Letter 2

From: Ruricius, aristocrat (later bishop of Limoges) To: Faustus, bishop of Riez Date: ~480 AD Context: Ruricius writes again to Faustus in an elaborate confession of spiritual negligence, framing himself as the Prodigal Son returning to a merciful father. Ruricius to his own lord and patron in Christ, the lord Bishop Faustus. Impious negligence and negligent impiety have possessed me so completely that I do not know, my lord, what to accuse in myself first, or what to excuse first. If I tried to construct some argument to excuse my excuses for sinning, I would be adding sin to sin without any thought of judgment — crushing myself under a doubled and greater offense. Having been guilty of slowness, I would then become guilty of falsehood, extending my crime all the way to an offense against God. I would face a father's sentence merely for laziness, but then be subject to divine punishment for lying — especially since a true confession earns forgiveness while a false excuse earns anger. I would rather seek pardon through a confession as simple as it is humble than double my sins. So here I am, best of fathers, outstanding shepherd: a willing confessor of my own guilt. You have in your disciple's error something to correct, and in your little sheep's ailment something to heal. It is within your authority and judgment whether you wish to cut away the rot of my wound with the severity of the blade or treat it with the gentleness of medicine. Whichever treatment you choose, I will embrace it without flinching and will not turn away from the blow of a father's hand — so long as I obtain my share of the promised inheritance. I will not focus on what pain the rod brings me, but on what I stand to gain from the testament. It is better for me to weep over a father than to be cast off, despised by a father. A parent's love disciplines in order to correct, not to go on punishing. The arrogance of a rebellious child causes parents less grief than the humility of a confessing one brings them joy. So too that most indulgent father in the Gospel [Luke 15:11-32] received his son — who had squandered his inheritance — with a joyful embrace, readier to rejoice at his return than to reproach him for his fall. His crimes were not thrown in his face, nor his extravagance, nor his poverty. The mere return of the converted son made up for all losses, because the son's coming back meant more to the father than any fortune. The one whose departure had made him guilty, his return made innocent; mercy was enough for the heir. And yet the father's pardon alone was not enough for his clemency — embracing him, showering him with grace — without also heaping gifts upon him. He gives him a ring, so that he will never again be led away from his father by faithlessness. He gives shoes for his feet, so he can more easily endure the rough and hard stretches of the difficult road. He gives him the best robe — the one he had lost.

II. DOMINO SUO PECULIARI IN CHRISTO DOMINO PATRONO FAUSTO EPISCOPO RURICIUS. Ita me hactenus inpia neglegentia et neglegens impietas possederunt, ut, quid, domine mi, in me potissimum accusem, nesciam et, quid in me primum excusem, non inueniam. si enim argumentationem aliquam ad excusandas excusationes in peccatis exhibere temptauero, adiciam peccato sine iudicii recordatione peccatum, ut duplici atque maiori delicto ipse me premam, ut, qui tarditatis reus sum, esse incipiam falsitatis et ab humana usque iniuria crimen extendam, paternam nunc tantum expectans de segnitiae noxa sententiam, diuinae uero pro mendacii ultione subiciar, praesertim cum uera confessio indulgentiam et falsa excusatio mereatur offensam. malo itaque tam simplici confessione quam supplici ueniam petere, quam peccata geminare. Habes ergo, pater optime, pastor egregie, me culpae meae spontaneum confessorem. habes et in discipuli errore, quod corrigas, et in ouiculae languore, quod sanes. potestatisque et iudicii tui est, utrum uelis ulceris mei putredinem ferri rigore rescindere an medicamentorum lenitate curare. ego tamen,. utram elegeritis, curationem amplectar intrepidus nec paternae 9] Psalm. 140, \'4. 1 egritudines S 2 cognuscitis 81 mittatis] finit add. S 7 possiderunt S acusem S 10 exhibera 81 temptauero (te in ras. S7) S aditiam S iuditii S 12 primam 81 18 iniuriam S, quod defendit diuinam addi iubens Kr . paternam] ad aeternam v, fortasse aeternum, paternam scribendum 14 signitiae S 15 mendatii S presertim S 16 at Mommsenus excusatione S mallo S 19 obtime S egregi S me scripsi, meae S, me iam Luetjohann, meam v culpe S 20 sponta- II neam confessionem v 21 laguore S 22 iuditii S uellis S putrica dinem S 28 medimentorum S (ca man. alt.) 24 ueram S eligeritis S paterne S XXI. Paust. 23 ictum dexterae declinabo, dummodo portionem promissae hereditatis adipiscar, neque adtendam, quae mihi poena sit in flagello, sed quem habeam *** in testamento. melius enim mihi est flere super patre, quam ut abdicer contemptus a patre, quia parentum pietas distringit, ut corrigat, non perseuerat, ut puniat, nec tantum eis maeroris infert adrogantia superbientis, quantum gaudii confert humilitas confitentis. Sic ille euangelii indulgentissimus pater filium praeceptae substantiae decoctorem laeto suscepit amplexu promptior gaudere de reditu quam inputare de lapsu. denique non ei exprobrantur facinora, non luxuria, non egestas, sola conuersi reuersio omnia damna conpensat, quia maior fuit procul dubio patri facultas reditus quam rerum facultas. ita, quem abscessio -reum fecerat, regressio fecit insontem et misericordia sufficit heredi. quin etiam paternae clementiae uenia sola non suf- Scit, quod ulnis fouet, quod gratia permulcet, nisi et munera larga multiplicet. dat anulum, ne rursus a patre perfidia abducente discedat. calceamenta dat pedibus, quo facilius ardui itineris aspera et dura contemnat. dat et ipsam primam, quam perdiderat, stolam, ut, quem a morte receperat, pristina inmortalitate donaret. datur etiam ipse iuniori uitulus reuerso, qui seniori agnus datus fuerat de Aegypto profecturo, quia ipse educit ex Aegypto pater. Tanti parentis imitatus fidem trade peccatoribus adiutorium, praesta conantibus remissionem, intercessionem largire confitentique filio non solum ipse ueniam tribue, sed ipse ueniam 1 dextere S porcionem S promisse S 2 adiplis I carnesq; Sl que S, quam v 3 ante habeam excidisse locum suspicatur LtutjoMfln, i ego patrem potius post habeam suppleuerim 4 contemta S 5 quam S (corr. man. alt.) 6 ne S eill S (erat s in ras.) meroris S 7 superbientes Sl gaudium fert 81 8 preceptae S 9 prumtior S 10 ei] et S, om. v 11 luxoria S conuersa] S, corr. v 13 ita quem correxi, itaque S, itaque Kr. v 14 reum 8 (u man. alt.) et (t man. aU. in ras.) S, ea v 15 quin etiam uenia sola: paternae clementiae non sufficit coni. Mommsenus heredi ex hered; f 8\' 17 larga S pfida abduces 81, llfidia. duce 82 in textu, pfida abducente 82 in margine addito: ai 18 calciamenta S 24 imitatus scnpsi, imi tantus 8 (af imita £ 5 in mar- gine), imitare tu Momviseum, imitare tantus c 25 presta S intercessione S deprecare, ut, quem in peregrina patria appellas liberum, in propria possis uidere liberatum. et qui per se amisit dominicam liberalitatem, per te mereatur consequi libertatem nec a uestro separetur solatio, qui sequestratur praemio.