Letter 15

From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges To: Aeonius, bishop (his patron) Date: ~490 AD Context: Ruricius writes upon learning of the death of Bishop Leontius, lamenting his loss and pledging loyalty to his successor Aeonius. To his own lord and special patron in Christ the Lord, Bishop Aeonius — Ruricius. When I learned of the passing of the lord of holy and venerable memory, your predecessor Leontius, I was confused in mind and heart, and I grieved long and deeply — both because my sins prevented me from attending the funeral of so great a bishop, and because I had been deprived of such a father. Even though I did not enjoy the sight of his outer person, I was still delighted by the grace of his inner life and clung to him constantly with the eye of my mind. Through him and in him, he seemed in a way present to me — seen in contemplation, heard in conversation, touched in spiritual contact.

XV. DOMINO SUO PECULIARI IN CHRISTO DOMINO PATRONO AEONIO EPISCOPO RURICIUS. Agnito transitu sanctae ac uenerabilis apud me recordationis domini mei decessoris uestri Leontii animo et mente confusus diu multumque tristatus sum, quod et inpedientibus peccatis meis tanto antestiti occurrere non merueram et tali essem parente priuatus. cuius etsi exterioris hominis non fruebar aspectu, interioris tamen gratia delectabar et mentis acie iugiter adhaerebam, per quem et in quo mihi praesens quodammodo et cernebatur obtutu et audiebatur affatu et palpabatur adtactu 6 distinaui S mansuetudine-impositum Ruricius infra 1135 repetit 7 fartura coni. v 9 tarditate om. S, cf. Rur. II 35 sedentes S 11 pariter om. v 12 ouortuit S 13 pollicitacione S deposcemus S 15 uestra scripsi, nostra S, om. v dignimini S 16 populi S 18 eonio S 20 sancto v et v uenerabiles S recordacionis S 21 leonti S 24 exteroris S 26 adherebam S 27 affatu LuetjQhann, affectu S et tenebatur amplexu, siquidem cari nullo se melius loco quam in corde caritatis ipsius sede conspiciunt. unde et amplius desiderabam oculis uidere carnalibus, quem ita spiritalibus intuebar. sed dolori meo consolationem ea, quae prius tribuerant solacium, ipsius merita dederunt, quia confido, quod, quem paterna pietas dilexit, et sedula intercessione custodiat. Sed haec sanctitati uestrae quasi uobiscum colloquens atque a uobis maeroris ipsius leuamen requirens dictante dilectione retuleram. nunc uero, ut dicere institueram, accersione ipsius domini mei et apostolatus uestri ordinatione conperta ad officium uestrum mittere cogitabam. sed muneribus uestris humilitatis meae praeuenistis obsequium, quae mihi maiorem scribendi fiduciam contulerunt, quia praesumo, quod, quem liberalitate feceritis dignum, ab animis uestris non habeatis alienum. et ideo, sicut datis intellegi, quoniam tanti habere dignamini, sospitationem beatitudini uestrae per litteras uberem dico simulque peculiari prece deposco eo mecum agere tanti habeatis affectu, ut domnum Leontium praemisisse et commutasse potius quam perdidisse cognoscam.