57:1
Magnæ quidem et nimis admirandæ sunt deliciæ quas misistis, copia, tempore, dignitate; sed tamen affectui, pietati, sollicitudini non aequantur. Per qua probatur, non tam dignatio vestra nobis quam praesentia defuisse. Expedita est suffragiorum vestrorum prosperitate festivitas: cui quantum accessit corporalium, tantum a consuetudine spiritalium defuit epularum: quas mihi Deus si in futuro tribuit commeatu, sicut nunc per vos transmittere, ita tunc vobiscum exhibere dignetur
Great indeed and exceedingly to be admired are the delicacies which you sent, in abundance, in timeliness, in worth; yet they are not equal to your affection, your piety, your solicitude. By which it is proved that it was not so much your regard that was lacking to us as your presence. The festival was made unimpeded by the prosperity of your intercessions: yet by as much of bodily fare as was added to it, by so much was there lacking, contrary to custom, of spiritual banquets—which, if God grant them to me in a future supply, may He deign then to display together with you, even as He now deigns to transmit them through you.
您所寄來的美饌，論其豐盛、論其合時、論其貴重，實在既豐且極可稱奇；然而它們卻不及您的慈愛、您的虔敬、您的關懷。由此可證：我們所缺的，與其說是您的看顧，不如說是您的親臨。這聖節藉您代求的順利而暢行無阻：然而正如它所增添的肉身之食有多少，照樣，一反常態，屬靈的筵席就缺了多少——這些筵席，神若在將來的供應中賜給我，願祂那時屈尊與您一同陳設，正如祂如今屈尊藉您傳送一般。