Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XII/Gregory the Great/Register of Epistles/Book IV/Chapter 16

Epistle XXIII.

To Hospito, Duke of the Barbaricini.

Gregory to Hospito, &amp;c.

Since no one of thy race is a Christian, I hereby know that thou art better than all thy race, in that thou in it art found to be a Christian.&#160; For, while all the Barbaricini live as senseless animals, know not the true, but adore stocks and stones, in the very fact that thou worshippest the true thou shewest how much thou excellest them all.&#160; But carry thou out the faith which thou hast received in good deeds and words, and offer what is in thy power to Christ in whom thou believest, so as to bring to Him as many as thou canst, and cause them to be baptized, and admonish them to set their affection on eternal life.&#160; And if perchance thou canst not do this thyself, being otherwise occupied, I beg thee, with my greeting, to succour in all ways our men whom we have sent to your parts, to wit my fellow-bishop Felix, and my son, the servant of, Cyriacus , so that in aiding their labours thou mayest shew thy devotion to Almighty , and that He whose servants thou succourest in their good work may be a helper to thee in all good deeds.&#160; We have sent you through them a blessing of St. Peter the apostle, which I beg you to receive, as you ought to do, kindly.&#160; The month of June, Indiction 12.