Letter 87

To Domnus, Bishop of Apamea. The law of brotherly love required that I should have received many letters from your godliness at this time. The divine Apostle commands us to "weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice." I have received not one letter from you — though just recently I was visited by some of the devout monks of your monastery together with the devout presbyter Elias. Yet I have written, and I greet your holiness now; and I want you to know that the consolation of the Master has served me in place of everything else. In truth, even if I had as many mouths as I have hairs on my head, I could not adequately praise him for counting me worthy to suffer on account of my confession of him — for the apparent disgrace that I hold as more august than any honor. And if I am banished to the very ends of the earth, I will praise him all the more, as being counted worthy of still greater blessing. Nevertheless I hope that your holiness will offer prayers for the peace of the holy churches. It is on their account that I groan and lament — it is the storm assailing them that distresses me, not what is happening to me personally. That storm, as I well know, was unleashed by the Osrhoene clergy, who poured out countless accusations against me, though I had no part in their condemnation or in the sentence passed on them. On the contrary — as your holiness knows — I interceded for them to receive communion at Easter. But slanderers find no difficulty in saying whatever they please. My consolation is in the blessing of the Master: "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Letter 87 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 Domnus, Bishop of Apamea. The law of brotherly love demanded that I should receive many letters from your godliness at this time. For the divine Apostle charges us to weep with them that weep and rejoice with them that do rejoice. I have not received a single one, although just lately I was visited by some of the pious monks of your monastery with the pious presbyter Elias. Nevertheless I have written, and I salute your holiness; and I make you acquainted with the fact that the consolation of the Master has stood me in stead of all other, for in truth not even had I as many mouths as I have hairs on my head, could I worthily praise Him for my being deemed worthy of suffering on account of my confession of Him, and for the apparent disgrace which I hold more august than any honour. And if I be banished to the uttermost parts of the earth all the more will I praise Him as being counted worthy of greater blessings. Nevertheless I hope your holiness will put up prayers for the quiet of the holy churches. It is because of the storm that is assailing them that I wail and groan and lament. That quiet, as I know, was driven away by the Osrhoene clergy, who poured out countless words against me, although I had no share in their condemnation, nor in the sentence passed upon them; on the contrary, as your holiness knows, I besought that the communion might be given to them at Easter. But slanderers find no difficulty in saying what they like. My consolation lies in the blessing of the Master who said, Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.