Letter 231

To Sosander the Primicerius [primicerius: the senior official heading a department or office]. Just as we breathe the air without ceasing, so without ceasing we ought to praise and hymn the Lord, even if we are caught up in the midst of affairs. For the prudent and God-loving mind is able to preserve continually the remembrance of the Creator. "For I remembered God," says David, "and was gladdened" [Psalm 76:4, Septuagint numbering]. If, then, the remembrance of the Master produces gladness in our souls, let us not be reluctant to enjoy the remembrance of God.

Ὥσπερ ἀδιαλείπτως ἀναπνέομεν τὸν ἀέρα, οὕτως ἀδιαλείπτως ὀφείλομεν τὸν Κύριον αἰνεῖν τε καὶ ὑμνεῖν, κἂν ἐν μέσῳ πραγμάτων στρεφώμεθα. Δύναται γὰρ ὁ φρόνιμος, καὶ θεοφιλὴς νοῦς διηνεκῶς μνήμην σώζειν τοῦ Κτίσαντος. « Ἐμνήσθην γάρ, » φησὶν ὁ Δαυΐδ, « τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ηὐφράνθην. » Εἰ τοίνυν ἡ τοῦ δεσπότου μνήμη εὐφροσύνην ἐμποιεῖ ταῖς ἡμετέραις ψυχαῖς, μὴ κατοκνήσωμεν ἀπολαύειν τῆς μνήμης τοῦ Θεοῦ.