LETTER XV. [A.D.383.]

THIS letter is addressed to the Bishops of Macedonia, in reply to their announcement of the death of Acholius  02-21  21. a Acholius, or Ascholius, as he is called by Socrates, was the Bishop who baptised Theodosius, during an illness which seized him on a campaign against the Goths. He was present at the Council of Constantinople, and afterwards at that of Rome, not as one of the deputies from the East, but probably because his see had been so recently transferred to the Eastern Empire, that he might seem to belong to both East and West. (Tillemont Ambr. ch. xxxi.) It was there that he met S. Ambrose, who had gone to Rome to attend the Council, and had fallen ill. His death must have occurred in A.D. 383, for his successor Anysius was Bishop before the death of Damasus, Bishop of Rome, who died in A.D. 384. Theodoret therefore (B. v. ch. 18.) must be wrong in making him the Bishop who wrote to S. Ambrose an account of the massacre at Thessalonica, which occurred in A.D. 390. But the passage of Theodoret occurs in only one MS., and is perhaps not genuine. , Bishop of Thessalonica. S. Ambrose pronounces a warm eulogium on the departed Bishop, whom he compares to Elijah, especially in leaving in Anysius a successor, like Elisha, endowed with a double portion of his spirit. He recounts the pleasure which he had felt in his intercourse with Acholius at Rome, when they had wept together over the evils of the times, and invokes the Blessing of God upon his successor.

AMBROSE TO ANATOLIUS, NUMERIUS, SEVERUS, PHILIP, MACEDONIUS, AMMIANUS, THEODOSIUS, EUTROPIUS, CLARUS, EUSEBIUS, AND TIMOTHEUS, PRIESTS OF THE LORD, AND TO ALL THE BELOVED CLERGY AND PEOPLE OF THESSALONICA, HEALTH.

1. WHILE longing to keep ever imprinted on my mind the holy man, and while I survey all his acts like one set on a watch-tower, my restless anxiety caused me to drink only too swiftly these bitter tidings, and I learned what I had rather still he ignorant of, that the man whom we were seeking on earth was already at rest in heaven.

2. You will ask who announced this to me, seeing that the letter of your Holinesses had not then arrived. I know not who was the hearer of the tidings: it is, you know, men's wont not willingly to remember the bearer of tidings of sorrow: however, though the sea was then closed, and the land blocked by a barbarian invasion, there was no lack of a messenger, though it was impossible for any one to arrive from abroad; so that it appears to me the saint himself announced his own death to us, for now that he enjoyed the eternal recompense of his labours, and freed from the bands of the body, had been carried by the ministry of Angels to the intimate presence of Christ, he was desirous of removing the error of one who loved him, that we might not be asking for him length of mortal life, while he was already receiving eternal rewards.

3. This veteran then of Christ Jesus is not dead, but has departed and left us, he has changed for heaven this earth below, and clapping the pinions and wings of his spirit he exclaims,  Lo, I have got me away far off!   02-22  22. Ps. lv. 7. For in the spirit of the Apostle he desired long ago to leave the earth, but he was detained by the prayers of all, as we read of the Apostle, because it was needful for the Church that he should abide longer in the flesh.  02-23  23. Phil. i. 24. For he lived not for himself but for all, and was to the people the minister of eternal life, so that he gained the fruit thereof in others, before he experienced it in himself.

4. Now therefore he is a citizen of heaven, a possessor of that eternal city Jerusalem, which is in heaven. There he sees the boundless circuit of this city, its pure gold, its precious stones, its perpetual light though without the sun. And seeing all these things whereof he before had knowledge, but which are now manifested to him face to face, he says,  Like as we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God.   02-24  24. Ps. xlviii. 7. Standing there he appeals to the people of God saying, O  Israel, how great is the house of God, and how large is the place of His possession!   02-25  25. Baruch iii. 24,25. Great is He, and hath none end.

5. But what is this? While I consider his merits, and follow as it were in spirit his departure, and mingle with the choirs of saints that escort him, not indeed by my desert but by my affection, meanwhile I have almost forgotten myself. Is then this wall of faith and grace and sanctity taken from us, that wall which, though frequently assaulted by the Goths  02-26  26. b The Goths had been settled within the boundaries of the Empire by Valens in A. D. 376, when they implored his protection against the Huns. He established them in Moesia, when; they soon revolted, and ravaged Thrace, uniting with their former enemies, the Huns, and other barbarians. Valens was defeated and slain by them in A. D. 378, and then they overran all the neighbouring provinces. There is a graphic account in Gibbon. ch. xxvi. , their barbarian darts could never penetrate, nor the warlike fury of many nations overpower? They who in other places were spoilers there prayed for peace, and while they marvelled what was this unarmed force which opposed them, the wiser hinted that one like Elisha dwelt within, one who was nearly his equal in age, in spirit quite his equal, and bade them beware lest after the manner of the Syrian army, blindness should fall on them also.  02-27  27. 2 Kings. vi. 18.

6. However the gifts of Christ to His disciples are various. Elisha led captive into Samaria the army of the Syrians, holy Acholius by his prayers caused the victors to retreat from Macedonia. Do we not see in this a proof of supernatural forces, that though no soldiers were at hand, the victors should thus fly without a foe; is not this too a proof of blindness that they should fly when no man pursued? Though in truth holy Acholius pursued and fought them, not with swords but prayers, not with weapons but good works.

7. Do we not know that the saints fight even when they keep holiday? Was not Elisha at rest? Yes, at rest in body, but in spirit he was active, and by his prayers he fought when the noise of horses and the noise of a great host were heard in the camp of the Syrians, so that they thought that the forces of other princes were marching against them, to succour the people of Israel. So they were seized with great panic and fled, and four lepers, who had gone out to seek for death, spoiled their camp.  02-28  28. Ib. vii. 6. And did not the Lord work like, or, I might almost say, greater wisdom in Macedonia, by the prayers of Acholius? For it was not by an idle panic nor a vague suspicion, but by a raging plague and burning pestilence that the Goths were troubled and alarmed. In short they then fled that they might escape; afterwards they returned and sued for peace to save their lives.

8. Wherefore in the great deeds of this eminent man we have seen former ages revived, and have witnessed those works of the prophet which we read of. Like Elisha he was all his life in the midst of arms and battles, and by his good works made wars to cease. And when tranquillity was restored to his countrymen, he breathed out his holy soul, a misfortune heavier than war itself. Like Elijah he was carried up to heaven,  02-29  29. 2 Kings ii. 4. not in a chariot of fire, nor by horses of fire, (unless haply it was but that we saw them not) nor in any whirlwind in the sky, but by the will and in the calm of our God, and with the jubilation of the holy Angels who rejoiced that such a man had come among them.

9. Surely we cannot doubt this, when all other particulars agree so well. For at the very moment when he was being taken up, he let fall so to speak the vestment which he wore, and invested with it holy Anysius his disciple, and clothed him with the robes of his own priesthood. His merits and graces I do not now hear for the first time, nor have I first learnt them from your letters, but I recognised them in what you wrote. For as if foreknowing that he would be his successor, Acholius designated him as such by tokens, though in open speech he concealed it; saying that he had been aided by his care, labour, and ministry, thus seeming to declare him his coadjutor, one who would not come as a novice to the chief office of the priesthood, but as a tried performer of its duties. Well does that saying in the Gospel befit him,  Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things.   02-30  30. S. Matt. xxv. 21.

10. So far both you and I participate in holy Acholius, but there is this special bond between him and me, that the man of blessed memory suffered me to become his friend. For on his arrival in Italy, when I was prevented by illness from going to meet him, he himself came and visited me. With what ardour, with what affection did we embrace each other! With what groans did we lament the evil of the times, and all that was happening here! Our garments were bedewed with a flood of tears, while in the enjoyment of our meeting long and mutually desired, we remained locked in each others embrace. Thus what I had long yearned for he bestowed, the opportunity of seeing him. For although it is in the spirit, the seat of love, that the greater portion and more perfect knowledge lies, yet we desire to behold our friends in bodily form also. Thus formerly the kings of the earth sought to behold the face of Solomon, and to hear his wisdom.  02-31  31. 1 Kings x. 24.

11. He is gone then from us, and has left us tossed on this sea; what is a benefit to him is to the many a heavier calamity than even the rage of the barbarians; for this he repelled, and now who shall bring back his presence to us? Nay, the Lord brings it back, and he himself gives himself back in his disciple. Your judgements give him back, by which you say,  Give to Levi his manifest one, and his truths to Thy holy one.   02-32  32. Deut. xxxiii. 8. You have given  his manifest one   02-33  33. Ib. 9. inasmuch as he is established by his appointment; you have given a follower of that man,  who said unto his father and to his mother I have not seen thee; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children. He observed the word of the Lord, and kept His covenant. The people will tell of his wisdom.   02-34  34. Ecclus. xliv. 15.

12. Such was the man's life, such his heritage, such his conversation, such his succession. While yet a boy he entered a monastery, and though shut up in a narrow cell in Achaia, yet by grace he traversed the spaces of many countries. The people of Macedonia besought that he might be their Bishop, the priesthood elected him to that office, that where the faith had before been maimed  02-35  35. c The Benedictine text here reads 'claudebatur.' Several MSS, as the editors mention in a note, have 'claudebat.' They themselves suggest 'claudieabat.' But 'claudebat' really gives the same meaning, and there seems little doubt that it is the true reading. It comes from claudeo or claudo, (for both forms are to be found,) meaning 'to be lame,' 'to halt.' It occurs three times in Cicero. by the Bishop, there afterwards the solid foundations of the faith might be established by the Bishop.

13. None other did his disciple imitate, who also himself  said unto his father and to his mother I have not seen thee.   02-36  36. Deut. xxxiii. 9. He saw them not with affection, he saw them not with desire, and he knew not his brethren, because he desired to know the Lord. He observed also the word of the Lord and kept His covenant, and will ever offer sacrifice upon His altar. Bless, O Lord, his faith, his holiness, his assiduity. Let Thy blessing descend upon his head and upon his neck. Let him be honourable among his brethren, let him be as the leader of the herd.  02-37  37. Deut. xxxiii.16. Let him sift the hearts of his enemies, let him soothe the minds of the saints, and let the judgement of Thy priests flourish in him as a lily. Brethren, farewell, and love me, as I love you.

EPISTOLA XV .

 Acholii mortem se rescivisse, nec sine quodam miraculo; illum non tam mortuum esse, quam ad feliciorem vitam translatum; actiones ejus ut Elisaeo similis haberetur commeruisse, ut autem etiam Eliam dicatur exprimere, maxime successorem, quem spiritus sui haeredem fecit, persuadere; jucundissimum sibi fuisse Acholii primum congressum, et ejus obitum   0955C  plurimis valde flebilem: sed viri sancti desiderium levari virtute successoris. 

AMBROSIUS ANATOLIO, NUMERIO, SEVERO, PHILIPPO, MACEDONIO, AMMIANO, THEODOSIO, EUTROPIO, CLARO, EUSEBIO, et TIMOTHEO Domini sacerdotibus, et omni clero et plebi Thessalonicensium dilectis, salutem.

1. Dum semper affixum tenere animo desidero virum sanctum, atque omnes actus ejus quasi in specula positus exploro, hausi, nimia indagine sollicitudinis, amaritudinem nuntii celerioris, et quod adhuc mallem nescire, cognovi in coelestibus jam requiescere virum, quem in terris requirebamus.

2. Quaeritis quis hoc annuntiaverit, cum vestrae sanctitatis nondum venissent litterae? Non teneo  0956A auctorem nuntii: et usu quidem venit, ut non libenter teneamus nuntium moestitudinis; sed tamen clauso tunc temporis mari, occupatis terrarum barbarica infestatione regionibus, cum deesset qui advenire potuerit, non defuit qui nuntiaret: ut mihi videatur ipse sanctus annuntiasse se nobis, eo quod jam perpetuo laboris sui potiretur stipendio, et solutis vinculis corporis, inter angelorum ministeria Christo adhaereret, cupiens amantis sui errorem absolvere; ne illi longaevitatem vitae hujus deprecaremur, cui vitae aeternae jam praemia deferebantur.

3. Abiit ergo, non obiit, et emigravit a nobis veteranus Christi Jesu, coelo terrae istius solum mutans, et plaudens alis atque remigiis spiritalibus, dicit:  Ecce elongavi fugiens (Psal. LIV, 8). Cupiebat  0956B enim Apostolico spiritu jamdudum terras relinquere: sed tenebatur votis universorum, sicut de Apostolo legimus (Philip. I, 23, 24), quia remorari eum diutius in carne erat Ecclesiae necessarium. Vivebat enim non sibi, sed omnibus: et populi erat vitae aeternae minister; ut prius ejus fructum etiam in aliis, quam cognitionem in se adipisceretur.

4. Est igitur jam superiorum incola, possessor civitatis aeternae illius Hierusalem, quae in coelo est. Videt illic urbis ejus mensuram immensam, purum aurum, lapidem pretiosum, lumen sine sole perpetuum: et haec omnia jamdudum quidem sibi comperta, sed nunc facie 820 ad faciem manifestata videns dicit:  Sicut audivimus, ita et videmus in civitate Domini virtutum, in civitate Dei nostri (Psal.  0956C XLVII, 9). Ibi ergo positus appellat populum Dei, dicens:  O Israel, quam magna est domus Dei, et quam ingens locus possessionis ejus! magnus et non habens finem (Baruch. III, 24, 25).

5. Sed quid hoc est? Dum merita viri considero, et quasi discedentem spiritu sequor, et sanctorum choris deducentibus intermisceor, non merito ullo, sed affectu, pene sum oblitus mei. Itane ergo raptus est nobis murus fidei, gratiae, et sanctitatis: quem toties ingruentibus Gothorum catervis, nequaquam tamen potuerunt barbarica penetrare tela, expugnare multarum gentium bellicus furor? Denique in caeteris populatores locis, illic pacem rogabant; mirantibusque quid sibi sine milite ullo obsisteret, a prudentioribus intimabatur Elisaei intus  0957A imitatorem degere, aetate supparem, non imparem spiritu: caverent ne exemplo Syriaci agminis sibi quoque caecitas offunderetur (IV Reg. VII, 1 et seq.).

6. Et tamen circa discipulos suos diversa dona Christi sunt. Elisaeus quidem in Samariam captivas acies induxit Syrorum; sanctus autem Acholius precibus suis fecit, ut de partibus Macedoniae victores fugaret. Nonne et hoc intelligimus virtutis superioris fuisse; ut ubi miles nullus aderat, illic pellerentur sine milite? Nonne et hoc caecitatis est, ut fugerent, quos nullus urgebat? Sed urgebat et praeliabatur sanctus Acholius non gladiis, sed orationibus: non telis, sed meritis.

7. An incognitum nobis est dimicare sanctos, etiam cum feriantur? Nonne otiosus erat Elisaeus?  0957B Otiosus scilicet corpore; sed vibrabat spiritu, et orationibus praeliabatur, quando in castris Syriae vox equitum et vox virtutis magnae audiebatur: adeo ut putarent Syri aliorum regum adversus se venire exercitus, qui populo Israel adjumento forent; unde perculsi magno fugerunt pavore, ita ut leprosi quatuor, qui mortis egressi fuerant desiderio, castra hostium depraedarentur. Nonne in Macedonia similia Dominus per orationes sancti Acholii fecit mira, aut prope majora? Non enim inani metu, nec superflua suspicione, sed saeviente lue, et ardenti pestilentia perturbati Gothi ac territi sunt. Denique tunc fugerunt, ut evaderent: regressi postea pacem rogaverunt, ut viverent.

8. Vidimus itaque in tanti viri meritis superiora  0957C saecula, et opera prophetarum, quae legebamus, aspeximus. Quasi Elisaeus inter arma, inter acies, dum vixit, versatus est, meritis suis componens praelia. Denique ubi securitas cohabitantibus reddita est, quod ipso fuit durius bello, sanctum exhalavit spiritum. Quasi Elias usque ad coelum elevatus est (IV Reg. II, 11), non curru quidem igneo, nec equis igneis, nisi forte illa non vidimus, nec in commotione aeris: sed in voluntate 821 et placiditate Dei nostri, et sanctorum angelorum laetitia, qui ad se tantum virum transisse gratulabantur.

9. Certe dubitare illa nequaquam possumus, quandoquidem reliqua congruerunt. Siquidem eodem momento, quo ille adhuc elevabatur, velut quodam melotidis suae dimisso amictu, sanctum Anysium  0957D discipulum suum induit, et sui vestivit infulis sacerdotii: cujus meritum et gratiam non nunc primum  0958A audio, nec in vestris epistolis didici, sed in vestris litteris recognovi. Nam quasi praescius successurum sibi, etsi promissis tegebat, tamen indiciis designabat, adjutum se ejus cura, labore, officio memorans; ut jam declarare consortem videretur, qui non quasi novus ad summum sacerdotium veniret, sed quasi vetus sacerdotii exsecutor accederet. Cui pulchre convenit dictum illud Evangelicum:  Euge, bone serve et fidelis, quoniam super pauca fidelis fuisti, super multa te constituam (Matth. XXV, 23).

10. Haec mihi de sancto Acholio vobiscum communia: illud tamen speciale, quod devinctus sum beatae memoriae viro; quia tribuit mihi, ut eum non ignorarem. Nam cum eo veniente ad Italiam, aegritudine confectus tenerer, ut non possem occurrere,  0958B ipse ad me venit et visitavit. Quo studio, quo affectu ipse in me, et ego in eum irruimus! Quo gemitu mala istius saeculi, et ea quae hic acciderent, deploravimus! ita ut lacrymarum profluvio vestem infunderemus, dum salutatione exoptatissima, mutuo desiderio, et expetito diu fruimur, adhaeremus amplexu. Itaque quod voti mei erat, illius beneficii fuit, quia potui illum videre. Nam etsi major portio, et plenior cognitio sit in spiritu, quo diligimus; tamen etiam in figura corporis videre desideramus. Sic aliquando reges terrae quaerebant faciem Salomonis videre, et audire ejus sapientiam (III Reg. X, 24).

11. Discessit igitur a nobis, et nos in hoc reliquit salo: sed quod illi utile, id multis ipso barbarico furore est gravius; quia illum iste depellebat, hunc  0958C nobis quis poterit repraesentare? Sed repraesentat Dominus, et se ipse in discipulo repraesentat. Repraesentant judicia vestra, quibus dictum est:  Date Levi manifestos ejus, et veritatem suam viro sancto (Deut. XXXIII, 18). Dedistis manifestum ejus, utpote ejus institutione fundatum: dedistis imitatorem viri ejus, qui dixit patri suo et matri suae:  Non vidi te (Ibid., 9); et fratres suos non scivit, et filios non recognovit: custodivit verbum Domini, et Testamentum ejus observavit. Narrabunt populi justitiam ejus (Eccl. XLIV, 15).

12. Talis viri vita, talis haereditas est, talis conversatio, talis successio. Ille se monasteriis puer dedit, et intra Achaiam angusto clausus tugurio, 822 gratia tamen multarum terrarum peragravit  0958D divortia. Ad summum sacerdotium a Macedonicis obsecratus populis, electus a sacerdotibus; ut ubi  0959A ante fides per sacerdotem claudebatur, ibi postea per sacerdotem muralia fundamenta fidei confirmarentur.

13. Non alia etiam ejus discipulus imitatione, qui et ipse  dixit patri suo et matri suae: Non vidi te (Deut. XXXIII, 9 et seq.). Non vidit enim studio, non vidit affectu; et fratres suos non scivit, quia Dominum scire desideravit. Et hic recognovit verbum Domini, et custodivit testamentum ejus, et imponet honorem in ara ejus semper. Benedic, Domine, fidem ejus, sanctitatem, sedulitatem. Benedictio tua veniat super caput ejus, et super cervicem ipsius. Sit honorificus inter fratres suos: sit in eo tauri species; ut ventilet corda inimicorum suorum, et sanctorum mentes demulceat, et judicium sacerdotum  0959B tuorum in eo sicut lilium floreat (Ibid., 16 et seq). Valete, fratres, et diligite me; quia ego vos diligo.