79. To The Monk Maurice.
210 The Letters of St. Anselm
79. TO THE MONK MAURICE.
Anselm rejoices at Maurice's progress in living a good monastic life but greatly misses his friend's company and desires his return to Bee. He patiently subor dinates this desire in obedience to his superior.
TO HIS FELLOW-MONK, BROTHER AND DEAREST SON,
DOM MAURICE: BROTHER ANSELM, WISHING HE MAY PLEASE
GOD AND MAN.
ALTHOUGH THE MORE I LOVE YOU the more I want to have you with me, yet because I cannot have you I love you even more. For since I love you not so much for my self as for God and for yourself, I love you more because you show yourself to be of such character that those who have you with them hardly want to send away someone they love rather than gladly wanting to dismiss someone they disregard. Therefore I beseech you as a brother and admonish you as a dearest son, because of the concern and affection which you are well aware I have always had towards you: insofar as you progess more and more towards good conduct, you—with me—should patiently bear our separation as being ordered by Providence, as long as our lord and father, the venerable Archbishop Lanfranc, com mands it; lest by impatience you in any way diminish the very qualities for which I love you most. For although I love you greatly and desire you to cling to me by living in our community with me, yet I desire even more that you cleave inseparably to a good way of life. Therefore, let it be your sole endeavor, wherever you may be, to live in a way be fitting a good man and servant of God; and be assured that God will provide for you whatever is good for you.
Spring 1077.