Letter 194: What are you about, most excellent sir, in anticipating me in humility? Educated as you are, and able to write such a letter as you have sent, you nevertheless ask for forgiveness at my hands, as though you were engaged in some undertaking rash and beyond your position. But a truce to mockery.

From: Basil, Bishop of Caesarea To: Zoilus Date: ~368 AD Context: Basil responds to a flattering letter from Zoilus with characteristic humor, then gives a stark report on his health. What are you doing, my excellent friend, outstripping me in humility? Educated as you are, capable of writing such a fine letter, you still ask my forgiveness -- as though you had done something rash or above your station. But enough of that game. Keep writing to me at every opportunity. Am I not practically illiterate? It is a delight to read the letters of an eloquent writer. Have I not learned from Scripture how good a thing love is? I count the companionship of a loving friend beyond all value. And I hope you will be able to tell me of all the good things I pray for you: the best of health and prosperity for your entire household. As for my own affairs, my condition is no more bearable than usual. That much is enough to tell you -- you will understand how bad my health is. It has indeed reached such a pitch of suffering that it is as hard to describe as to endure (assuming your own experience has not matched mine). But it is the work of our good God to give me the strength to bear patiently whatever trials are sent for my benefit by our merciful Lord.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Zoilus. What are you about, most excellent sir, in anticipating me in humility? Educated as you are, and able to write such a letter as you have sent, you nevertheless ask for forgiveness at my hands, as though you were engaged in some undertaking rash and beyond your position. But a truce to mockery. Continue to write to me on every occasion. Am I not wholly illiterate? It is delightful to read the letters of an eloquent writer. Have I learned from Scripture how good a thing is love? I count intercourse with a loving friend invaluable. And I do hope that you may tell me of all the good gifts which I pray for you; the best of health, and the prosperity of all your house. Now as to my own affairs, my condition is not more endurable than usual. It is enough to tell you this and you will understand the bad state of my health. It has indeed reached such extreme suffering as to be as difficult to describe as to experience, if indeed your own experience has fallen short of mine. But it is the work of the good God to give me power to bear in patience whatever trials are inflicted on me for my own good at the hands of our merciful Lord. 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/3202194.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.