Letter 168: I mourn for the Church that is deprived of the guidance of such a shepherd. But I have so much the more ground for congratulating you on being worthy of the privilege of enjoying, at such a moment, the society of one who is fighting such a good fight in the cause of the truth, and I am sure that you, who nobly support and stimulate his zeal, wil...

From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea To: Antiochus Date: ~367 AD Context: Basil consoles Antiochus, who is now in the company of an exiled bishop, and urges him to appreciate the blessing of time spent with a great teacher. I grieve for the church that has lost the guidance of such a shepherd. But I have all the more reason to congratulate you on being privileged to enjoy, at a time like this, the company of a man fighting so noble a fight for the truth. I am confident that you, who so generously support and encourage his zeal, will be counted worthy by the Lord of a share in his reward. What a blessing -- to enjoy, in unbroken peace, the company of someone so rich in learning and experience! Now, at last, you must surely know how wise he is. In the old days his mind was necessarily pulled in many directions, and you were too busy a man to give your full attention to the spiritual fountain that flows from his pure heart. May God grant that you will always be a comfort to him and never yourself need comfort from others. I am confident of your heart's disposition, both from the brief time I have known you and from the exalted teaching of your illustrious instructor -- a man with whom a single day spent is provision enough for the whole journey to salvation.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Antiochus. I mourn for the Church that is deprived of the guidance of such a shepherd. But I have so much the more ground for congratulating you on being worthy of the privilege of enjoying, at such a moment, the society of one who is fighting such a good fight in the cause of the truth, and I am sure that you, who nobly support and stimulate his zeal, will be thought worthy by the Lord of a lot like his. What a blessing, to enjoy in unbroken quiet the society of the man so rich in learning and experienced in life! Now, at least, you must, I am sure, know how wise he is. In days gone by his mind was necessarily given to many divided cares, and you were too busy a man to give your sole heed to the spiritual fountain which springs from his pure heart. God grant that you may be a comfort to him, and never yourself want consolation from others. I am sure of the disposition of your heart, alike from the experience which I, for a short time, have had of you, and from the exalted teaching your illustrious instructor, with whom to pass one single day is a sufficient provision for the journey to salvation. 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/3202168.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.