Letter 5049: Gregory to Leander, Bishop of Hispalis (Seville). With what ardour I am thirsty to see you you read in the tables of your own heart, since you love me exceedingly. But since I cannot see you, separated as you are from me by long tracts of country, I have done what charity towards you dictated, namely to transmit to your Holiness, on the arrival ...
Gregory to Leander, Bishop of Seville.
How ardently I thirst to see you, you can read in the tablet of your own heart -- since you love me so deeply. But since I cannot see you, separated as we are by such vast distances, I have done what charity toward you dictated: on the arrival here of our mutual friend, the priest Probinus, I am sending Your Holiness the book of Pastoral Rule, which I wrote at the beginning of my episcopate, along with the books you knew I had already composed on the exposition of blessed Job. Some sections of the third and fourth parts of that work I have not sent, since I had already given those portions only to monasteries.
What I do send, let Your Holiness read earnestly -- and even more earnestly weep for my sins, lest it count more heavily against me that I am seen to know what I fail to practice. But with what enormous press of business I am overwhelmed in this church, the very brevity of this letter will make plain to you -- since I say so little to the person I love more than anyone.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
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