To Barbara and Antonina, on Their Marriages and Their Gift

Gregory to Barbara, and so on. [a]

When I received your letters, I was delighted in every way to hear that you are well. I pray Almighty God to guard you by his protection from evil spirits in your thoughts, from perverse men, and from every adversity; and that, with the grace of his fear, he may settle you in marriages worthy of you, and make us all rejoice in your settlement. But you, most sweet daughters, rest your hope on his help, and, always under the shadow of his defense, escape the plots of bad men both by praying and by doing good. For whatever human comforts or adversities there may be, none of them comes about except as his grace protects you or his displeasure troubles you. So rest your hope on no one among men, but bind your whole soul to trust in Almighty God. Then, while we sleep, he will protect you, of whom it is written, “See, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121, verse 4). [b]

As to your saying that you are in haste to come to the threshold of the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, I very much wish, and wait with eager desire, to see you in his church united to husbands well worthy of you, so that you may receive some small comfort from me, and I no small joy from your presence. I have also commended your causes to my most reverend brother, Bishop John, and to Romanus the defensor, so that under God they may accomplish what they have begun. [d]

Your gift of two racanae, which you sent word were your own work, I accepted gladly. But know that I did not believe the message you sent me. For you are seeking praise from the work of others, since perhaps you have never yet put your hand to a spindle. Yet this does not trouble me, since I want you to love the reading of Holy Scripture, so that, by the time Almighty God unites you to husbands, you may know how you should live and how you should manage your households. [e]