Letter 3020: The recent and — as I sense — not yet fully resolved illness of our lord has kept your servants so attentive and...

From: Avitus, bishop of Vienne To: Ansemundus, vir illustrissimus Date: ~512 AD Context: A Christmas letter expressing concern about the king's recent illness and hoping for his recovery. Bishop Avitus to the most illustrious Ansemundus. The recent and — as I sense — not yet fully resolved illness of our lord has kept your servants so attentive and anxious that, in place of contemplating the devotion we customarily wish for especially at feast times, we believe that the assurance of your well-being is sufficient to serve as our entire festive joy. And so, maintaining my customary service of dutiful concern after the Lord's nativity, I long with all the eagerness of my heart to learn whether the glory that is our common treasure — which the little church of Vienne cherishes — has been restored.

Avitus episcopus viro illustrissimo Ansemundo. Tantum servulos vestros domni nostri recens et adhuc, quantum sentio, nondum plene detersa inaequalitas adtentos reddidit et anxios, ut pro contemplatione pietatis illius, quam festis specialius optare consuevimus, sufficere nobis commoditatem vestram pro omni sollemnium iucunditate credamus. Vnde servans post colum natalis domi- nici solitae sollicitudinis servitutem tota nosse voti ambitione desidero, si decus com- mune, quod Viennensis ecclesiola praesenti vice non meruit, vel Lugdunensium popu- lorum gaudia duplicavit. Nam si vos Christo favente aut ad ecclesiam potuisse pro- cordare aut devotionem consuetudinariam rescripseritis implesse, participes redditi laetitiae vicinorum epulaturos nos profitemur auditu, si illos, quibus praesentia vestra donata est, refectos cognoverimus intuitu.