Letter 63: Festal greeting.

Festal greeting. We have enjoyed the familiar blessings of the feast. We have kept the memorial of the saving Passion. Through the Lord's resurrection we have received the glad promise of the resurrection of all, and we have sung hymns to the unspeakable love of our God and Savior. But the storm tossing the churches has not allowed us to taste that gladness without alloy. If, when one member of the body is in pain, the whole body shares the suffering, how can we hold back our grief when the entire body is in distress? What deepens our discouragement is the thought that these troubles may be the prelude to the general apostasy [a feared final falling-away from the faith before Christ's return]. May your piety pray that in our present condition we may receive divine help and, as the apostle puts it, "be able to withstand the evil day" [Ephesians 6:13]. And if any time remains for the business of this life, pray that the storm may pass and the churches recover their former calm -- so that the enemies of the truth may no longer gloat over our misfortunes.

Letter 63