Letter 3004: Sedatus, bishop, to the most holy Brother Ruricius.

From: Sedatus (Bishop) To: Ruricius, Bishop of Limoges Date: ~490 AD Context: A Gallic bishop asks Ruricius to come for an important matter — the collegial correspondence of the Gallic episcopate at its most businesslike. Sedatus, bishop, to the most holy Brother Ruricius. I will be brief because the matter is urgent and I want you to have time to make arrangements. I need you here. I will not say more about why in writing — the messenger knows enough to confirm that it is serious — but I want you to know that this is not a request I would make if I could resolve the matter without you. It involves the welfare of a community you care about, and it needs someone who both has authority and has the trust of the people involved. I have the authority; you have the trust. I know the journey is difficult at this time of year. I know you have your own obligations in Limoges that do not stop simply because I need you. I am asking anyway, because the alternatives are worse. If you can come within ten days, that would be ideal. If not, please write to me immediately so I can think about what to do. Your brother in Christ, Sedatus

IIII. DOMINO SANCTO AO BEAT1SSIMO ET APOSTOLICA REUERENTIA SUSPICIENDO PAPAE RURICIO SEDATUS. Satis credidi et, quamlibet uobis laboriosum esset, uehementer optaui, ut ad necessitatem istam, quae hic nos exhibuit, ueniretis uel per occasionem et benedictionem uestram mererer et desiderium commune mutuo satiaretur aspectu. et uere, posteaquam me praesentiae uestrae spes frustrata est, uelut de uotorum culmine deiectus ** et laborem, qui incubuit, et absentiam domus et omnia, quibus aegritudo deceptae spei 1 a om. v commendante v, commendam S 2 disperantes S arguete 8 3 ignaue securitates 8 desides v 7 cumuni S opere precium S 8 quae] q S, qui quae Kr . conteneret S, continebat v 9 qui addidi, om. S capitulatim i. 1.] capitula tamen librum coni . v 10 carh tacius S ferendam v 11 carta 8 12 iubetis] lubet v 13 a S 14 corregere S 17 suspiciendo Kr., suscipiendo S 19 quamlibet Kr., quam habet S, quam habere iter v et post esset add. v 20 obtani S que S 22 saciaretur S 23 presentiae S frustata S 24 deiectus] odi uel fastidio desiderat Kr . labor v 25 asententia S, absentia f egritudo S decepte S et anxietas cumulatur, in animum meum pariter conueuerunt. et scit dominus, quod, si uires suppeterent aut parere desideriis aetatis infirmitas pateretur aut, si essent animalia, quibus tantum tali tempore posset itineris expediri, non prius ego a Tolosa reuerterer, quam beatitudinis uestrae et singularis illius caritatis benedictionem desideratissimam promererer. sed quia haec, quae supra dicta sunt, desideriis obsistunt, rogo et per Christum uos adiuro, ut me uobis uestra semper pietas repraesentet nec patiamini, ut pro officiorum tarditate caritatem inminuat aut obfuscet obliuio, sed pro me, sicut facere uos certus sum, incessanter oretis et, quotiens oportunum fuerit, seruum uestrum per conloquia litterarum uisitare dignemini.