Letter 5003: Ad cives Turonicos de Gregorio episcopo

To the Citizens of Tours, on Bishop Gregory Rejoice, happy people, holding your new prayers answered — give your thanks to God for the coming of your bishop. Let the bold youth celebrate this, let bent old age celebrate it; let every person proclaim this common good. Look — the hope of the flock is coming, the father of the people, the city's lover: let the sheep rejoice in the shepherd's gift. Let those who watched with anxious eyes, their happy prayers fulfilled, look upon his arrival and keep the holy festival. Having rightfully earned the rights of the priesthood by merit — Gregory by name, shepherd of the flock in the city. Julian sends to Martin his own successor, and offers to his brother what was sweet to himself. It was the holy hand of father Aegidius that consecrated him to the Lord, that he might refresh the people, that Radegund might love him. Sigibert rejoices in his honor, and Brunhild favors him: by the judgment of the king this noble summit is at hand. Under his pasture may the flocks be led through holy pastures and may they reap gifts from paradisiacal seed — he who keeps the spotless sheepfold of holy Christ lest it lie open to ravaging wolves. With sleepless care may he govern the stable without blemish, and may no robbery burden the flock entrusted to him. May he fortify the enclosed lambs of precious fleece and may he himself, watchful, protect the sleeping. May the flowering vineyard grow rich with divine cultivation and, ripe, may it be beautiful with its own cluster — that with eternal fruits it may fill the granaries of heaven, whence souls may drink the streams from the living fountain, lest thirst torture them — that thirst which Lazarus with a moist finger asked to be relieved, to cool the flame. But rather, may the shepherd lead his sheep to be placed in the green bosom of Abraham, to the stars on his peaceful breast, that with the entrusted talent duly doubled he may enter the true joys of his Lord. May he act joyfully under the key of Peter, through the teachings of Paul, among the starry choirs in gleaming light, where the strong Athanasius and the brilliant Hilary stand, where the rich Martin and the gentle Ambrose, where Gregory radiates and the holy Augustine flows, where Basil glows and Caesarius shines. Following their deeds and faithfully fulfilling their words, may he exult as a partaker of perpetual life, and crowned with the worthy reward of his labors, may the soldier obtain his place in the King's citadel.

III Ad cives Turonicos de Gregorio episcopo Plaudite, felices populi, nova vota tenentes. praesulis adventu reddite vota deo. hoc puer exertus celebret, hoc curva senectus. hoc commune bonum praedicet omnis homo. spes gregis ecce venit, plebis pater, urbis amator: munere pastoris laetificentur oves. sollicitis oculis quem prospera vota petebant venisse aspiciant, gaudia festa colant. iura sacerdoti merito reverenter adeptus nomine Gregorius, pastor in urbe gregis. Martino proprium mittit Iulianus alumnum et fratri praebet quod sibi dulce fuit. quem patris Aegidii domino manus alma sacravit, ut populum recreet, quem Radegundis amet. huic Sigibercthus ovans favet et Brunichildis honori: iudicio regis nobile culmen adest. quo pascente greges per pascua sancta regantur et Paradisiaco germine dona metant, inmaculata pii qui servet ovilia Christi, ne pateant rabidis dilaceranda lupis. pervigili cura stabulum sine labe gubernet commissumque gregem nulla rapina gravet. muniat inclusos pretiosi velleris agnos atque soporantes protegat ipse vigil. florea divino pinguescat vinea cultu et matura suo sit speciosa botro, fructibus aeternis ut compleat horrea caeli, unde animae vivo fonte fluenta bibant, ne sitis excruciet: digito quam Lazarus udo ignem ut leniret, tunc petebatur opem. sed magis in gremio Abrahae vernante locandas pastor oves placido ducat ad astra sinu, ut bene commisso sese duplicante talento introeat domini gaudia vera sui. laetus agat sub clave Petri, per dogmata Pauli inter sidereos luce micante choros, fortis Athanasius, qua clarus Hilarius adstant, dives Martinus, suavis et Ambrosius, Gregorius radiat, sacer Augustinus inundat, Basilius rutilat Caesariusque micat. quorum gesta sequens et dicta fideliter implens perpetuae vitae participatus ovet, atque coronatus digna mercede laborum obtineat miles regis in arce locum.