Letter 2014: The enemy might count it a profit if, among the dangers that Christians face, the voices of those who share their...

From: Ennodius, deacon and literary figure in Pavia To: The African clergy [probably Catholic bishops and clergy in Vandal North Africa, suffering persecution under the Arian Vandal kings] Date: ~503 AD Context: A letter of solidarity to persecuted African Christians — a rare glimpse of Ennodius engaging with the broader crisis of the Western Church beyond Italy. Catholic clergy in North Africa faced exile and worse under the Vandal regime. Ennodius to the Africans. The enemy might count it a profit if, among the dangers that Christians face, the voices of those who share their faith fell silent. But that is precisely what we must not allow. When our brothers suffer, our words — however inadequate — are not optional. They are an obligation. I write to you in solidarity and in sorrow. The trials you endure for the sake of the faith are known to us, and though we cannot be present in body, we are present in spirit and in prayer. The God who permitted your suffering has not abandoned you; He is testing what He already knows to be pure. Hold fast. The Church has endured worse and survived. Your constancy will outlast the power of those who persecute you, and your reward is not of this world. Farewell.

XIIII. AFRIS. Lucrum forsitan putaret inimicus, si inter pericula, quae Christianis indixit, credentium animos subegisset et perdiuersa domini grege disperso non superesset uel inter paucos a quibus possit fide perseuerante calcari. regnat adhuc ille in numero uestro, qui sibi non tam in multitudine quam in deuotione conplacuit. scriptum enim est datam Satanae potestatem, ut seruos Christi cribraret, ut quod de tritico inueniri posset horreis iungeretur, quod de paleis ad ignium alimenta transiret. ad uos specialiter dictum est: nolite timere, pusillus 27 Luc. 12, 32 1 estimatnr Tl ut uidetwr quo* T ofo m mg. add. T captiaas B 2 ego] ergo Sirm . 4 fibolam B 14 si quae b 16 pec∗∗toris L, peccatoris TVl XlIII. 18 afria om. T1; cohortatio ad constaDtiam add . m. rec. T 22 posset fort . 28 qui sibi non tam T in ras. m. 2 24 Mtane BL, sathane PT 25 cribaret BxV1 ut] et B posset Sirm., posBit BLPTVb 26 horręis L ingnium L grex: conplacuit patri uestro dare uobis regnum. uenit inter uos gladius perfidorum, qui marcidae ecclesiae membra resecaret et ad caelestem gloriam sana perduceret. quos habeat Christus milites certamen ostendit: qui triumphum mereantur per bella cognoscitur. nolite metuere, quod pontificalis a uobis apicis infulas abstulerunt. uobiscum est sacerdos ille uel hostia, qui non tam honoribus consueuit gaudere quam mentibus. maiora sunt confessionis praemia quam nominatae munera dignitatis. ad illa plerumque etiam minoris meriti personas fauor humanus adducit: ista nisi gratia superna non tribuit. ipse enim in uobis et pugnauit et uicit, quem fides meretur et inter hominum tormenta sociari. prolixis non est opus feruorem in uobis caelestem animare conloquiis. habet incrementa sua diuinae uirtutis incendium. nec opus est eos in tropaeo iam positos adtolli laudibus, qui sine monitore uicerunt.- grauat conscientiam Christiani quicquid adferunt blandimenta praeconii. res quidem uirtutis est, quam fecistis, sed summi praemii restitutione superanda. quod tamen directis ad filium nostrum diaconum litteris sperastis, beatorum martyrum Nazari et Romani benedictionem poscentes, fidelibus non negamus. accipite ueneranda patrocinia inuictorum militum, quia et uestram iam fidem in proeliis imperator agnouit: feliciter confessionis munera consummate. dabit deus, cum ipsi placuerit, reducem ecclesiis quietem, ut maerorem, quem induxit aduersitas, pacis dulcedine consoletur. 1 grex ex rex L post cdplacuit ras. 10—12 litt. L 2 membra eccleaie T in ras. m. 2 eclesiae B 4 quod P, quot Sirm . 5 pontificales B 6 apices B infolaa B abuit stulerunt u. eet T in ras. m. 2 9 a*d (b eras.) L 11 pugna. L Q eras . 13 opos Lx ut uidetur 15 tropeo B, tropheo LP TV attollit L si L 16 quidquid BPb 19 post nostrum spatium, 8-9 litt. uacuum m V, -H. add. Pb; nomen intercidisse non uidetur diač BL 20 nazarii T, nazarqi b 22 et quia Sirm . iam] piam add. ed. Crabb . imperator. T 23 munera in muoia corr. T m . 2 consummatQ V, consumate PT, consummare ed. Labbei acum T 24 reducSin ex reducere T m. 2, reducare ed. Labbei eclesiis B merorem BPTVb, memorem L . indixit Pb 25 consuletar B