Letter 11032: When the bearer of these presents, Candidus the abbot, came hither to ask for relics (which have also been granted), as much as I rejoiced in your Fraternity's nursing aid, your Fraternity's care for me being therein apparent, so much was I distressed that I could not enjoy his presence as I wished to do, seeing that he found me sick, and, when ...

Gregory to Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna. When the bearer of this letter, Candidus the abbot, came here to request relics -- which I have granted -- I rejoiced as much in your Fraternity's care for me, which was evident in sending him, as I was distressed that I could not enjoy his company as I wished. He found me sick when he arrived and left me still in the grip of weakness. It has now been a long time since I have been able to rise from bed. At one time, the pain of gout torments me. At another, a fire of unknown origin spreads through my entire body with agonizing pain. And usually both afflictions strike at once -- burning pain racks me while body and mind alike fail. I have other grave symptoms besides, which I cannot begin to enumerate. This much I can say briefly: a noxious infection so drains me that simply being alive is painful, and I look anxiously toward death as the only thing that can relieve my suffering. Most holy brother, beg the compassion of divine mercy on my behalf -- that God might ease his blows against me, and grant me the patience to endure, so that my heart does not, God forbid, break into impatience from sheer exhaustion. Let the guilt that might have been healed through suffering not be compounded by resentment.

Book XI, Letter 32 To Marinianus, Bishop of Ravenna. Gregory to Marinianus, etc. When the bearer of these presents, Candidus the abbot, came hither to ask for relics (which have also been granted), as much as I rejoiced in your Fraternity's nursing aid, your Fraternity's care for me being therein apparent, so much was I distressed that I could not enjoy his presence as I wished to do, seeing that he found me sick, and, when he departed, left me still in a state of weakness. For it is now a long time since I have been able to rise from bed. For at one time the pain of gout torments me, at another a fire, I know not of what kind, spreads itself with pain through my whole body; and it is generally the case that at one and the same time burning pain racks me, and body and mind fail me. Further, what other great distresses of sickness beside what I have mentioned I am affected by, I am unable to recount. This however I may briefly say, that the infection of a noxious humour so drinks me up that it is pain to me to live, and I anxiously look for death, which alone I can hope for to relieve my groans. Accordingly, most holy brother, implore for me the compassion of divine loving-kindness, that it would mercifully mitigate towards me the scourges of its smiting, and grant me patience to endure, lest (which God forbid) my heart break out into impatience from excessive weariness, and the guilt which might have been well cured through stripes be increased by murmuring. Given in the month of February, Indiction 4. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 13. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1898.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360211032.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.