Letter 12
|venantius fortunatus
XII. Ad eundem salutatoria
Greeting to Gregory
Highest of priests, rich faculty of goodness, summit in your honor, light in my love — venerable in sacred duties, nursing child of piety, to be held in the pledge of my friendship at heart — flourishing in holy studies and faithful in the sacred law, always performing the future gifts of your soul:
You, father, I pray — calling earth, sea, and stars as witnesses — that you be willing to remember me in your holy mouth.
XII
Ad eundem salutatoria
Summe sacerdotum, bonitatis opima facultas,
culmen honore tuo, lumen amore meo,
officiis venerande sacris, pietatis alumne,
pignore amicitiae corde tenende meae,
florens in studiis et sacra in lege fidelis,
semper agens animae dona futura tuae:
te? pater, ergo precans terram freta sidera testor.
ut velis ore sacro me memor esse tuum.
◆
XII. Ad eundem salutatoria
Greeting to Gregory
Highest of priests, rich faculty of goodness, summit in your honor, light in my love — venerable in sacred duties, nursing child of piety, to be held in the pledge of my friendship at heart — flourishing in holy studies and faithful in the sacred law, always performing the future gifts of your soul:
You, father, I pray — calling earth, sea, and stars as witnesses — that you be willing to remember me in your holy mouth.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.