Letter 5005: Item ad eundem de Iudaeis conversis per Avitum episcopum Arvernum

V. Likewise to the same person, concerning the Jews converted through Avitus, bishop of Clermont [Arvernum]. To my holy lord, to be proclaimed for his apostolic merits, my lord and father in Christ, Pope [Bishop] Gregory, Fortunatus. You urge me, best of fathers, with earnest solicitude yet sincere sweetness, that I, who have no tongue for song, should speak out in verse, and that I, sluggish, should run in pedestrian meter, and that concerning the praise of the praiseworthy and apostolic man, my lord the bishop Avitus, occasioned by the event that has been reported, I should offer at least a courteous foretaste, even if not an elegant one. This you ask, although you have found in me nothing in the brilliance of expression that you might cherish, but rather things to delete; and, as I am myself aware in my own case, you find in us not so much what you would approve as what you would reject: especially since the carrier, pressing me, with his gaping throat swallowing my words one by one as they fall, like a harsh tax-collector, was not so much compelling me to pay my debts as weighing them out. (2) Under his charge, although that headlong journey was driving him on, so that I, panting in between, could scarcely catch my breath, nevertheless to your instructions, though delivered in a tangled way, we submit, devoted rather than pleasing, reckoning it to your account, or rather, I know not whether to the times instead, that this is enjoined upon a man who had with him neither measure nor space. But by the compliance of one who obeys, by the service of one who is devoted, let what is commanded by you in praise of the aforesaid bishop be sung out of love and chanted in his honor. In his venerable servants He works abundantly; it is fitting that your praise, O Christ, should ever resound: inspiring the mind, supplying both the prayer and its accomplishment, and without whom no good thing can prevail. With clear light making fruitful the breasts of the prophet-poets, so that their holy inmost parts may beget faith in the peoples, those set above the candlestick, by whose flashing mouth, shining with the fire of doctrine, the kindly house may give light; and just as the eye of the head is what guides the limbs, so let the pious care of the shepherd govern the sheep; enriching the hearts of the bishops with heavenly power, you, omnipotent God, most high, the eternal summit, O kindly Spirit, poured into the lips of holy Avitus, through your servant you speak, that the order of the flock may grow. This steward, not content with the number which he received from Him, here brings back to the Lord double talents. For the people of Clermont, split apart by a twofold tumult, though dwelling in one city, were not one in faith. The Jew's bitter odor rebounded against the worshippers of Christ, and the impious throng stood in the way of the pious rites. The neck, refusing to bear the Lord's yoke, raising itself up, so, with swollen spirits, the empty skin swells. These the priest often admonished in the love of God, that from the converted a harvest might go up to the stars. But the shadow of the murky veil, lying upon them, pressing on their foul breasts, forbade them to see clearly. The day had come, therefore, on which the Lord was restored to the heavens, and the man, suspended, went the starry way: the people, with faith arming them, tear down the Jewish temples, and the field lay open where the synagogue had been. At the time when the power of Christ went back to the heights, that which He climbed, the hostile thing, came crashing down. Yet here the bishop addresses gently those rebellious against the law of Moses, those whom anger made fierce: 'What are you doing, O Jewish band, O antiquity untaught? That you may renew your life, learn, old men, to believe. Let the milky white hair savor things greater than youth; lay aside the heavy sense in which there was something childish. Let it not shame even the laggard old men to follow better things: failing in body, let the old man grow in honor. God exists, the lofty faith, one in three and three in one: in its proper persons the one summit stands as three. For the Father and the Begotten, and likewise the same Holy Spirit: thus in the three there is one law, one work, one order, one throne. The lawgiver [Moses] proclaims this aloud, the patriarch Abraham believes this: from this He is a father to us, because this is our faith. He sees three equals, He venerates and adores one; with his voice he entreats one, yet he washes three at the basin. Thus Lot, like his uncle, receives the travelers as a host; those whom he feeds in Sodom, these snatched away Zoar [Segor], when from the Lord a Lord rained down the grim fire of Gomorrah: He is both Son and Father, a Lord from a Lord. He who is yours is the very same who stands as my maker and creator: we are His handiwork, He who is God in Trinity. You are the sheep of one shepherd; alas, why do you not go as one? Let there be, I pray, one flock, since one shepherd is present. Do you refuse? Or do you recall what David's reed-pipe sings, and what He brings forth, born of a prophetic virgin? Transfixed on the cross, He hung by His palms and His feet, but His flesh was not corrupted from the tomb; after three days, returning, He heals us of our long wound: that He has returned to the heavens, this very day is also a witness. Believe my people or believe your own, O convicted old age; if you flee and tremble, you do not even read these things, though reading them. We draw out our long discourse in a short span of time: either admit my prayers or, I beg, yield your place. No force presses you here; gather yourself, free, where you wish: either be my follower, or go off as your own fugitive. Give back the place, tenant, take your contagions away with you: or let this be your seat, if one faith holds it.' These pious words the priest gave to the men with gentle mouth, that the path of the heart might go wherever it pleased. But the Jewish band, goaded by rebellious fury, is gathered, is carried off, and from there is shut up in a house. When the worshippers of Christ then see the troops of Manzara [the Jewish quarter] joined together, at once they leap upon the place where that treachery lurks. If they were to rage, they would feel just punishment as they fell by the sword: that they might be able to live, or that faith might give them arms, envoys run to meet the prophet-bishop, bearing his commands: 'We, the Jewish band, are now your fold. Lest they perish, win for God those who are able to live; if there is delay, we die, and your gains fall away. Stretch your step swiftly: unless you hasten in a winged course, the funerals of your children are to be wept by you, father.' Overcome by these weepings, the priest is carried off in pity, that he might duly bring the help of salvation to the afflicted. They arrive at the place where the wild crowd lay shut up, which, running to meet him in tears, pours out prayers from its mouth: 'The mind is slow to good in one who holds the laws of the Jews, it sees the light late, as the day passes by. Thus a veil has been stretched over the eyes of the heart from the beginning, so that the blind man does not know whither the straight way calls. But at last we follow, shepherd, where you so often admonished, you who with salt so sweet compel the sheep to run. Now believe that your own are believers, nor deceive us with falsehoods; we seek the font of washing, let the pool be ready for you. We have felt by its effect what you were duly doing by praying, that through you, a man, God Himself admonishes us.' Hence he draws to the light those whom the shadow had covered as deniers, and the king opened the way of a new soldiery. The troops, once divided, come together under one; and of the twin parts the one love becomes one God. Hence the fleece of the sheep is drenched with the ointment of oil, and by the holy sprinkling the flock becomes another fragrance. Behold, the day was at hand on which the kindly Spirit, sent from on high, flowed into the mouths of the apostolic men. The sacred event rouses the country-folk, rouses all the townsmen, and vying with one another they wear down the approaches to the holy festival. The Jewish odor is washed away by the divine baptism, and a new offspring, restored, rises up from the waters. Surpassing the ambrosial dews with its sweet breath, from the anointed head the fragrance of the chrism breathes forth. With a great number the new Pasch is celebrated, and from the stock of the wolf are begotten sheep. One people received another people, one congregation another congregation: he who is no kindred by birth becomes a parent to himself by the font. On every side the waxen light, snatched up by hand, challenges the stars; you would believe them to be stars going along, trailing their hair. Here the milky color of the garment, here the radiance of the lamp is drawn out, and the day is painted with varied light, no less festive and flashing than it was then, when with diverse tongues it granted them all to speak as one. What, I ask, was the bishop Avitus's feeling there? How strong his fervor, when he gave these things to God? Among the candelabra the priest himself also shone, flashing with the Spirit's fire spread within. Then what was he like to himself, bringing such true holocausts, when the living victim is offered up to the living God? If the patriarch [Abraham] is pleasing, since he offered his one son, he who offers so many, how pleasing will he be? Moses was not able to subject to our faith those whom he who wins them for Christ wins; what reward will be his? He poured out the aromatic libation of the Lord at the altar, and sent up new incense to God among the stars. He obtained his prayer, because he joined the sheepfold under one, and from the snow-white flock the shepherd has his joys. - Reckon these uncultivated things as yours, kindly father Gregory, you who command of Fortunatus things that will have no force; add that the pressing carrier hurried me, scant as I am, and a barely doubled day is given me within these spans. We know with what affection rather you love that man, whom henceforth you see with your heart and ever hold upon your lips. Nor is this enough for you, that you yourself are his reporter: you compel the rest also to applaud him with their voice. It was not in vain that he advanced you as his foster-child: so, to one to whom you gave faith in mind, you repay the like in love. May the Omnipotent grant, throughout a long age and memorably, that you may be a praise to him, and he too a praise to you. May you both likewise remember me also, lowly as I am, and for the hope of pardon bring me aid with your voice.

V Item ad eundem de Iudaeis conversis per Avitum episcopum Arvernum DOMINO SANCTO ET MERITIS APOSTOLICIS PRAECONANDO DOMNO ET IN CHRISTO PATRI GREGORIO PAPAE FORTVNATVS. Instigas; pater optime, seria curiositate, sincera tamen dulcedine, carmine elinguem proloqui et currere pigrum versu pedestri atque de laude laudabilis et apostolici viri domni Aviti pontificis ex eventu occasionis inlatae etsi non aliqua compte, saltim comiter praelibare; cum in me non inveneris quod dictionis luculentia diligeres, sed deleres et, ut ipse mei sum conscius, habeas apud nos non quod tam probes quam reprobes: praesertim cum instans portitor per verba singillatim hianti fauce cadentia quasi gravis exactor non me tam fenora solvere cogeret quam pensaret. (2) Sub quo, licet illum praeceps iter inpingeret, mihi interanhelanti vix licuerit respirare, tamen praeceptis vestris, licet inpliciter expeditis, paremus devoti potius quam placemus, vobis reputaturi nescio magis an tempori, quod illi hoc iniungitur qui non habebat apud se nec modum nec spatium. sed obsequella morigeri, servitute devoti, quod a vobis in laude praedicti pontificis amore praecipitur, honore cantetur. In venerabilibus famulis operator opime. condecet ut semper laus tua, Christe, sonet: inspirans animum, votum effectumque ministrans, et sine quo nullum praevalet esse bonum. lumine perspicuo fecundans pectora vatum, ut populis generent viscera sancta fidem, supra candelabrum positi, quorum ore corusco dogmatis igne micans luceat alma domus, et velut est oculus capitis qui dirigit artus, sic pia pastoris cura gubernet oves; pectora pontificum ditans virtute superna, tu deus omnipotens, summe, perennis apex, spiritus alme, sacri labiis infusus Aviti, per famulum loqueris, crescat ut ordo gregis. qui non contentus numero quem accepit ab illo vilicus hic domini dupla talenta refert. plebs Arverna etenim, bifido discissa tumultu, urbe manens una non erat una fide. Christicolis Iudaeus odor resilibat amarus obstabatque piis impia turba sacris. extollens cervix domini iuga ferre recusans, sic tumidis animis turget inane cutis. quos in amore dei monitabat saepe sacerdos, ut de conversis iret ad astra seges. sed caligosi recubans velaminis umbra pectora taetra premens cernere clara vetat. venerat ergo dies, dominus qua est redditus astris ac homo sidereum pendulus iit iter: plebs armante fide Iudaica templa revellit et campus patuit quo synagoga fuit. tempore quo Christi repedavit ad alta potestas, ille quod ascendit, res inimica ruit. hic tamen antistes Moysei lege rebelies adloquitur blande, quos dabat ira truces: ῾ quid facis, o Iudaea cohors nec docta vetustas? ut vitam renoves, credere disce senes. lactea canities sapiat maiora iuventae; sensum pone gravem quo puerile fuit. non pudeat meliora sequi vel tarda veternos: corpore deficiens crescat honore senes. èst deus, alta fides, unus trinus et trinus unus : personis propriis stat tribus unus apex. nam pater et genitus, quoque sanctus spiritus idem: sic tribus est unum ius opus ordo thronus. legifer hoc reboat, patriarcha hoc credit Abraham: hinc pater est nobis, est quia nostra fides. tres videt aequales, unum veneratus adorat; unum voce rogat, tres quoque pelve lavat. sic patruo similis Loth suscipit hospes euntes; quos cibat in Sodomis, hi rapuere Segor, cum a domino dominus pluit igni triste Gomorrae: filius et pater est, a domino dominus. qui tuus, ipse meus stat conditor atque creator: huius plasma sumus, qui est trinitate deus. unius estis oves, heu, cur non uniter itis? sit rogo grex unus, pastor ut unus adest. rennuis? an recolis quod canna Davitica pangit quodque prophetali virgine fetus agit? in cruce transfixus palmis pedibusque pependit, sed corrupta caro non fuit ex tumulo; post triduum remeans sanat nos vulnere longo: quod rediit caelis, testis et ista dies, crede meis aut crede tuis, convicta senectus; si fugis ac trepidas, nec legis ista legens. protrahimus verbum brevitatis tempore longum: aut admitte preces aut, rogo, cede loco. vis hic nulla premit, quo vis te collige liber: aut meus esto sequax aut tuus ito fugax. redde, colone, locum, tua duc contagia tecum : aut ea sit sedes, si tenet una fides᾿. haec pia verba viris miti dedit ore sacerdos, ut sibi quo libeat semita cordis eat. ast Iudaea manus, stimulante furore rebellis, colligitur, rapitur, conditur inde domo. Christicolae ut cernunt tunc agmina Manzara iungi, protinus insiliunt qua latet ille dolus. si fremerent, gladiis sentirent iusta cadentes: vivere quo possint aut daret arma fides, legati occurrunt vati mandata ferentes: ῾nos Iudaea manus iam tua caula sumus. ne pereant, adquire deo qui vivere possunt; si mora fit, morimur et tua lucra cadunt. tende celer gressum: properes nisi praepete cursu, funera natorum sunt tibi flenda, pater᾿. fletibus his victus rapitur miserando sacerdos, ut ferat adflictis rite salutis opem. perveniunt quo clausa loco fera turba latebat, quae occurrens lacrimis ingerit ore preces: ῾mens est tarda boni Iudaica iura tenenti, lucem sero videt praetereunte die. sic oculis cordis velum est ab origine tensum, caecus ut ignoret quo via recta vocet. sed tandem sequimur, pastor, quo saepe monebas, qui sale tam dulci currere cogis oves. credentes iam crede tuos nec fallere falsis; nos lavacrum petimus, sit tibi praesto lacus. sensimus effectu quod agebas rite precando, quod per te hominem nos deus ipse monet᾿. hinc trahit ad lucem quos texerat umbra negantes militiaeque novae rex aperibat iter. agmina conveniunt quondam diversa sub unum, partibus et geminis fit deus unus amor. hinc oleare ovium perfunditur unguine vellus aspersuque sacro fit gregis alter odor. ecce dies aderat qua spiritus almus ab alto missus apostolicis fluxit in ora viris. res sacra ruricolas, urbanos excitat omnes certatimque aditus ad pia festa terunt. abluitur Iudaeus odor baptismate divo et nova progenies reddita surgit aquis. vincens ambrosios suavi spiramine rores vertice perfuso chrismatis efflat odor. ingenti numero celebratur pascha novellum ac de stirpe lupi progenerantur oves. excepit populus populum, plebs altera plebem : germine qui non est, fit sibi fonte parens. undique rapta manu lux cerea provocat astra, credas ut stellas ire trahendo comas. lacteus hinc vestis color est, hinc lampade fulgor ducitur et vario lumine picta dies, nec festiva minus quam tunc fuit illa coruscans, diversis linguis quae dedit una loqui. quis, rogo, pontificis fuit illic sensus Aviti? quam validus fervor, cum daret ista deo? inter candelabros radiabat et ipse sacerdos, diffuso interius spiritus igne micans. tum sibi qualis erat, tam vera holocausta ferendo, cum libeat vivo hostia viva deo? si patriarcha placet, quoniam natum obtulit unum, qui tantos offert quam placiturus erit? Moyses non valuit fidei quos subdere nostrae qui Christo adquirit, quod sibi munus erit? fudit aromaticum domini libamen ad aram incensumque novum misit ad astra deo. obtinuit votum, quia iunxit ovile sub uno, et grege de niveo gaudia pastor habet. – Haec inculta tibi reputa, pater alme Gregor, qui Fortunato non valitura iubes; adde quod exiguum me portitor inpulit instans et datur in spatiis vix geminata dies, novimus, affectu potius quo diligis illum hinc quem corde vides semper et ore tenes. hoc tibi nec satis est, huius quod es ipse relator: conpellis reliquos plaudere voce sibi. non fuit in vacuum, quod te provexit alumnum: sic cui mente fidem, reddis amore vicem. annuat omnipotens, longo memoraliter aevo ut tu laus illi, laus sit et ille tibi. me quoque vos humilem pariter memoretis utrique et pro spe veniae voce feratis opem.