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The early letters of his pontificate are full of Gregory's sense of loss in his new office. He writes to one correspondent, a friend in Constantinople called Narsus (October 590), in a series of gloomy paradoxes:
When you described the sweetness of deep contemplation you stirred again my groans over my ruin, for I heard what I have lost inwardly; although outwardly I have ascended – undeservedly – to the high point of rule (regimen) rainclouds of sorrow blind the eyes of my mind. For I reflect, crashing down from the high point of my peace, to what a low point of outward advancement I have climbed.
(Letter 1.6, ccsl, p. 7.2–9)To the Emperor Maurice's sister Theoctista he writes in October 590:
Under the colours of episcopacy, I have been brought back to the world, in which I am subject to as many worldly responsibilities as I remember myself to have had in my life as a layman. For I have lost the high joys of my peace (alta quietis meae gaudia); tumbling down inwardly, though I seem to have ascended outwardly. That is why I grieve to have been thrust so far from my Creator's face. Every day I strive to be outside the world and outside the flesh.
(Letter 1.5, ccsl, p. 5.6–12, October 590)To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
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