Letter 11023: My dear daughters, I have heard that your father Venantius is gravely ill, and that your grief is great.
Susceptis» gloriae vestrae epistolis, quae pro verbis** lacrimis*' loquebantur, non
minor nos de^ dilectissimi filii nostri^ quam vos de patris® aegritudine maeror' afficit.
Nec enim extraneam^ possumus reputare tristitiam, quippe quae nobis caritatis lege
fit^ propria. Sed quia in nulla desperatione* de redemptoris^ nostri est misericordia
diffidendum, animos vestros ad consolationem patris erigite, spem vestram in omni-
potentis Dei manu ponite; et in ipsius protectione confidimus, quia et ab onmi vos
adversitate custodit atque tribulationem vestram exhilarat^ et secundum patema desi-
deria propitius vos ordinari concedit. Si vero debitum humanae sortis impleverit, nec
tunc'° desperatio vos aliqua comprimat vel quorundam vobis verba terrorem incutiant.
Nam post Deum, qui orfanorum gubemator atque protector est, sic de dulcissima''
gloria erimus vestra® solliciti atque utilitati vestrae providere, ut possumus, adiuvante
Domino festinamus, ut nec vos iniustorum hominum concussio ulla perturbet et nos
debitum, quod de parentum vestrorum bonitate contraximus, vobis per omnia repense-
mus. Gratia itaque caelestis suo vos favore nutriat, sua protectione a malis omnibus
defendat, ut vitae vestrae incolumitas gaudium nostrum^ fiat.
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I have not forgotten my debt to you, nor have I withdrawn from the duties that affection requires.
On receiving your epistles, I was in all manner of ways delighted to hear of your well being, and I entreat Almighty God that He would guard you by His protection from malignant spirits in thought, and from perverse men, and from all contrariety; and that He would, with the grace of His fear, settle you in unions worthy of you, and cause us all ...
Although the world around us remains unsettled, the bonds between friends provide a stability that events cannot shake.
Having received your Glory's letters, which spoke with tears for words, we, most beloved daughters, are affected by no less sorrow than yourselves for your father's sickness. For we cannot account that sadness as extraneous which is made our own by the law of charity. But, since in no state of despair ought there to be distrust in the mercy of o...
Gregory to Fortunatus, bishop of Naples.