59 (46). To Gregory, His Uncle
SAINT BASIL
59. To Gregory, His Uncle 1 'I have kept silence. And shall I always keep silence and be content'2 even longer to impose upon myself that most severe penalty of silence, neither myself writing nor hearing you salute me? For, since I have persisted in this grave decision until the present time, I think I may fittingly use the words of the Prophet: 'As a woman in labor I have been patient,'3 always desiring either a public conference or a private talk with you, but failing always of my object because of my sins. I cannot ascribe to any other cause what has happened except that I am undoubtedly paying the penalty of my former sins by being alienated from your friendship-if, indeed, it is not a sacrilege to speak, in your case, .of an alienation from any person, much more so from us, to whom from the beginning you have been a father.
But my sin, like some dense overspreading cloud, now has produced in me a lack of comprehension of all these things. For, when I consider that, except for my grief over the situation, nothing is being attained by it, how can I reasonably do otherwise than attribute the present condition to my defects? But, if my sins are the cause of what has happened, let this be the end of my difficulties; if some discipline was being administered, the purpose has assuredly been fulfilled. For, the time of punishment has not been short.
And, therefore, being no longer able to contain myself, I have been the first to break silence, entreating you to be minc;lful both of us and of yourself who have shown for us
I Referring to the same trouble as the preceding letter and written at about the same time, in 371.
2 Isa. 42.14 (Septuagint). The Douay translations seems to follow another text.
3 Ibid.
LETTERS
during our whole life a solicitude beyond that which kinship calls for. And we now beg you, for our sake, to regard our city4 with affection; at all events, not to alienate yourself from it on our account.
If, then, there is any consolation in Christ, if any communion of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, fulfill our prayer. Put an end now to our sorrowing. Offer some beginning of brighter associations for the future. Y ouyourself lead others to what is best, but do not yourself follow another to unfaithfulness. For, no physical trait has been considered so characteristic of anyone as are peace and gentleness characteristic of your soul. Assuredly, it would be proper for one such as you to draw others to himself and to cause all those who come near you to be permeated, as with the sweet odor of some perfume, with the excellence of your character. For, even if at present there is still some opposition, in a little while the value of peace will of itself be recognized. But, as long as dissensions arise out of slanders, suspicions will necessarily continue to grow worse. Truly, therefore, it is not becoming even for others to slight us, but, more than all these, for your Honor to do so. If we are, indeed, failing in some point, being admonished, we shall become better. But, this is impossible without a conference. And, if we are doing no wrong, why are we hated?
This, therefore, I offer in my own defense.
As to what the churches, taking advantage of our disagreement, might say in their defense, but not for their good, it is better to pass over in silence. For, it is not in order to cause distress that I am writing thus, but that I may bring these distressing troubles to an end. Yet, nothing, I am
4 I.e., Caesarea. St. Basil, on being made Archbishop of Caesarea, was very anxious to have the support of the various bishops, amon~ them
Gregory, his uncle, who was in sympathy with the bishops of the op. position.
SAINT BASIL
sure, has escaped your Intelligence,6 but with your deep understanding you might find out and inform others of much greater and more serious instances than we perceive.
Indeed, you certainly have seen before we did the harm being done to the churches, and you are grieving more than we, since you have long ago been taught by the Lord not to despise even the least. 6 The harm is not limited now to one or two men, but whole cities and districts share in the fruits of our misfortunes, to say nothing of what kind of reports concerning us will be made in the remoter regions. Therefore, it would be becoming to your Magnanimity 7 to leave contention to others; nay, rather, to pluck it out of their hearts if it is possible, and by patience yourself to overcome the troubles. Now, while it is characteristic of every man to avenge himself when angry, yet, to be superior even to anger itself belongs only to you and those closely resembling you in virtue. However, I will not say that he who is angry with us is venting his wrath upon the innocent.
Therefore, either by your presence, or by letter, or by a summons to come to you, or by whatever means you may wish, comfort our soul. It is our prayer that your Reverence may be seen in our church, and may heal at once both us and the people by your very appearance and your gracious words. If, then, this is possible, well and good, but, if you should decide upon something else, we shall accept that. Only let us beg of you to make known to us without reserve what your Wisdom decides.
5 Synesin-a title of address generally used by St. Basil only for bishOps.
6 Cf. Matt. 18.10.
7 Mef!.alopsuchia-a title of address used by St. Basil for both clergy and laity, but not cited for other authors.