The Essential Augustine (continued)
are usually disturbed after the death of their bishops by ambitious and quarrelsome men. Because I have frequently observed this and been saddened by it, I must insofar as I can make arrangements in advance so that it may not happen in this City....So, lest anyone complain about me, I bring to the attention of all of you my wishes, which I also believe to be the will of God: I wish the priest Eraclius to be my successor. ...
He will remain a priest as he is, until God wills him 5. to be your bishop. But I shall, with the merciful help of Christ, start now to do what I have not done up to the present. You all know what I have wanted to do for several years and what you did not allow me to do. It was agreed between you and me that no one would bother me for five days of the week, in view of the Scriptural studies which my brethren and fellow bishops at the two Councils of Numidia and Carthage saw fit to impose on me. The arrangements were recorded, the agreement was made, you shouted your approval. Your agreement and your shouts of approval were repeated orally. For a short time, the agreement in regard to me was observed, and then it was rudely broken: I am not allowed time to do what I wish. I am involved in men's problems both before and after noon. I beseech you and adjure you through Christ to allow me to shift the burden of my regular affairs to this young man, the priest Eraclius, whom today in the name of Christ I designate as my successor....
For your charity and benevolence, I give thanks be6. fore the Lord, our God; or rather, I thank God for them. And so, brethren, whatever matters you are accustomed to bring before me, present them to him. When he needs my advice, I shall not refuse my help: far be it from me to withdraw completely. Nevertheless, whatever problem you used to set before me, bring it to him. Let him consult me, if by chance he cannot discern what ought to be done; or he may seek me out as a helper, when he had previously known me as a father. In this way, you will not be deprived of anything, and I will for a while (however much more time God grants me in this life) devote myself not to idleness or retirement but to Holy Scripture as He permits and endows me. This may work to His advantage and also, through Him, to yours. Let no one envy me my retirement, since my retirement involves a great deal of work.