Theodoret of Cyrrhus→Theonilla|c. 440 AD|theodoret cyrrhus
grief death
To Theonilla.
Had I heard earlier of the death of your most honorable husband, I would have written long before now. But even now, I am not writing to dull your grief with consoling words. You do not need them. Those who have absorbed the wisdom of philosophers, who have understood what this life is, find in reason a force strong enough to meet and break the rising wave of sorrow. Even while the memory of your long years together weighs on you, reason recognizes the divine decree, and marshals against the assault of grief — with one motion — the course of nature, the law of God, and the hope of the resurrection.
Knowing all this, there is no need for me to say very much. I simply ask you to call on your good sense in this hour of need. Think of the death of your husband as nothing more than a long journey, and wait for the promise of our God and Savior. For the one who promised the resurrection cannot lie — he is the very source of truth.
Letter 7
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To Theonilla.
Had I heard of the death of your dignity's most honourable husband I should have written long ago, and now my object in writing is not to lull your great sorrow to sleep by consolatory words. They are unnecessary. They who have learned the wisdom of philosophers and consider what this life is, find reason strong enough to meet and break grief's rising surge. And even while you are remembering your long companionship, reason recognises the divine decrees, and to meet the forces of the tears of sorrow marshals at once the course of nature, the law of God, and the hope of the resurrection. Knowing this as I do, there is no necessity to use many words. I only beseech you to avail yourself of good sense in the hour of need. Think of the death of him who is gone as no more than a long journey, and wait for the promise of our God and Saviour. For He who promised the resurrection cannot lie, and is the fount of truth.
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To Theonilla.
Had I heard earlier of the death of your most honorable husband, I would have written long before now. But even now, I am not writing to dull your grief with consoling words. You do not need them. Those who have absorbed the wisdom of philosophers, who have understood what this life is, find in reason a force strong enough to meet and break the rising wave of sorrow. Even while the memory of your long years together weighs on you, reason recognizes the divine decree, and marshals against the assault of grief — with one motion — the course of nature, the law of God, and the hope of the resurrection.
Knowing all this, there is no need for me to say very much. I simply ask you to call on your good sense in this hour of need. Think of the death of your husband as nothing more than a long journey, and wait for the promise of our God and Savior. For the one who promised the resurrection cannot lie — he is the very source of truth.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.