Letter 1075: Had not such great success of the military exploits of your Excellency arisen from the merit of your faith and from the grace of the Christian religion, it would not have been so greatly to be wondered at, since we know that the like has been granted to military leaders of old time. But when, God granting it, you forestall future victories, not ...

Book I, Letter 75 To Gennadius, Patrician and Exarch [supreme governor] of Africa. Gregory to Gennadius. If your military success came merely from the same qualities that distinguished commanders of old, it would not be so remarkable. But when, by God's grace, you achieve your victories not through worldly planning but through prayer, it becomes a source of wonder that your glory comes down not from the wisdom of this world but from God above. Where is your reputation not on people's lips? It is said that you pursue wars not from a desire to shed blood but to expand the empire in which God is worshipped, so that the name of Christ may spread through subject nations by the preaching of the faith. Your outward deeds of valor make you distinguished in this life, and the inward quality of your character, proceeding from a clean heart, marks you for heavenly joys to come. We have learned that Your Excellency has done much to benefit the estates of the blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles, restoring portions of his patrimony [church lands in Africa] that had lost their workers by settling Datitian colonists [farmers from Datia] on them. Whatever you give to Peter with Christian generosity, you receive back in hope at the coming judgment. We therefore commend to Your Eminence Hilarus, the bearer of this letter. Please extend to him your customary kindness -- always with proper regard for justice -- in whatever matters he may need your help. Sending you the greeting of our paternal charity, we pray our God and Savior to mercifully protect Your Eminence for the consolation of the Christian empire, and to strengthen you with His own arm for spreading His name ever further among neighboring nations.

Book I, Letter 75 To Gennadius, Patrician, and Exarch throughout Africa. Gregory to Gennadius, Patrician, etc. Had not such great success of the military exploits of your Excellency arisen from the merit of your faith and from the grace of the Christian religion, it would not have been so greatly to be wondered at, since we know that the like has been granted to military leaders of old time. But when, God granting it, you forestall future victories, not by carnal provision, but rather by prayers, it becomes a matter of astonishment how your glory comes down upon you, not from counsels of this world, but from God, who bestows it from above. For where is not the renown of your deserts in people's mouths? And report goes that it is not from a desire of shedding blood that you constantly court these wars, but for the sake of extending the republic in which we see that God is worshipped, to the end that the name of Christ may be spread abroad through subject nations by preaching of the faith. For, as your outward deeds of valour make you eminent in this life, so also the inward adornment of your character, proceeding from a clean heart, glorifies you in making you partaker of celestial joys to come. For we have learned that your Excellency has done very many things of advantage for feeding the sheep of the blessed Peter, Prince of the apostles, so as to have restored to him no small portions of his patrimony, which had been denuded of their proper cultivators, by supplying them with Datitian settlers. Whatever, then, with Christian disposition you confer on him, you receive retribution for through hope in the judgment to come. Wherefore we have thought fit to commend to your Eminence Hilarus , who is also the hearer of these presents, that you may bestow on him (though ever with regard to justice) your accustomed affection in matters wherein he may intimate his need of your help. Now, addressing to you the greeting of our paternal charity, we beseech our God and Saviour mercifully to protect your Eminence for the consolation of the holy republic, and to fortify you with the strength of His arm for spreading His name more and more through the neighbouring nations. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 12. 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/360201075.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.