Letter 47

From: Paulinus, bishop of Nola To: Rufinus, monk and scholar Date: ~427 AD Context: Paulinus commends a young man heading to visit Rufinus, and presses his request for commentary on the twelve patriarchal blessings in Genesis. Brother Rufinus, Cerealis's son left me uncertain whether he would actually reach you on his way back to Saint Peter's. But since he belongs as much to you as to us, we judged it would be more blameworthy for us not to write than disappointing for you if the letter never arrived. So we entrusted this letter not to chance but to faith, risking the cost of the paper rather than the failure of courtesy — confident, as we are, that if he does see you, he will deliver it. For we believe in the Lord that he will direct our words and our young man to you, because for those who desire what is good, all things work together for good [Romans 8:28]. The boy longs to see you — as anyone who understands the benefit of your company must — and so I am confident that, in keeping with his faith and devotion, the Lord will satisfy his desire: he will reach you and stay with you, and the spiritual support we gain from you both will be doubled in the Lord's eyes. You will gain a good son as companion, student, and helper, and in turn, as his father and teacher in every good thing given by God, you will add the power of effective prayer to his spiritual strength. For us, though we presume on your affection and trust that you would not leave for the East without visiting us, we still fear that our sins might cause even someone so near to us to turn aside, like a daughter of Babylon. So we commit our desires and hopes to the Lord — asking that he deal with us not according to our merits but according to our longing, and direct your path to us along his own road of peace. For those who do not walk in that road are condemned to a depraved mind and do not deserve the joy of longing for you. Now, with the persistence of someone accustomed to knocking at your door even at midnight, never deterred by fear of refusal into moderating my requests — here is the task I am laying at your feet: the blessings of the twelve patriarchs. You have already given me the beginning, writing out the prophecy concerning Judah with the threefold interpretation I requested. Please now continue through the rest of Jacob's sons and complete the exposition, so that through you I may come to know the truth. And I will have you to thank as the source of great grace and praise if, when people consult me — thinking more highly of me than I deserve, on account of the work that needs doing — I can answer them with words from your inspired spirit rather than with my own inadequate ideas. May the grace of God remain with you forever, as it does, my brother and kindred spirit in Christ.

XXXXVII. PAVLINVS FRATRI RVFINO SALVTEM. Etsi incertum mihi fecit filius Cerealis, quod ad te perrecturus foret in tempore, quo ad sanctum Petrum reuertitur, tamen per eum, qui aeque tuus ac noster est, non scribere tibi tam culpabile nobis quam tibi triste futurum iudicauimus. itaque chartulae damnum, si te forte non uidisset, quam officii, sicut credimus, si te uiseret, praeoptantes capessere commisimus epistulam istam non casui sed fidei. credimus enim in domino dirigendam ad te uiam sermonis ac filii nostri, quia desiderantibus bonum omnia procedent in bonum; desiderat enim te, quantum debes desiderari ab intellegente commodum suum de consortio tui. et ideo praesumo, quia 6] (Gen. 49). 13] Gen. 49, 11. 27] (Rom: 8, 28). 1 adpraehensa S, apprehenso Rosw . 2 tui copiam Rosw . 3 pauper f uel] ut Rosw . 4 collegere S, colligens f 5 sane] coenae E 6 illut 11 7 iacob quo iuda S £ , quo ludas a Iacob Rosto . 9 forem à 10 ipsambenedictionem Rosw . 11 in eis] meis f 12 de] ex f 14 quae uero E S . — 18 Rufino om. S 20 Romam reuertit, 24 te om. S secundum fidem ac pietatem suam satiabitur in bonis desiderium eius et perueniet ad te et tecum manebit, et geminabitur nobis apud dominum in uobis salutare praesidium, cum et tibi tam bonus filius comes discipulus adiutor accesserit, et tu illi pater ac magister omnis boni donatus a domino ad efficacem orationum potentiam uires gratiae spiritalis addideris. nobis autem, etsi pro tua caritate praesumptio sit, quia remeaturus ad orientem non feres inuisitatis nobis abire, tamen de peccatis nostris metus est, ne etiamsi tam a nobis uicina filia Babylonis auertat. quare domino desideria nostra et uota mandamus, ne secundum meritum nobis sed secundum desiderium faciat et dirigat ad nos uiam tuam in uia pacis suae, quia non ambulantes in ea in reprobum sensum damnati sunt, ne te desiderare mereantur. Sane inportunitate, qua ostium tuum uel media nocte pulsare consueui, numquam repulsae metu ad uerecundiam et modum postulandi coactus, nunc hoc circa me negotii tibi trado, ut benedictiones duodecim patriarcharum, cuius iam principium mihi exposita circa personam Iudae prophetia triplici, ut iussum est, interpretatione conscriptis paginis edidisti, per reliquos eius filios distributam digneris exponere, ut ipse per te fiam conscius ueritatis et magnae gratiae ac laudis auctorem habeam, si his, qui de me supra me propter operis necessarii gratiam sentientes consulendum me putarunt, diuina potius et tuo spiritu quam de meo sensu inepta respondeam. gratia dei tecum, ut est, in aeternum maneat, frater in Christo unanime.