Letter 5

From: Salvian of Marseille, priest and writer To: Hypatius and Quieta, parents-in-law Date: ~450 AD Context: Salvian writes to his parents-in-law Hypatius and Quieta, who were pagan, explaining and defending the decision he and his wife Palladia made to adopt an ascetic life and give away their wealth — a decision that alienated the family. To my most honored parents Hypatius and Quieta, from Salvian and Palladia their children, greetings. We know that our decision — to adopt the ascetic life, to distribute our property to the poor, and to commit ourselves to the service of God in poverty — has caused you pain and anger. We have not written sooner because we wanted to find words adequate to the explanation we owe you, and the right words have been slow in coming. Let me try now. What we have done is not a rejection of family or of you. It is the pursuit of what we believe to be the highest good — the good that the teachers of the Christian faith have called the contemplative life, the life of prayer and service, the life that keeps the eyes fixed on what is ultimately real rather than on the world that passes away. We believe that the possessions we have given away were temporary things, and that what we have gained — the freedom to live without anxiety for wealth, the opportunity to give ourselves fully to God — is not temporary. I know you do not share this faith. I respect your right not to share it. I ask you only to believe that we have not made this choice carelessly, or without thought for what it means to those who love us. We continue to love you. Salvian and Palladia