Concerning the Elections and Ordinations of Bishops.
ST. Gregory does not meddle with choosing the Bishops of the Churches depending upon his Me∣tropolis, but leaves the Clergy and People the Liberty of Election; and when they have chosen one, if he be found worthy, he Ordains him: But if he be found incapable, he orders them to choose another, B. 8. Ep. 18. B. 3. Ep. 2. B. 6. Ep. 38. B. 1. Ep. 56, 57. B. 2. Ind. 10. Ep. 18. B. 8. Ep. 18, 34. B. 12. Ep. 6.
He does not assume to himself the Ordinations of the Bishops which were not his Suffragans, but he would have them Ordain'd by those to whom it belongs, B. 2. Ind. 11. Ep 29, 30, 31. B. 11. Ep. 57. When there are no fit Persons found upon the place, he allows the Clergy and People to send Depu∣ties to Rome, to choose one of the Clergy of Italy, B. 2. Ind. 11. Ep. 15. B. 11. Ep. 14. When Per∣sons cannot be found that are every way fit, he allows of such as are indifferently good, B. 4. Ep. 19. When there is a Contest between the Clergy and the People, as happen'd at the Election of a Bi∣shop of Syracuse, when the People chose one Person, and the Clergy chose another, he orders, That they should both come to Rome, and that he shall be preferr'd, who best deserves this Dignity, B. 4. Ep. 47. He would have the Opinion of those who are absent ask'd, if they be of the Nobility, B. 2. Ind. 11. Ep. 29, 30, 31. Tho he does not meddle with Elections, yet he sometimes excludes those who are chosen, as he did Maximus out of the Bishoprick of Salonae, B. 3. Ep. 15. and sometimes he proposes Persons whom he thinks well qualified, B. 3. Ep. 15. He describes to the Electors the Qualifications he ought to have whom they choose, B. 2. Ind. 11. Ep. 29. & B. 4. Ep. 47. He approves of the Elections made by way of Compromise, B. 2. Ind. 11. Ep. 35.
These following are the excellent Rules which St. Gregory prescribes about the Choice of Bishops. The Electors should examin his Life whom they are about to choose, as far as by Law they can: They should not be partial, either for Favour, Sollicitation, or Money, B. 7. Ind. 2. Ep. 26. B. 11. Ep. 19. They should not consider their own particular Profit, but only the Glory of God and the Good of his Church, B. 2. Ind. 11. Ep. 29. B. 4. Ep. 47. They must deny the Bishoprick to those who seek after it, and give it to those that shun it, B. 6. Ep. 4. They must prefer those that are of the Clergy of the Church before others, B. 1. Ep. 56. B. 2. Ind. 10. Ep. 19. B. 7. Ind. 2. Ep. 25.
They must not choose a Lay-man B. 2. Ind. 10. Ep. 19. ibid. Ind. 2. Ep. 111, 114, 115. B. 3. Ep. 39. B. 7. Ind. 2. Ep. 112, 115. B. 11. Ep. 16. They must reject those who solicite for a Bi∣shoprick, B. 11. Ep. 19. They must not choose a Person too old, B. 12. Ep. 6. nor one of the youn∣ger sort, B. 2. Ind. 11. Ep. 47, & 48.
They must not choose, nor Ordain Bigamists, nor those who have espoused Widows, nor those who are ignorant of Learning, nor those who have any notable defect in their Body, nor those who have done publick Penance, nor those who have any Personal Obligation to another Office, nor Strangers that are unknown, B. 2. Ep. 25.