Letter 11023: My dear daughters, I have heard that your father Venantius is gravely ill, and that your grief is great.

Having received the letters of your Glory, which spoke with tears in place of words, we are afflicted with no less grief over our most beloved son than you are over the illness of your father. For we cannot reckon as foreign a sorrow that becomes our own by the law of charity. But because in no despair must one distrust the mercy of our Redeemer, lift up your spirits to the consolation of your father, place your hope in the hand of almighty God; and we are confident in His protection, because He both guards you from every adversity and gladdens your tribulation, and graciously grants that you be ordered according to your father's desires. But if he should fulfill the debt of the human lot, even then let no despair crush you, nor let the words of certain people strike terror into you. For after God, who is the governor and protector of orphans, we shall be so solicitous for your most sweet Glory, and we hasten, with the Lord's help, to provide for your advantage as we are able, so that no harassment of unjust men may disturb you, and so that we may repay you in all things the debt which we contracted from the goodness of your parents. May heavenly grace therefore nourish you with its favor, and defend you by its protection from all evils, so that the safety of your life may become our joy.

Susceptis» gloriae vestrae epistolis, quae pro verbis** lacrimis*' loquebantur, non minor nos de^ dilectissimi filii nostri^ quam vos de patris® aegritudine maeror' afficit. Nec enim extraneam^ possumus reputare tristitiam, quippe quae nobis caritatis lege fit^ propria. Sed quia in nulla desperatione* de redemptoris^ nostri est misericordia diffidendum, animos vestros ad consolationem patris erigite, spem vestram in omni- potentis Dei manu ponite; et in ipsius protectione confidimus, quia et ab onmi vos adversitate custodit atque tribulationem vestram exhilarat^ et secundum patema desi- deria propitius vos ordinari concedit. Si vero debitum humanae sortis impleverit, nec tunc'° desperatio vos aliqua comprimat vel quorundam vobis verba terrorem incutiant. Nam post Deum, qui orfanorum gubemator atque protector est, sic de dulcissima'' gloria erimus vestra® solliciti atque utilitati vestrae providere, ut possumus, adiuvante Domino festinamus, ut nec vos iniustorum hominum concussio ulla perturbet et nos debitum, quod de parentum vestrorum bonitate contraximus, vobis per omnia repense- mus. Gratia itaque caelestis suo vos favore nutriat, sua protectione a malis omnibus defendat, ut vitae vestrae incolumitas gaudium nostrum^ fiat.