Letter 185: Although you do not write to me, I know that there is recollection of me in your heart; and this I infer, not because I am worthy of any favourable recollection, but because your soul is rich in abundance of love. Yet, as far as in you lies, use whatever opportunities you have of writing to me, to the end that I may both be cheered by hearing ne...
Even though you do not write to me, I know there is a place for me in your heart -- not because I am worthy of any special remembrance, but because your soul overflows with love. Still, as far as you are able, take whatever opportunities arise to write. That way I can be cheered by news of you, and you can have news of me. Letters are the only means of communication for those who live far apart. Let us not deprive each other of them, so far as our work permits.
But I pray God that we may one day meet in person -- that our love may deepen and our gratitude to our Master may multiply for his greater blessings.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
[Πρός: Θεοδότῳ, ἐπισκόπῳ Βεροίας]
Οἶδα ὅτι, εἰ καὶ μὴ ἐπιστέλλεις ἡμῖν, ἀλλʼ ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ σου ὑπάρχει ἡ μνήμη ἡμῶν. καὶ τοῦτο τεκμαίρομαι, οὐχ ὅτι αὐτὸς ἄξιός εἰμι μνήμης τινὸς δεξιᾶς, ἀλλʼ ὅτι ἡ σὴ ψυχὴ πλουτεῖ ἐν τῇ τῆς ἀγάπης περιουσίᾳ. πλὴν ἀλλʼ ὅσον δυνατόν σοι ταῖς παρεμπιπτούσαις προφάσεσι κέχρησο εἰς τὸ ἐπιστέλλειν ἡμῖν, ἵνα καὶ ἡμεῖς μᾶλλον εὐψυχῶμεν μανθάνοντες τὰ περὶ ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀφορμὴν λαμβάνωμεν εἰς τὸ καὶ αὐτοὶ σημαίνειν ὑμῖν τὰ ἡμέτερα. οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ τρόπος τῆς ὁμιλίας τοῖς τοσοῦτον διεζευγμένοις τῷ σώματι, ὁ δι’ ἐπιστολῶν, οὗ μὴ ἀποστερῶμεν ἀλλήλους, καθόσον ἂν ἐνδιδῷ τὰ πράγματα. παράσχοι δὲ ὁ Κύριος καὶ τὴν κατʼ ὀφθαλμοὺς ἡμῖν συντυχίαν, ἵνα καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην αὐξήσωμεν καὶ τὴν εἰς τὸν Δεσπότην ἡμῶν εὐχαριστίαν πλεονάσωμεν ἐπὶ μείζοσι ταῖς παρʼ αὐτοῦ δωρεαῖς.
Revision history
- 2026-05-27v2.2.34-import
Initial corpus import from New Advent / NPNF.
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