Letter 60: (Gregory was not able, owing to the serious illness of his Mother, to carry out the promise at the end of Ep. LIX.; so he writes to explain and excuse himself.) The Carrying Out of your bidding depends partly on me; but partly, and I venture to think principally, on your Reverence. What depends on me is the good will and eagerness, for I never y...
Gregory to Basil.
Carrying out your wishes depends partly on me, but partly -- and I would say mainly -- on you. What depends on me is the goodwill and the eagerness. I have never avoided meeting you. I have always sought your company as the greatest blessing of my life.
But my mother is gravely ill, and I cannot leave her. This is not an excuse -- it is the plainest and most painful of facts. She who bore me and raised me and gave me to God lies suffering, and I cannot abandon her bedside even to come to you.
Pray for her, and pray for me. And when God either heals her or takes her to Himself, I will come to you without delay. Until then, bear with my absence, and know that only the most sacred of duties keeps me from your side.
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