Letter 2027: On receiving the epistle of your Excellency I was relieved by the welcome news of your welfare, hoping that the Lord in His mercy may protect and direct your life and doings. But I wondered much why you have turned from your intention and vow to accomplish a good work in respect of your meditated journey to the holy places , seeing that, when an...
Pope Gregory the Great→Rusticiana, Patrician|c. 591 AD|gregory great
arianismillnessimperial politicstravel mobility
Imperial politics; Travel & mobility; Military conflict
Book II, Letter 27
To Rusticiana, Patrician [a noblewoman of the highest rank, living in Constantinople].
Gregory to Rusticiana.
On receiving Your Excellency's letter, I was cheered by the welcome news of your health, hoping that the Lord in His mercy may protect and guide your life. But I was very surprised that you have abandoned your intention and vow to make a pilgrimage to the holy places [in Jerusalem].
When anything good is planted in the heart by the Creator, it must be carried out promptly and with devotion. Otherwise, the cunning enemy [the devil] who seeks to ensnare the soul will later suggest obstacles, and the mind, weakened by worldly distractions, will fail to follow through on its desires. You must anticipate any obstacles to your pious plans and pursue the fruit of this good work with all the effort of your heart, so that you may both live peacefully in this world and gain possession of the heavenly kingdom in the next.
As for what you wrote about Passivus trying to spread slander against you, consider that the most pious emperors not only refused to listen to him but treated him harshly for it. Turn the whole hope of your soul to the One who powerfully prevents the wicked from doing all the harm they wish to do. May He beat back their evil intentions and mercifully shatter their schemes, as He has always done.
I ask that you give my greetings to the distinguished Lord Appio and the lady Eusebia, the Lord Eudoxius and the lady Gregoria.
Book II, Letter 27
To Rusticiana, Patrician.
Gregory to Rusticiana, etc.
On receiving the epistle of your Excellency I was relieved by the welcome news of your welfare, hoping that the Lord in His mercy may protect and direct your life and doings. But I wondered much why you have turned from your intention and vow to accomplish a good work in respect of your meditated journey to the holy places , seeing that, when anything good is by the gift of the Creator conceived in the heart, it is needful that it be carried out with quick devotion, lest, while the cunning plotter strives to ensnare the soul, he should afterwards suggest impediments, whereby the mind, weakened by occupations, may fail to carry its desires into effect. Whence it is necessary that your Excellency should anticipate all impediments that come in the way of pious designs, and gasp after the fruit of good work with all the efforts of your heart, that so you may succeed in living tranquilly in the present world and gaining possession of a heavenly kingdom in the future. But as to what you have written to us of Passivus having attempted to spread some calumnies against you, consider, on the other hand, that the most pious emperors have not only been unwilling to listen to them, but have also received the author of them roughly; and turn the whole hope of your soul to Him Who powerfully prevents men in this world from doing as much harm as they long to do, that so He may beat back the wicked intentions of men by the opposition of His arm, and Himself mercifully shatter their attempts, as He has been wont to do. I entreat that the glorious Lord Appio and the lady Eusebia, the Lord Eudoxius and the lady Gregoria, be greeted in my name through you.
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Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. 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/360202027.htm>.
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Book II, Letter 27
To Rusticiana, Patrician [a noblewoman of the highest rank, living in Constantinople].
Gregory to Rusticiana.
On receiving Your Excellency's letter, I was cheered by the welcome news of your health, hoping that the Lord in His mercy may protect and guide your life. But I was very surprised that you have abandoned your intention and vow to make a pilgrimage to the holy places [in Jerusalem].
When anything good is planted in the heart by the Creator, it must be carried out promptly and with devotion. Otherwise, the cunning enemy [the devil] who seeks to ensnare the soul will later suggest obstacles, and the mind, weakened by worldly distractions, will fail to follow through on its desires. You must anticipate any obstacles to your pious plans and pursue the fruit of this good work with all the effort of your heart, so that you may both live peacefully in this world and gain possession of the heavenly kingdom in the next.
As for what you wrote about Passivus trying to spread slander against you, consider that the most pious emperors not only refused to listen to him but treated him harshly for it. Turn the whole hope of your soul to the One who powerfully prevents the wicked from doing all the harm they wish to do. May He beat back their evil intentions and mercifully shatter their schemes, as He has always done.
I ask that you give my greetings to the distinguished Lord Appio and the lady Eusebia, the Lord Eudoxius and the lady Gregoria.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.