Letter 13022: As often as any one comes to us from the royal city, we take care to enquire of your bodily health; but, my sins being the cause, I always hear what I am sorry to hear, since, frail and weak as you already are, it is reported that the pains of gout still grow upon you. But I pray the Almighty Lord that whatever befalls your body may be ordered t...

Gregory to Rusticiana, Patrician. Whenever anyone comes to us from Constantinople, I make a point of asking about your health. But, my sins being the cause, I always hear what I am sorry to hear: frail and weak as you already are, the pains of gout are reportedly growing worse. I pray the Almighty Lord to order whatever your body endures for the health of your soul, that temporal sufferings may prepare you for eternal rest, and that through pains which end he may grant you joys without end. As for me, I live in such a state of groaning and amid such burdens that it wearies me to have reached these days. My only consolation is the expectation of death. I beg you to pray for me -- that I may soon be released from this prison of the flesh and be tormented by such great pains no more. I must also tell you: a certain person named Beator has arrived here, claiming to be the comes privatarum [an official overseeing imperial private estates], and he is causing trouble for everyone -- but principally for your Excellency's people and those of your most noble granddaughters, under the guise of public business. I will not allow him to act unjustly, but neither can I obstruct genuine public interests. You should take this up with the most pious emperors yourself, and have them countermand any wrongful actions on his part. The public interest is not served by turmoil, and the amounts in question do not appear to be large. Please give my greetings to my most sweet son the Lord Strategius. May Almighty God nourish him for himself and for you, and ever comfort you by his grace and by the young lord's life. As for your return here -- what should I write, when you know how much I want it? But when I think of the difficulties of the journey, I cannot bring myself to press you on it.

Book XIII, Letter 22 To Rusticiana, Patrician Lady. Gregory to Rusticiana, etc. As often as any one comes to us from the royal city, we take care to enquire of your bodily health; but, my sins being the cause, I always hear what I am sorry to hear, since, frail and weak as you already are, it is reported that the pains of gout still grow upon you. But I pray the Almighty Lord that whatever befalls your body may be ordered to the health of your soul, and that temporal scourges may prepare for you eternal rest, and that through the pains which have an end He may grant you joys without end. As for me, I live in such a state of groaning and in the midst of such occupations that it irks me to have arrived at these days which now I spend, and my only consolation is the expectation of death. Wherefore I beg you to pray for me, to the end that I may be soon released from this prison of the flesh, so as to be no longer tormented by such great pains. Furthermore, I have to inform you that a certain person has come here, Beator by name, who gives himself out as comes privatarum , and is doing many things against all, but principally against your Excellency's people, or those of your most noble granddaughters, as though he were making enquiry into matters of public import. And we indeed will not permit him to act wrongfully, but neither can we stand in the way of public interests. You should therefore treat as you can with the most pious princes, that they may countermand any wrongful proceeding on his part. For neither is the public interest served by any kind of turmoil, nor does he appear to reclaim anything of great amount. I beg that my most sweet son the lord Strategius be greeted in my behalf, whom may Almighty God nourish for Himself and for you, and ever comfort you by His own grace and by the young lord's life. Further, what should I write to you concerning your return hither, knowing as you do how much I desire it? But, when I look to the obligations of the business that detains you, I am in despair; and so I implore the Creator of all that, wherever you are, and wherever you may be, He would protect you by the extension of His right hand, and preserve you from all evil. 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/360213022.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.