A Festal Letter Hindered by Our Sins

I wished to write in cheerful words and to sound the note of the feast’s spiritual joy, but I am prevented by the multitude of our sins, which are bringing God’s judgment upon us. For who could be so unfeeling as not to perceive the divine wrath? So may your piety pray that things may change for the better, so that we too may change the tone of our letter, and write words of cheer instead of words of wailing.