To Bertha, Queen of the Angles

Gregory to Bertha, and so on. [a]

Those who wish, after an earthly kingdom, to gain the glory of a heavenly one ought to work earnestly to bring in gain for their Creator, so that they may rise by the steps of their work to the things they long for. And we are glad to know that you do so. For our most beloved son Laurentius the presbyter and Peter the monk, on their return to us, have told us how your glory has shown herself toward our most reverend brother and fellow bishop Augustine, and how much help and what love you have given him. And we bless Almighty God, who in his mercy has been pleased to keep the conversion of the nation of the Angles for your reward. For as he kindled the hearts of the Romans to the Christian faith through Helena of illustrious memory, the mother of the most devout emperor Constantine, so we trust that he is working among the nation of the Angles through the zeal of your glory. And indeed, being truly a Christian, you ought before now to have inclined the heart of our glorious son, your husband, by the good influence of your wisdom, to follow the faith you profess, for the welfare of his kingdom and of his own soul. Then a fitting reward would come to you in the joys of heaven, both for him and for the conversion of the whole people through him. For since, as we have said, your glory is both strengthened by a right faith and educated in letters, this should have been neither slow nor difficult for you. And since, by the will of God, now is a suitable time, go forward, with the help of divine grace, in such a way that you can make up with increase for what has been neglected. So strengthen the mind of your glorious husband in love for the Christian faith by constant urging. Let your care pour into him a growing love for God, and so kindle his heart for the fullest conversion of the people under him, that he may offer to the almighty Lord, out of the zeal of your devotion, a great sacrifice. In this way, too, the things told of you may grow and be proved true in every way. For your good deeds are known not only among the Romans, who have prayed earnestly for your life, but also in many places, and they have reached even the ears of the most serene emperor at Constantinople. So, as the comforts of your Christianity have brought us great joy, may there also be joy in heaven over your completed work. So devote yourselves with all your strength to helping our most reverend brother and fellow bishop named above, and the servants of God whom we have sent to you, in the conversion of your people. Then you may both reign happily here with our glorious son your husband, and, after the course of many years, also reach the joys of the life to come, which know no end. Now we pray Almighty God both to kindle the heart of your glory with the fire of his grace to do what we have spoken of, and to grant you the fruit of an eternal reward for work that pleases him. [b]