Letter 136

From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus To: Cyrus, Magistrianus [an imperial courier or official] Date: ~440s AD Context: A consolation letter on the simultaneous death of Cyrus's wife and son -- a rare personal letter showing Theodoret's pastoral side amid his political struggles. To Cyrus the Magistrianus, I was deeply distressed to hear of the trouble that has fallen on you. How could I not suffer, when I make your interests my own and remember the apostolic law that bids us "not only rejoice with those who rejoice, but also weep with those who weep" [Romans 12:15]? Suffering itself has the power to draw even enemies into sympathy. What is more grievous than losing a wife? One who bore the yoke of marriage blamelessly, who made her husband's life pleasant, who shared the care of the household and had a hand in managing everything -- one who was always ready to suggest what might be helpful and to comply with her husband's wishes? And what sorrow could surpass committing to the tomb a mother and son at the same moment? A son carefully raised and well educated; a son you hoped would be the support of your old age; buried in the very springtime of his manhood, when the first down was just appearing on his cheeks? If we looked only at the nature of the disaster, it would admit no consolation. But when we remember that our race is destined to die, that the divine decree has gone forth against us, that suffering is common and life is full of such sorrows -- then we can bear bravely what has happened, repel the assault of despair, and raise that wonderful song of praise: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; the Lord has done what seemed good to Him. Blessed be the name of the Lord" [Job 1:21]. We have even greater reasons for comfort. We have been clearly taught the hope of the resurrection, and we look for the time when the dead will live again. We know how the Lord repeatedly called death "sleep." If we trust the Savior's words -- as indeed we do -- we are bound not to mourn those who have fallen asleep, even though their sleep lasts longer than usual. We must await the resurrection. We must remember that the Ruler of the world, in His wisdom, knowing not only the present but the future, guides events for our good. A wise man who understood all this reasoned about deaths like these and said: "He was taken away quickly, lest wickedness should alter his understanding" [Wisdom 4:11]. I beg you, then: submit to the wise Ruler of all. Submit to His decrees. Whether they are pleasant or grievous, they are good and profitable. They make us wise. For those who endure, they prepare crowns.

Letter 136 Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99... To Cyrus Magistrianus. I was very much distressed to hear of the trouble which had befallen you. How indeed could I fail to suffer, making as I do your interest mine, and remembering the apostolic law which bids us not only rejoice with them that do rejoice, but also weep with them that weep? Suffering itself is able to draw even those that are at enmity with one another into sympathy. What is so grievous as to lose a wife; one who bore blamelessly the yoke of wedlock, one who made her husband's life pleasant, one who shared the care of the family; one who managed the household and shared in the direction of everything; one who was ready to suggest whatever might be likely to be of service, and to comply with the wishes of her husband? But what sorrow could surpass the committal to the tomb of the mother at the same moment as the son whom she bore; a son who had been carefully trained and had received a learned education; one who, you hoped, would be the stay of your old age; buried in the very spring of his manhood, when the down was just beginning to grow upon his cheeks? Did we only look at the character of the calamity, it admits of no consolation. But when we bethink us how our race is doomed to die; that against that race the divine fiat has gone forth; that suffering is common, for life is full of such woes; we shall bravely bear what has happened, shall repel the assaults of despair, and shall raise that wonderful song of praise The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; the Lord has done what seemed to him good; blessed be the name of the Lord. But we have many more reasons for consolation. We have been distinctly taught the hopes of the resurrection, and we look for the time when the dead shall live again. We know how the Lord many times called death sleep. If we trust, as in truth we do, the Saviour's words, we are bound not to mourn those that have fallen asleep, even though their sleep lasts somewhat longer than it is wont. We must await the resurrection. We must remember that the Ruler of the world in His wisdom, and clearly knowing as He does not the present only but the future also, guides events for our good. A wise man who knew all this full well reasons about deaths of this kind and says, Yea; speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter his understanding. Let us submit I beg you to the wise Ruler of all; let us submit to His decrees. Whether they be pleasant or whether they be grievous, they are good and profitable, they make men wise; for them that endure they ordain crowns.