Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 489

Gregory to Anastasius, Patriarch of Antioch. I have received the most sweet letters of your Beatitude, which flowed with tears amid words of piety. For I saw in them a cloud flying aloft after its manner, yet bearing a certain darkness of sorrow; nor was I able easily, at the very outset, to penetrate whence and whither it went, because, on account of that very darkness which I have mentioned, I did not fully understand the causes. Yet it becomes you, most holy men, ever to call to mind, as indeed you do, what the preacher of the Gentiles says: In the last times perilous times shall be at hand, and men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty (1 Tim. 3:1-2), and the rest, which it is toil for me to say and not necessary for you to hear.

Behold, in your holy old age your Beatitude labors under many tribulations; but let it consider upon whose seat it sits. Is it not the seat of Him to whom it was said by the voice of Truth: When thou shalt be old, another shall gird thee, and lead thee whither thou wouldst not (John 21:18)? Yet in saying this I recall that your Holiness has toiled amid many adversities even from your youth. Therefore, with the good king, may you say: I will recall to mind all my years in the bitterness of my soul (Isa. 38:15). But there are many who, as you write, make their own delight out of our wounds; yet we know Him who said: You shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice, and you shall be made sorrowful (John 16:20). Where He straightway added:

But your sorrow shall be turned into joy (John 16:20). And since we already suffer the things foretold, it remains that we ought also to hope for the things promised. For those of whom you say that they themselves add burdens who ought to have lifted them—I know that they are the ones who come in the clothing of sheep, but within are ravening wolves (Matt. 7:15). Yet they are so much the more to be borne, inasmuch as they persecute us not only through a malicious mind, but also through a religious habit. But in this—that they alone before others desire to have what it was not fitting that they should possess even together with their brethren—we are in no way disturbed, because we trust in almighty God that those who covet what belongs to others are the sooner deprived even of their own. For we know Him who said: Because everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled (Luke 14:11).

And again it is written: Before ruin the heart is exalted (Prov. 16:18). But in these days, as I find, new wars of heretics arise, concerning which I have already written before to your Beatitude, so that they strive to make void the prophets, the Gospels, and all the sayings of the Fathers. Yet, while the life of your Holiness abides, we hope, in the grace of our Protector, that their mouths, which are opened against the solidity of truth, will the sooner be struck dumb; because however sharp the swords that are thrust forth, when they strike a rock, they recoil broken. And it is by the great grace of almighty God that among those very men who are divided from the doctrine of the holy Church there is no unity, since every kingdom divided against itself shall not stand (Luke 11:17).

And the holy Church is ever more subtly instructed in her own learning while she is assailed by the questions of heretics; so that plainly is fulfilled that which was said through the Psalmist against heretics concerning God: They were scattered from the wrath of His countenance, and His heart drew near (Ps. 54:22). For while they themselves are divided in their perverse error, God draws near His heart to us, because, taught by adversities, we find His understanding more subtly. But what evils we suffer from the swords of the barbarians, and from the perversity of judges, I forbear to relate to your Beatitude, lest I increase that groaning of yours which I ought rather to diminish by consoling. Yet in all these things the precepts of our Author console me, who says: These things have I spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.

In the world you shall have tribulation (John 16:33). For I weigh those to whom it was said: This is your hour, and the power of darkness (Luke 22:53). If therefore the power of light shall come afterward—since it was said to the elect: You are the light of the world (Matt. 5:14); and as it is written: The just shall have dominion over them in the morning (Ps. 48:15)—then all that we suffer in the hour and power of darkness is not to be mourned. Moreover, your most sweet Holiness intimates to me that you would have wished, had it been possible, to speak with me without paper and pen, and you grieve that the well-nigh whole span of East and West lies between us.

But what I feel, I speak truly: even on paper your mind speaks to me without paper, because in the word of your Holiness charity alone resounds, and we are not divided by places, we who by the gift of the almighty Lord are joined together in the bond of love. Why then do you seek to receive the wings of the silvered dove (Ps. 67:14), which you already possess? For its wings are the love of God and of neighbor. For by these the holy Church takes flight, by these she transcends all earthly things; and if your Holiness did not possess them, you would not have come to me by letters with such great charity.

But I ask that you pray the more earnestly for the infirmity of my heart, so that almighty God, through your intercession, may guard my mind from all evils, and may the sooner snatch me from so many storms of this tempest, and lead me to the shores of eternal rest. Truly I have received all the most abundant blessings which were sent, which you, a man of God poor in spirit, have transmitted to me, concerning which you say: For what should a poor man give but such things as are poor? But unless you were poor through the spirit of humility, your blessings would not have been rich. May almighty God guard you by His protection from all evils;

and since your life is exceedingly necessary for all good men, may He, after yet long times, lead you to the joys of the heavenly fatherland.