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| To Theodore, Physician.
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Epistle
XXVIII.
To Theodore, Physician.
Gregory to Theodore, Physician at Constantinople.
My most beloved son the deacon Sabinianus1709
| 1709 Gregory’s
apocrisiarius at Constantinople, and eventually his successor in
the See of Rome. See III. 53. | , on his return to me, brought me no letter
from your Glory; but he conveyed hither what had been sent for the poor
and captives; whence I understood the reason. It was that you
would not speak by letters to a man, having by a good deed made your
address to Almighty God. For this same
deed of yours has a voice of its own, which calls to the secret ears of
God, as it is written, Hide thy alms in the
bosom of the poor, and it shall entreat for thee
(Ecclus. xxix. 15). And indeed to me, I
confess, it is sad to expend what is not my own, and to add to the
accounts which I keep of the substance of the Church those also of the
property of my most sweet son the lord Theodore. And yet I
rejoice with your benignity that you carefully attend to and observe
what the Truth says; Give alms, and behold, all things are clean
unto you (Luke xi.
41); and this which is
written, Even as water quencheth fire, so alms quench sin
(Ecclus. iii. 33). Paul the apostle also
says, Let your abundance supply their want, that their abundance
also may be a supply to your want (2 Cor. viii. 14). Tobias admonishes his son,
saying, If thou hast much, give abundantly; but if thou hast little,
of that little impart willingly (Tob. iv. 9). You therefore observe all
these precepts: but we beg you to pray for us, lest we should
dispense the fruits of your labours indiscreetly, and not as need
requires; lest from that whereby you diminish sins we should heap up
sins. Now may Almighty God keep you
under His protection, and so grant you human favour in an earthly court
as to bring you after a long life to the eternal joys of a heavenly
court.
We send you as the benediction of Saint Peter, Prince of
the apostles, whom you greatly love, a key from his most sacred body,
in which is enclosed iron from his chains, that what bound his neck for
martyrdom, may loose yours from all sins. E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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