Letter 5039: Gregory to Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will Luke 2:14, because that great river which once had left the rocks of Antioch dry has returned at length to its proper channel, and waters the subject valleys that are near, so as also to bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty-fol...

Gregory to Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will (Luke 2:14) — for that great river which once left the rocky shores of Antioch dry has at last returned to its proper channel, watering the valleys below and bringing forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty-fold, some a hundredfold. There is no doubt that many souls are now flourishing in those valleys, and that they will ripen into full fruit through the streams of your preaching. With all the voice of our heart and mouth, from the very depths of our soul, we give due praise to Almighty God, and we rejoice with your Blessedness — not with you alone, but with all who are under your care. I have received your Holiness's letters, most welcome and pleasant to me, even as we ourselves, if I may put it so, sweat under the same labors as you. I know well how heavy the burden of outward duties must be to you after those heights of contemplative rest, in which, with the hand of the heart, you were touching the secrets of heaven. But remember that you govern an Apostolic See, and you will more readily bear its sorrows by becoming all things to all people. In the Books of Kings, as your accomplished Holiness knows, there is mention of a man who could use either hand as his right hand (1 Chronicles 12:2). And concerning the lord Anastasius, my dear and most holy patron of old, I have no doubt that while he draws earthly labors toward heavenly ends, he turns his left hand to the purposes of the right — so that his heavenly purpose accomplishes its work, so to speak, with the right hand, and also when he is led by his care for temporal matters toward the demands of justice, the left hand acquires the strength of the right. None of this can be achieved without great labor and trouble. But let us call to mind the labors of those who went before us, and what we endure will not seem hard. For "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). And again: "We were pressed beyond measure, above our strength, so that we despaired even of life; but we ourselves had the answer of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves" (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). And yet, "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). How then can we, who are weak sheep, pass through the heat of this world without labor, when we know that even the rams have toiled heavily? As for the tribulations I suffer in this land — from the swords of the Lombards, from the injustice of officials, from the press of business, from the burden of pastoral care, and from bodily illness — I cannot express them in word or writing. Though I might say something of them briefly, I hesitate, lest while your most holy Charity is afflicted by her own troubles I should add mine to the weight. But may Almighty God, in the abundance of His loving-kindness, fill your most holy Blessedness with all comfort, and grant, through your intercession, that even I, unworthy as I am, may at some point find rest from these afflictions. Amen. I take these words from what you yourself had written and insert them in my letters, so that your Blessedness may see that Saint Ignatius belongs not only to you but to us as well — for as we share his master, the Prince of the Apostles, in common, so none of us should claim the disciple of that same Prince for himself alone. We have also received your blessed gift, sweet and fragrant, with the gratitude it deserved, and we give thanks to Almighty God that what you do, what you say, and what you give is fragrant and full of grace. For your life, then, let us say together — let us all say it: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will.

Book V, Letter 39 To Anastasius, Bishop. Gregory to Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will Luke 2:14, because that great river which once had left the rocks of Antioch dry has returned at length to its proper channel, and waters the subject valleys that are near, so as also to bring forth fruit, some thirty-fold, some sixty-fold, and some an hundred-fold. For now there is no doubt that many flowers of souls are growing up in its valleys, and that they will come even to ripe fruit through the streams of your tongue. Wherefore with voice of heart and mouth from our inmost soul we render due praise to Almighty God, and rejoice in your Blessedness, not with you only, but with all who are subject to you. I have received the letters of your Holiness, to me most sweet and pleasant, while we ourselves, if I may so speak, are sweating under the same toil with you. And indeed I know how heavy must be to you the burden of external cares after those heights of rest, wherein with the hand of the heart you were touching heavenly secrets. But remember that you rule an Apostolic See, and assuage sorrow the more readily from being made all things to all men. In the Books of Kings, as your accomplished Holiness knows, a certain man is described who used either hand for the right hand 1 Chronicles 12:2. And, with regard to this, I am not doubtful about the lord Anastasius, of old my most sweet and most holy patron, that, while he draws earthly works to heavenly profit, he turns the left hand to the right hand's use; so that his heavenly intentness may accomplish its work, so to speak, with the right hand, and also, when he is led in his care of temporal things towards the interests of justice, the left hand may acquire the strength of the right. And indeed these things cannot be without heavy labour and trouble. But let us remember the labours of those who went before us; and what we endure will not be hard. For We must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom of God Acts 14:22. And, We were pressed out of measure, yea and above strength, insomuch that we were weary even of life. But we ourselves, too, had the answer of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves 2 Corinthians 1:8-9. And yet The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the supervening glory which shall be revealed in us Romans 8:18. How then can we that are weak sheep pass without labour through the heat of this world wherein we know that even rams have suffered under heavy toil? Further, what tribulations I suffer in this land from the swords of the Lombards, from the iniquities of judges, from the press of business, from the care of subjects, and also from bodily affliction, I am unable to express either by pen or tongue. Concerning which things even though I might say something briefly, I hesitate, lest to your most holy Charity, while afflicted by your own tribulations, I should add mine also. But may Almighty God both in the abundance of His loving-kindness fill the mind of your most holy Blessedness with all comfort, and grant at some time, on account of your intercession, to unworthy me to rest from these evils which I suffer. Amen. Grace. These words, as you see, taken from what you had written, I insert in my epistles, that your Blessedness may perceive with regard to Saint Ignatius that he is not only yours, but also ours. For, as we have his master, the Prince of the apostles in common, so also no one of us ought to have to himself alone the disciple of this same Prince. Moreover, we have received your blessing , which is of sweet smell and of a good savour, with the feelings that were due to it. And we give thanks to Almighty God that what you do, what you say, and what you give, is fragrant and savoury. For your life therefore let us say together, let us say all, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will. 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/360205039.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.