{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/212/2120416.htm","path":"chr/ecf/212/2120416.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/212/2120416.htm","text":"Gregory to Secundinus, Bishop of Tauromenium. [In Sicily.]\nSome time ago we ordered that the baptistery 1511 should be removed from the monastery of Saint Andrew, which is above Mascal\u00e6, because of inconvenience to the monks, and that an altar should be erected in the place where the fonts now are. But the carrying out of this order has been put off so far. We therefore admonish thy Fraternity that thou interpose no further delay after receiving this our letter, but that the fonts themselves be filled up 1512 , and an altar at once erected there for celebration of the sacred mysteries; to the end that the aforesaid monks may be at liberty to celebrate more securely the work of God, and that our mind be not provoked against thy Fraternity for negligence.\nBaptisteries (baptisteria) were anciently separate buildings adjoining churches (cf. VI. 22), the fontes being the pools of water (called also piscin\u00e6 and \u03ba\u03bf\u03bb\u03c5\u03bc\u03b2\u03ae\u03b8\u03c1\u03b1) therein contained. (See Bingham, B. VIII. C. VII. Sect. 1, 4.) The inconvenience to the monks of having a baptistery at their monastery would be from the concourse of people resorting to it, which would interfere with monastic seclusion. For a similar reason Gregory more than once forbids public masses in monasteries. Cf. e.g. II. 41; VI. 46.\n139b:1512\nFonts were anciently sunken pools. \u201cIn medio habet fontem in terra excavatam ad quinque ulnas\u2026tribus gradibus in id descensus est.\u201d Onuphrius, de baptisterio Lateran.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. XII: The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great.: Epistle LIX","type":"page"}