Letter 35: Safe by God's grace, dear brothers, I greet you and long to come to you soon, to satisfy my own desire as well as...

Safe by God's grace, dear brothers, I greet you and long to come to you soon, to satisfy my own desire as well as yours and that of all the brethren. But I must also consider the common peace, and for now — though it wears on my spirit — remain absent. If my presence provoked the jealousy and violence of the pagans, I'd be the cause of breaking the very peace I ought to protect. When you write that things are settled, or when the Lord Himself signals it to me, I'll come. For where could I be happier than in the place where the Lord first brought me to faith and let me grow? In the meantime, I ask you to take diligent care of the widows, the sick, and all the poor. You may cover the expenses for any needy strangers from my own funds, which I've left with our fellow presbyter Rogatianus. Since those funds may run short, I've sent an additional sum through the acolyte Naricus, so that the suffering may be relieved more generously and promptly. I bid you, dear brothers, ever heartily farewell. Keep me in your remembrance. Greet the brotherhood for me, and tell them to remember me as well.

Epistle 35