Ruricius of Limoges

Ruricius

bishop|440-510 AD|Limoges
Ruricius (c. 440-510) was a Gallo-Roman aristocrat who became bishop of Limoges around 485, presiding over the see during the turbulent decades when Roman Gaul gave way to Visigothic and then Frankish rule. Connected by marriage to the influential Anician family and moving in the same cultivated circles as Sidonius Apollinaris and Faustus of Riez, he left a collection of some eighty-three Latin letters that vividly document the social, religious, and literary world of the late-fifth-century Gallic nobility as it transformed itself into a Christian episcopal elite. His correspondence, written in the ornate, allusive style prized by his class, is a key source for the survival of Roman epistolary culture and aristocratic networks amid the political collapse of the Western Empire.
83
Letters sent
20
Letters received
103
Total letters
10
Correspondents

Top correspondents

All letters (103)

From Sidonius Apollinarisc. 467 AD

I received your letter through Paterninus — a letter whose mix of honey and salt is hard to measure.

sidonius apollinaris #4016
From Sidonius Apollinarisc. 467 AD

After the usual greetings, let me introduce our copyist — not as a favor but as a professional assessment.

sidonius apollinaris #5015
From Sidonius Apollinarisc. 467 AD

To Ruricius [Ruricius of Limoges, a cultivated aristocrat who later became bishop].

sidonius apollinaris #8010
To Faustus of Riezc. 480 AD

I have long known you, my venerable and most blessed priest, through the widespread fame that proclaims your name.

ruricius limoges #1001
To Faustus of Riezc. 480 AD

Impious negligence and negligent impiety have possessed me so completely that I do not know, my lord, what to accuse...

ruricius limoges #1002
To Ruricius of Limogesc. 480 AD

Thanks be to God that the merit of your faith grows in works just as it advances in devotion.

ruricius limoges #2001
To Hesperius, son-in-lawc. 481 AD

The path to writing to you, which my lack of skill had blocked, has been opened by love — and by that sovereign...

ruricius limoges #1003
To Ruricius of Limogesc. 481 AD

Victorinus to my lord, the most blessed and most reverend Ruricius, bishop and patron in Christ, to be honored by me...

ruricius limoges #2002
To Ruricius of Limogesc. 481 AD

Your Holiness's letter fed me with spiritual nourishment and stirred me to hope for the future.

ruricius limoges #2003
To Hesperius, son-in-lawc. 482 AD

I received the letter from my kindred spirit, sprinkled with as much grace as eloquence, as much love as charm, as...

ruricius limoges #1004
To Hesperius, son-in-lawc. 482 AD

You had promised, dearest son, to send me some of the first blossoms from that little branch you had taken on to...

ruricius limoges #1005
To Ruricius of Limogesc. 482 AD

I firmly believed — and fervently hoped, however burdensome it might have been for you — that you would come to meet...

ruricius limoges #2004
To Nepotianc. 483 AD

I received the books Your Holiness sent — brilliant in eloquence, perfect in knowledge, excellent in teaching, clear...

ruricius limoges #1006
To Ruricius of Limogesc. 483 AD

Our son refreshed me by bringing news of your health and your greeting.

ruricius limoges #2005
To Bassulus, ac. 484 AD

How much your holy devotion and devout holiness deigns to love me, you prove through manifold affection: you send me...

ruricius limoges #1007
To Ruricius of Limogesc. 484 AD

I heard through a faint rumor that Your Piety has been unwell.

ruricius limoges #2006
To Ruricius of Limogesc. 484 AD

Caesarius, bishop, to his most holy lord, the Pope Ruricius, most deserving to be honored among the lights of Christ...

ruricius limoges #2007
To Sidonius Apollinarisc. 485 AD

I recall hearing you say more than once that we can never be cleansed of our sins unless we confess our crimes when...

ruricius limoges #1008
To Sidonius Apollinarisc. 485 AD

Your recent fame and longstanding love have so drawn me that I dare to assault your ears with my inanities again and...

ruricius limoges #1009
To Ruricius of Limogesc. 485 AD

Sedatus, bishop, to his holy and most blessed lord and Pope Ruricius, to be revered with apostolic respect.

ruricius limoges #2008
To Lupus, close friendc. 486 AD

I received the letter from your great spirit, in which you graciously explain that the shortage of letter-carriers...

ruricius limoges #1010
To Ruricius of Limogesc. 486 AD

Contemplating the words of the holy apostle Paul, who writes to the Romans: "I do not want you to be ignorant,...

ruricius limoges #2009
To Julianus, Scriboc. 486 AD

Ruricius, bishop, to his lord, his own soul, the Abbot Pomerius, to be cherished in Christ the Lord with deepest...

ruricius limoges #2010
To Freda, noblemanc. 487 AD

To my exalted and ever-magnificent brother Freda — Ruricius.

ruricius limoges #1011
To Celsusc. 488 AD

I tremble to open my stammering mouth in praise of you, knowing that even greater talents rightly fall short.

ruricius limoges #1012
To Celsusc. 488 AD

I received your letter, and it caused me no small distress.

ruricius limoges #1013
To Praesidius, noblemanc. 488 AD

Many people, claiming that I have great influence with your inseparable excellency — not through the merit of my...

ruricius limoges #2012
To Celsusc. 489 AD

I have sent the horse you requested: gentle in temperament, strong in limbs, solid in build, handsome in form,...

ruricius limoges #1014
To Same recipient as previous letterc. 489 AD

Another letter from the same.

ruricius limoges #2013
To Foedamius and Vilicus, priestsc. 489 AD

Even though I did not receive a letter from your brotherhood through the subdeacon Contemtus, I have nonetheless...

ruricius limoges #2014
To Aeoniusc. 490 AD

To his own lord and special patron in Christ the Lord, Bishop Aeonius — Ruricius.

ruricius limoges #1015
To Apollinaris (son of Sidonius)c. 490 AD

To the venerable, admirable, and equal of all the saints, my brother Sidonius the Seer — Ruricius.

ruricius limoges #1016
To Cerauniac. 490 AD

The reason I had not sent the painter to you before was that I believed you were occupied with the arrival of the...

ruricius limoges #2015
From Graecusc. 490 AD

I am writing to you on two things and I will put the more important one first.

ruricius limoges #3001
From Victorinusc. 490 AD

I write briefly, because the season is busy and the messenger cannot wait, but I wanted you to have some word of...

ruricius limoges #3002
From Taurentiusc. 490 AD

Your letter, when it arrived, was like a draught of water in dry weather — not because what you said was...

ruricius limoges #3003
From Sedatusc. 490 AD

Sedatus, bishop, to the most holy Brother Ruricius.

ruricius limoges #3004
From Sedatusc. 490 AD

The good news I promised you has arrived, and I did not want to wait another day before sharing it.

ruricius limoges #3005
From Eufrasiusc. 490 AD

The kindness you showed me when I was last in Limoges has stayed with me in the weeks since, and I wanted to...

ruricius limoges #3006
From Caesarius of Arlesc. 490 AD

Caesarius, bishop, to the most beloved brother Ruricius.

ruricius limoges #3007
From Sedatusc. 490 AD

Sedatus, bishop, to the most holy Brother Ruricius.

ruricius limoges #3008
To Pomeriusc. 491 AD

As you yourselves know better than I, it is written: "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord" [Romans 12:19].

ruricius limoges #1017
To Aeoniusc. 491 AD

A short time ago I received a letter from Your Holiness, in which you saw fit to admonish me affectionately even...

ruricius limoges #2016
To Ommatius, spiritual sonc. 492 AD

I want you to know that my not writing to your sweet self through Venerius was a matter of being busy, not negligent...

ruricius limoges #1018
To Taurentius, noblemanc. 492 AD

The affection of an anxious heart demands that even an unskilled voice be heard.

ruricius limoges #2017
To Sedatusc. 492 AD

You reproach me repeatedly and frequently for not having written until now to Your Beatitude, who is inseparable...

ruricius limoges #2018
To A patron (verse epistle)c. 493 AD

Ruricius, your humble client, to his holy patron —

ruricius limoges #2019
To Rusticus, noblemanc. 493 AD

Our mutual friendship creates trouble for me from others and for you from me.

ruricius limoges #2020
To Capillutusc. 493 AD

Your frequent illness displeases me, and it seems to me to be a divine warning.

ruricius limoges #2021
To Euphrasiusc. 494 AD

I give thanks to your most sincere brotherhood in Christ the Lord for thinking it worthwhile to visit us at once...

ruricius limoges #2022
To Severus, of Aquileiac. 494 AD

Having reread your letter, I gave thanks to God that I learned of your recovery before I learned of your illness —...

ruricius limoges #2023
To Constantiusc. 495 AD

Even though I am well aware that you are devoted to Bacchus, to music, to various performances, and even to choruses...

ruricius limoges #2024
To Apollinaris (son of Sidonius)c. 495 AD

Since you are always kind enough to care about my affairs out of mutual love, I report to your attentive devotion...

ruricius limoges #2026
To Same recipient as previous letterc. 496 AD

Another letter from the same.

ruricius limoges #2027
To Ommatius, spiritual sonc. 496 AD

I left your company in such a way that I did not truly leave you at all.

ruricius limoges #2028
To Euphrasiusc. 496 AD

I am astonished that Your Holiness, after receiving the opinions — I should say the formal judgments — of so many...

ruricius limoges #2029
To Heraclianusc. 497 AD

The man who knows himself guilty of failing in his duty ought to apologize before he dares to send greetings — for...

ruricius limoges #2030
To Capillutusc. 497 AD

I give thanks to your devotion for deigning to console me about the ordination of the city.

ruricius limoges #2031
To Agricola, noblemanc. 497 AD

Having reread the letter of your excellency, I gave thanks to God that by its own arrangement I learned of your...

ruricius limoges #2032
To Caesarius, of Arlesc. 498 AD

Our brother and fellow priest Capillutus has doubly pleased us on this visit: he himself was long desired and has...

ruricius limoges #2033
To Sedatusc. 498 AD

While my mind, thirsting for you, lords of my heart, searches constantly for an occasion to write, long deliberation...

ruricius limoges #2034
To Sedatusc. 499 AD

Through the physician Palladius I received the letters of your fertile heart and eloquent mouth, which invited us to...

ruricius limoges #2035
To Caesarius, of Arlesc. 499 AD

Those of us who seek occasions to write to each other out of mutual love must not let opportunities pass when they...

ruricius limoges #2036
To Parthenius and Papianillac. 499 AD

Since your devotion departed, I feel myself cut in half.

ruricius limoges #2037
To Peterc. 500 AD

Because obedience is preferred to sacrifices [1 Samuel 15:22], I would rather expose my clumsiness than lose your love.

ruricius limoges #2038
To Eudomius and Melanthia, married couplec. 500 AD

God, who knows my heart, is witness to how heavy your bereavement weighs upon me — something I cannot express in...

ruricius limoges #2039
To Victorinusc. 500 AD

Our brother and fellow priest Capillutus, though he did not bring me your words written on paper to read, brought...

ruricius limoges #2040
To Apollinaris (son of Sidonius)c. 501 AD

The affection of your excellency is a violent force within my heart, compelling me to obey my love for you rather...

ruricius limoges #2041
To Leontiusc. 501 AD

I give thanks that you both care about my well-being and took the trouble to refresh me with the fresh vegetables...

ruricius limoges #2042
To Constantiusc. 501 AD

Thank you for the delicacies you sent.

ruricius limoges #2043
To Ambrose of Milanc. 502 AD

The apostolic precepts remind us that to those from whom we receive divine gifts, we should offer earthly ones...

ruricius limoges #2044
To Baebius Hispanusc. 502 AD

From Bishop Ruricius to the lord Hispanus.

ruricius limoges #2045
To Albinus, Abbot of Canterburyc. 503 AD

When the report of our common grief reached me by rumor — and I was surprised not to have learned of it first from...

ruricius limoges #2046
To Taurentius, noblemanc. 503 AD

I give thanks to your most ready devotion in the Lord and your most sincere love toward me — a love that imitates...

ruricius limoges #2047
To Bishops Gerontius and Johnc. 503 AD

Magnus, whom we both know, has now been compelled by necessity to do what he should have done willingly — to seek a...

ruricius limoges #2048
To Aprunculusc. 504 AD

The bond of mutual love has compelled me to send a letter to Your Holiness, who is inseparable from me, for the sole...

ruricius limoges #2049
To Cerauniac. 504 AD

Trusting in the most sincere love with which you honor me in the Lord — not for my merits but from the goodness of...

ruricius limoges #2050
To Censoriusc. 504 AD

I am grateful to have received Your Holiness's letter, even if it came by way of an occasion rather than spontaneously.

ruricius limoges #2051
To Stephanus, of Lyonc. 505 AD

In just a few days, the devotion of your holiness so captivated me that even though I hold you in my heart by God's...

ruricius limoges #2052
To Praesidius, noblemanc. 505 AD

Many people, trusting that I have great influence with your inseparable excellency — not through any merit of my...

ruricius limoges #2053
To Rusticusc. 505 AD

Beyond your customary and well-proven affection, you are kind enough to show us generosity as well — taking from...

ruricius limoges #2054
To Aprunculusc. 506 AD

Just as I received the letter of Your Holiness through the venerable Elogius with great joy, so I am glad to send...

ruricius limoges #2055
To Same bishop as previous letterc. 506 AD

Another letter from Ruricius to the same bishop.

ruricius limoges #2056
To Same recipient as previous letterc. 507 AD

Our sons Ommatius and Eparchius have sent me a letter full of tears and lamentation, begging me especially to...

ruricius limoges #2057
To Same bishop as previous letterc. 507 AD

Another letter from Ruricius to the same.

ruricius limoges #2058
To Severusc. 507 AD

While you make excuses for our negligence and laziness, you actually expose them — and we recognize through your...

ruricius limoges #2059
To Storaciusc. 508 AD

I give abundant thanks to your devotion for informing me about the negligence of our servants.

ruricius limoges #2060
To Vittamerusc. 508 AD

Your graciousness makes us familiar with you, since what we willingly offer is gratefully received by you.

ruricius limoges #2061
To Namatiusc. 508 AD

I send you my warmest greetings and hope that, if you cannot come tomorrow, you will at least be kind enough to...

ruricius limoges #2062
To Vittamerusc. 509 AD

I give thanks to your most gracious excellency for keeping us informed about your activities and your health —...

ruricius limoges #2063
To Clarusc. 509 AD

To your apostolic authority, for the love you show me — not on account of my merits but out of the goodness of your...

ruricius limoges #2064
To Volusianusc. 510 AD

What is worse, long forgetfulness has so thoroughly erased the old and deep-rooted love between us — partly, I must...

ruricius limoges #2065