To Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria, on His Restored Sight

Gregory to Eulogius, and so on.

We give great thanks to Almighty God that a sweet taste of love is felt in the mouth of the heart when what is written is fulfilled: “As cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” For I had earlier been greatly troubled by a letter from Boniface the chartulary, my representative, who lives in the royal city. He said that your holiness, most sweet and pleasant to me, had suffered a failure of bodily sight, and at that letter I was struck with heavy sorrow. But suddenly, by the prospering grace of our Creator and Redeemer, I received the letter of your blessedness. When I learned that the bodily trouble I had heard of was cured, I rejoiced greatly, since there followed a gladness of heart as great as the bitterness of the sadness that had come before. For we know that, with the help of Almighty God, your life is the health of many. For sailors sail safely through the waves when a trained and skillful steersman sits at the helm. [b]

Moreover, in my joy at your health I have this further reason to rejoice: I have learned how through your mouth the enemies of the church are growing fewer and the flocks of the Lord are multiplying. For through the plowshare of your tongue the heavenly grain increases daily and is multiplied in the barns on high, so that in you we rejoice to see fulfilled what is written: “Where there is much increase, there the strength of the oxen is plain to see.” From this we gather plainly that the more runaways you bring back to the service of Almighty God, the more merit you have with him. And the more merit you receive, the more fully you can obtain what you ask for. So I beg you to pray all the more earnestly for me, a sinner, since pain of body, bitterness of heart, and the immense toll of deaths amid the swords of so many barbarians afflict me greatly. In the midst of all this it is not earthly but eternal comfort that I need, which I cannot win by my own prayers, but which I trust I will obtain by the intercessions of your blessedness. Last year I received no letters from your holiness, and I was much distressed. It is true that your blessing, which you sent without a letter, was both given and received. But since your tongue delights me more than your gifts, I was less pleased than I might have been with what was given. Still, I directed our common son, the deacon Epiphanius, to write to Alexander and Isidore, deacons of your most holy church, to acknowledge the receipt of what had been sent. [c]

I also wrote to you that I had got ready large pieces of timber for making masts and rudders, but that the small ship which had come could not carry them, and you have written nothing about it since. So if you need them, write to our common son Boniface, whom we are now sending as our representative to the royal city, so that he may send me word to have them prepared, and they may be found ready when your blessedness sends for them. [e] Further, we have sent you a small cross, in which is set a blessing from the chains of the apostles who love you, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Let this be applied continually to your eyes, since many miracles have often been worked through this same blessing. [f] May Almighty God move the heart of your blessedness to take care to pray for me continually, and may he protect you and all who are yours with his right hand, and after many years bring you to the heavenly kingdom. We have received the blessings of Saint Mark that your most blessed fraternity sent us, just as you described them, and we thank you for your kindness, since from these outward things we learn what you are toward us inwardly. [g]