50 (409). To Bishop Innocent
SAINT BASIL
of the Lord. 3 Doing so, you have provided for yourself the heavenly mansion which is prepared in the place of rest for those who love the name of the Lord. If we are able to find relics of martyrs anywhere, we beg that we also may contribute to your undertaking. For, if 'the just shall be in everlasting remembrance,' 4 surely we shall be sharers of the good remembrance which will be given to you by the saint.
50. To Bishop Innocenti Who is more fit than your Reverence in the Lord to inspire courage in the cowardly and arouse the sluggish. You have also manifested your excellence in all perfections, in being willing to descend to our Lowliness, proving yourself a true disciple of Him who said: 'But I am in your midst,' not as he who reclines at table but 'as he who serves.'2 For, you yourself deigned to serve to us your spiritual joy, to lift up our souls by your esteemed letter, and to throw around us, like infant children, as it were, the arms of your greatness.
Therefore, pray, we beg of your noble soul, that we may be worthy to be aided by your great strength, receiving voice
3 Cf. Ps. 26.8.
4 Ps. 112.6.
1 St. Basil's authorship of Letters 50 and 81 is denied by J. Wittig, 'Studien zur Geschichte des Papstes Innocenz lund der Papstwahlen des 5 Jahrhunderts: Theal. Quartalschrift 84 (1902) 388-439. He offers very convincing evidence that both are letters of St. John Chrysostom to Pope Innocent. The Benedictine editors consider Letter 50 the work of St. Basil and reject as an error the addition 'of Rome' to the title found in many editions. They support their contention with the state· ment that Damasus was Bishop of Rome at the time of St. Basil, and they assign the letter to the beginning of his episcopate.
2 Luke 22.27.