Letter 38

Theodoret to Firmus, Bishop of Caesarea. I had heard of Your Holiness's virtues long before this letter, and the reports filled me with admiration. Now that I have the pleasure of addressing you directly, I wish to express both my esteem and my earnest hope for your continued health and prosperity. The churches of the East are passing through a season of great trial. Those who should defend the apostolic faith are harassed by enemies both within and without. In such times, the steadfastness of leaders like yourself is a beacon to us all. I commend to your care and prayers the interests of our common faith, and I ask that you remember us before the Lord, who alone can calm the waves that threaten to overwhelm us.

Letter 38 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... Festal. The divine feast of salvation has brought us the founts of God's good gifts, the blessing of the Cross, and the immortality which sprang from our Lord's death, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ which gives promise of the resurrection of us all. These being the gifts of the feast, such its exhibition of the bounty of divine grace, it has filled us with spiritual gladness. But encompassed as we are on every side by many and great calamities, the brightness of the feast is dimmed, and lamentation and wailing are mingled with our psalmody. Such sorrows does sin bring forth. It is sin which has filled our life with pangs; it is on account of sin that death is lovelier to us than life; it is on account of sin that when we think in imagination of that incorruptible tribunal we shudder even at the life to come. So may your piety pray that God's loving-kindness may light on us, and that this gloomy and terrible cloud may be dispersed and sunshine again quickly give us joy.