Letter 3007: Caesarius, bishop, to the most beloved brother Ruricius.

VII. To the holy lord, most deserving among the luminaries of Christ to be set foremost, and most greatly to be longed for in Christ, the most pious lord Ruricius the bishop, from Bishop Caesarius [of Arles]. While my spirit was being exceedingly troubled, because we did not deserve to obtain your presence at our synod, the holy lord Verus the bishop deigned to tell me that he had sent your letter to me at Agde [a town in southern Gaul] by means of his deacon; yet I do not recall having received it, by I know not what accident or through what negligence. Nevertheless, I most certainly trust the holy lord, your brother, and I prefer to charge this to the carrier's negligence. But although you sent your holy and desirable lines, nevertheless, as you yourselves know very well, it would have been most fitting that you direct a person who might subscribe in your stead, and that what your holy brothers established be confirmed in your person. But because I know with how holy and frequent and pious a desire you wished to take part, I set forth your vow and your holy will to all your brothers, on which account we were neither able nor obliged to impute anything to your piety. But although we did not have your desirable presence, we nonetheless perceived that we had merited the support of your prayers. And therefore, with these things granted, I greet you most warmly with affection and with the honor that is due, and I ask that you commend me to the Lord with your holy and illustrious prayers together with your merits. At the same time I make known to your piety that, since your son Eudomius desires to bring this about, if he is able, and since in the coming year, Christ being favorable, we may hold a synod at Toulouse, where also, if he is able, he wishes the Spanish bishops to assemble: therefore pray that the Lord may deign to grant effect to so holy a desire of his. But my holy and most sweet brother Capillutus the presbyter, your admirer and proclaimer, I commend to your holiness by way of recommendation, as much as I am able; and on his behalf I render you huge and abundant thanks, because, as much as he himself has affirmed, so much did your pious and sincere benevolence expend itself toward him, that no one among men could set it forth. Now therefore, because, burning with desire for you, he sought out your piety, I judged it fitting to send the letter of my humility through him himself; and when he returns, if Christ assents, I long to obtain your lines as a kind of heavenly gift. Pray for me.

VII. DOMNO SANCTO MERITISSIMO IN CHRISTI LUMINARIA PRAEPERENDO ET PLURIMUM IN CHRISTO DESIDERANDO PIISSIMO DOMNO RURICIO EPISCOPO CAESARIUS EPISCOPUS. Dum nimium tribularetur animus meus, quare ad synodum uestram praesentiam non meruimus obtinere, sanctus et domnus meus Uerus episcopus mihi dignatus est dicere, quod per suum diaconum mihi Agate uestras litteras destinasset, quas ego nescio quo casu aut qua neglegentia me non retineo suscepisse. sed tamen sancto et domno meo fratri uestro certissime credo et malo hoc portitoris neglegentiae inputare. sed licet sanctos et desiderabiles uestros apices miseritis, tam-en, sicut ipsi optime nostis, dignissimum fuerat, ut personam dirigeretis, quae ad uicem uestram subscriberet, et, quod sancti fratres uestri statuerunt, in persona uestra firmaretur. 2 pape S 3 domino v 5 postquam ante taediosam Kr., P ceteris litteris euanidis S tenue romore S sed harum] Sicharium Kr . 6 distinaui S 7 nuncii S reueletis v 8 conpacientis S perferentes S 10 integre S 12 suspitate S obtata S1 14 domino v 16 cesarius S 17 sinodum S 18 preseutiam S 20 agate uestras S, a caritate uestra suspicatur v distinasset S 21 reteneo S 22 domino v 23 mallo S negligentiae S 25 obtime S dirigeritis S 26 que S subscriberit S fratris S Sed quia noui, quam sancto et frequenti ac pio desiderio interesse uolueritis, omnibus fratribus uestris uotum uestrum et sanctam uoluntatem exposui, pro qua re nihil pietati uestrae uel potuimus uel debuimus inputare. sed, licet desiderabilem uestram praesentiam non habuerimus, orationum tamen uestrarum suffragia nos meruisse persensimus. et ideo his datis saluto plurimum affectu et honore, quo dignum est, et rogo, ut me sanctis et inlustribus precibus simul ac meritis domino commendetis, simulque indico pietati uestrae, ut, quia filius uester Eudomius, si potuerit, hoc elaborare desiderat, et superueniente anno Tolosa synodum Christo propitio habeamus, ubi etiam, si potuerit, Hispanos uult episcopos conuenire. et ideo orate, ut tam sancto desiderio suo dominus tribuere dignetur effectum. Sanctum uero et dulcissimum fratrem meum Capillutum presbyterum, amatorem et praedicatorem uestrum, uestrae sanctimoniae, quanta ualeo, insinuatione commendo et pro ipso uobis ingentes et uberes gratias ago, quia, quantum ipse adseruit, tantum se circa illum inpendit pia et sincera beniuolentia uestra, ut hoc nullus hominum possit exponere. nunc ergo. quia pro uestro desiderio aestuans pietatem uestram expetiit, dignum iudicaui, ut per ipsum humilitatis meae litteras destinarem, quo remeante, si Christus annuerit, apices uestros quasi caeleste munus desidero promereri. ora pro me.