Leo VII.
WE have likewise three Letters remaining of Leo VII.
The First is directed to Hugh, Duke of France, and Abbot of S. Martin of Tours. * 1.1 He therein enjoyns him, under the pain of excommunication, not to suffer any Women to stay, or so much as enter within the inclosure of that Monastery.
The Second is directed to Gerard, Archbishop of Lorch in Germany. He grants him the Pall, and permits him to make use of it, not only on the days of consecrating the Holy Chrism, and of the Resurrection of our Lord, but also on the Festivals of Christmass, of the Blessed Virgin, of the Apostles, of St. John the Baptist, of St. Lawrence, of St. Stephen, and of all those Saints whose Bodies lay interr'd in his Church, and on the Day of his own Consecration, and of the Dedication of the Church; during the consecration of Bishops and Priests, and the Sermons to the new Converts. He exhorts him to behave himself so, as that the Sanctity of his Mo••als may be suitable to the Dignity of that Ornament, and afterwards makes a very edifying Mo••al discourse upon that subject.
This Gerard came afterwards to Rome, and consulted with the Pope about several Questions, to which he gave an answer directed to the Bishops of France and Germany. The first of these Questions is concerning Necromancers, Magicians, and Wizards, whether they ought to be admitted to Penitence: The Pope reply'd, that the Bishops ought to bring them over to repentance by their exhortations, that so they might live like Penitents rather than dye like Criminals. He adds, that if they slighted the censures of the Bishops, they ought to be punish'd according to the Rigor of the civil Laws. The second Question is, whether the Bishops ought to say Pax Vobis, or Dominus Vobiscum: the Pope reply'd, that they ought to act conformably to the custom of the Church of Rome, wherein Pax Vobis was said on Sundays, the principal Festivals, and on the Festivals of the Saints, on which days they likewise said Gloria in excelsis; and that Dominus vobiscum was us'd in the time of Lent, the Ember-Weeks, the Vigil of Saints, and ••n Fast-days. The third Question is, to know whether the Lords Prayer ought to be said at the benediction of the Table: The Pope reply'd, No, because the Apostles recited it at the consecration of the Bo∣dy and Blood of JESUS-CHRIST. The fourth is, whether a man might marry with his God-mother, or God-daughter: The Pope reply'd, that such Marriages were forbid∣den. The fifth has respect to those Priests who marry publickly: The Pope orders, that th••y shall be depriv'd of their Dignity, but that their Children should not be endamaged thereby. The sixth is, whether Surfragan Bishops can consecrate Churches, ordain Priests, or Confirm: The Pope prohibits it, according to the tenth Canon of the Council of An∣tioch. The seventh is, concerning those who marry their Relations without knowing it, and who afterwards upon the knowledge thereof, confess it to the Priest: the Pope or∣ders, that they shall be parted and enjoyn'd Pennance. The last is, concerning those who rob Churches: the Pope declares, that the Bishops ought to proceed against them with all the Authority God has put into their hands. At the end of this Letter he adds, that he constituted Gerard his Vicar in Germany; and exhorts the Bishops to joyn with him in reforming those abuses, which the Incursions of the Pagans, and the persecution rais'd by false Christians had introduc'd.
These Letters of Leo are written in a pretty good Stile, and full of good Maxims, and confirm the Judgment which Flodoard has passed upon him, that he was a great Servant of God. [His Letters are extant Concil. Tom. IX. p. 594.]