Letter 62: St. Ambrose excuses himself for having omitted an opportunity of writing to the Emperor, but is now sending a letter by the hands of a deacon, requesting forgiveness for some of Eugenius' followers who had sought the protection of the Church, especially in consideration of the miraculous aid which had been vouchsafed to the Emperor. Ambrose, to ...

Ambrose excuses himself for having missed an earlier opportunity to write to the Emperor, but is now sending a letter through a deacon. He requests forgiveness for some of Eugenius' followers [Eugenius was a Western usurper emperor, 392-394, defeated by Theodosius at the Battle of the Frigidus] who have sought the protection of the Church, especially in light of the miraculous aid granted to the Emperor in battle. Ambrose, to the Emperor Theodosius [Emperor Theodosius I, 379-395 — the last emperor to rule both East and West]. 1. Although I recently wrote to your Clemency a second time, it did not seem to me that I had adequately fulfilled the obligation of our correspondence by merely replying in kind. For I have been so frequently blessed by your Clemency's kindness that I cannot repay what I owe through any service of mine, most blessed and august Emperor. 2. And so, just as I could not let the first opportunity pass — when through your chamberlain I was able to thank your Clemency and pay my respects, especially lest my earlier silence seem to have been caused by laziness rather than necessity — so too I had to find some way of presenting my dutiful greetings to your Piety. 3. And so I rightly send my son, the deacon Felix, to carry my letter and to present my respects to you in my place, along with a petition on behalf of those who have fled to the Church — the Mother of your Piety — seeking mercy. I could not bear their tears without acting first through my entreaty, before your Clemency even arrives. 4. What I ask is a great favor, but I ask it from one to whom the Lord has granted great and unprecedented things — from one whose mercy I know and whose devotion I hold as my guarantee. For your victory is regarded as having been granted to you in the ancient manner, with the old miracles [referring to the legendary storm that turned against Eugenius' army at the Battle of the Frigidus in 394] — a victory like those granted to holy Moses, holy Joshua son of Nun, Samuel, and David — won not by human strategy but by the outpouring of heavenly grace. Now we expect a degree of gentleness equal to the greatness of the victory that has been won.

St. Ambrose excuses himself for having omitted an opportunity of writing to the Emperor, but is now sending a letter by the hands of a deacon, requesting forgiveness for some of Eugenius' followers who had sought the protection of the Church, especially in consideration of the miraculous aid which had been vouchsafed to the Emperor. Ambrose, to the Emperor Theodosius. 1. Although I lately wrote to your Clemency even a second time, it did not seem to me that I had responded sufficiently to the duty of intercourse by answering as it were in turn, for I have been so bound by frequent benefits from your Clemency, that I cannot repay what I owe by any services, most blessed and august Emperor. 2. And so just as the first opportunity was not to be lost by me, when, through your chamberlain, I was able to thank your Clemency and to pay the duty of an address, especially lest my not having written before should seem to have been owing to sloth rather than necessity, so, too, I had to seek some manner of rendering to your Piety my dutiful salutations. 3. And rightly do I send my son, the deacon Felix, to bear my letter, and, at the same time, to present to you my duty, in my place, and also a memorial on behalf of those who have fled to the Church, the Mother of your Piety, seeking mercy. I have been unable to endure their tears without anticipating by my entreaty the coming of your Clemency. 4. It is a great boon that I ask, but I ask it from him to whom the Lord has granted great and unheard-of things, from him whose clemency I know, and whose piety I have as a pledge. For your victory is considered to have been granted to you after the ancient manner, and with the old miracles, a victory such as was granted to holy Moses, and holy Joshua, son of Nave, and Samuel, and David, not by human calculations, but by the outpouring of heavenly grace. Now we expect an equal amount of gentleness with that by virtue of which so great a victory has been gained. About this page Source. Translated by H. de Romestin, E. de Romestin and H.T.F. Duckworth. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 10. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1896.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/340962.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.