Letter 3014: You maintain the pattern of your kindness — or rather, to speak more truly, you surpass it.

From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne To: Viventiolus, bishop Date: ~506 AD Context: A warm thank-you note for feast-day greetings, gifts, and spiritual fellowship. Bishop Avitus to Bishop Viventiolus. You maintain the pattern of your kindness — or rather, to speak more truly, you surpass it. You have eased our anxiety by sending us good news about yourselves, and you have honored our feast by seeking to learn what you hoped about us. And amid these many spiritual banquets of the soul, you have also adorned our table with bodily delicacies — you who had already fed our church with spiritual nourishment. Therefore, unable to match your generosity with adequate thanks, I turn instead to prayer, asking God's mercy that this love — whose growth you cultivate with such devotion — may bring reward to you, joy to me, and an example to all.

Avitus episcopus Viventiolo episcopo. Servatis dulcitudinis morem, immo, ut verius dicatur, augetis. Refecistis sollici- tudinem nostram de vobis prospera nuntiando: visitastis festivitatem de nobis, quae optabatis, agnoscere cupiendo. Inter has tamen multiplices epulas animorum etiam corporalibus quoque deliciis ornastis et mensam, qui spiritalibus paveratis ecclesiam. Quapropter impar ad gratias convertor ad preces divinam misericordiam rogans, ut caritas, cuius profectum tanto studio adseritis, vobis ad praemium, mihi ad gaudium, cunctis proficiat ad exemplum.