Letter 21

From: Paulinus, bishop of Nola To: Amandus, priest (or bishop) Date: ~408 AD Context: Paulinus praises the letter carrier Cardamas by comparing him to Biblical runners, then launches into a meditation on the Trinity and the Incarnation. To my holy and venerable brother Amandus, We marvel in the sacred history of Kings at Asahel, the brother of Joab, a man swift of foot and light in his running, who could compete with deer and mountain goats in sheer speed [2 Samuel 2:18]. And we are no less astonished to read of that giant among the Philistines who exceeded all normal human measure in the size of his limbs — six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot made him stronger and more formidable than the rest [2 Samuel 21:20]. Yet against David, fighting with the hand of God and forever unconquerable in the image of Christ, no strength or valor of even the mightiest enemies could prevail. In those alien giants the devil's proud exaltation was thrown down, while in our own small ones the saving form of God's humility triumphed. But let us return to the beginning of this letter, which we started from the feet up, so that we may praise our runner for the Lord — Cardamas — with examples of famous swift-footed men drawn from sacred history. There comes to mind as well, from the Gospel, the blessed speed of that young apostle who outran Peter to the tomb of the Lord [John 20:4]. Peter matched him in devotion but was slowed by the weight of his greater age, so the younger man arrived first to witness the resurrection of the body — he who alone had reclined on the Lord's breast at supper. From that breast he drew twin streams of revelation that he later poured out into the world as herald of the Apocalypse and the Gospel. And that early physical swiftness of his feet was later fulfilled in spiritual speed, as he ran across the globe on the beautiful feet of the Word [Romans 10:15], carrying the Gospel to all peoples. This same apostle, his life extended beyond the span of all the other apostles, was the last to write a Gospel. And just as the eagle — which, the naturalists tell us, alone among birds can gaze directly at the sun — soars higher than all other winged creatures, so John, having risen above all the mists of earthly things, fixed the keen eyes of his heart upon the light of unchangeable truth and dared to begin where no other evangelist began: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" [John 1:1]. Here is the mystery of the Trinity laid bare. The Word is God — he who was in the beginning with God, through whom all things were made [John 1:3]. The Father spoke and the Son was the speaking; the Son was uttered and the Father was the utterer. Yet neither precedes the other in time, for the Word was always with God, and God was always speaking. The Father is never without the Son, nor the Son without the Father, nor either without the Holy Spirit, who proceeds from both and binds the Trinity in a unity of love that the mind can approach but never exhaust. And this Word became flesh [John 1:14] — not losing what he was, but taking on what he was not. He entered our poverty not by diminishing his riches but by adding our nature to his own. The Creator assumed his creature; the Potter took up clay; the Physician drank the medicine of mortality so that we, sick unto death, might be healed unto life. He was born of a virgin so that our second birth might undo the corruption of the first. He hungered so that he might be the bread of life. He thirsted so that he might be the living water. He wept so that he might wipe away every tear. He died so that death might die. This is what our swift runner Cardamas carries with him — not merely a letter on paper but the living word of faith in his heart. May the Lord multiply such messengers among us, men whose feet are beautiful upon the mountains because they bring good news [Isaiah 52:7].

XXI. SANCTO ET MERITO VENERABILI AC DILECTISSIMO FRATRI AMANDO PAVLINVS. Volucrem pedibus et leuem cursu, ita ut et ceruis uel capreis aemula pernicitate contenderet, Asael illum fratrem Ioab in sacra Regnorum admiramur historia. nec non minus illum in allophylis gigantem stupemus legentes, qui ultra humani corporis modum et mensura membrorum creuerat, quem senis armatae digitis manus et totidem - pollicibus articulati pedes fortiorem ceteris ue: locioremq ue faciebant, nisi quod contra Dauid manu dei dimicantem et Christi imagine semper inuictum nulla magnorum licet hostium manus uirtusque praeualuit, qua in alienis grandibus superba diaboli exaltatio 1] Ps. 22, 4. 4] Ps. 41, 2. 6] Ps. 35, 10. 13] (II Reg. 2, 18). (I Reg. 17, 4; II Reg. 21, 20). ftC 1 n. t. m. q. t. m. e. (sic) M 2 per ignes 0 3 incensi 0 4 desiderat om. L, s. I. add. M 5 ita d. a. m. a. t. d. LM 6 te est LM in] et in LMv 7 lumen] ualeas pater add. PPiU . — explicit L, finit ad delfinum epm • II - 0. FLMOPU . — ad eundem - XXX. III M, item ad eundem . XXV. L, incipit ad eundem. V. 0, epistola sancti paulini episcopi ad amandum presbiterum, ubi de misterio trinitatis: et de incarnatioue uerbi sermonem protrahens: gratiatias agit: prQ destinatis epistolis: et portitorem earum conmendans laudibus plurimis effert U 10 Pauliuus] epla XX. add. F 11 ut et] ut Rosw . uel] et 0 (sed in mg. m. 1 uel), et v 12 asahel LP, asacbel MU, asalael 0 13 uou 0, om. cet., uos fort . 14 allophilis FltfPU, allofilis LO gygautem M 15 mensuram LM, mensura et numero coni. Sacch . quam FPU 19 licet magnorum M 20 qua 0, quia cet . exultatio LM deiciebatur et in pusillis nostris humilitate praepotens salutaris dei forma uincebat. Sed recurramus ad epistolae caput, quod a pedibus inchoauimus, ut cursorem dominicum Cardamatem signatis in lege diuina antiquorum uelocium laudemus exemplis. subuenit itaque nobis et de euangelio adolescentis apostoli beata uelocitas illa, qua Petrum affectu currendi parem sed maioris aeui pondere tardiorem ad sepulchrum domini praecucurrit, ut resurrectionem corporis prior inspiceret qui solus in pectore recumbebat. unde geminos in alueum cordis sui traxerat fontes, quos in orbem idem postea, reuelationis et euangelii praeco, diffudit, et illam carnalem alacritatem pedum postea speciosis uerbi pedibus toto per populos orbe discurrens spiritali uelocitate conpleuit. Idem ultra omnium tempora apostolorum aetate producta postremus euangelii scriptor fuisse memoratur, ut, sicut de ipso uas electionis ait, quasi columna firmamentum adiceret fundamentis ecclesiae, priores euangelii scriptores consona auctoritate confirmans, ultimus auctor in libri tempore sed primus in capite sacramenti, quippe qui solus e quatuor fluminibus ex ipso summo diuini capitis fonte decurrens de nube sublimi tonat: in principio erat uerbum, et uerbum erat apud deum, et deus erat uerbum. transcendit Moysen qui usque ad caput mundi et uisibilium creaturarum exordia scientiae terminos acie mentis extendit. iste et euangelistis ceteris uel ab humano saluatoris ortu uel a typico legis sacrificio uel a prophetico praecursoris baptistae praeconio euangelium 8] (Ioh. 20, 4). 9] (Ioh. 13, 23 et 21, 20). 22] Ioh. 1, 1. 26] (Matth. 1, 1; Luc. 1, 5; Marc. 1, 2). 1 nostris pusillis FPU, pusilli nostri coni. Sacch . 3 incohauimus U . e incoauimus (h m. 2) M (et sic infra), incoauimus L 6 adoloscentis P 7 quae 0, que F 8 praecurrit FPU 10 geminos] genus U 11 predo 0 12 difudit P carnalem om. FPU 13 uerba U 18 prioris euangelii scriptoris 0 auctoritate] uoce FPU 23 trasceudit PU moisen FU 25 acie 0, uel aciem cet., aciem v, uel acie Lebrun etet P 26 a typico] ataspico 0 27 batistae U resurrectionis exorsis altius uolans penetrauit et caelos, neque in angelis stetit, sed archangelos quoque et omnes desuper creaturas uirtutes principatus dominationes thronos supergressus in ipsum se creatorem ardua mente direxit, et ab illa ineffabili generatione ordiens coaeternum et consubstantialem et coomnipotentem et coopificem patri filium nuntiauit, in spiritu sancto deo deum cernens, quia in ipso trinitas diuinitatis inpletur et una trinitatis diuinitas cernitur. spiritus enim dei sicut et uerbum dei deus, uterque in uno capite permanentes et ex uno patris fonte manantes, sed filius nascendo, spiritus procedendo, salua quisque personarum suarum proprietate distincti potius quam diuisi. Iohannes igitur beatus dominici pectoris cubator, qui sensum creaturis omnibus altiorem ex ipso creatricis omnium rerum corde sapientiae biberat, inebriatus spiritu sancto, qui scrutatur etiam alta dei, ab ipso intimo et infinito omnium principiorum principio euangelii fecit exordium, quo uno omnia diaboli, quae in haereticis latrant, ora clauduntur. et prima Arrii lingua praeciditur, sed et Sabellii blasphemia uacuatur, cum eadem piscatoris nostri sententia et unitas deitatis in patre et filio et diuisio personalitatis exprimitur. eodem capitulo et Photinus,. humani tantum in Christo exordii demens magister, exploditur et Marcion, qui deum legis et euangelii discernit, extinguitur et Manichaeus, ueri creatoris negator et falsi confictor, obteritur, subtexta ilico eiusdem supercaelestis euangelii uoce confusus (supercaeleste hoc euangelium dixi, quia exordium eius ab ea origine, quae super omnes caelos et 13] (Ioh. 13, 23. 21, 20). 16] I Cor. 2, 10. 1 et] ad F 3 trhonos P 4 ipsum] spiritum U 5 coeterum FP alt . et om. v 6 coomuipotentem Pv, omnipotentem cet . initiauit U 7 deo om. FPU diuinatis U 11 personae suae M 12 diuisi M, diuisi erant F1, diuisi erunt cet., diuisi sunt coni. Sacch . 13 tubator U, accubator v 14 sensus v creatoris F1 altiores Mv creailtiorem ticis U 15 scientie FPU 17 euangelii M 18 primo LM 19 sabelli PU blasfemia uacuantur 0 20 deitatis] dei patris M impatre 0 22 fotinus w clemens 0 23 martion MU 24 uiri creator negator 0 ante omnia saecula est, inchoatur), quia de hoc dei uerbo deo audit: omnia per ipsum facta sunt, et sine ipso factum est nihil. Gnosticum uero falsae scientiae nomine gloriantem et omnem peruersae mentis intellectum in aeria quaedam phantasmata uelut spiritali corporalium rerum imaginatione uertentem ad fidem carnis in Christo cogit idem auctor, cum de eodem uerbo, quod erat apud deum deus, dicit: et uerbum caro factum est. non tamen, ut alii quidam serpentium sibilare dicuntur, ita caro factus, ut a sua natura migraret in nostram, sed ut secundum se manens quod erat propter nos inciperet esse quod non erat. Nimium longe prouehor, dum unanimitatis tuae indulgentia sic abutor, ut nec multiloquio fatigare te nec insipientia errare apud te uerear. scio enim, quia cum sis sapiens, libenter tamen insipientem tuum portas per eam caritatem, quae omnia sustinet et numquam excidit. dicam tamen iam mihi, ut custodiam uias uerbi mei, ne delinquam in lingua mea, sed paucis descendam in Cardamatem id est Asael nostrum, cuius pedes tamquam cerui perfecistis, renouando sicut aquilae iuuentutem eius per abundantiam dilectionis uestrae, qua illum respectu humilitatis nostrae susceptum constituistis in atriis domus domini, ut plenius homini liber esset, cum Christi libertus esse coepisset. hac illum pietate fecistis reflorescere non solum spiritu sed et corpore, ut etiam ipse de uisceribus uestris repletus affectu, quo nos diligitis, desideria uestra nobis adferat et uicissim nostra soletur et tantis inter nos regionum interuallis prope 2] Ioh. 1, 3. 7] Ioh. 1, 14. 14] II Cor. 11, 19. 16] I Cor. 13, 7. 17] Ps. 38, 2. 19] II Reg. 2, 18. 20] (Ps. 102, 5). 1 quia de hoc -1 . 3 nihil add. in mg. m. 1 et p. 151, l . 26 ante supercaeleste inseri iussit M uerbo dei FPU 3 nomine om. F 4 post intellectum in mg. ins. M: ueram dni humanitatem 5 fantasmata m t dScuntur 7 dixit LM 9 uidentur M factus est M a om. FU 10 se maneus] remanens Ov, se remanens Lebrun 11 non om. U 12 unianimitatis 0, humanitatis FPU 14 quia om. FPU 15 tuam 0 16 excidet LMI0, excedit O1 18 discendam FPU 19 asael FO, asahel cet., asaelem v 21 quia LM 23 plenus L 24 fecistis illum F 27 prope om. M . sollemniter commeans propter uerba labiorum uestrorum custodiat uias duras. credimus quidem illum de ipsis quas gerit litteris sanctitatis uestrae pennas tamquam columbae adsumere et praeterea de orationibus uestris uirtutem pedum, qua ad nos peruehatur, accipere; sed tamen ei de hac ipsa gratia congratulamur, qua positus est in tantae ministerium caritatis, ut in libertate seruiat, in senectute discurrat et requiem uacationis emeritae malit in peregrinationis labore quam in domestica sede consumere, quia pigrorum uias spinis stratas calcare declinat, ne conuertatur in aerumnam, dum ei de inertiae infructuoso otio miserae sollicitudinis spina configitur. exultat itaque inpiger ad currendam uiam, ne illi segne otium conterenti pedissequa pigrorum inopia tamquam bonus cursor occurrat. ueniens autem ad nos quanto perfundit et inplet animam nostram gaudio bonis de sospitate uestra nuntiis! inpinguat ossa nostra et fit uox laetitiae in tabernaculis nostris, cum refectis exoptata consolatione mentibus dicimus: dominus memor fuit nostri, et benedixit nos. Exultemus et laetemur in eo, qui dat uotum optanti et desiderium animae nostrae tribuit nobis, quoniam praeuenit nos in benedictione dulcedinis. quae enim nobis nunc benedictio dulcior aut dulcedo suauior quam fructus et consolatio caritatis, quae a litteris uestris maxima nobis datur? in quibus pignora quaedam et oris uestri et cordis amplectimur, quia eloquia uestra partus animae uestrae sunt; ex abundantia enim cordis os loquitur. ideo 1] Ps. 16, 4. 3] Ps. 54, 7. 9] (Prou. 15, 19). 13] (Ps. 31, 4. 18,6; Prou. 6, 11). 16] (Prou. 15, 30). Ps. 117, 15. 18] Ps. 113, 12. 19] Ps. 117,24. 20] Ps. 20, 3. 26] Matth. 11,34. 4 adsumere 0, sumere cet . et] eo FL, et eo U praeterea om. M 5 peruheatur U, prouehatur F ei de v, fide w 6 ipsa om. F congratulatur FU et in ras. P quia LM ministerio v post . iu] et in FPU 8 merite F, imerite U 11 solitudinis FU 12 currendum F 13 segni FPU negotium M pedisequa FLM, pedis equa PU pignorum 1 niliu FPL\' 14 bonus M 16 impinguans M 17 uestris U 18 nobis LM 19 qui dat ex quidam 0 optandi FPU 21 beuedictionibus (dulcediuis om.) M 21 aut quae M 23 uestris 0 v, om. eet . 24 quibus] his enim M Cardamatem et aduenientem in uestro sermone diligimus et nostro commendamus abeuntem; dignus est enim cuius senectus in misericordia uberi requiescat, quae pro caritatis et desideriis et officiis laborat. praeterea quod magis in eo quam ipsam in canis eius uelocitatem mirati sumus, ita de nomine exorcistae ad frugalitatem profecit, ut prope cotidianus esse nobis conuiua non fugerit, et, cum raris et minutis calicibus adspergeretur, quibus labra summa uix tingueret, nihil de uacui uentris aut sicci gutturis iniuria querebatur. prorsus per omnia Cardamus nobis tam bellus apparuit, ut clericum probabilem hominibus et exorcistam daemoniis terribilem uideremus. de cetero, frater, et ipsum et omnes nostros et nos ipsos commendamus uobis, ut per uos domino commendemur inpensis orationibus, ut et nostrorum omnium libertas domino aeterno seruiat et nostra seruitus in Christo libertatis aeternae meritum consequatur.