Letter 39: 1. Last year I sent by the hand of our brother, the subdeacon Asterius, a letter conveying to your Excellency a salutation due to you, and readily rendered by me; and I think that my letter was delivered to you. I now write again, by my holy brother the deacon Præsidius, begging you in the first place not to forget me, and in the second place to...
Jerome→Augustine of Hippo|c. 392 AD|Augustine of Hippo|Human translated
imperial politicsmonasticismtravel mobility
Travel & mobility; Military conflict; Personal friendship
Last year I sent a letter to your Dignity through our brother Asterius the subdeacon [a minor cleric below the rank of deacon], fulfilling my ready duty of greeting, which I trust was delivered to you. Now also, through my holy brother Praesidius the deacon, I entreat you first to remember me, and then to regard the bearer of this letter as commended to you. Know that he is most truly my own, and in whatever matters necessity may demand, I ask you to support and sustain him — not because he is in need of anything (Christ providing), but because he most eagerly seeks the friendship of good people, and considers it the greatest blessing to form such bonds. Why he has sailed to the West, you will be able to learn from his own account.
We who are established in our monastery are shaken by various storms from every side, and we endure the hardships of our sojourn abroad. But we trust in him who said, "Take courage; I have overcome the world," that by his gift and guidance we shall win victory against the enemy, the devil. I entreat you to greet with my respects our holy and venerable brother, Bishop Alypius [Augustine's close friend and bishop of Thagaste]. The holy brothers who hasten to serve the Lord with us in the monastery greet you warmly. May Christ our God, the Almighty, keep you safe and mindful of me, truly holy lord and revered bishop.
From Jerome to Augustine (A.D. 397)
To My Lord Augustine, a Father Truly Holy and Most Blessed, Jerome Sends Greeting in Christ.
1. Last year I sent by the hand of our brother, the subdeacon Asterius, a letter conveying to your Excellency a salutation due to you, and readily rendered by me; and I think that my letter was delivered to you. I now write again, by my holy brother the deacon Præsidius, begging you in the first place not to forget me, and in the second place to receive the bearer of this letter, whom I commend to you with the request that you recognise him as one very near and dear to me, and that you encourage and help him in whatever way his circumstances may demand; not that he is in need of anything (for Christ has amply endowed him), but that he is most eagerly desiring the friendship of good men, and thinks that in securing this he obtains the most valuable blessing. His design in travelling to the West you may learn from his own lips.
2. As for us, established here in our monastery, we feel the shock of waves on every side, and are burdened with the cares of our lot as pilgrims. But we believe in Him who has said, Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world, John 16:33 and are confident that by His grace and guidance we shall prevail against our adversary the devil.
I beseech you to give my respectful salutation to the holy and venerable brother, our father Alypius. The brethren who, with me, devote themselves to serve the Lord in this monastery, salute you warmly. May Christ our Almighty God guard you from harm, and keep you mindful of me, my lord and father truly holy and venerable.
EPISTOLA 39
Scripta forte a. 397.
Hieronymus, maximus Scripturae Sacrae explanator, commendat Augustino Praesidium diaconum, qui epistolam tradiderat (n. 1) mandatque ut Alipio salutem nuntiet (n. 2).
Domino vere sancto et beatissimo papae Augustino, Hieronymus, in Christo salutem
Praesidius diaconus commendatur.
1. 1. Anno praeterito, per fratrem nostrum Asterium hypodiaconum Dignationi tuae epistolam miseram, promptum reddens salutationis officium; quam tibi arbitror redditam. Nunc quoque per sanctum fratrem meum Praesidium diaconum, obsecro primum ut memineris mei: deinde ut baiulum litterarum habeas commendatum, et mihi scias germanissimum, et in quibuscumque necessitas postulaverit, foveas atque sustentes; non quo aliqua re (Christo tribuente) indigeat, sed quod bonorum amicitias avidissime expetat, et se in his coniungendis maximum putet beneficium consecutum. Cur autem ad Occidentem navigaverit, ipso poteris narrante cognoscere.
In Christo confitendum. Salvere iubet Alypium.
2. 2. Nos in monasterio constituti, variis hinc inde fluctibus quatimur, et peregrinationis molestias sustinemus. Sed credimus in eo qui dixit: Confidite; ego vici mundum 1, quod ipso tribuente et praesule, contra hostem diabolum victoriam consequamur. Sanctum et venerabilem fratrem nostrum papam Alypium, ut meo obsequio salutes, obsecro. Sancti fratres, qui nobiscum in monastero Domino servire festinant, oppido te salutant. Incolumem te et memorem mei, Christus Deus noster tueatur omnipotens, domine vere sancte et suscipiende papa.
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Last year I sent a letter to your Dignity through our brother Asterius the subdeacon [a minor cleric below the rank of deacon], fulfilling my ready duty of greeting, which I trust was delivered to you. Now also, through my holy brother Praesidius the deacon, I entreat you first to remember me, and then to regard the bearer of this letter as commended to you. Know that he is most truly my own, and in whatever matters necessity may demand, I ask you to support and sustain him — not because he is in need of anything (Christ providing), but because he most eagerly seeks the friendship of good people, and considers it the greatest blessing to form such bonds. Why he has sailed to the West, you will be able to learn from his own account.
We who are established in our monastery are shaken by various storms from every side, and we endure the hardships of our sojourn abroad. But we trust in him who said, "Take courage; I have overcome the world," that by his gift and guidance we shall win victory against the enemy, the devil. I entreat you to greet with my respects our holy and venerable brother, Bishop Alypius [Augustine's close friend and bishop of Thagaste]. The holy brothers who hasten to serve the Lord with us in the monastery greet you warmly. May Christ our God, the Almighty, keep you safe and mindful of me, truly holy lord and revered bishop.
Human translation - New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
EPISTOLA 39
Scripta forte a. 397.
Hieronymus, maximus Scripturae Sacrae explanator, commendat Augustino Praesidium diaconum, qui epistolam tradiderat (n. 1) mandatque ut Alipio salutem nuntiet (n. 2).
Domino vere sancto et beatissimo papae Augustino, Hieronymus, in Christo salutem
Praesidius diaconus commendatur.
1. 1. Anno praeterito, per fratrem nostrum Asterium hypodiaconum Dignationi tuae epistolam miseram, promptum reddens salutationis officium; quam tibi arbitror redditam. Nunc quoque per sanctum fratrem meum Praesidium diaconum, obsecro primum ut memineris mei: deinde ut baiulum litterarum habeas commendatum, et mihi scias germanissimum, et in quibuscumque necessitas postulaverit, foveas atque sustentes; non quo aliqua re (Christo tribuente) indigeat, sed quod bonorum amicitias avidissime expetat, et se in his coniungendis maximum putet beneficium consecutum. Cur autem ad Occidentem navigaverit, ipso poteris narrante cognoscere.
In Christo confitendum. Salvere iubet Alypium.
2. 2. Nos in monasterio constituti, variis hinc inde fluctibus quatimur, et peregrinationis molestias sustinemus. Sed credimus in eo qui dixit: Confidite; ego vici mundum 1, quod ipso tribuente et praesule, contra hostem diabolum victoriam consequamur. Sanctum et venerabilem fratrem nostrum papam Alypium, ut meo obsequio salutes, obsecro. Sancti fratres, qui nobiscum in monastero Domino servire festinant, oppido te salutant. Incolumem te et memorem mei, Christus Deus noster tueatur omnipotens, domine vere sancte et suscipiende papa.