Letter 46

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: Petrus, a scholar Date: ~440 AD Context: Theodoret praises a learned layman for standing up against injustice and asks him to keep fighting the lies of the renegade bishop. To the learned Petrus, Nothing can stop the praiseworthy resolve of those who hold fast to what is right. Your magnificence proves the point: when you received the latest news, you refused to let the assault on justice pass in silence. You acted quickly to set aside your distress and rightly shut the mouth of the enemy of truth. When we heard about this -- when we saw genuine philosophical conviction paired with rhetorical skill -- our admiration for your excellence only grew warmer. Now we beg you all the more earnestly: counter this man's lies and uphold the relief that has been granted to the wretched poor.

Letter 46 Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99... To the Learned Petrus. Nothing is able to stay the praiseworthy purpose of them that highly esteem what is right. That this is the case is confirmed by the grief shown by your magnificence at the news you have lately received, and your refusal to overlook the attack that right has suffered. You have opportunely put away your distress, and righteously stopped the mouth of the enemy of the truth. No sooner did we hear of this, and found true philosophy so coupled with rhetorical skill, than we felt the more warmly disposed towards your excellence. Now we beseech you the more earnestly to counteract this fine fellow's lies and confirm the comfort given to the unhappy poor.