Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

MISSION OF ST. GREGORY.
which are worth noting. "When, then, Almighty
God takes you to our most reverend brother,
Augustine the bishop, tell him the conclusion of my
long cogitations in the matter of the Angles. This
is that they are by no means to destroy the temples
of the idols in that people, but let the idols in those
temples be destroyed. Let there be holy water, and
let it be sprinkled over those temples; let altars be
constructed and relics placed there, for if those
temples are well built, they ought to be cleansed from.
the worship of demons, and made to serve for the
worship of the true God, so that those people
when they see that
^
their temples are not de-
stroyed may be converted from the error of
their hearts, and knowing and adoring the true
God, may feel more at home in corning to
their accustomed places of prayer. And whereas
many oxen are wont to be slain for " the sacrifice of
demons, they should also change the solemnity in
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this particular as wTell. On the day of dedication or
the feast-day of the holy martyrs whose relics are
placed here they should make tents for themselves
of boughs round these churches which were once
temples, and keep the day with holy feastings. Instead
of immolating animals to the Devil, let them
kill these animals for their own food, and give thanks
to the Giver of All for His plenty, that whilst they
are having some external joy they 111 ay be more
capable of feeling interior joy. For there is 110 doubt
that it is impossible to cut off everything at one