Letter 22

From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges To: Euphrasius, bishop Date: ~494 AD Context: Ruricius thanks Euphrasius for a consoling letter received during an illness. Bishop Ruricius to Bishop Euphrasius. I give thanks to your most sincere brotherhood in Christ the Lord for thinking it worthwhile to visit us at once with your letter when you learned of our trouble. While reporting on our infirmity, you showed your own — the infirmity of compassion, which is the strongest of all strengths. A contrite and humbled heart God will not despise [Psalm 51:17]. And so, as my body lies low, your words have lifted my spirit.

XXII. RURICIUS EPISCOPUS EUFRASIO EPISCOPO. Gratias ago sincerissimae in Christo domino germanitati uestrae, quod perlato taedio ad uos nostro confestim nos litteris uestris uisitare tanti habuistis, qui, dum infirmitatis nostrae 5] Psalm. 50, 19. 6] Matth. 23, 12. 8] Psalm. 118, 25. 13] Psalm. 29, 11. 18] Eccli. 5, 8. 2 longeua S conuicit scripsi, conuenit S, conuincit (Kr.) uel correxit v in notis 3 byrru S, byssum v summant S 5 num spernet seribendum ? 6 conledit S 8 adhesit S 12 perduces scripsi, perducis S regnum Kr . 16 preciniisti S 20 uenit v disperdit S 23 prestat S 27 sincerissime S sollicitudinem geritis, sanitatem uestri pectoris adprobatis, quia, sicut ipsi melius nostis, finis praecepti est caritas de corde puro et conscientia bona et fide non ficta, et, qui uisitat infirmum, in dilectione firmatur. unde peculiarius spero, ut, quem requiritis affatibus, orationibus adiuuetis. redeuntibus itaque gerulis litterarum reddo mutuum sospitationis officium et, sicut ad uos rumor peruenit, sufficienter me secundum miserationem diuinam, non secundum merita mea tribulatum esse significo, quia ipse, qui cibat lacrimis inminente mensura, castigationi iuxta pietatem suam pro inbecillitate nostra modum statuit, ne infirmitas nostra in manus suae correptione defecerit. ideoque propitia miseratione sua iam commodiorem esse me nuntio. consolationem uobis uestri maeroris pagina deferente transmittens, ut, qui estis laboribus nostris pro caritate conpatientes, sitis laetitiae in dei nomine de recepta incolumitate participes, ipsius lectione dispono. ora pro me.