Letter 8034: The divine declarations that illuminate your way of life are the same ones that guide my own.

34. Ennodius to Abbot Porcianus. It is shown by divine examples that the visitation of heavenly men does not come except through the grace of God. For what recollection can there be of sinners, unless the heavenly favor works through hidden paths, and along a way breathed into our minds that forgetfulness is driven out which, on account of our sins, was able to creep in? It is a pledge of divine mercy already obtained that it should not be lacking to the souls of those who worship God. Therefore I give thanks to the Trinity, our God, who required that your Reverence should visit me with words. I accept also your obedience: for no slight reverence is owed to those who show deference, since the glory of Christ remains to him who commands. Pray for me, you who, though you are still men, have escaped the weaknesses of humanity, and who have chanced to be released from the burdens of the flesh while your body is not yet set apart by its weights; and, the services of greeting having been accepted, grant to me the fruit of your grace while the cultivation of speech grows toward maturity.

XXXIIII. ENNODIVS PORCIANO ABBATI. Diuinis declaratur exemplis, nisi per dei gratiam uisitationem hominum caelestium non uenire. quae enim recordatio potest esse peccantium, nisi occultis itineribus fauor caelestis operetur et per uiam mentibus inspiratam quae propter peccata subrepere poterat eliminetur obliuio? inpetratae iam diuinae misericordiae fiducia est cultorum dei animis non deesse. ergo gratias refero trinitati deo nostro, qui ut me reuerentia uestra alloquiis uisitaret exegit. suscipio et oboedientiam uestram: nec enim exiguus cultus debetur obsequentibus, cum Christi gloria maneat imperantem. orate pro me, qui humanitatis imbecilla, dum adhuc estis homines, euitastis, quos contigit necdum corpore XXXm. 2 hormisde BT diaconua BL sed u ex o ut uid. corr. L 3 Et] tu Pb 4 studi sextilisti B promittet B 5 baiolus B 6 gemini Pb solatii BLT praesidii B 7 ezpetiet B 8 iubari B 10 portitor Pb aduliscat ausiliis B , XXXIII. 13 ennidius L portiano LT 15 celestium B enim-nisi om. B 16 fabor B cęlestius L 17 uim uel insperatam fort . subrepere Pb, subripere BLTV 18 eliminatur T1 inpetrate B 21 exiget B suspicio fort . et B, om. LP TVb obidentiam B 22 debitur B 23 inperantem B, parentem fort . orte B inbicilla B 24 euitastes B contiget B sequestrato ponderibus carnis absolui, et seruitiis salutationis acceptis frugem circa me gratiae, dum sermonis adulescit cultura, concedite.