot come, or ought to come after some time, then, if life be your companion, spend up to five or six months with me, and afterward return to your own place. May the grace of almighty God guard you from all adversity.