6 (189). A Letter of Condolence to the Wife of Nectarius
LETTERS
him back to the One who lent him; his life has not been destroyed, but has been changed for the better. The earth has not concealed our loved one, but heaven has received him.
Let us wait a little and we shall be with him whose loss we now mourn. The time of separation is not long, since we in this life, as travellers on a road, are all hastening to the same place of rest, where one is already abiding, another has just arrived, and still another is hastening; yet, the one goal will welcome us all. 5
Now, even if your son has finished his course more quickly, we still shall all go the same way. Only, may God grant that through virtue we become like him in purity, so that by guilelessness of character we may obtain the same repose as those who are children in Christ.
6. A Letter of Condolence to the Wife of Nectarius 1 I had thought to maintain silence toward your Modesty, ~ considering that, just as the most delicate of remedies causes pain to an inflamed eye, so also condolence offered in a moment of excessive pain, even though it brings much consolation, seems in some way to be distressing to a soul afflicted with deep anguish. But, when it occurred to me that my words would be addressed to a Christian who had long since been taught to recognize the ways of Divine Providence and who was prepared for the vicissitudes of life, I concluded it was not right for me to omit my duty. I know how deep are
" Cf. ps .. Phttarch. Mar. 113C (Canso I. ad Apollon.). where the same figure of life as a journey is used.
I Accompanies Letter 5.
2 Kosmi6teta-a title of add less used frequently hy St. Basil fOI hoth clergy and laymen.
SAI="T BASIL
the affections of mothers,3 and, when I ponder the kindliness and gentleness which you in particular show toward all, I realize how great must be your grief in the present circumstances. You have lost a son whom, while he lived, all mothers blessed and prayed that their own sons might resemble, and, when he died, all bewailed as if each one had buried her own. His death was a blow to two countries, our own and that of the Cilicians. 4 With him a great and illustrious family has reached its end-shattered, as it were, when its support was snatched away. 0 plague of an evil spirit, how much harm has he been able to inflict! 0 earth, forced to endure such a calamity! Well might the sun, had it possessed a sense of feeling, have shuddered at that sad spectacle.
However, God's providence orders all circumstances of our life, for we have learned from the Gospel that not even a sparrow falls without the will of the Father. 5 Consequently, whatever has come to pass has happened by the will of Him who created us. And who has withstood the will of God?
Let us accept what has befallen us; for we do not improve our lot by bearing it unwillingly, but, rather, destroy ourselves. Let us not question the just decisions of God. Weare too ignorant to examine His hidden judgments. The Lord is making a trial of your love for Him. Yours is the opportunity of receiving through patient endurance the portion allotted to martyrs. The mother of the Maccabees6 beheld the death of seven sons, and she neither lamented nor shed an ignoble tear, but she thanked God that she saw them released from 3 St. Basil's own mother Emmelia, who numbered three saints among her ten children, was a model of Christian womanhood.
4 The native lands of St. Basil and Nectarius. This helps to identify Neclarius as future bishop of Constantinople, since that bishop was from Tarsus in Cilicia.
5 Cf. Matt. 10.29.
6 Cf. Mace. 7.
LETTERS
the bonds of the flesh, although it was by fire and sword and most cruel tortures. Accordingly, she was ad judged glorious in the sight of God and worthy of renown among men. Great is the suffering, I do admit, but great also are the rewards reserved by the Lord for those who endure.
When you became a mother, and seeing your son gave thanks to God, you realized fully that you, a mortal mother, had given birth to a mortal child. What wonder, then,·· if this mortal son, subject to death, has died? But the untimeliness of his death grieves us. Yet, that this is not a timely death is not certain, since we ourselves do not know how to choose most advantageously for our souls nor how to determine the limits appointed for the life of men. Consider the whole universe in which you live, where all things visible are mortal, and all are subject to annihilation. Look up toward the heavens which al~o will some day be destroyed. At the sun~not even it will remain. The stars, each and every one; living creatures on land and in the sea; the beauties of earth; the earth itself-all are perishable, all in a short time will have ceased to exist. Let this thought be a consolation in your misfortune. Do not measure your suffering in itself alone, for in this way it will appear unbearable to you, but compare it with all human happenings, and therein you will find consolation. Above all, I have this to say most forcibly: 'Have consideration for your husband; be a comfort one to the other; do not make the affliction harder for him to bear by wearing yourself out with grieL' On the whole, I do not think that words alone suffice for consolation, but I believe that there is need of prayer under the present circumstances.
Therefore, I pray the Lord Himself, by touching your heart with His ineffable power, to enlighten your soul through the good use of reason, so that you may have from within yourself the sources of consolation.