Letter 15: 1. This letter indicates a scarcity of paper, but not so as to testify that parchment is plentiful here. My ivory tablets I used in the letter which I sent to your uncle.

Augustine to Romanianus — Greetings. 1. This letter announces a paper shortage — though do not imagine that parchment is any more plentiful here. I used my ivory writing tablets for the letter I sent to your uncle, so you will have to forgive this scrap of parchment. What I wrote to him could not wait, and I thought it would be absurd to let a lack of decent stationery keep me from writing to you at all. But if any of my tablets are with you, please send them back — I may need them again. I have been writing something, as the Lord has enabled me, on the subject of the Catholic religion, and I want to send it to you before I arrive in person — if my paper holds out. You will, I trust, accept whatever form of writing comes from the workshop of the brothers here with me. As for the manuscripts you mentioned: I have forgotten all of them except the books On the Orator. But I could not have written anything better than what I already told you — take whichever ones you like. I am still of the same mind, and at this distance I do not know what else I can do. 2. It gave me great pleasure that in your last letter you wanted to share your domestic happiness with me. But — "Would you have me forget how soon the deep, so tranquil now, may wear another face, and rouse these slumbering waves?" Yet I know you would not have me forget that, nor do you forget it yourself. So if some leisure is granted you for deeper reflection, make the most of that divine blessing. When such things come our way, we should not merely congratulate ourselves but show gratitude to the One who grants them. For if we manage temporal blessings justly, kindly, and with the sobriety that befits their passing nature — if they are held by us without holding us, multiplied without entangling us, and serve us without enslaving us — then we earn the reward of blessings that are eternal. As the Truth himself said: "If you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own?" Let us therefore free ourselves from anxious attachment to passing things. Let us seek what is imperishable and sure. Let us rise above our worldly possessions. The bee does not need its wings any less when its store of honey is full — for if it sinks into the honey, it dies.

Letter 15 (A.D. 390) To Romanianus Augustine Sends Greeting. 1. This letter indicates a scarcity of paper, but not so as to testify that parchment is plentiful here. My ivory tablets I used in the letter which I sent to your uncle. You will more readily excuse this scrap of parchment, because what I wrote to him could not be delayed, and I thought that not to write to you for want of better material would be most absurd. But if any tablets of mine are with you, I request you to send them to meet a case of this kind. I have written something, as the Lord has deigned to enable me, concerning the Catholic religion, which before my coming I wish to send to you, if my paper does not fail me in the meantime. For you will receive with indulgence any kind of writing from the office of the brethren who are with me. As to the manuscripts of which you speak, I have entirely forgotten them, except the books de Oratore; but I could not have written anything better than that you should take such of them as you please, and I am still of the same mind; for at this distance I know not what else I can do in the matter. 2. It gave me very great pleasure that in your last letter you desired to make me a sharer of your joy at home; but Would you have me forget how soon the deep, So tranquil now, may wear another face, And rouse these slumbering waves? Yet I know you would not have me forget this, nor are you yourself unmindful of it. Wherefore, if some leisure is granted you for more profound meditation, improve this divine blessing. For when these things fall to our lot, we should not only congratulate ourselves, but show our gratitude to those to whom we owe them; for if in the stewardship of temporal blessings we act in a manner that is just and kind, and with the moderation and sobriety of spirit which befits the transient nature of these possessions, — if they are held by us without laying hold on us, are multiplied without entangling us, and serve us without bringing us into bondage, such conduct entitles us to the recompense of eternal blessings. For by Him who is the Truth it was said: If you have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who will give you that which is your own? Let us therefore disengage ourselves from care about the passing things of time; let us seek the blessings that are imperishable and sure; let us soar above our worldly possessions. The bee does not the less need its wings when it has gathered an abundant store; for if it sink in the honey it dies. About this page Source. Translated by J.G. Cunningham. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 1. Edited by Philip Schaff. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1887.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1102015.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.