Letter 290: May many blessings rest on those who encourage your excellency in maintaining a constant correspondence with me! And regard not such a wish as conventional merely, but as expressing my sincere conviction of the value of your utterances. Whom could I honour above Nectarius — known to me from his earliest days as a child of fairest promise, who no...

May many blessings rest on those who encourage Your Excellency to maintain a constant correspondence with me. I say this not as a formality but out of sincere conviction of the value of your letters. Whom could I honor more than Nectarius -- a man I have known from his earliest days as a child of the brightest promise, who has now, through the exercise of every virtue, reached a position of the highest eminence? The dearest of all my friends is the one who brings your letter. Concerning the election of those placed in charge of districts: God forbid that I should ever act for the gratification of any man, whether by yielding to pressure or submitting to threats. If I did, I would not be a steward but a peddler, bartering the gift of God for human favor. Since votes are cast by mortals who can only testify based on outward appearances, while the selection of the right person is entrusted in humility to Him who knows the secrets of the heart -- perhaps the best course for everyone is this: cast your vote, then refrain from heated argument, as though some personal interest were at stake. Instead, pray that what is truly beneficial may not remain hidden. Then the outcome is attributed not to man but to God, and becomes a cause for thanksgiving.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Nectarius. May many blessings rest on those who encourage your excellency in maintaining a constant correspondence with me! And regard not such a wish as conventional merely, but as expressing my sincere conviction of the value of your utterances. Whom could I honour above Nectarius — known to me from his earliest days as a child of fairest promise, who now through the exercise of every virtue has reached a position of the highest eminence?— So much so, that of all my friends the dearest is the bearer of your letter. Touching the election of those set over districts, God forbid that I should do anything for the gratification of man, through listening to importunities or yielding to fear. In that case I should be not a steward, but a huckster, battering the gift of God for the favour of man. But seeing that votes are given but by mortals, who can only bear such testimony as they do from outward appearances, while the choice of fit persons is committed in all humility to Him Who knows the secrets of the heart, haply it is best for everybody, when he has tendered the evidence of his vote, to abstain from all heat and contention, as though some self-interest were involved in the testimony, and to pray to God that what is advantageous may not remain unknown. Thus the result is no longer attributable to man, but a cause for thankfulness to God. For these things, if they be of man, cannot be said to be; but are pretence only, altogether void of reality. Consider also, that when a man strives with might and main to gain his end, there is no small danger of his drawing even sinners to his side; and there is much sinfulness, such is the weakness of man's nature, even where we should least expect it. Again, in private consultation we often offer our friends good advice, and, though we do not find them taking it, yet we are not angry. Where then it is not man that counsels, but God that determines, shall we feel indignation at not being preferred before the determination of God? And if these things were given to man by man, what need were there for us to ask them of ourselves? Were it not better for each to take them from himself? But if they are the gift of God, we ought to pray and not to grieve. And in our prayer we should not seek our own will, but leave it to God who disposes for the best. Now may the holy God keep from your home all taste of sorrow; and grant to you and to your family a life exempt from harm and sickness. About this page Source. Translated by Blomfield Jackson. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 8. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1895.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/3202290.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.