Letter 11017: If on this day we find the saving remedy of redemption, if the heavenly gift opens the hope of salvation, it is...

XVII. PROMOTIONS OF THE PRAETORIAN OFFICE, WHICH ARE MADE AT THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD [Christmas]. [1] If on this present day of redemption we find a life-giving remedy, if by a heavenly benefit the hope of salvation is opened wide, it is fitting that we too should bring the medicine of joy to those wearied by long toil, so that the heavenly goods which have been bestowed upon an imperiled world may be felt by all in common. Otherwise it is a kind of impiety to wish to rejoice among the sorrowful, and he flees from the affection of humanity who does not follow another's grief. On the contrary, how much better does gladness rouse itself from fellowship, when it is the spur to great cheerfulness to see very many rejoicing! [2] Hence it is that the wise have testified that the mortal race is one man, since they have held that all are undivided from all in their misfortunes. Wherefore let each man be made known by your designation according to the order of the register, so that he whom the rank of his place demands may advance by the steps of promotion. Let one go forth, so that he may set all the rest ahead. He draws the whole series of those who follow toward advancement, when, having completed his service, he departs as the first.

XVII. PROMOTIONES OFFICII PRAETORIANI, QUAE NATALE DOMINI FIUNT. [1] Si hodierno die redemptionis invenimus vitale remedium, si caelesti beneficio panditur spes salutis, convenit etiam nos longo labore fatigatis gaudii deferre medicinam, ut superna bona quae periclitanti mundo collata sunt, generaliter sentiantur. alioquin piaculum quoddam est inter tristes velle gaudere, et humanitatis refugit affectum, qui dolorem non sequitur alienum. contra quanto se melius excitat de communione laetitia, quando incitamentum magnae alacritatis est plurimos videre gaudentes! [2] Hinc est quod sapientes mortale genus unum hominem esse testati sunt, quoniam omnes a cunctis casibus suis indivisos esse voluerunt. quapropter unusquisque iuxta matriculae seriem tua designatione vulgetur, ut quem loci ordo postulat, gradibus promotionis accedat. egrediatur unus, ut anteponat universos. totam sequentium seriem ad provectum trahit, dum prior militiam perfunctus exierit.