Letter 2036: Those of us who seek occasions to write to each other out of mutual love must not let opportunities pass when they...

XXXVI. To the holy and apostolic lord, and to one to be especially honored by me in Christ the Lord, brother Caesarius the bishop, from Ruricius the bishop. We who, out of mutual charity, seek occasions for writing to one another, ought not to let slip those that are offered, so that conversation, the mediator, may confer upon us a certain portion of presence: conversation, which is sent forth yet not lost, is bestowed and yet retained, seems to depart yet does not withdraw, is directed by me, received by you, written by me, read by you, and yet is not divided, since, though as it were divided, it is nonetheless held whole in the heart of each of us, because, after the manner of the divine Word, it is handed over and does not depart, it is conferred upon the one in need and is not taken away from its author, the gain of the recipient without loss to the giver, enriching the destitute yet not impoverishing the possessor. And therefore, when that most sweet nephew of mine, Parthenius, was coming, I did not delay to send these lines by him, so that I might both present my presence to you [literally: to us] by a letter and at the same time commend him as well. Whatever marks of affection you shall have deigned to bestow upon him, know that you are presenting them to us. And at the same time I ask still more particularly that you pray without ceasing for me and for these our pledges [our children]; and let the intervening spaces of regions not hinder the affection of our love, since those who love one another in the Lord, who is present everywhere, are not to be thought separated in body, since through Him and in Him they are joined in mind. Pray for me.

XXXVI. DOMINO SANCTO ET APOSTOLICO MIHIQVE 1N CHRISTO DOMINO SPECIALITER EXCOLENDO FRATRI CAESARIO EPISCOPO RURICIUS EPISCOPUS. Qui occasiones scribendi nobis inuicem pro mutua caritate inquirimus, oblatas praetermittere non debemus, ut conferat nobis quandam praesentiae portionem sermo mediator, qui emittitur nec amittitur, tribuitur et habetur, uidetur discedere nec recedit, a me dirigitur, a te suscipitur, a me scribitur, a te legitur nec tamen diuiditur, cum quasi diuisus integer tamen utriusque corde teneatur, quia uerbi more diuini traditur et non egreditur, confertur indigenti et non aufertur auctori, 2 placitum S tirma. 8 4 et] ac v 5 heuehendum S 6 caedat S 7 ut v, & S 8 praesuma S 11 amico v Kr., amicum omisso in Mommsenus 12 de amico om. v iuditia S 13 praepediantur v proferant Mommsmus, aeferebant S, proferantur v 14 iocos v, locos S 16 cupiosius 81 19 domno v mihi v 22 qui — p. 422,2 possessorem] cf. ep. II 5 occasionis S 24 porcionem S mediator v, meditator S 25 discendere S 27 integer v, integri S accipientis lucrum sine dispendio largientis, ditans inopem nec adtenuans possessorem. . Ideoque ueniente illo dulcissimo meo nepote Parthenio has per ipsum dare non distuli, ut et meam nobis praesentiam litteris exhiberem et ipsum pariter commendarem. cui quicquid dignati fueritis dilectionis inpendere, nobis uos praesentare noueritis. simulque etiam peculiarius rogo, ut pro me ipsisque pignoribus nostris incessanter oretis nec inpediant affectui amorum nostrorum spatia interiecta regionum, quia, qui in domino, qui praesens est ubique, se diligunt, non credendi sunt disparati corpore, cum per et in eo mente iungantur. ora pro me.