Letter 97: The Lord, Who reveals hidden things, and makes manifest the counsels of men's hearts, has given even to the lowly knowledge of devices apparently hard to be understood. Nothing has escaped my notice, nor has any single action been unknown. Nevertheless I neither see nor hear anything but the peace of God and all that pertains to it.

To the Senate of Tyana [a city in Cappadocia, modern central Turkey — its senate was the governing council of local notables], God, who reveals what is hidden and exposes what people are really thinking, has let even someone as lowly as me understand what's going on behind the scenes. Nothing has escaped my notice. But all I want to see and hear about is peace — God's peace and everything connected to it. Others may be powerful and self-assured. I am not. I have never imagined I could manage anything alone. I know I need the support of every one of my brothers and sisters — more than one hand needs the other. The Lord taught us the necessity of cooperation through our own bodies. When I look at my own limbs and see that none of them is self-sufficient, how could I think myself capable of handling life's responsibilities on my own? One foot can't walk securely without the other. One eye doesn't see well without its partner. Hearing is sharper through both ears. A grip is stronger when all the fingers work together. Everything accomplished — whether by nature or by choice — depends on working in concert. Even prayer loses its power when it isn't shared. The Lord himself promised to be present where two or three call on him together. The Lord himself took on human flesh [a reference to the Incarnation] so that through the blood of his cross he might make peace between earth and heaven. For all these reasons, I pray that I may live my remaining days in peace and die in peace. For the sake of peace, there is no trouble I won't take on, no humble word or act I'll refuse, no journey too long, no hardship too great — if it means I can help make peace. If anyone follows me in this, good — my prayers are answered. If not, I won't change course. Everyone will receive what their actions deserve on the day of judgment.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To the Senate of Tyana. The Lord, Who reveals hidden things, and makes manifest the counsels of men's hearts, has given even to the lowly knowledge of devices apparently hard to be understood. Nothing has escaped my notice, nor has any single action been unknown. Nevertheless I neither see nor hear anything but the peace of God and all that pertains to it. Others may be great and powerful and self-confident, but I am nothing and worth nothing, and so I could never take upon myself so much as to think myself able to manage matters without support. I know perfectly well that I stand more in need of the succour of each of the brethren than one hand does of the other. Truly, from our own bodily constitution, the Lord has taught us the necessity of fellowship. When I look to these my limbs and see that no out of them is self-sufficient, how can I reckon myself competent to discharge the duties of life? One foot could not walk securely without the support of the other; one eye could not see well, were it not for the alliance of the other and for its being able to look at objects in conjunction with it. Hearing is more exact when sound is received through both channels, and the grasp is made firmer by the fellowship of the fingers. In a word, of all that is done by nature and by the will, I see nothing done without the concord of fellow forces. Even prayer, when it is not united prayer, loses its natural strength and the Lord has told us that He will be in the midst where two or three call on Him in concord. The Lord Himself undertook the economy, that by the blood of His cross He might make peace between things in earth and things in heaven. For all these reasons then, I pray that I may for my remaining days remain in peace; in peace I ask that it may be my lot to fall asleep. For peace's sake there is no trouble that I will not undertake, no act, no word of humility, that I will shrink from; I will reckon no length of journey, I will undergo any inconvenience, if only I may be rewarded by being able to make peace. If I am followed by any one in this direction, it is well, and my prayers are answered; but if the result is different I shall not recede from my determination. Every one will receive the fruit of his own works in the day of retribution. 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/3202097.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.