Letter 11029: They who desire, after earthly dominion, to obtain the glory of a heavenly kingdom ought to labour earnestly to bring in gain to their Creator, that they may be able to rise by the steps of their operation to the things they long for; as we are glad to know you do. For indeed our most beloved son Laurentius the presbyter, and Peter the monk, hav...

Gregory to Bertha, Queen of the English. Those who desire, after earthly dominion, to attain the glory of the heavenly kingdom ought to work earnestly to bring returns to their Creator, so that they may rise by the steps of their efforts to the things they long for -- as I am glad to know you do. Our most beloved son Laurentius the priest, and Peter the monk, have brought us word on their return of how your Glory has supported and shown great charity to our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Augustine. We bless Almighty God, who has been mercifully pleased to reserve the conversion of the English nation for your reward. For just as He kindled the hearts of the Romans to the Christian faith through Helena of illustrious memory, mother of the most devout Emperor Constantine, so we trust that He works among the English through the zeal of your Glory. Indeed, you ought before now, as a true Christian, to have used the good influence of your wisdom to incline the heart of our glorious son, your husband, to embrace the faith you profess -- for the good of his kingdom and his own soul, so that fitting reward might come to you in the joys of heaven for his conversion and for the conversion of the whole nation through him. Since, as I have said, your Glory is fortified by right faith and instructed in learning, this should have been neither slow of accomplishment nor difficult. Now that a favorable time has come by God's will, proceed with the cooperation of divine grace to make up with interest what has been neglected. Strengthen your glorious husband's mind through constant encouragement in love of the Christian faith. Let your devoted attention pour into him an increase of love for God, and kindle his heart toward the fullest conversion of the nation subject to him. Then the reward of your good works will increase in the eternal joys that await you.

Book XI, Letter 29 To Bertha, Queen of the Angli . Gregory to Bertha, etc. They who desire, after earthly dominion, to obtain the glory of a heavenly kingdom ought to labour earnestly to bring in gain to their Creator, that they may be able to rise by the steps of their operation to the things they long for; as we are glad to know you do. For indeed our most beloved son Laurentius the presbyter, and Peter the monk, have brought us word on their return to us how your Glory has exhibited itself towards our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Augustine, and how great succour and what charity you have bestowed upon him. And we bless Almighty God, who has been mercifully pleased to reserve the conversion of the nation of the Angli for your reward. For, as through Helena of illustrious memory, the mother of the most pious Emperor Constantine, He kindled the hearts of the Romans into Christian faith, so we trust that He works in the nation of the Angli through the zeal of your Glory. And indeed you ought before now, as being truly a Christian, to have inclined the heart of our glorious son, your husband, by the good influence of your prudence, to follow, for the good of his kingdom and of his own soul, the faith which you profess, to the end that for him, and for the conversion of the whole nation through him, fit retribution might accrue to you in the joys of heaven. For seeing, as we have said, that your Glory is both fortified by a right faith and instructed in letters, this should have been to you neither slow of accomplishment nor difficult. And since, by the will of God, now is a suitable time, so proceed, with the co-operation of divine grace, as to be able to make reparation with increase for what has been neglected. Wherefore strengthen by continual hortation the mind of your glorious husband in love of the Christian faith; let your solicitude infuse into him increase of love for God, and so kindle his heart even for the fullest conversion of the nation subject to him that both he may offer, out of the zeal of your devotion, a great sacrifice to the Almighty Lord, and that the things related of you may both grow and be in all ways proved to be true: for your good deeds are known not only among the Romans, who have prayed earnestly for your life, but also through various places, and have come even to the ears of the most serene prince at Constantinople. Hence, as great joy has been caused us by the consolations of your Christianity, so also may there be joy in heaven for your perfected work. So acquit yourselves devotedly and with all your might in aid of our above-named most reverend brother and fellow bishop, and of the servants of God whom we have sent to you, in the conversion of your nation that you may both reign happily here with our glorious son your husband, and after long courses of years may also attain the joys of the future life, which know no end. Now we pray Almighty God that He would both kindle the heart of your Glory with the fire of His grace to perform what we have spoken of, and grant you the fruit of an eternal reward for work well-pleasing to Him. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 13. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1898.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360211029.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.