Letter 2044: The apostolic precepts remind us that to those from whom we receive divine gifts, we should offer earthly ones...

From: Ruricius, bishop of Limoges To: Ambrose, bishop Date: ~502 AD Context: Ruricius sends seafood in return for spiritual nourishment, playing on the apostolic command to share material goods with those who provide spiritual ones. Bishop Ruricius to the lord Bishop Ambrose. The apostolic precepts remind us that to those from whom we receive divine gifts, we should offer earthly ones [Galatians 6:6; Romans 15:27]. Observing this rule at least in part, in return for the heavenly feast you provide us — through the living word and through the writings of the Fathers — we have sent some seafood, thereby proving that we have nothing of our own. For we are strangers even to the divine goods you dispense.

XXXXIIII. AD DOMNUM AMBROSIUM EPISCOPUM RURICIUS EPISCOPUS. Apostolica praecepta nos commonent, ut, a quibus diuina percipimus, eis terrena praebeamus. quod nos uel in hac dumtaxat parte seruantes pro caelestibus epulis, quas nobis et sermone uiuo et patrum tractatibus ministratis, legumina marina transmisimus, per haec nil nos habere proprium conprobantes, siquidem et a diuinis bonis sumus, quae uos tribuitis, peregrini 15] 2 Petr. 2, 22. 1 penitendi S 2 agendo v consumationem S 5 abdere v presentia S uentura] finit add. S 7 rurici S, Ruricius v 8 diliciis S 11 tua S 12 diliciamur S sacieris S 13 mallo 8 14 terrenam S animanti e scripsi, animanti ae S, animanti a Luetjohann 16 erectus malit Kr . 17 mundalia v 21 nos ea: non 82 communent 81 23 aepulis S 24 ligumina S et nos peregrina transmittimus. itaque, quia nos a marinis caelestibus exulare et solis terrenis sedibus incubare cognoscimus, a uobis specialius postulamus, ut haec aliena a nobis libenter accipere et uestra nobis dignemini frequenter inpendere. illud sit affectionis, hoc ministerii, illud doctrinae praestetur, hoc gratiae.