Letter 63

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: [unnamed recipients, a festal letter] Date: ~440 AD Context: A Paschal festal letter mixing the joy of Easter with grief over the storm engulfing the churches -- likely written around the time of the Christological controversies of the late 440s. Festal greeting. We have enjoyed the familiar blessings of the feast. We have kept the memorial of the saving Passion. Through the Lord's resurrection we have received the glad promise of the resurrection of all, and we have sung hymns to the unspeakable love of our God and Savior. But the storm tossing the churches has not allowed us to taste that gladness without alloy. If, when one member of the body is in pain, the whole body shares the suffering, how can we hold back our grief when the entire body is in distress? What deepens our discouragement is the thought that these troubles may be the prelude to the general apostasy [a feared final falling-away from the faith before Christ's return]. May your piety pray that in our present condition we may receive divine help and, as the apostle puts it, "be able to withstand the evil day" [Ephesians 6:13]. And if any time remains for the business of this life, pray that the storm may pass and the churches recover their former calm -- so that the enemies of the truth may no longer gloat over our misfortunes.

Letter 63 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... Festal. We have enjoyed the wonted blessings of the Feast. We have kept the memorial Feast of the Passion of Salvation; by means of the resurrection of the Lord we have received the glad tidings of the resurrection of all, and have hymned the ineffable loving kindness of our God and Saviour. But the storm tossing the churches has not suffered us to take our share of unalloyed gladness. If, when one member is in pain the whole body is partaker of the pang, how can we forbear from lamentation when all the body is distressed? And it intensifies our discouragement to think that these things are the prelude of the general apostasy. May your piety pray that since we are in this plight we may get the divine succour, that, as the divine Apostle phrases it, we may be able to withstand the evil day. But if any time remain for this life's business, pray that the tempest may pass away, and the churches recover their former calm, that the enemies of the truth may no more exult at our misfortunes.