Letter 5002: Item ad eundem

More to Martin, Bishop of Galicia When the single Trinity had scattered its apostolic light and the world was receiving the new day with honor — that the seed-sowing light might drive out the shadows of the soul and the seeing mind might drink in clear faith — Rome, the first of cities, had her thorns torn out, cultivated by the plough of her noble bishop Peter. Paul, penetrating to the Illyrian and Scythian frosts, melted the cold of the earth with the warmth of his doctrine. Matthew tempers the Ethiopian vapors with his mouth and pours living streams into the burning field. The warlike Persians, subdued by the power of Thomas, become stronger for being defeated — the conquered tiara yields to God. The sallow lands of India are given to clear-eyed Bartholomew; by Andrew's teaching Achaia stands as a harvest. Not to delay — ancient Martin's Gaul, hastening on, takes up the arms of light through surpassing faith. Galicia, saved for the new Martin, rejoice: this man of yours was of apostolic lot! He who gives you Peter in virtue and Paul in teaching, bestowing the help of James on one side, of John on the other — coming, as they say, from the Pannonian part of Rome, he is made all the more the salvation of Gallaecia and Suevia. Into the barren furrow he sowed the seedlings of life, where the ripe harvest now pleases in its fertility. By the merits of a second Elijah, rain returns to the ears of grain, holding the gift of dew, lest thirst oppress the fields. Lest the parched acres lie with stupefied furrows, he flows as a perennial stream from the source of watering. On the branches of heresy he fixed the holy shoots of faith, and what was wild olive now greens as a rich olive. The tree that stood thin with widowed branches now blossoms with new honor, about to bear food. The sad fig tree, fit only for the fire, hopeless, now cultivated with manure prepares its womb for fruit. The swelling grape of the vine, about to be torn by the raids of birds — with this good guardian, not one is lost from the vat. With apostolic purpose the vine-dresser directed the tendrils, moving the soil with his hoe, pressing back the shoots with his sickle. From the Lord's field he cut out the idle wild grape, and a cluster is present where before there was only brush. From God's planting he pulled out the bitter tares, and the gladdened, even harvest rises. Galicia, saved for the new Martin, rejoice: this man of yours was of apostolic lot! With a shepherd's zeal, running around his own enclosures, lest the wolf enter among the sheep, he guards the flocks with love. With supporting hand he himself draws the sheep to the pastures of Christ, lest error on the mountains devour the straying one. His voice flows back to the people from the fountain of health: that the ear may drink faith, he holds out salt from his mouth. He has prepared losses for the enemy and holy vows for the Lord and brings back doubled talents from those entrusted to him. The nurturing worker awaits the evangelical voice, that it may be said to him: "Go forward, good servant — since you have been faithful over a few things, you shall be set over very many. Look — enter now more joyfully the joys of your Lord, and for your brief labor, great things are prepared for you." You will hear that blessed voice, Martin — but be mindful of your own Fortunatus. I ask you, pray, father: may I see your joys with you. So may you please the King at Peter's opened gate. With the humble Radegund, devout Agnes asks as a suppliant that they may be commended to you, holy father: and that with their growing choir, through the holy songs of the sisters, they may please their Lord under your gentle guidance; and that the holy rule of the blessed Bishop Caesarius, brought from the city of Genesi, may be preserved for them — he who was bishop of Arles from the lot of Lerins and remained a monk though adorned as a bishop. With a father's devotion, protect your own nurslings, that whatever good they do may profit you as well: so that you may crown your illustrious head with a beautiful diadem, and as shepherd render worthy thanks for your flock.

II Item ad eundem Lumen apostolicum cum spargeret una triades exciperetque novum mundus honore diem, ut tenebras animae lux sementiva fugaret et claram hauriret mens oculata fidem, redditur avulsis spinis urbs Romula princeps, principis egregii vomere culta Petri; Paulus ad Illyricos Scythicas penetrando pruinas dogmate ferventi frigora solvit humi; Mattheus Aethiopos adtemperat ore vapores vivaque in exusto flumina fundit agro; bellica Persidis Thomae subiecta vigori fortior efficitur victa tiara deo; lurida perspicuo datur India Bartholomaeo; Andreae monitis extat Achaia seges. ne morer adcelerans, Martini Gallia prisci excellente fide luminis arma capit. Martino servata novo , Gallicia, plaude : sortis apostolicae vir tuus iste fuit. qui virtute Petrum praebet tibi, dogmate Paulum, hinc Iacobi tribuens, inde Iohannis opem. Pannoniae, ut perhibent, veniens e parte Quiritis est magis effectus Gallisueba salus. in sulcum sterilem vitae plantaria sevit, quo matura seges fertilitate placet. Heliae meritis alter redit imber aristis, munera roris habens, ne premat arva sitis: neu iaceant stupidis arentia iugera sulcis. influit inriguae fonte perennis aquae. in ramis heresis fidei pia germina fixit, quodque oleaster erat pinguis oliva viret. quae stetit exilis viduatis frondibus arbor iam paritura cibum floret honore novo. inponenda focis sine spe ficulnea tristis praeparat ad fructum stercore culta sinum. palmitis uva tumens, avium laceranda rapinis, hoc custode bono non perit una lacu. rebus apostolicis direxit vinitor antes, arva ligone movens, falce flagella premens. ex agro domini labruscam excidit inertem atque racemus adest quo fuit ante frutex. de satione dei zezania vulsit amara, surgit et aequalis laetificata seges. Martino servata novo , Gallicia, plaude: sortis apostolicae vir tuus iste fuit. pastoris studio circum sua saepta recurrens, ne lupus intret oves, servat amore greges; subportante manu trahit ipse ad pabula Christi, montibus instabilem ne voret error, ovem. cuius vox refluens plebi de fonte salubri ut bibat aure fidem, porrigit ore salem. hosti damna quidem, domino pia vota paravit et commissa sibi dupla talenta refert, vocem euangelicam expectans operarius almus, ut sibi dicatur: ῾ servule perge bone: quando fidelis enim mihi supra pauca fuisti, supra multa nimis constituendus eris. ecce tui domini modo gaudia laetior intra proque labore brevi magna parata tibi᾿. auditurus eris vocem, Martine, beatam, sed Fortunati sis memor ipse tui. quaeso precare, pater, videam tua gaudia tecum: sic placeas regi poste patente Petri. cum Radegunde humili supplex, pie, postulat Agnes, ut commendatae sint tibi, sancte pater : et crescente choro per carmina sancta sororum conplaceant domino, te duce mite, suo; atque adscita sibi servetur ab urbe Genesi regula Caesarii praesulis alma pii, qui fuit antistes Arelas de sorte Lerini, et mansit monachus pontificale decus. sedulitate patris proprias tuearis alumnas, ut tibi proficiat hae bona si qua gerant: unde inlustre caput cingas diademate pulchro et grates dignas pro grege pastor agas.