Letter 11078: On receiving your epistles, I was in all manner of ways delighted to hear of your well being, and I entreat Almighty God that He would guard you by His protection from malignant spirits in thought, and from perverse men, and from all contrariety; and that He would, with the grace of His fear, settle you in unions worthy of you, and cause us all ...

Gregory to Barbara and Antonina. I was delighted in every way to receive your letter and to hear that you are well. I pray Almighty God to guard you by his protection from malignant spirits in your thoughts, from wicked men, and from every kind of adversity -- and that by the grace of his holy fear, he may settle you in marriages worthy of you and cause us all to rejoice in your happiness. Most sweet daughters, rest your hope in his help. Under the shelter of his protection, through prayer and good works, escape the schemes of bad men. Whatever human comforts or troubles come your way, none arise unless either his grace protects you or his displeasure tests you. Rest your hope on no human being, but anchor your whole soul in trust in Almighty God. Even while we sleep, he will protect you -- as it is written, "He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep" (Psalm 121:4). You say you are eager to come to the threshold of the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles. I wish for it passionately, and wait with burning desire to see you in his church, united to husbands worthy of you -- so that you may have some comfort from me, and I no little joy from your presence. I have also entrusted your affairs to your most reverend brother Bishop John and to Romanus the defensor, so that under God they may bring to completion what they have begun. The present of two blankets, which you told me you made yourselves -- I accepted gladly. But I must confess I did not believe you for a moment. You are claiming credit for someone else's handiwork. I doubt you have ever put hand to spindle! But this does not trouble me. I would rather you loved the reading of Holy Scripture, so that when Almighty God joins you to husbands, you will know how to live and how to manage your households.

Book XI, Letter 78 To Barbara and Antonina . Gregory to Barbara, etc. On receiving your epistles, I was in all manner of ways delighted to hear of your well being, and I entreat Almighty God that He would guard you by His protection from malignant spirits in thought, and from perverse men, and from all contrariety; and that He would, with the grace of His fear, settle you in unions worthy of you, and cause us all to rejoice in your settlement . But do you, most sweet daughters, rest your hope on His help, and, being always under the shadow of His defense, both by praying and by well doing, escape the plots of bad men. For, whatever human comforts or adversities there may be, there are none, unless either His grace protects or His displeasure troubles you. Rest therefore your hope on no one among men, but bind your whole soul to trust in Almighty God. While we sleep, then, He will protect you, of whom it is written, Behold he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep Psalm 120:4 . As to your saying that you are in haste to approach the threshold of the blessed Peter, Prince of the apostles, I wish exceedingly, and wait with fervent desire, to see you in his church united to husbands well worthy of you; that so both you may obtain some little comfort from me, and I no little joy from your presence. I have also commended your causes to your most reverend brother the bishop John , and to Romanus the guardian (defensori), that under God they may accomplish what they have begun. Your present of two racanæ , which you sent me word were your work, I accepted gladly. But yet know that I did not believe the word you sent me. For you are seeking praise from the work of others, seeing that you have perhaps never yet put hand to spindle. Nor yet does this circumstance distress me, since I wish you to love the reading of Holy Scripture, that, so long as Almighty God shall unite you to husbands, you may know how you should live and how you should manage your houses. 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/360211078.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.