Letter 9101

From: Pope Gregory I To: Andreas, Afflicted by Misfortune Date: January 599 AD Context: Gregory consoles Andreas in his troubles and greets his wife My dear Andreas, I have heard of the troubles that have come upon you, and I write simply to say that you are not forgotten by those who care for you in God. Adversity has a way of making us feel very alone, even when we are not. The God who permits suffering does not abandon those who suffer, and the Church that prays for you is with you in spirit though far away in body. Hold fast to your faith. These storms pass. I send my greetings to your wife, and I pray for your household in its difficulty.

Audtens, quod gloriam vestram vehementer afRixerit luctus et aegritudo, vatde condolui; sed protinua agDoscens, quod* perfecte reliquerit, dolorcm mox in'' laetitia verti magnasque" omnipotenti Deo gratias retuli, quia percussit, ut sanaret, afHixit, ut ad gaudia vera perduceret. Hinc enim scriptum est : 'Quem diligit Dominus castigat, Hstu flagellat autem'' omnem filium quem recipit.* Hinc per semetipsam veritasdicit: 'Pateri"ii. meua agricola eat et omnem palmitem in m« non ferentem fructum tollit eum ; omnem vero qui fert fructum, purgavit eum, ut* fructum plus afferat.' Palmis enim infructuoaua tollitur, quia peccator funditus eradicatur; palmis vero fnictuoaua purgari dicitur, quia per disciplinam reciditur', ut ad uberiorem gratiam perducatur. Sic enim apicanim grana tribulis attrita aristis et paleis nudantur; aic olivae pntelo pressae' in olei pin- guedinem defluunt; aic botri vinearum'' timsi calcibus in vinum liquescunt. Gaude igitur, bone vir, qui in hoc flagello tuo et provectn conapicis, quod ab aetemo ludice Fraeterea filiam meam glorioaam ' coniugem veatram mea peto vice aalntari. OmDipotens autem Deus caelesti vos protectione custodiat voaque et modo consoletur de lorgitate donorum et postmodum de retributione^ praemiorum. IX, 100. •) ei dUtitutiim corr. diiititutAni Ca m.i; diatituMm C I. 3. ••) doirtimum ('1.3 tt ex deBtitiitiiiii roTT. C'3 m.S. ') fntlernitiiti C3, ^i cnepiMuipontro ('/. •) Anoliimitnno Cl; AncoD- tiniULne C3. dlligere eodd. n., led m dirigerc eiirv. C3 m I. b) er «d forr. tt C 3. ••) diicre- patiofie C I. ') roborittuB codd, «. IX, 101. •) quod om. B t. gl. p* I. *■) ot {pro in) H 1. •) iiiiigiioBt|UB B I. •') auteiu om. M l. •) qnod Bl. I) iia B 1. fl; redigitur p •. «) prq e p* I. >•) vineanna blt B I. ') gloriain nieam p*/. ^) tribulatione f*2.8. IX, 100. Cf. ep. ftratcedeitUm tl ep. II, 40 «. IX, 101. Dt Andrm, qui tdim Hcolaaticiis dieilHr cf. ep. V, Sln. ,GoogIe „ QBEGORn I. BEOLSTRI