Letter 163: One can see your soul in your letter, for in reality no painter can so exactly catch an outward likeness, as uttered thoughts can image the secrets of the soul. As I read your letter, your words exactly characterized your steadfastness, your real dignity, your unfailing sincerity; in all those things it comforted me greatly though I could not se...

From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea To: Count Jovinus Date: ~366 AD Context: Basil praises Jovinus's character as revealed in his letter and apologizes for being too ill to visit, directing him to Bishop Amphilochius for details. One can see your soul in your letter. No painter can capture an outward likeness as precisely as written words can reveal the secrets of the heart. As I read, your words portrayed exactly your steadfastness, your genuine dignity, your unfailing sincerity -- and in all these things your letter greatly comforted me, though I could not see you in person. So never pass up a chance to write to me. Give me the pleasure of conversing with you from a distance, since seeing you face to face is now forbidden by the wretched state of my health. How serious it is, you will learn from the God-beloved bishop Amphilochius, who has been constantly at my side and can tell you fully what he has seen. The only reason I want you to know of my sufferings is so that you will forgive me going forward, and not hold it against me if I fail to come and see you. In truth, my loss requires your comfort more than my defense. Had it been possible to come to you, I would have preferred a sight of your excellency to anything other men think worth striving for.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Count Jovinus. One can see your soul in your letter, for in reality no painter can so exactly catch an outward likeness, as uttered thoughts can image the secrets of the soul. As I read your letter, your words exactly characterized your steadfastness, your real dignity, your unfailing sincerity; in all those things it comforted me greatly though I could not see you. Never fail, then, to seize every opportunity of writing to me, and to give me the pleasure of conversing with you at a distance; for to see you face to face I am now forbidden by the distressing state of my health. How serious this is you will learn from the God-beloved bishop Amphilochius, who is both able to report to you from his having been constantly with me, and fully competent to tell you what he has seen. But the only reason why I wish you to know of my sufferings is, that you will forgive me for the future, and acquit me of lack of energy, if I fail to come and see you, though in truth my loss does not so much need defense from me as comfort from you. Had it been possible for me to come to you, I should have very much preferred a sight of your excellency to all the ends that other men count worth an effort. About this page Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202163.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.