141. TO GUNDULF, BISHOP OF: Rochester.
The Letters of St. Anselm NOTES 1. Cf. Lk 15:30.
2. Eph 5:29.
3. Jn 15:13.
4. Anselm's identification of his skin with that of the penitent monk, Moses, displays his compassionate understanding of penitent sinners; see Ep 105 and Southern, Anselm, 75.
141. TO GUNDULF, BISHOP OF
ROCHESTER.
Anselm thanks Bishop Gundulf of Rochester for his gifts and, on the strength of their mutual love, intercedes for Dom Moses who had deserted Christ Church,
Canterbury.
TO HIS LORD AND FATHER, HIS TRUEST FRIEND, THE REVEREND
BISHOP GUNDULF1: BROTHER ANSELM, WISHING THAT HE MAY
PERSEVERE IN SANCTITY IN THIS LIFE AND DWELL IN FELICITY IN
THE LIFE TO COME.
IF WE KNEW HOW TO REPAY your kindness and your good deeds by giving thanks, we would indeed fill many hides of sheep with our thanksgiving. But since we know that your reward consists not in a passing utterance nor in perishable writings, but in the fullness of eternal bliss, we shall for this reason refrain from giving thanks for every single act of your kindness. Just as we know full well that our mutual affection remains unchanged in you, so we shall take care to preserve it inviolably in ourselves.
With regard to young brother Moses2 of Canterbury, who is at present in our monastery and wants to go back to his own monastery in England, I pray your holiness, as we trust in you, to grant him pardon for his transgressions for the sake of our love, and to arrange for him to be kindly received by Dom Henry and the whole community. May it please your holiness to read the letter we sent to the afore-named prior and community on this matter, and according to what